Managing Trees in School Grounds: Balancing Safety, Health and the Benefits of Established Trees

Regular Management of trees at a School in Logan, by Oasis Tree Management

Many established schools across South East Queensland, have a diverse collection of mature native and non-native trees. These trees are an important part of the school environment - providing shade and shelter, cooling outdoor areas, supporting local wildlife, improving amenity and creating greener, more enjoyable spaces for students and staff.

However, having large, established trees in an environment used by hundreds of children, teachers and staff each day also comes with an important responsibility: those trees need to be actively managed.

It Starts With Regular Tree Assessments

Good tree management isn't simply about responding when a branch falls or a tree visibly begins to decline.

For our school clients, management typically involves bi-annual arboricultural inspections of the trees across the grounds.

Depending on the site and individual trees, inspections can identify issues such as:

• Dead, damaged or declining branches
• Signs of disease, decay or structural defects
• Changes in tree health and condition
• Excessive or unbalanced canopy growth
• Branches extending over walkways, buildings or high-use areas
• Trees requiring clearance from roofs and gutters
• Trees that have died or are declining and may require removal
• Maintenance requirements that should be planned for future works

From Assessment to Tree Maintenance

Once trees requiring attention have been identified, Oasis can then carry out the recommended arboricultural works.

On a school site, this can involve a range of different activities including: 

• Canopy thinning and lifting: Utilizing professional tree pruning to improve clearance from walkways, buildings, and other infrastructure.
• Deadwood and tree removal: Removing deadwood and dead, dying or hazardous trees where required.
• Canopy reduction: Reducing canopy spread to provide appropriate clearance from roofs, gutters and structures.
• Stump grinding: Removing residual stumps to reduce trip hazards and improve site safety.
• Mulch repurposing: Where suitable, mulch generated from tree works can be left on-site for the school to reuse within garden beds and landscaped areas, reducing green waste and supporting sustainable site management.

Case Study: Tree Management at a Logan School 

Over the weekend, the Oasis Tree Management team carried out arboricultural works for one of our school clients in Logan.

Our scope included a range of arboricultural works, including canopy thinning and lifting, deadwood removal and stump grinding. The works also involved the removal of a mature dead Ironbark tree situated in a confined area between the rear boundary fence of a neighbouring residential property and a modular school classroom.

Due to the tree’s proximity to surrounding site targets and the presence of extensive deadwood, removal was required to manage risk and maintain site safety.

Our arborists safely dismantled the tree within two hours, as shown in the video below. The canopy and trunk were processed through the chipper, with the resulting mulch left on-site at the school’s request for reuse within their gardens.

School Tree Management Plans

Need a proactive approach to managing trees across your school grounds? Call Oasis Tree Management today 07 5546 3958 or email us here to discuss a tailored tree management and maintenance plan for your school.

We provide professional arboricultural services to schools across Logan, Brisbane and surrounds, including:

1. Tree inspections 
2. Tree pruning, deadwooding and canopy management
3. Tree and stump removal where required
4. Ongoing tree maintenance plans

Contact Oasis Tree Management 

Written by Kate Herlihy

Operations Manager at Oasis Tree Management

Kate manages day-to-day operations at Oasis Tree Management, bringing years of logistics and customer care experience to the Brisbane arboriculture industry. She specialises in streamlining client services, coordinating complex tree care projects, and helping local property owners seamlessly resolve sensitive boundary issues and safety concerns.

View Professional Profile & Contact Kate