David Mably is the owner of Arborcare Tree and Garden Solutions. His biography in Secrets to Success describes roughly four decades working with trees, gardens, property owners and crews. He also spent fourteen years teaching through TAFE, Australia's vocational education system, beginning with chainsaws and eventually teaching thirty-two subjects.
David describes dyslexia as an influence on the way he teaches. Practical examples, visual understanding and stories help him explain a job and the decisions around it. That approach carries into his chapter, The Garden That Swallowed The House, which begins with an overgrown country property and several competing jobs that depended on one another.
The chapter considers maintenance, the existing character of a garden, the uses of a space and the value of finishing one manageable section. David encourages owners to become more familiar with what is already there before making major changes. Photographs, observations and clear questions can help make an overwhelming garden easier to discuss.
His contribution also makes room for professional judgment. An established tree may need careful assessment rather than an immediate decision to remove or retain it. David's perspective is aimed at helping property owners understand their priorities and seek suitable help, with hazardous tree work and local requirements treated as matters for qualified professionals.
Subjects in the books
Books and chapters
