Tree surgery guide
Trees are an essential part of your garden and if they look a mess, so does everything else. So if you want to keep your trees looking healthy and beautiful, read our guide to why you should hire a tree surgeon.
Hire a tree surgeon to keep your
trees healthy and attractive
What is a tree surgeon?
A tree Surgeon (also known as an arborist) is someone who preserves the health and beauty of trees. A tree surgeon needs to have a good knowledge of trees and how they grow, what kind of diseases they suffer from and how they should be cut and shaped. “A good tree surgeon will diagnose diseases and prune trees to ensure they stay healthy and look as natural as possible,” explains Anna Gale, of Andrew Gale Tree Surgery Ltd in West Sussex.
“Spring is the right time to be planning to landscape, which means that people start thinking about the state of their trees,” says Martin Gomm, from Wycliffe Landscapes Ltd in Dorset. If you are planning work on your trees and need to hire a professional, be aware that there is a distinction between a tree surgeon and a tree consultant. As Anna explains: “A consultant comes in and assesses the trees and produces reports and a surgeon will actually do the work.”
What does being a tree surgeon entail?
“At the moment we are dealing with a lot of snow damage where the weight of snow has damaged the tree limbs,” Anna explains. There are a number of other duties that a tree surgeon carries out, these include:
- Advising clients about how to maintain their trees
- Diagnosing and treating disease and pest control
- Felling or dismantling trees
- Inoculating trees against disease
- Pruning trees to a desirable shape
- Dealing with soil maintenance and tree roots
- Thinning and dead wooding, looking for splits and cracked limbs
- Providing an emergency service for clearing fallen trees across drives or roads
- Advising on whether you can build near a tree without damaging it
- Planting trees or shrubs
Tree surgeons usually belong to
the Arboricultural Association
Tree preservation orders
“In landscaping there are sometimes planning issues,” says Heidi Cornish, from Island Landscapes Ltd in Essex. “There might be a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), which means we will have to apply to the local authority for permission before touching the tree.” These TPO’s are put in place to preserve mature trees and are common in designated areas of outstanding beauty or conservation areas. Your trees also might need maintaining if they are likely to cause damage to property. Tree surgeons can advise you on whether you need permission and will sometimes make the application for you. “If you do work without permission, it will usually result in a fine,” says Anna.
Hiring a tree surgeon
Tree surgeons need to be well trained and work to ‘British Standard 3998: recommendation for tree works’. They should have completed training set by the National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC) CS30, 31, 36, 38 and 39. This includes training in pruning and felling as well as using chainsaws and lifting equipment. “All our tree surgeons also have personal protective equipment (PPE) which means wearing ballistic protected chainsaw trousers, chainsaw boots, hard hat incorporating ear muffs and visor and gloves,” explains Anna.
Most tree surgeons or consultants will belong to an association like The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or the Arboricultural Association (AA). Always check for their public liability insurance and waste carrier’s licence. “Never hire someone who just comes round knocks on your door and asks if you want your trees sorted,” Anna advises.
How much does hiring a tree surgeon cost?
“The cost of using a tree surgeon depends on what is required, the difficulty and what is happening to the rubbish,” Anna explains. “The client will clear basic rubbish from pruning, but of the tree is large, overhanging a property then the rubbish needs to be cleared which will cost more.” You should always get a written quote from a qualified tree surgeon or consultant before starting the job.
