Tree Surgeons Falkirk

Who you gonna call? Tree surgeons! - For a wide variety of clients in Falkirk - both commercial and residential, tree surgeons provide a crucial service in the maintenance and general care of trees. Tree related services like: the safe planting of trees, inspections and hazard assessments, the pruning of dead, invasive or weakened branches, tree felling and removal, as well as general tree care, are only a few examples of what a trained Falkirk tree surgeon can offer.

However, it isn't merely trees that get a tree surgeon's pulse racing! Such things as hedge care, maintenance and trimming and stump removal, are amongst the other responsibilities of a tree surgeon in Falkirk. If you've got a tree on your property in Falkirk, and have got concerns about its structural integrity, a tree surgeon is the right person to hire, as they'll be in a position to inspect your tree, prepare a report on possible hazards, and give you suggestions about what to do next.

As it is such a highly hazardous business, tree surgery is most certainly a process that should only be attempted by a professionally trained person. Although you might be tempted to avoid the costs and go for the do-it-yourself approach, it is definitely not the wisest decision to make. To be able to carry out this type of work, tree surgeons need to be experienced, qualified and physically fit.

Tree surgery often involves the use of dangerous chainsaws and power tools while high up in the air and harnessed to a tree. So, you can understand why it is not an activity for beginners! Tree surgery work is also usually carried out by a team of experienced tree surgeons, including climbers and a ground team, who are all specialists in the field. An untrained individual would find it more or less impossible to carry out the work with this level of risk assessment, competence and experience.

The initial step following deciding that you need the assistance of a tree surgeon is locating a good one in Falkirk. But, what is the best way to accomplish this? Well, a few things should be checked, for example how much it will cost and what qualifications they have. Next we'll cover a few things you should look for when selecting a tree surgeon in Falkirk.

First off, you need to make certain they have the right certifications to dispel any doubts that they are correctly accredited and competent. The governing body for tree surgeons and the one that issues accreditations is the the NPTC (National Proficiency Tests Council). Any professional Falkirk tree surgeon should hold the following certifications as a minimum requirement:

• NPTC 201/202 (CS30) - Chainsaw crosscut and maintenance.
• NPTC 206/306 (CS38) - Climb a tree and perform aerial rescue.
• NPTC 203 (CS31) - Fell & process small trees.
• NPTC 308 (CS39) - Chainsaw use from rope & harness.

Because having these certifications demonstrates that they've received the correct training, it's worthwhile finding a tree surgeon that has them, although surprisingly this is not in fact a legal requirement. Gaining such qualifications should give you the peace of mind that the task will be completed in a safe and successful way. It's also essential that some First Aid qualifications are held by all tree surgeons, forestry workers and arborists, and that they carry a suitable First Aid kit according to HSE workplace guidelines.

Next off, you should ask 3 or 4 tree surgeons in Falkirk to provide different quotations for the work, and check the breakdown of the costs. Disposal costs for the vast amount of waste that's often generated by tree surgery work, will quite often not be included in the quotation. The removal of waste can be a huge cost and inconvenience to the client so it is certainly better to get the tree surgeons to remove this waste themselves if you can.

When you come face to face with potential tree surgeons in Falkirk, you must also be ready to ask a number of key questions. By way of example, you need to establish who's going to be doing the work. Will it involve one person or a crew of people? Is meeting them before they start a possibility? How long will the job take? What will the impact on my home/neighbours be? What will be the process for removing your tree?

Don't be afraid to ask all these questions, since the more you ask, the less likely it is that there will be any unexpected surprises as work progresses.

You must also listen to the things your tree surgeon says. Listening to how they describe the work they're planning to do should give you an inkling of their standards of professionalism and expertise. If somebody is referring to 'lopping and topping', this is associated with rogue trader type operatives, who will possibly not be up to date with modern techniques and technologies. More accurate terminology like 'crown lifting', 'thinning', 'crown reduction', 'dead wooding' and 'pruning', should trip off the tongue of a tree surgeon in Falkirk who's skilled, professional and experienced. Whilst merely using the correct terms is not always a sign of a tree surgeon's ability, it can give helpful clues about a person's measure of expertise.

To sum up, it is always worth consulting a variety of tree surgeons in Falkirk in relation to any potential tree surgery or tree care needs you may have. This should help you in finding the best tradesperson for the job, and one who'll ensure all your needs are fully met in a timely manner, and with safe practices at the forefront of their mind.

Air-Spading Falkirk

When the health of your trees is a concern, this may be due to any one of a number of problems, but it is quite frequently because of issues with the tree's root system. A professional Falkirk tree surgeon may need to access the roots to check for soil compaction, root rot, or other issues.

Because there is a high probability of causing damage to the roots during the process of digging, during the past this was difficult to achieve. To efficiently break down and remove compacted soil without causing damage to tree roots or utility lines, a modern day system which is often used is "air spading".

On occasion, foot traffic, passing vehicles or building work can cause the soil surrounding a tree's roots to become compacted, and this can have a negative effect on its health. When a tree lacks nutrients and water it can become "stressed", and this means that it's more prone to attacks by diseases, insects and pests. Root flare issues can also be put right with air-spading, and this is when the flare at the base of the trunk becomes covered with soil, heightening the likelihood of root rot by causing the tissue to break down.

This clever process involves the use of an air compressor and an air-spading tool which blows air directly into the soil at speeds of up to twelve hundred miles per hour, the air enters the voids in the soil and immediately breaks it down, whilst leaving tree roots and utilities unaffected. As the surrounding soil is forced away from the roots by the powerful air flow, immediate inspection can take place. The previously compacted soil can then be replaced with a looser layer of wood chips and fertiliser to revitalize the tree, and remedy any problems. (Tags: Air-Spade Falkirk, Air-Spading Falkirk, Air-Spade Investigations Falkirk).

Tree Emergencies Falkirk

If you happen to have trees in your Falkirk garden, there might be some occasions when you have to call a tree surgeon in an emergency. When there are high winds and storms, tree surgeons in Falkirk notice an increase in emergency call-outs, and many offer a 24 hour service. In stormy weather there's an increased likelihood of branches breaking off and falling onto property or pedestrians, and even possibly the risk of an entire tree toppling over. Avoidance is definitely preferable to having to contend with the consequences, and commonplace issues that can be caused by plummeting branches and tree limbs include cracked greenhouses, damaged fences, splintered sheds and broken garden furniture.

When substantial tree limbs snap of and crash onto railway lines, roads and public footpaths, the local council in the Falkirk area will also often need emergency tree care services.

When a tree has lost some large limbs it could become lopsided, with more weight and branches on one side. This can be both unattractive and unsafe, therefore the tree might have to undergo "rebalancing". If you have any of these tree related problems, you shouldn't try to tackle any of them yourself, and you must immediately contact a local Falkirk tree surgeon who provides emergency tree care services, so that they can suggest the preferred course of action.

Crown Thinning Falkirk

If you would like to stop the tree being uprooted in windy weather conditions, to lessen the wind resistance of the tree, to permit more sunlight to pass through, to lower the overall weight of the crown of the tree or to alleviate the stress on larger limbs as a result of snow, ice, wind, or gravity, many of the smallish branches growing inside the outer crown of a broad leafed tree are clipped in a technique which is often known as crown thinning. The shape and dimensions of your tree aren't altered by this, and the likelihood is it will have to be carried out on a pretty regular basis, as shoots constantly grow. A uniform foliage thickness encompassing uniformly spaced branches should be the aim of crown thinning, it shouldn't change the general size and form of the tree.

Deadwooding Falkirk

All competent Falkirk tree surgeons will undertake the process known as dead-wooding, which is a necessary element of tree care and maintenance. Involving the careful removal or dead and dying branches which could present a danger to vehicles, pedestrians or property, dead-wooding helps to make a tree both healthier and safer. The most typical reasons for tree branches dying off are diseases, root damage, pest attacks or heavy shading, and this is in fact a purely natural process.

The rationale for removing dead branches is most frequently one of safety, nonetheless, it is also done for the benefit of the tree or purely to make the tree look more appealing. Insect infestations and the spread of disease can be encouraged by an excessive number of dead, dying and damaged branches, therefore the tree's health can be dramatically improved by removing these dead branches. Dead and rotting wood also makes a tree look unattractive, and by removing much of this, you can make it look more appealing.

Only substantial dead branches will typically be cut out, because in most cases the smaller ones will not present any great risk. Then again, where trees are hanging over a park, a garden, a public area, a road or a home in Falkirk, it might be essential to remove any dead wood that is over 50mm in diameter.

Dutch Elm Disease

A fungal disease which has killed tens of millons of precious elm trees all over the United Kingdom during the past 50 years or so, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) isn't quite the concern that it was previously. Spread by the elm bark beetle (Scolytus) and caused by the Ophiostoma novo-ulmi fungus, DED (Dutch Elm Disease) was inadvertently brought into the British Isles from North America (Canada) in the 1960's.

After arriving in the UK, it was rapidly spread through the nationwide movement of elm products such as bark mulch, saplings, crates, and firewood logs with the bark still attached. Believed to have originated in Asia (possibly Japan), Dutch Elm Disease did not only affect trees in Britain, but also ravaged the stocks of elm trees in mainland Europe, North America and New Zealand.

The first signs of Dutch Elm Disease are:

• Clusters of leaves that turn yellow, wilt and fall.
• Dark streaks beneath the bark of twigs.
• Affected shoots dying back from the tips.
• Twigs that turn into a "shepherd's crook" shape.

It normally starts to appear in early summer.

As there are now very few large elms in the UK countryside, the elm bark beetle's favourite habitat has been largely decimated, which has resulted in a slowing down of DED. New saplings have also been successfully propagated from elms that up to now have proved resistant.

If you have elms on your property in Falkirk, and are suspicious that they might be affected by Dutch Elm Disease, contact your neighbourhood tree surgeon for guidance, or put in a request for a diagnosis from the Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service (THDAS).

Stump Grinding

If you wish to get some stump grinding undertaken, it is sensible to hire the services of a company having the correct knowhow and machinery. The very best Falkirk tree surgeons will understand that every remnant of the stump must be eliminated down to a depth of at least one foot. Grinding down stumps and roots very close to structures and walls without causing any damage, can only be carried out if your tree surgeon has the use of the proper machinery. This tailor-made stump grinding equipment is so multifaceted that it can even eradicate tree stumps which are located in passageways, alleys and similarly inaccessible locations. It can involve a herculean effort to eradicate the stumps of huge trees, where the stump and thicker roots grow down to a considerable depth, rendering the job even more difficult if you do not have the right gear.

The Day to Day Tasks for a Tree Surgeon

• Climb trees to remove or prune branches.
• Establish dangers posed by trees.
• Fell and remove trees and perform stump grinding.
• Produce telephone or on-site price quotes with the customers.
• Tree planting and transplanting.
• Maintain and service equipment like chainsaws and chippers.
• Prepare tree survey reports for commercial and domestic customers.
• Cut and chip branches and logs.
• Work with clients and complete administrative tasks.
• Assess tree health and treatments.
• Be adept with power tools and powered equipment.
• Clean up area upon completion and remove waste from client's site.

Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus Fraxineus)

An infectious fungal disease affecting ash trees, that was first reported in the British Isles in 2012, ash dieback is expected to decimate approximately eighty percent of the current ash trees. Ash dieback is going to have a huge impact on our beloved countryside, adding to the damage resulting from the Dutch Elm Disease crisis.

Trees of the Fraxinus genus are affected by this highly destructive disease, which has an especially disastrous effect on Fraxinus excelsior (the common or European ash), which is the most widespread species in the UK. Originating in eastern Asia, the fungus which causes the disease is called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (H. fraxineus).

Now present in most regions of the British Isles, ash dieback (or chalara ash dieback) is dispersed by minute spores that blow on the wind, and which are produced by the fruiting bodies of the fungus, and are able to travel for tens of miles.

Ash dieback can be recognised by the following symptoms:

• Dying leaves and shoots that are visible during the summertime.
• Dark brown lesions form where limbs meet the trunk.
• Leaves that wilt, turn black in colour and fall early.
• New epicormic growth appearing from buds that were dormant previously.
• Leaves developing dark patches during the summertime.

Sometimes ash trees can combat early infections of the disease, but as it returns every year, they ultimately succumb. At this moment in time there is no apparent method for stopping the spread of achalara ash dieback, and there is no cure.

Although the "Tree Alert Service" provided by the Forestry Commission is presently only interested in hearing about reports of cases in new locations where the disease has not previously been recorded, if you're concerned about an ash tree in your garden in Falkirk, you should bring in a local tree surgeon or arborist to affirm the diagnosis and suggest a solution.

Coming Soon:

Stump grinding machines - article 246.

Tree Surgery Tasks Falkirk

Falkirk tree surgeons will likely help with hedge reduction, coppicing, conrolling pests, eco-plugging, hedge laying, tree felling in Falkirk, arboriculture, tree staking Falkirk, hedge lowering, woodchipping Falkirk, tree pruning in Falkirk, woodland management in Falkirk, tree lightening protection, tree care services, landscape clearance, health inspections, crown removal in Falkirk, air spading, shielding trees from grazing, root grinding, emergency tree removal, tree transplanting, forestry management, crown lifting, pollarding, tree watering, tree fertilising, tree cutting, fruit tree pruning, root flare exposure, dead wood removal, stump treatment, felling of storm damaged trees, cut sealing, cable bracing and other tree surgeon services in Falkirk, Scotland. These are just an example of the activities that are handled by local tree surgeons. Falkirk providers will inform you of their whole range of services.

Tree Surgeons Near Falkirk: Also find: Carronshore tree surgeons, Brightons tree surgeons, Laurieston tree surgeons, Hallglen tree surgeons, Old Plean tree surgeons, California tree surgeons, Shieldhill tree surgeons, Maddiston tree surgeons, Polmont tree surgeons, Bainsford tree surgeons, Camelon tree surgeons, Westquarter tree surgery and more. The majority of these locations are covered by experienced tree surgeons. Falkirk business and home owners and others can get tree surgery quotations by clicking here.

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