Tree Surgeons Broxburn

Those in Broxburn who attempt to do tree work themselves, or by using an unqualified operative may well risk causing damage to property, the trees and to life. But even employing a seasoned tree surgeon who knows all the hazards does not mean that tree work is entirely safe. Within the industry there are a worrying average of three deaths and one hundred and forty major injuries per year, making it one of the most dangerous jobs in the UK.

With falling branches and trees causing around five fatalities annually in the UK, a risk to life can even be caused by a damaged or neglected tree. If you bring in somebody to carry out tree work and property is damaged, or an injury occurs, you may well be liable for any compensation to a third-party due to the consequences of your actions. This is why it is vitally important to use a skilled tree surgeon to work on your trees in Broxburn. (Source - HSE UK).

A qualified Broxburn tree surgeon will likely be a member of at least one of the 2 principal professional trade bodies. You can check out the professional standing and membership of any tree surgeon in Broxburn on the websites of either the Arboricultural Association (AA) or the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). On this webpage you can check for membership of either of these two organisations, which gives the tree surgeon in question, recognised ARB Approved Contractor status.

If an issue develops during the tree work, or after it's been accomplished you'll be able to speak to these industry organisations for arbitration assistance and for help and guidance.

If anyone offers you a price quote for any tree work and they are not on this directory list, you should graciously decline their offer of work and carry on with your search for an approved tree surgeon. When you have reassured yourself of their qualifications and professional memberships you should try and get at least 3 quotations from different companies in the Broxburn area. Because of the risks involved in the work, you should ask the following questions, making it clear that you need a response:

• Do you have a NPTC/LANTRA certificate for the use of a chainsaw, and documentary evidence of your professional memberships and qualifications? It's required by law that any operative/tree surgeon using a chainsaw must have a NPTC/LANTRA certificate. A skilled tree surgeon in Broxburn will probably hold City & Guilds National Diplomas and Certificates in Arboriculture.
• What level of insurance cover do you have? Your tree surgeon should be able to show you an insurance certificate covering no less than £5 Million public liability, as recommended by the AA and ISA.
• Can you provide a quotation in writing? Only ever accept a written quote. NEVER take a verbal quote alone.
• Would I be able to to contact a person you've recently worked for, so that I can inspect your work? Independently examining any recent work is always recommended.

The written quotation should include easy to follow specifics of the work being undertaken. It should indicate who's responsible for the removal of debris, tree branches and stumps, and should also include details of any trees which might be protected in law, and the steps necessary to get permission to work on them. You should also make sure VAT is included on the quote. It's extremely important that only qualified tradespeople are employed to work on your trees and property, and this is entirely down to you.

PRIOR TO WORK COMMENCING - Making enquiries into the possibility of any trees having protected status, your chosen Broxburn tree surgeon should make sure that any work can get the green light from the relevant local authorities. Finding a tree has got protected status does not imply that work cannot be carried out, as even protected trees need to be maintained in order to cut back old or dead wood and ensure the safety of the public.

If your property in Broxburn is in a conservation area then no less than 6 weeks written notice is required to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) before any tree work can be carried out. However, tree stems of under 7.5cm in diameter when measured at 1.5m from ground level are free from this requirement. If the thinning or pruning of a protected tree's branches is required to sustain and promote growth, written notice is also not necessary.

Your Broxburn tree surgeon will decide on the required remedial treatment and how best to achieve the required outcome in a safe manner after completing a thorough assessment of your trees health. Public spaces, your property and any section of a neighbour's property that could be affected by falling branches will all be given a risk assessment. The amount of workers needed and the level of protection required, will also be ascertained at this stage. This is both PPE and other safety precautions to keep property and the general public safe from harm or damage.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - Barriers, cones and safety measures should be put in place before any tree felling, climbing or cutting of branches begins, to keep unauthorised persons away from the work area. If there's any danger of falling debris onto a public road, passing traffic might need to be temporarily halted.

Dependent on the type of work that's required a tree surgeon will need varying degrees of protection. When working with a chainsaw, they will as a bare minimum be wearing specialist protective clothing to prevent serious cutting injuries to the torso, legs and hands. All workers involved in the operation should be wearing head and eye protection, and high visibility clothing, at all times.

If any working at height is involved, ladders and climbing equipment will have to be deployed, and additional workers will be on hand to assist in the removal of high branches and large sections of tree trunk. For hauling waste away from the area, a skip or truck will be parked as close to the work area as possible. This requirement for unhindered access is reason enough for informing your nearby neighbours of the work you are intending to do.

AFTER COMPLETION OF WORK - On completion of all the tree work, the whole area can be cleared of all debris, and all of the waste can be transported away. Particularly where the trees are under a protection order, a certificate of work done will then be created by your tree surgeon, which can be signed off and a copy presented to you. Roads and pathways can then be re-opened to the public, with any safety measures in public spaces being taken away.

If you have any complaints about the work, you should get them rectified immediately by first of all speaking to the tree surgeon. If your tree surgeon is a member of a trade body, you can obtain guidance and advice from the International Society of Arboriculture or the Arboricultural Association in order to come to a satisfactory conclusion, if there's any further dispute.

Tree Care Injuries

As has been previously stated on this page, the work that is tackled by tree surgeons and tree care professionals in Broxburn can be highly hazardous. All possible precautions must be taken when carrying out work on trees, because tree work involves a considerable risk of injuries to both operatives, co-workers and passers-by.

As reported by figures gathered by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), the use of chainsaws, falls from trees, and being hit by a falling branch or tree are responsible for the majority of major and fatal injuries. The reality is that those people working in tree care have a greater chance of being seriously injured than those in construction.

The most common tree care accidents are being struck by objects (ropes, cranes, branches, grapple hooks, trees etc), lifting injuries and falling from ladders, when it comes to insurance claims.

All of this highlights the importance of choosing an experienced Broxburn tree surgeon to work on your trees. In the tree care sector, most accidents are down to unskilled workers attempting tasks that they're not trained to do, or capable of. Therefore, to avoid this kind of problem, always try to use a trustworthy and established company that has been trading in the Broxburn area for several years.

Removing Tree Stumps Broxburn

When a tree needs chopping down and removing on your property in Broxburn, there is also a stump to think about. In some circumstances it might be plausible for you to leave the tree stump in place until such time as it breaks down and rots away on it's own. However, a large stump could take a number of years to rot away, and could even produce new suckers in an effort to restore itself to its former glory. Protruding stumps can also be a trip hazard, can attract undesirable pests, and be an eyesore as well.

If you choose to remove the tree stump altogether, there are several ways you can achieve this, but basically they fall under 2 main alternatives stump removal and stump grinding. Purely for the purposes of this piece we'll be focusing on removal rather than stump grinding.

Digging out by hand, chemical treatments and burning, are the 3 main methods of getting rid of a tree stump. If you want to have a go at removing the tree stump for yourself, you could pick any one of these methods where appropriate. If a tree surgeon is going to be undertaking the work, stump grinding is normally their method of choice, however eco-plugging or some other chemically based removal treatment might be suggested.

Stump Burning Techniques: Burning isn't really recommended, and could be at variance with legislation in your area, so take great care if using this approach. You will have to drill a few holes in the tree stump, and pour in some vegetable oil, you'll need to keep the holes topped up over a period of several days until the stump has become totally soaked. The tree stump is then piled up with charcoal or logs and set alight. A fire like this should never be left unwatched, and should be monitored until safe to do so. Make sure that the fire is properly extinguished once it's totally burned out. You will be able to dig out the roots and stump debris once it has completely cooled down.

A different option is digging out all the soil from below the tree stump and lighting a fire in the void underneath. None of these stump burning procedures should ever be used if the stump is close to a building, other trees or fences.

Hand Stump Digging: Digging out a stump by hand will require a few tools such as a handsaw, a chainsaw, loppers and a pointed spade. It involves digging down to uncover the roots, chopping the roots with loppers or saws, and finally freeing the stump, to make it easier to pull out. The use of a winch might be necessary for the final freeing and removal of the tree stump. This type of work is not suited to the faint-hearted or unfit, as it is exhausting and tedious.

Chemical Stump Removers: A powerful chemical substance like Vitax SBK Stump Killer, Resolva Xtra Tough Tree Stump Killer or Roundup Tree Stump Remover, will be required if you choose to proceed down the chemical treatment route. Always read and closely follow the directions for quantities, applications and timings for these chemicals, and bear in mind that they're toxic and often inflammable. The stump will take a few weeks to rot and can then be removed with an axe and spade.

Air-Spading Broxburn

When a tree's health is causing concern, this may be due to any one of a number of issues, but is very often because of problems with the root system. In order to check for root rot, soil compaction, or other problems, a local Broxburn tree surgeon may need to access the roots of your tree.

Because there is a possibility of inflicting damage on the roots during the process of digging, in the past this was a tricky thing to achieve. A system known as "air spading" is employed by some up-to-date and "savvy" tree surgeons in Broxburn, and this allows compacted soil to be broken up and removed by means of compressed air, which avoids causing any harm or damage to the tree's root system.

The general health of a tree can be negatively affected when the soil around the roots becomes compacted by passing vehicles, heavy foot traffic or construction work. A tree can become "stressed" because of a lack of nutrients and water, which renders it more prone to attacks by diseases, pests and insects. Root flare problems can also be an issue, where the flare around the base of the trunk becomes covered in soil, causing it's tissues to break down, and increasing the chance of root decay. Air-spading is useful for resolving this.

This innovative process involves the use of an air-spading tool and an air compressor which blows air directly into the soil at speeds of up to 1,200 mph, the air enters the voids in the soil and immediately breaks it down, while leaving tree roots and nearby utility lines unaffected. The bulk of the soil is blown away from the roots by the powerful air flow, meaning that inspection and investigation can take place immediately. A much looser covering of wood chip mulch and fertiliser can then be put in to encourage the tree to rejuvenate, and a solution implemented for any issues.

Dutch Elm Disease

Although Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) is not quite the concern that is was previously, during the past 50 yrs or more it has wiped out millions of precious elm trees all over Great Britain. Unintentionally imported into Britain, in infected elm logs imported from North America (Canada) in the 1960s, DED (Dutch Elm Disease) is caused by a fungus called Ophiostoma novo-ulmi which is spread by the elm bark beetle (particularly the Scolytus genus).

After its arrival, it quickly spread through the nationwide movement of elm products such as crates, saplings, bark mulch, and firewood logs with the bark on. Believed to have originated in Asia (possibly Japan), DED did not only affect trees in the British Isles, but also ravaged the stocks of elms in continental Europe, North America and New Zealand.

The first signs of DED are:

• Clusters of leaves that turn yellow, wilt and fall.
• Twigs turning into a "shepherd's crook".
• Dark rings or spots in the cross-section of twigs.
• Shoots that die back from the tip.

It generally begins to appear in early summer.

The spread of this disease has been slowed by the removal of infected, dead and dying trees, which has effectively removed the beetle's habitat. There is currently a continuing project for propagating young elms that are resistant to DED.

You could ask for a diagnosis from the THDAS (Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service), or you can get hold of your local tree surgeon for advice and guidance, if you have elm trees in your garden in Broxburn, and are suspicious they may be affected by Dutch Elm Disease.

Tree families affected: Ulmacae and Zelkova.

Vectors - small beetles of the Scolytus and Hylorgopinus genera.

Cause - fungi Ophiostoma Ulmi and Ophiostoma Novo-Ulmi.

Management of Vegetation

Tree surgeons do not simply tackle the care and removal of trees alone, they can also tackle all sorts of overgrown vegetation that is choking your garden and spoiling the whole area. Professional tree surgeons will normally be prepared to cut down weeds, shrubs, bushes and overgrown vegetation that might be growing around pathways, sheds, garages, drives or buildings, and generally being a pain. If you're to maintain your garden correctly then this excess growth should be eradicated regularly, and if you find you have the inclination and time this is a task that you could undertake on your own if you are fit and able enough, or you might ask your local tree surgeon to pay a visit annually to keep it in shape. Vegetation control is important if you're going to keep safe and easy entry to every area of the garden and if this is not done the vegetation and plants will soon become a menace and take a lot of the enjoyment out of your garden. Aside from everything else the garden will also look a lot better when maintained properly. (Tags: Vegetation Management Scotland, De-Vegetation Services Broxburn, Vegetation Control Scotland)

Storm Damage Prevention Broxburn

Although we are all acquainted with the power of Mother Nature, larger trees seem strong, sturdy and capable of standing up to more or less anything. Some tree species can thrive and survive without any problem for many hundreds of years, in particular sweet chestnuts, oaks and yews.

Despite all of this, trees can be vulnerable to adverse weather conditions, and in addition to the danger of falling branches and tree limbs, when confronted by a certain set of conditions trees may also topple over completely, causing lots of damage. High winds pose serious problems for trees, and this sort of damage is becoming more and more common in Broxburn, as the number of severe storms and weather events increases with climate change. Heavy snow during winter can also be an issue, as can waterlogged soil resulting from floods or extended periods of rain.

It is recommended that you get an experienced Broxburn tree surgeon to check out your trees to lessen the likelihood of problems with your trees in times of severe weather, they will trim and remove any dead or overhanging branches that might be a problem.

Copper conductors, lightning rods, or other protection systems are also recommended for larger trees, to prevent them being struck by lightning and to protect nearby property and buildings which could be vulnerable to side-flashes ("arcs") that result in further destruction, in addition to damage done to the tree itself. Trees can be damaged, drastically weakened, or even killed by lightning strikes, they can be split in two, burnt to the ground, or left susceptible to disease, pests or decay - not a happy situation! While you might not think that lightning is that common in Broxburn, each year approximately 300,000 lightning strikes occur throughout the UK.

Ask your local Broxburn tree surgery company what can be done to protect your trees from being damaged by storms and reduce the chance of major consequences should an unsound tree fall down due to extreme weather conditions. (Tags: Storm Damage Prevention Broxburn, Storm Damaged Trees Broxburn, Storm Damage Broxburn).

Skills and Knowledge Required by Tree Surgeons in Broxburn

• Physical skills such as movement and coordination.
• Decent customer skills.
• Good knowledge of public security and safety.
• The capacity to work efficiently with others.
• Have the ability to use, maintain and repair tools and machines.
• Be alert to the complexities and dangers involved with the various areas of the work.
• Be professional and capable of completing tasks within a set timeframe.
• To be able to accomplish common tasks on a hand-held device or computer.
• Have the ability to work with your hands.
• To be thorough and pay attention to detail.
• Patience and the ability to remain focused in times of stress.

Coming Soon:

Stump grinding machines - article 678.

Tree Surgery Tasks Broxburn

Broxburn tree surgeons can usually help with tree transplanting, pest management Broxburn, root pruning in Broxburn, tree reshaping, tree fertilising, tree surveys, drop crotching in Broxburn, cut sealing, woodchipping, fruit tree pruning, tree work, crown thinning Broxburn, shielding trees from grazing in Broxburn, arboriculture, tree care services Broxburn, crown raising, site clearance, damaged tree removal in Broxburn, cabling, root flare exposure, health assessments, coppicing, formative pruning, tree watering, tree felling, woodland clearances, crown lifting, stump treatment, landscaping, tree reduction, tree management Broxburn, retrenchment pruning, emergency tree surgery in Broxburn, domestic tree care, dead wood removal Broxburn and other tree surgeon services in Broxburn, Scotland. Listed are just an example of the tasks that are accomplished by local tree surgeons. Broxburn professionals will be happy to inform you of their full range of services.

Tree Surgeons Near Broxburn: Also find: Wester Dechmont tree surgeons, Uphall tree surgeons, Pumpherston tree surgeons, Dechmont tree surgeons, Boghall tree surgeons, Kirkliston tree surgeons, Winchburgh tree surgeons, Burnside tree surgeons, Deans tree surgeons, Uphall Station tree surgery and more. The majority of these locations are serviced by local tree surgeons. Broxburn householders can obtain tree surgery quotes by going here.

(Created with tree surgeons Broxburn text version four.)

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