Tree Surgeons Cheltenham

There is an enormous risk of damage to the trees, to property or to life, for those in Cheltenham who try to do tree work themselves, or by hiring a non-qualified individual. But even hiring an established tree surgeon who knows all the hazards doesn't mean that tree work is safe. The reality is tree surgery is among the most dangerous jobs in the United Kingdom, with an average of a hundred and forty serious injuries and three deaths each year within the industry, thus it's definitely not safe work for amateurs to do.

A neglected or damaged tree can also be a risk to life, with around 5 people annually being killed by falling trees or branches in Britain. If you employ someone to do tree work and subsequently an injury, or damage to property occurs, you might be liable to third-party compensation claims as a consequence of your actions. This is why using a competent Cheltenham tree surgeon to do the work on your trees is important. (The above figures were sourced from HSE UK).

CHOOSING A TREE SURGEON IN CHELTENHAM - A trained Cheltenham tree surgeon will likely be an approved member of one or both of the 2 major industry bodies. The professional status and membership of any tree surgeon in Cheltenham can be checked on the websites of both the AA (Arboricultural Association) and the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture). To find out if any specific local tree surgeon has ARB Approved Contractor status and has membership of either of these 2 associations, you can check on this webpage.

For arbitration assistance and for help and advice at any point during or after the tree work has been completed, you will be able to contact either one of these industry associations.

If anybody who you're unable to find on this directory list offers to provide you with a quotation, you should tactfully decline their offer of work and find an approved contractor. You should try and get at least three different price quotes from various companies in and around Cheltenham when you have reassured yourself of their professional associations and accreditations. Whilst getting the quotations you must ask the questions below, making it clear that you need the answers due to the risks involved with the work:

• Do you give written quotations? You should only ever accept a written quote. NEVER settle for a verbal quote alone.
• Do you have documents to indicate that you have the correct qualifications, membership of the AA or ISA, and also a certificate for chainsaw use and maintenance from the NPTC/LANTRA? The NPTC/LANTRA is a required certificate in law for any tree worker using a chainsaw. A trained Cheltenham tree surgeon will probably hold Certificates and National Diplomas in Arboriculture.
• What level of insurance coverage do you have? Your tree surgeon ought to be able to show you an insurance certificate covering no less than five million pounds public liability, as stated by the ISA and AA.
• Is It Possible To contact a recent person you have worked for so that I can inspect the standard of your tree work? It is advisable to do an independent examination of any recent work.

Easy to understand details of all the work that's to be undertaken should be included on the written quotation. It should include details of any trees which could be protected in law, and the steps necessary to obtain permission to work on them, and also state who's responsible for the removal of waste, tree branches and stumps. You should also ensure that VAT is included on the quote unless you are a commercial business. Recognising that you've got a responsibility to hire only skilled tradespeople to work on your trees and property, is very important. This is laid out by the "Common law duty of care responsibilities under the Occupier's Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984."

PRIOR TO WORK BEGINNING - Checking into the possibility of any trees having protected status, your chosen Cheltenham tree surgeon should make certain that any work can get the go-ahead from the appropriate local authorities. Even protected trees require maintenance so as to cut back dead or dying wood and ensure public safety, so finding a tree has protected status doesn't mean that work can't be carried out.

At least 6 weeks written notice must be given to the Local Planning Authority before any tree work can be carried out, if your property in Cheltenham is within a designated conservation area. This written notice is not required if the stem of the tree is less than 7.5cm in diameter when measured at 1.5 metres from ground level. If a protected tree's branches need thinning or pruning to sustain and encourage growth, it is also not necessary to supply notice.

Your chosen Cheltenham tree surgeon will decide on the remedial treatment needed and how best to achieve the required outcome in a safe manner after conducting a complete assessment of your trees health. Your property, public spaces and any sections of a neighbour's property that could be impacted by falling branches and debris will all be given a full risk assessment. The level of protection needed and the quantity of workers required, will also be ascertained at this point. This is both personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as other safety precautions to keep property and the general public safe from harm or damage.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - To keep unauthorised persons away from the area of work, barriers and safety measures will be put in place before any tree felling, climbing or cutting of branches commences. Traffic may need to be stopped temporarily if there's a threat of falling debris onto a public road.

Different levels of protection will be necessary for the tree surgeon subject to what tree work needs to be carried out. When working with a chainsaw, they will as a bare minimum be wearing protective clothing to prevent serious cutting injuries to the torso, hands and legs. Without exception, every operative involved in the work should wear head and eye protection, and high-vis clothing.

If working at height is involved, ladders and safety climbing equipment will need to be used, and extra operatives will be there to help with the removal of high branches and sections of tree trunk. For removing waste materials, easy access to the work site will be necessary. Therefore, it is advisable to inform your next door neighbours, as a skip or other transportation vehicle will need to be stationed as close to the work area as possible while the work progresses.

AFTER COMPLETION OF WORK - The whole area can be cleared of all debris, and all the waste materials can be transported away, after all of the work has been concluded. Your tree surgeon should then sign off and provide you with a certificate of work, especially where the trees are under a protection order. If there were any public areas that required safety measures, this protection can be removed and roads and pathways will be re-opened.

If you have any complaints about the completed work, you should get them put right straight away by firstly speaking to the tree surgeon. If your tree surgeon is a signed up member of a trade body, and there is any further dispute or arbitration required, you can obtain advice and guidance from the Arboricultural Association or the International Society of Arboriculture in order to reach an acceptable solution.

Conservation Areas & Tree Preservation Orders Cheltenham

Before you do any serious work on your trees in Cheltenham, you must make certain that there is not a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on any of them. To check whether any of your trees are subject to Tree Preservation Orders, speak to your local planning authority. A TPO forbids the removal, lopping, cutting down, wilful destruction, uprooting, wilful damage or topping of any tree which is covered. Ask your tree surgeon about this if you have any concerns - they'll be able to check this out for you.

Also, if you propose to undertake any work on a tree with a diameter of 75 millimetres or more, and you live in a conservation area in Cheltenham, you have to give your local council a minimum of 6 weeks written notice of the work. (Tags: TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders) Cheltenham, Tree Preservation Orders Cheltenham, Tree Preservation Order (TPO) Cheltenham).

Accidents Through Tree Surgery

As we've already pointed out, tree surgeons in Cheltenham undertake work that can be highly dangerous. All possible precautions must be taken when carrying out work on trees, because tree work involves a significant risk of injury to both operatives, co-workers and passers-by.

According to figures gathered by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the use of chainsaws, falls from trees, and being hit by a falling tree or branch are the cause of the vast majority of major and fatal injuries. Surprisingly, the risk of serious injury is higher in tree surgery work than it is for those involved in the construction industry.

When it comes to insurance claims the most frequent tree work accidents involve falling from ladders, lifting injuries and being struck by objects (branches, ropes, trees, cranes, grapple hooks etc).

This will all help you to understand why it is so critical to employ an experienced tree surgeon in Cheltenham. Most accidents in the tree care industry are attributable to inexperienced workers trying to tackle tasks that they are not fully trained in. Therefore, using an experienced and reputable company that's been trading in the Cheltenham area for several years, is the easiest way to avoid such issues.

Vegetation Management

Tree care specialists don't simply work on the removal and care of trees exclusively, they can additionally help with all types of overgrown vegetation which may be choking your yard and taking over the whole area. Many tree surgeons will be delighted to get rid off overgrown vegetation, weeds, bushes and shrubs which may be growing around sheds, driveways, paths, patios or buildings, and generally creating a problem. If you're to maintain your precious garden properly then all of this accumulating growth needs to be eradicated on a regular basis, and if you find you've got the inclination and time then this is definitely a job that you might accomplish yourself if you're fit and well, or you might book in a tree surgeon to call occasionally to keep it in check. The control of vegetation is vital if you're going to maintain safe and easy access to all sections of your property and if this is ignored the vegetation and plants can pretty quickly take over and lessen the enjoyment of your garden. Besides anything else the garden will also look a lot better when maintained properly.

Dutch Elm Disease

Devastating tree stocks and killing off millions of elm trees throughout the UK during the last five decades or so, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) is not so common now, as it was previously. Inadvertently imported into Great Britain, by way of elm logs imported from North America (Canada) in the late Sixties, Dutch Elm Disease is caused by a fungus called Ophiostoma novo-ulmi which is spread by the elm bark beetle (Scolytus).

After its arrival, it spread rapidly through the transportation of elm products such as bark mulch, elm crates, saplings, and logs with the bark still attached. This terrible disease did not only affect elms in Britain, but also devastated elm stocks in continental Europe, North America and New Zealand. Whilst the origins of DED are as yet unknown, the suspicion is that it first came from Asia (most likely Japan).

Typically first manifesting in early summer, the main symptoms of DED disease are:

• Twigs with rings or spots in cross-section.
• Affected shoots dying back from the tips.
• Clusters of leaves turning yellow, wilting and falling.
• Twigs turning into a "shepherd's crook".

Due to disease and the chopping down of infected, dying and dead trees, there are now very few large elms remaining in Great Britain's countryside, therefore the spread has slowed and the beetle's favourite habitat largely eradicated. New saplings have also been propagated from elms that up to now have proved resistant.

If you are suspicious you may have elm trees in your garden in Cheltenham, that may be infected with DED, you can ask for a diagnosis from the THDAS (Tree Health Diagnostic & Advisory Service), or contact your local tree surgeon for advice and guidance.

Trees affected - Ulmus and Zelkova.

Spread by - small beetles of the Scolytus and Hylorgopinus genera.

Cause - fungi Ophiostoma Novo-Ulmi and Ophiostoma Ulmi.

Air-Spading Cheltenham

When you are worried about the health of a tree, it may be down to various factors, but problems with the root system is a common cause of such worries. Easy access to your tree's roots will be necessary for a professional Cheltenham tree surgeon to check for soil compaction, root rot and other plausible issues.

Because there is a likelihood of causing damage to the roots during the process of digging, in the past this was a difficult thing to achieve. The method that some modern day tree surgeons use is called "air spading", whereby compressed air is used to break down and clear away compacted soil without damaging tree roots or underground utilities.

The soil around tree roots can sometimes become compacted by building work, passing vehicles or foot traffic, and this is recognised as having a negative effect on the general health of a tree. When a tree is "stressed" it can become more vulnerable to attacks by disease, insects and pests, and this stress can be caused by a lack of nutrients and water. Also ideal for fixing root flare problems, air-spading can be employed to successfully remove the excess soil from the base of a tree which has been covered, heightening the chance of root rot.

By forcing air into voids in the soil at a speed of twelve hundred miles per hour by means of an air-spade tool and an air compressor, the ingenious air-spading process quickly breaks down the soil without damaging harming the tree roots. All the soil is blown away from the roots by the highly powerful air flow, meaning that immediate inspection and investigation can take place. A resolution can then be found for any issues, and the previously compact soil replaced with wood mulch and fertiliser to help revive the tree. (Tags: Air-Spading Cheltenham, Air-Spade Investigations Cheltenham, Air-Spade Cheltenham).

Cable Bracing Trees Cheltenham

A procedure that is employed to support a tree when it has signs of decay or damage or is a risk to nearby property or persons, cable bracing can be really beneficial in the right circumstances. Where it is undesirable to fell a tree or remove large, unsafe sections, because the tree is valuable or old, cable bracing can be an effective solution.

A cable bracing set-up can be effective in supporting any weak limbs, poor joints and V-shaped forks that may be causing some concerns. Carrying out different forms of bracing work, a skilled tree care specialist should be able to use cables and rods to help alleviate structural tension, and hopefully extend the lifespan of veteran trees in Cheltenham.

Cable bracing has the aim of offering a shock-absorbing and flexible means of support which is non-invasive and does not cause further damage to the tree by having to drill and bolt the branches. Before any actual work can proceed, a comprehensive risk risk assessment should be undertaken to guarantee the safety of the tree and encircling areas. (Tags: Cable Bracing Cheltenham, Cable Bracing Methods Cheltenham, Tree Cable Bracing Cheltenham, Cable Bracing Trees Cheltenham).

Deadwooding Cheltenham

The procedure of dead-wooding is a vital element of tree management in Cheltenham, and any skilled tree surgeon should be able to offer you this service. When there is a risk of dying or dead branches falling onto homes, vehicles or passers-by, dead-wooding will be undertaken to remove the offending limbs. The branches of a tree can die due to a number of different reasons, the most typical being diseases, damaged roots, attack by pests or a lack of light.

While the usual motive for getting rid of dead branches is one of safety, it is also done to benefit the tree, or for aesthetic reasons. A tree that has an excessive amount of damaged, dead and dying branches is prone to disease and insect infestations, so you can greatly improve the health of a tree by removing these offending branches. You can also make a tree look more attractive through this procedure, because a tree with lots of dead wood can also look very ugly.

Only larger dead branches will be taken off in most situations, as a minimal risk is posed by the smaller ones. Having said that, where trees are hanging over a highway, a park, a house, a garden or a public area in Cheltenham, it might be recommended to remove any dead branches that are in excess of fifty millimetres in diameter.

Wood Chipping Cheltenham

In order to process the large amount of tree limbs, branches and vegetation that are the result of their work, the majority of Cheltenham tree surgeons will utilise wood chipping machines. Subject to the equipment being used, these powerful wood chipping systems can munch up as much as forty tonnes of material per hour, although approximately 5 tonnes each hour can be processed by the more commonly used machines.

As well as providing a valuable material that can be used for a range of purposes including; landscaping, biomass solid fuel, garden walkways, wood pulp, mulch for gardens, ecosystem restoration, mushroom cultivation and weed prevention, chopping down the tree branches in this way makes them less cumbersome to transport.

Should you decide that you wish to keep some of the wood chippings that your tree surgery project generates, most Cheltenham tree surgeons will happily let you keep them. If you've got no use for them, they'll take them away for use on other assignments, or ethically dispose of them. As I am sure you'll appreciate by reading this article, tree surgeons are the best source for wood chippings that you can use throughout your garden in Cheltenham, whether you actually need tree surgery or not. Some tree surgeons will want paying for wood chippings, particularly if you want them delivered, others will allow you to have them for free.

Hyundai, Forest Master, Timberwolf and Forst, are among the most popular brands of wood chipping machines.

Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus Fraxineus)

A chronic fungal disease of ash trees that was first recorded in the United Kingdom in 2012, ash dieback is expected to decimate around 80 percent of the current ash trees. Set to have a huge impact on our countryside, ash dieback is destined to be just as disastrous as the previous outbreak of Dutch Elm Disease (DED).

A disease which affects the Fraxinus genus of trees, it has a particularly disastrous effect on Fraxinus excelsior, the common ash that is native to the British Isles. The fungus which causes ash dieback is called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, and it originally came from eastern Asia.

Ash dieback has now spread to most areas of the United Kingdom, and is dispersed by spores that blow on the wind, which are produced by the fruiting bodies of the fungus, and can travel for many miles, quickening the process.

The unmistakeable signs of ash dieback are:

• Dark brown necrotic lesions (often diamond shaped) form where branches connect to trunk, and the inner bark under the lesions looks brownish grey.
• Dying leaves and shoots are visible in summer.
• Wilting leaves that turn black in colour and are shed prematurely.
• New epicormic growth appears from previously dormant buds (common in trees under stress).
• Leaves with dark patches that appear during mid to late summer.

Even ash trees which have the ability to fend off the disease, suffer repeated attacks year-on-year and sooner or later succumb and perish. There is currently no effective treatment for chalara ash dieback, and no clear procedure for stopping it spreading.

If you think you have discovered a tree infected with ash dieback on your property in Cheltenham, or in the neighbourhood, you can report it to the Forestry Commission's "Tree Alert Service", although chalara ash dieback is so commonplace throughout Great Britain that they're really only interested in hearing about cases found in locations not previously affected. You should still however speak to a local tree surgeon, who will offer guidance about how best to proceed.

Tree Transplanting Cheltenham

Excavating mature trees and transplanting them in an alternative location may sound tricky, but with powerful, modern lifting equipment and truck mounted tree spades, it's become a relatively straightforward project. A professional tree removal contractor in Cheltenham will be able to move any trees you have on your land, or transplant adult trees to add a great new look to your garden.

If you've got no choice but to transplant a tree in Cheltenham during the warmer seasons of spring and summer, you must lessen the stress of the process on the tree's root-ball by thoroughly soaking the soil before any work is started. To raise a tree from the earth a truck mounted mechanical tree spade is forced down into the dirt to encompass the main root ball, before lifting the whole thing free. The uplifted tree can then be replanted or temporarily stored before its transplanting in its new home.

Even protected trees can be transplanted by a specialist tree moving service in Cheltenham, as long as all applicable preservation orders and authorisations are given by the woodland organisations and authorities. It should be possible to get tree transplanting services in Alstone, Staverton, Shurdington, Charlton Kings, Leckhampton, Battledown, Uckington, Warden Hill, Montpelier, Rowanfield, Swindon Village, Pittville, Whaddon, Benhall, Lynworth, and Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.. (Tags: Tree Transplanting Cheltenham, Tree Replanting Cheltenham, Tree Moving Cheltenham).

Eco-Plugging Stump Removal Cheltenham

If you've got a large stump in your garden which needs to be removed, the common procedure used by most Cheltenham tree surgeons is stump grinding. However, these days "eco-plugging" is touted as a more affordable solution to this issue. It isn't simply the point that eco-plugging is cheaper that makes it an attractive method for stump removal, but also that it can be used in inaccessible locations which might be difficult to access with bulky stump grinding machines.

Eco-plugging is an exceptionally effective treatment for killing tree stumps and does not affect the surrounding vegetation and trees. Eco-plugs destroy the whole root system of a stump and can be utilised at any time of the year and in any weather conditions. Containing a type of crystalline glyphosate herbicide which is effective on a variety of trees, eco-plugs work in 95-100% of cases. (Tags: Eco-Plugs Cheltenham, Eco-Plug Treatment Cheltenham, Eco-Plugging Cheltenham, Eco-Plugging Tree Stumps Cheltenham).

Woodland Clearance Cheltenham

Engaging in woodland clearance in the Cheltenham area can have national and local limitations in place, contingent on where the ground is, and what bio-diversity is found in the place to be cleared. Hiring the services of an experienced Cheltenham tree surgeon for your woodland clearance project, will see them applying for any permits, following applicable protection orders and covenants, and using environmentally friendly techniques for conduction the clearance.

A tree surgeon will determine if there are any ecological constraints, special planning permissions or felling restrictions by carrying out a full habitat survey and liaising with local authorities. Mitigation strategies may need to be employed if there's protected plant or animal species in the area; this could require replanting of trees and relocation of animals, such as lizards or bats to another protected site.

It is going to be far more cost effective to bring in an accredited Cheltenham tree care company to complete your clearance project, as the chipping, felling and mulching equipment that is necessary is extremely pricey.

A Tree Surgeons's Daily Tasks

• Plant trees and vegetation.
• Prepare tree survey reports for domestic and commercial clients.
• Climb trees to prune or remove branches as required.
• Deal with customers and complete administration duties.
• Fell and remove trees and perform stump grinding.
• Produce telephone or on-site quotes for clients.
• Service equipment like chainsaws and wood chippers.
• Cut and chip logs and branches.
• Be competent using power tools and machinery.
• Evaluate the health of trees and prepare treatment plans.
• Establish dangers presented by trees.
• Clean up site on completion and remove waste products from customer's site.

The Use of Chainsaws

The most dangerous and perhaps the most widely used piece of equipment employed by Cheltenham tree surgeons, is the chainsaw. The most popular style of chainsaw with tree care professionals is the petrol driven version, being easily handled and more portable, although you can obtain rechargeable battery chainsaws and mains operated ones. For cutting through thick limbs and trunks, petrol chainsaws are really the only effective option, being robust, powerful and able to contend with even the heaviest of tree work.

Consisting of a revolving chain armed with a series of sharp teeth that is driven by a motor and cuts through the branches and wood, a chainsaw is actually a relatively simple piece of equipment. Chainsaws are also available in a variety of types, each having its own specific use - rear-handled for work at ground level (must always be used with two hands), top-handled for working at height (and which can be operated single handedly if necessary) and pole saws for long distance pruning and hard to reach branches.

Despite the fact that holding onto a twirling blade whilst balancing precariously high up in a tree is not the safest job on the planet, it is rare to find an experienced Cheltenham tree surgeon who doesn't use a chainsaw in their everyday activities. To be able to gain membership of the AA (Arboricultural Association), being fully trained in the safe use and maintenance of chainsaws is one of the main requirements for professional tree surgeons.

Although there are many different chainsaw brands available to professionals, the most popular in Cheltenham are Stihl, Hyundai, Husqvarna and Makita.

Coming Soon:

Stump grinding machines - article 678.

Tree Surgery Tasks Cheltenham

Cheltenham tree surgeons can generally help you with damaged tree removal, cabling, woodland clearances, drop crotching, forestry management, emergency tree removal, brush cutting services Cheltenham, landscape clearance, tree bracing, pest management Cheltenham, vegetation management, tree fertilising, cut sealing, crown cleaning, stump treatment, tree watering Cheltenham, tree shaping, retrenchment pruning, hedge lowering Cheltenham, woodchipping, tree health monitoring Cheltenham, hazard assessment in Cheltenham, tree topping in Cheltenham, woodland management, root removal, tree lopping, root grinding, shielding trees from grazing, dead wooding, tree pruning, hedge laying, tree pollarding, stump removal, safety inspections in Cheltenham, tree lightening protection and other tree surgeon services in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. These are just some of the duties that are conducted by local tree surgeons. Cheltenham professionals will inform you of their entire range of services.

Tree Surgeons Near Cheltenham: Also find: Pittville tree surgeons, Battledown tree surgeons, Swindon Village tree surgeons, Uckington tree surgeons, Montpelier tree surgeons, Staverton tree surgeons, Rowanfield tree surgeons, Whaddon tree surgeons, Benhall tree surgeons, Warden Hill tree surgeons, Charlton Kings tree surgeons, Shurdington tree surgeons, Lynworth tree surgeons, Leckhampton tree surgeons, Alstone tree surgery and more. All of these locations are serviced by local tree surgeons. Cheltenham home and business owners can obtain quotes by going here.

(Sourced from tree surgeons Cheltenham text version four.)

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