Tree Surgeons Chatham

Who you going to call? A tree surgeon! - Tree surgeons in Chatham play a vital role in the maintenance and general care of trees for a wide variety of both private and public customers. There are innumerable examples of services a trained tree surgeon in Chatham may be able to provide: the safe planting of trees, felling, the pruning of invasive, weak or dead branches, hazard assessments and inspections, and general tree maintenance.

However, it's not merely trees that float a tree surgeon's boat! Such tasks as shrub care, stump removal and hedge maintenance and pruning, are among the other duties of a tree surgeon in Chatham. The best person to get in touch with if you have any reservations about a tree's structural integrity is a tree surgeon, since they'll be in a position to inspect your tree, prepare a report on probable hazards, and give you suggestions about ways to proceed.

Any intelligent person in Chatham would realise that tree surgery is an exceedingly dangerous undertaking, and that it shouldn't be completed by someone who is not properly trained. Whilst forgoing the costs and going for a do-it-yourself approach may seem tempting, this would certainly not be a wise decision. To carry out the work that they do, tree surgeons need to be qualified, physically fit and experienced.

Tree surgery will very often involve using dangerous chainsaws and power tools while elevated in the air and harnessed to a tree. So, you can see why it is not a task for novices! Tree surgery is also commonly conducted by a gang of skilled tree surgeons, including climbers and a ground team, who are all experts in the field. An untrained individual would find it virtually impossible to carry out the work with anything close to this level of competence, experience and risk assessment.

The initial step following deciding you need the assistance of a tree surgeon is obtaining a good one in Chatham. But, how should you accomplish this? Well, there are a few things you will want to check, for instance qualifications and costs. Below we have summarized some handy tips for acquiring the ideal Chatham tree surgeon to maintain your trees.

The first step will be to determine whether they have the right certifications, this should give you confidence that they are properly accredited and competent. The governing body for tree surgeons and the one that issues qualifications is the the NPTC (National Proficiency Tests Council). At the very minimum, any tree surgeon in Chatham should hold the following certificates:

• NPTC 203 (CS31) - Fell & process trees up to 380mm (15 inches).
• NPTC 308 (CS39) - Chainsaw use from rope and harness.
• NPTC 201/202 (CS30) - Chainsaw maintenance & crosscutting.
• NPTC 206/306 (CS38) - Climb a tree and carry out aerial rescue.

Holding such qualifications both shows that they've got a good level of training, and gives you the peace of mind that the job will be carried out in a safe and successful manner, even though there is no legal obligation for tree surgeons to have such certifications. Arborists, tree surgeons and forestry workers should always carry a First Aid kit and have some basic First Aid training, because of the risks of catastrophic bleeding and falling from height.

Getting a few price quotes will be the next step, together with checking the cost breakdown. It is a good idea to obtain 3 or 4 quotes from different tree surgeons in the Chatham area. Occasionally, the estimated cost won't include the removal of the vast amount of waste typically created by tree surgery. The removal of waste can be costly and inconvenient for the client therefore it's certainly better to get the tree surgeons to remove this themselves if you can.

When you meet up with prospective tree surgeons in Chatham, you should also be prepared to ask a number of key questions. By way of example, you need to establish who is going to be accessing your property and doing the actual work. Will it involve just one individual on their own, or will it be a whole crew of arborists? Is it possible to meet up with them beforehand? What methodology are going to be used for removing or dealing with your tree? Precisely how long is the task going to take? Is there going to be any impact of my home or my next door neighbours?

To avert any unexpected surprises as work progresses, ask as many questions as you like.

Last but not least, listen carefully to how your tree surgeon speaks. More specifically, listen carefully to the way they describe the work, because this can be helpful for evaluating their standards of expertise and professionalism prior to starting the work. If someone is referring to 'lopping and topping', this is associated with the more old-fashioned workers, who might not be up to speed with modern technologies and techniques. A skilled, experienced and professional tree surgeon in Chatham should be using the correct terminology like 'crown lifting', 'crown thinning', 'dead wooding', 'pruning' and 'crown reduction'. Although simply using the right terms is not always indicative of a person's ability, it can give valuable clues about your tree surgeon's level of experience.

In the final analysis, with regards to tree surgery or tree care, it's always worth the effort of considering a variety of tree surgeons in Chatham. If you find the right one, you can rely on having a professionally undertaken job, accounting for all possible hazards and making certain that all of your requirements are fully met in a timely manner.

A Tree Surgeons's Daily Duties

• Establish dangers posed by trees.
• Deal with customers and complete admin duties.
• Fell and remove trees and grind stumps.
• Plant trees and vegetation.
• Cut and chip branches and logs.
• Maintain and service equipment like chainsaws and chippers.
• Tidy work area upon completion and remove waste products from client's site.
• Be competent using power tools and other powered equipment.
• Evaluate the health of trees and create plans of action.
• Produce tree survey reports for domestic and commercial clients.
• Climb trees to remove or prune branches as required.
• Create telephone or on-site quotations for customers.

Dutch Elm Disease

Not quite the concern now that it was previously, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) has wiped out many millions of precious elm trees right through the United Kingdom over the last fifty years or more. Spread by the elm bark beetle and caused by the Ophiostoma novo-ulmi fungus, DED (Dutch Elm Disease) was unintentionally brought into the UK from Canada in the late 1960's.

Its swift spread was primarily down to to elm products such as saplings, mulching bark, elm crates, and firewood logs with the bark still attached, being moved throughout the UK. This awful disease didn't only impact elms in Great Britain, but also decimated tree stocks in mainland Europe, North America and New Zealand. While the origins of Dutch Elm Disease are as yet unknown, the suspicion is that it first originated in Asia (possibly Japan).

Dutch Elm Disease generally first manifests in early summer, and the main signs are:

• Shoots that die back from the tip.
• Twigs with dark streaks under the bark.
• Clusters of leaves that turn yellow, wilt and fall.
• Twigs that turn into a "shepherd's crook" shape.

The spread of Dutch Elm Disease has been substantially slowed down by the removal of dying, infected and dead trees, which has essentially decimated the elm bark beetle's favourite habitat. The propagation of young saplings that have so far proved resistant to DED is being undertaken.

You can put in a request for a diagnosis from the Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service, or you can get hold of your neighbourhood tree surgeon for help and advice, if you have elm trees in your garden in Chatham, and are suspicious that they might be afflicted with DED.

Trees affected - Ulmus and Zelkova.

Agent of spread - beetles of the Scolytus family.

Cause - fungi Ophiostoma Ulmi & Ophiostoma Novo-Ulmi.

Tree Cable Bracing Chatham

In certain situations where a tree is showing signs of damage, decay, or is a danger to nearby property or persons, a method called cable bracing will sometimes be used to support the tree. When older or specimen trees in Chatham are concerned, cable bracing is used where it is unsatisfactory to fell a tree or remove large portions that are unstable.

The fitting of a cable bracing setup could be an option to support the poor joints, weak limbs and V-shaped forks of a tree. To help alleviate structural tension and extend the life of old and specimen trees most Chatham tree surgeons will be equipped to conduct different forms of bracing work by the installation of rods and cables.

The goal of cable bracing is to deliver a non-invasive means of support that doesn't cause damage to the tree by having to drill and bolt the branches, and one that is is both flexible and shock-absorbing. Before any actual work can proceed, an extensive risk risk assessment must be done to guarantee the safety of the tree and encircling areas. (Tags: Cable Bracing Trees Chatham, Cable Bracing Techniques Chatham, Tree Cable Bracing Chatham, Cable Bracing Chatham).

Tree Preservation Orders Chatham

Another consideration before beginning work on your trees, is whether they've got a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on them. You must check with your local authority to make certain that none of the trees on your property are protected by TPOs. If there are Tree Preservation Orders on any of your trees, you'll need consent in writing from the local authority to carry out any of the following: wilful damage, removal, cutting down, uprooting, topping, lopping or wilful destruction. Speak to your tree surgeon if you are anxious about this - they'll be happy to check all this out for you.

If you happen to reside within a conservation area in Chatham, you should always talk to your council concerning any tree surgery work, and if the tree involved has a diameter of over 75mm (when measured 1.5m from the ground), you have to give your local authority a minimum of 6 wks notice in writing.

Logs/Firewood Chatham

Of course, you may be looking for a tree surgeon for a completely different reason, since they're often a great source for firewood and logs in Chatham. This is no great surprise, as tree surgeons spend the majority of their life cutting down trees and branches.

Some tree surgeons in the Chatham area will be happy to let you have logs and branches cost-free, since they always have plenty of them to get rid of, while others will charge you for seasoned and chopped logs which have been dried out and are ready for burning.

The perfect logs for burning on your log burner or open fire will be those that have a moisture content of under 20 percent, and will have been left to dry out for at least 12 months. The advantage of getting logs from tree surgeons, is that these are likely to be mostly assorted hardwood logs, that will last and throw out heat for 3 or 4 hours, and give a sustained burn. The downside of hardwood logs is that they can be quite tricky to light, therefore if you are able to acquire some softwood logs, these are fantastic for initially getting your fire started. (Tags: Firewood Logs Chatham, Seasones Logs Chatham, Firewood and Logs Chatham, Firewood Chatham).

Air-Spading Chatham

There are various problems that could make the health of your trees a concern, but issues with the root system are quite frequently the cause. So as to check for root rot, soil compaction, or other issues, a local Chatham tree surgeon might need to access the roots of your tree.

During the past this was quite problematic, due to the likelihood of root damage during the digging down process. The technique that some modern day tree surgeons use is called "air spading", whereby compressed air is used to break up and clear away compacted soil without causing damage to tree roots or underground utilities.

The general health of a tree can be affected when the soil around the roots becomes compacted by building work, heavy foot traffic or passing vehicles. A tree can become "stressed" due to a lack of nutrients and water, which renders it more prone to attack by disease, pests and insects. Root flare issues can also be corrected with air-spading, and this is where the flare around the base of the stem gets covered with too much soil, heightening the possibility of root rot by causing it's tissues to break down.

Directing air into the soil at speeds of up to twelve hundred miles per hour, the air-spading process necessitates the use of an air compressor and an air-spade tool which forces air into voids in the soil, causing it to break down rapidly, but not affecting the tree roots or utilities. As the soil is directed away from the tree's roots by the powerful air flow, immediate inspection can be accomplished. A much looser covering of wood chip mulch and fertiliser can then be applied to rejuvenate the tree, and a resolution found for any issues. (Tags: Air-Spade Investigations Chatham, Air-Spading Chatham, Air-Spade Chatham).

Tree Surveys Chatham

There are a number of occasions when a tree survey might be needed, land development and property extension being the most frequent. If you happen to be clearing a piece of land to prepare for the building of a new home or an extension to an existing property in Chatham, for instance, you will need to perform a tree survey to British Standards BS5837 (2012) if trees are growing on that land. Whether a survey is being carried out on a public or private property, it must be completed by a certified Chatham tree surgeon or arborist.

A whole bunch of information about the trees within a defined area will be gleaned by a properly conducted tree survey. For example:

• The branch spread to West, North, South and East.
• The ages of the trees.
• The species of trees (either scientific or common).
• Preliminary tree management advice.
• The existence of any TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders).
• The structural and physiological health of the trees.
• The allocation of a tree reference number for each tree.
• The number of trees.
• The life expectancy of the trees.
• The height of each tree.
• The diameter of each tree (measured 1.5m above ground level).

If you are carrying out work on an existing home or property in Chatham, but aren't modifying the access points or service lines, or extending the property's footprint, you will most likely not need to do a tree survey.

Skills and Knowledge Required by Tree Surgeons in Chatham

• Being able to work alongside other people.
• Physical skills such as movement and co-ordination.
• Be professional and able to complete work within the set timeframe.
• Have the ability to repair, use and maintain equipment and tools.
• Patience and the ability to stay focused in times of stress.
• Good customer skills.
• Have necessary computer skills and know how to carry out tasks on handheld devices.
• Be alert to the complexities and dangers involved in all areas of tree work.
• Good knowledge of public security and safety.
• Have the ability to work with your hands.
• To be thorough and pay close attention to detail.

Woodland Clearance Chatham

Woodland clearance in the Chatham area must only be started after any regulatory measures and restrictions have been put in place and observed. Calling on the services of a qualified Chatham tree surgeon for your woodland clearance project, will see them applying for any required permits, observing applicable covenants and protection orders, and using environmentally friendly methods in clearing the area.

A good tree surgeon will check if there are any felling restrictions, special planning permissions or ecological constraints by conducting a full site survey and having discussions with the local council. Mitigation strategies might need to be employed if there is protected animals or plant species in the area; this could require the relocation of wildlife such as lizards or bats, and the replanting of rare trees to another protected site.

It will be far more cost effective to call on a certified Chatham tree surgeon to carry out your clearance work, given that the chipping, mulching and felling equipment that is needed is extremely pricey.

Coming Soon:

Stump grinding machines - article 246.

Tree Surgery Tasks Chatham

Chatham tree surgeons will likely help you with shrub maintenance, safety inspections, tree planning in Chatham, staking, tree bracing, vegetation management, dead wooding, site clearance, air spading in Chatham, crown lifting Chatham, the removal of dead wood, eco plug treatments, root pruning, pest management, tree watering in Chatham, brush cutting services, commercial tree care Chatham, cut sealing, woodchipping, tree shaping Chatham, woodland management, drop crotching, stump grinding, crown thinning, damaged tree removal, tree reduction, tree lopping, stump treatment, retrenchment pruning, root removal, tree removal, crown cleaning in Chatham, the protection of trees from grazing in Chatham, expert tree care in Chatham, hedge trimming in Chatham and other tree surgeon services in Chatham, Kent. These are just a selection of the duties that are undertaken by tree surgeons. Chatham specialists will be delighted to keep you abreast of their entire range of services.

Tree Surgeons Near Chatham: Also find: Brompton tree surgeons, Upnor tree surgeons, Lower Upnor tree surgeons, Medway City Estate tree surgeons, Wigmore tree surgeons, Walderslade tree surgeons, Borstal tree surgeons, St Marys Island tree surgeons, Burham tree surgeons, Hempstead tree surgeons, Capstone tree surgeons, Wainscott tree surgery and more. All of these areas are catered for by qualified tree surgeons. Chatham home and property owners and others can get quotes by going here.

More Chatham Trades: Undoubtedly, whenever you're having tree surgery done in Chatham, Kent, you will probably need other garden related services, and along with a tree surgeon in Chatham, Kent, you might additionally need garden clearances in Chatham, fencers in Chatham, landscaping services in Chatham, lawn mowing in Chatham, block paving in Chatham, planting services in Chatham, garden pond installation in Chatham, local SKIP HIRE in Chatham, soil irrigation in Chatham, hedge cutting in Chatham, patio installers in Chatham, garden decking in Chatham, garden waste removal in Chatham, artifical grass in Chatham, garden sheds in Chatham, garden design and planning in Chatham, and other different Chatham tradespeople.

(Sourced from tree surgeons Chatham text version three.)

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