Lyall Jemmett is a man who knows all about trees and tree care. A qualified arborist, Lyall returned home to Ashburton 11 years ago to raise a family. At the same time he also started Four Seasons Treecare, imagining that he would continue to work in Christchurch, with just a small amount of local work. 

He laughs when he thinks about that. Four Seasons Treecare is now a team of five qualified and trained specialists who work throughout Mid Canterbury.  


“People often ask about the right time to prune. Most think that its winter work,  but spring and summer are the best time for certain species. For example, Walnut trees are best pruned when they are in leaf as when they are dormant they lose a lot of sap.  It is also a good time to do work on Prunus species to reduce the risk of disease, particularly siver leaf.  It is actually a good time to do  general l maintenance work  on all species and it’s also important to get it right with young trees to create the right scaffold so  they form  correctly.”

Although much of his work is shaping and pruning trees and stump removal, Lyall says that one of his more unusual jobs was dangling high above Lyttleton in a crane topping trees that impeded views of the harbour! 

He’s also very proud of the work he does maintaining many turn-of-the-century old established trees in the district. “It’s a real privilege working in the domain and at historic homesteads and high country stations and to think that I’m helping to preserve these trees for the next hundred years.”  

With his state-of-the-art equipment, Lyall and his team are available for private and commercial work, big and small, and are always happy to provide good advice on everything from planting to mulching, tree removal and more. 

Contact Four Seasons Treecare                                                                                                                                   
0800 559 255 or fourseasonstreecare@xtra.co.nz