It’s amazing how many times people have told me I bought this little plant from a nursery to screen the neighbours in the back of the yard. The plant was only supposed to grow to fence height.

Fifteen years later the seedling has turned into an 18 metre tree, then died... or a major limb is growing over the top of the roof and the owner is worried the branch may fall in a storm.

What makes things worse, in most cases there is limited access into the front yard and the back yard is only the size of a car parking space.