Tree Surgeons Hampstead

There's a huge risk of damaging property, trees or even life, for people in Hampstead who try to do tree work on their own, or by hiring a non-qualified person. But even employing a skilled tree surgeon who is acquainted with all the risks doesn't necessarily mean that tree work is entirely safe. The reality is tree surgery is one of the most hazardous jobs in Britain, with an average of 3 deaths and 140 major injuries each year within the profession, hence it's definitely not safe work for amateurs to do.

With around 5 people annually being tragically killed by falling branches and trees in Britain, even a damaged or poorly maintained tree can also be a risk to life. You might be liable for any compensation to a third-party as a consequence of your actions, if you hire someone to do tree work and an injury, or damage to property occurs. This is why using the services of a qualified Hampstead tree surgeon to do the work on your trees is vitally important. (Source - HSE UK).

FINDING A TREE SURGEON IN HAMPSTEAD - An experienced tree surgeon in Hampstead will likely be an approved member of one or both of the two major industry bodies. Both the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the Arboricultural Association (AA) offers a website where you can check up on the membership and professional status of any tree surgeon in Hampstead. This page enables you to check if any specific local tree surgeon has recognised ARB Approved Contractor status, and has membership of either of these bodies.

If a problem emerges during or after any work has been carried out you can make contact with these industry organisations for mediation assistance and for help and guidance at any stage.

You should politely decline the offer of a quotation from anybody who you're unable to find on this directory, and continue your search for an approved and qualified contractor. It is best to get a minimum of 3 different price quotes from various companies in and around Hampstead, as soon as you've meticulously checked their professional memberships and accreditations. There are several crucial questions that you must ask while you're getting these quotations, and because of the risks involved in the work, you must tell them that you really need the answers. You should for instance ask:

• Can I inspect the quality of your workmanship by contacting a person you have worked for recently? Independently examining any recent work is always advisable.
• What insurance cover is provided? You shouldn't entertain a tree surgeon in Hampstead with less than £5 Million public liability insurance as outlined by the AA and ISA.
• Can you show documentary verification of your qualifications, professional membership and a NPTC/LANTRA certificate for the use of a chainsaw? It's required by law that any tree surgeon using a chainsaw must have gained NPTC/LANTRA certification. Certificates and National Diplomas in Arboriculture are qualifications that may be held by a trained Hampstead tree surgeon.
• Can you provide me with a quotation in writing? You should NEVER accept just a verbal quote. Only ever accept a quote in writing.

On the written quotation that you receive, you'll need there to be clear and accurate details about all the tree work that's to be undertaken. Who is responsible for removing waste, tree branches and stumps should be stated, as should details of any trees which might be protected, and the required steps to get permission to carry out work on them. Unless you're a commercial business, you should also make certain VAT is included on the quote. You've got a responsibility to hire only capable tradespeople to work on your trees and property, and it is vitally important to understand that fact. This is outlined by the "Common law duty of care responsibilities under the Occupier's Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984."

PRIOR TO WORK BEGINNING - Your chosen Hampstead tree surgeon will need to enquire whether any of your trees are protected and make the necessary steps to make certain that any tree work can be given the green light from the local authority. Finding that a tree has got protected status does not mean that work can't be carried out, as even protected trees need maintenance in order to cut back dead or damaged wood and ensure the safety of the public.

If your property in Hampstead is situated in a designated conservation area then a minimum of six weeks written notice is required to the Local Planning Authority before any tree work can be conducted. This only applies to trees with a stem diameter of over 7.5 centimetres in diameter, at a point 1.5m above the ground. If the branches of a protected tree need thinning or pruning to sustain and encourage growth, it is also not necessary to provide written notice.

Your Hampstead tree surgeon will determine the remedial treatment required and how best to achieve the required outcome in a safe manner after doing a thorough assessment of your trees health. This will involve carrying out a risk assessment to include public areas, your property and any section of a neighbour's property that could be affected by falling debris and branches. At this point, the level of protection needed and the amount of workers required will also be ascertained. This is both PPE (personal protective equipment) in addition to other safety precautions to keep property and the general public safe from harm or damage.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - Before any tree felling, climbing or cutting of branches commences, barriers and safety measures will be put in place to keep passers-by and unauthorised persons away from the area of work. When there is a chance of debris falling onto a public highway, it might be necessary to stop the traffic briefly.

Depending on the type of work that's required a tree surgeon will need different degrees of protection. When doing chainsaw work, they will at the very least be wearing special protective clothing to prevent serious cutting injuries to the hands, legs and torso. High visibility clothing, and eye and head protection, should be worn by all workers involved in the operation.

If working at height is involved, ladders and associated climbing equipment will have to be used, and extra workers will be there to help in the safe removal of high branches and large pieces of tree trunk. For taking waste away from the area, a truck or skip will be parked as close to the work area as possible. This need for easy access is reason enough for informing your next door neighbours of the work you are planning to do.

UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - When the work has been concluded all of the waste will be transported away and the whole area cleared of all debris. Particularly where the trees are under a protection order, a certificate of work should then be prepared by your tree surgeon, which can be signed off and a copy presented to you. Footpaths and roads can then be re-opened, and any safety measures places in public spaces removed.

If you have any complaints about the work, you should get them put right immediately by first of all taking them up with the tree surgeon. If your tree surgeon is an approved member of a trade association, and there's any further dispute or arbitration needed, you can get guidance and help from the ISA or AA so as to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion.

Day to Day Tasks for a Tree Surgeon

• Establish dangers posed by trees.
• Produce telephone or on-site price quotes with the customers.
• Tree planting and transplanting.
• Fell and remove trees and grind stumps.
• Prepare tree survey reports for both domestic and commercial clients.
• Maintain and service equipment like wood chippers and chainsaws.
• Clean up work area upon completion and fulfil removal of waste product from customer's site.
• Chip and cut branches and logs.
• Evaluate tree health and treatment.
• Climb trees to remove or prune branches.
• Be adept with power tools and other powered machinery.
• Work with customers and complete admin tasks.

Firewood/Logs Hampstead

If you are wanting to buy logs or firewood in Hampstead, tree surgeons are normally a good source for this useful commodity. As chopping off branches and felling trees is a major part of their daily routine, this is a natural offshoot for an enterprising tree surgeon.

Some Hampstead tree surgeons will sell you chopped and seasoned logs which have been dried out and are ready to burn, while others will be happy to give you logs and branches cost-free, because they always have an excess of them to get rid of.

Chucking "wet" logs on your open fire or wood burner isn't a great idea, and will produce a lot of smoke and block up your flue. Only use logs that have been left to dry for at least twelve months and have a moisture level of twenty percent or lower. Typically tree surgeons in Hampstead will have stocks of assorted hardwood logs, and the advantage of these is that they give a long, sustained burn, providing several hours of comforting heat. Softwood logs are terrific for getting a fire started, so if you can get your hands on some of these too, that is going to be helpful. (Tags: Firewood and Logs Hampstead, Firewood Logs Hampstead, Softwood Logs Hampstead, Firewood Hampstead).

Tree Surveys Hampstead

There are a number of situations where tree surveys might be necessary, land development and property extension being the most common. If you are clearing some land to make way for a new house or an extension to an existing property in Hampstead, for example, you may need to carry out a tree survey to British Standards BS5837 if trees are growing upon that land. Tree surveys on both private and public property in Hampstead, must be performed by a certified tree surgeon or arborist.

A whole bunch of information will be produced about all the trees within the area specified. For example:

• The age of the trees (i.e. young, semi-mature, mature, over-mature and veteran).
• The height of each tree.
• The species of each tree.
• The health of the trees.
• The branch spread towards the East, North, South and West.
• The allocation of a unique reference number for every tree.
• The number of trees (those of over 75mm diameter 1.5m from the ground).
• The diameter of each tree (measured 1.5m above ground level).
• Tree management guidelines.
• The existence of any TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders).
• The expected lifespan of the trees.

A tree survey will probably not be necessary if you are not increasing the building's footprint nor are you changing the access points or service lines of an existing property in Hampstead. (Tags: Hampstead Tree Surveys, Tree Surveyors Hampstead, Tree Survey Hampstead, Tree Surveys Hampstead).

Stump Grinding

If you've got a need for specialised services such as stump grinding in Hampstead, making certain that you hire a tree surgeon with the proper machinery and knowhow is critical. Any self-respecting tree surgeon in Hampstead will fully understand the need for taking out all remnants of the tree stump down to at least a twelve inch depth, so that it will not start growing once more. Grinding down roots and stumps right up to walls and buildings without causing any damage, can only be achieved if the tree surgeon has the use of the right machinery. This tailor-made grinding apparatus is so adaptable that it can even be used to clear away stumps which are located in alleys, passageways and other virtually inaccessible locations. Where large trees must be removed the stump that remains can be pretty substantial and the major roots will go down to a significant depth, demanding a herculean effort to remove them.

The Skills to be a Tree Surgeon in Hampstead

• Have a good understanding of public safety.
• Have the ability to use, repair and maintain equipment and tools.
• Physical skills like movement and co-ordination.
• Be patient and have the ability to remain focused in stressful situations.
• Have good customer service skills.
• Have an organised approach to work.
• Be able to work with your hands.
• To be able to complete common tasks on a computer or hand-held device.
• Being able to work efficiently with other people.
• Be professional and capable of completing work within the specified time frame.
• Be alert to the dangers and complexities involved with the various aspects of tree work.

Invasive Tree Root Problems Hampstead

Because certain trees have exceptionally invasive root systems, if they are growing too near to your property in Hampstead, they can cause various problems, possibly serious ones. Problems that may develop include lifting patios, damaged foundations and blocked drains. Some species of trees that have very aggressive roots include willows, elms, sycamores and maples.

Issues can be averted down the line, if you make sure you plant any new trees as far as possible away from patios, your house, pathways and your drainage system. You must contact a tree surgeon in Hampstead, to see what can be done to resolve the situation, if existing trees are growing too close to your house and are causing some of these problems.

To avoid significantly harming the health of your tree or even killing it off altogether, you shouldn't simply hack away at the offending tree roots in an effort to resolve this yourself. So that the damage is minimised, and the tree can still get sufficient water and food to survive and thrive, a professional arborist in Hampstead will know which roots should be left in place, and which roots can be safely cut back.

Shrub and tree roots quite often cause structural problems in subterranean drainage systems, since sewage pipes provide a constant source of nutrients and moisture. The joints of a drainage system can soon be compromised by tiny tree roots, which when established can develop into enormous root balls and ultimately cause joint failure and blockages. Some Hampstead tree surgeons will offer specialist root removal services, which will include the use of mechanical equipment, manual rodding or high pressure water jetting.

Air-Spading Hampstead

There are various issues that could make the health of your trees a concern, but problems with the root system are frequently the cause. To be able to check for root rot, soil compaction, or other problems, a qualified Hampstead tree surgeon might need to get at the roots of your tree.

Because there's a potential for causing damage to the roots during the digging process, during the past this was a tricky thing to achieve. To effectively break up and blow away compressed soil without causing damage to tree roots or utilities, a contemporary technique that's frequently used by tree surgeons is "air spading".

The soil surrounding tree roots can become compacted by passing vehicles, heavy foot traffic or building work, and this is known to have a negative impact on the general health of a tree. When a tree becomes "stressed" it's more prone to attack by insects, pests and disease, and this stress can be caused by a lack of water and nutrients. Root flare issues can also be solved with air-spading, and this is when the flare at the base of the trunk becomes covered with too much soil, heightening the chances of root decay by causing it's tissues to break down.

The ingenious air spading process involves the use of an air compressor and an air-spade tool which blows air into the soil at speeds of up to twelve hundred miles per hour, the air penetrates the voids in the soil and quickly breaks it apart, whilst leaving tree roots and utility lines untouched. All the compacted soil is forced away from the roots by the highly powerful air flow, meaning that immediate inspection and investigation can take place. A less dense covering of chip mulch and fertiliser can then be applied to revitalize the tree, and a solution implemented for any problems.

Ash Dieback

An infectious fungal disease of ash trees that was first recorded in the British Isles in 2012, ash dieback is likely to wipe out around 80 percent of the current ash trees. Following on from the Dutch Elm Disease tragedy, which decimated Britain's elm trees, ash dieback is set to have an enormous impact on our countryside.

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. Believed to have originated in Asia where the native species of ash (the Manchurian ash and the Chinese ash) were more resistant, the fungus which causes the disease is called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, and it blocks a tree's vascular systems, causing it to die.

Readily spread by minute spores produced by the fruiting bodies of the fungus, and are able to travel for miles on the wind, ash dieback (or chalara ash dieback as it's often known) has established itself in most parts of Britain with up to 85 percent mortality rates.

Ash dieback kills trees of any age and has the following symptoms:

• Leaves with dark patches that develop during mid to late summer.
• New growth appears from previously dormant buds (epicormic growth).
• Dark brown lesions (often diamond shaped) form where branches join the 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 drop early.

Even ash trees that have the ability to fight the disease, suffer continual attacks year-on-year and eventually succumb and perish. There's presently no remedy for ash dieback, and no clear procedure for stopping it spreading.

Whilst cases of ash dieback can be reported to the Forestry Commission's "Tree Alert Service", it is so widespread right through the UK that they're really only interested to know about cases which are found in locations not previously affected. If you think you have a case of ash dieback on your property in Hampstead, you can still contact a local tree surgeon, who will offer advice on how best to proceed - ultimately the tree or trees will have to be removed.

Trees affected - the genus Fraxinus.

Coming Soon:

Stump grinding machines - article 678.

Tree Surgery Tasks Hampstead

Hampstead tree surgeons can generally help you with tree shaping, damaged tree cutting and removal, tree surveys, dead wooding, drop crotching in Hampstead, hedge lowering Hampstead, tree lopping, stump treatment, tree pruning, tree watering in Hampstead, tree pest control, cabling, safety inspections, tree reduction, tree transplanting in Hampstead, stump grinding, crown removal Hampstead, root flare exposure Hampstead, crown lifting, forestry management, emergency tree surgery, landscape clearing Hampstead, root grinding, tree care services, fruit tree pruning Hampstead, tree bracing, hedge laying, damage restoration, tree felling, stump removal, formative pruning in Hampstead, crown raising, tree fertilising, tree health monitoring, tree topping and other tree surgeon services in Hampstead, Greater London. Listed are just a handful of the tasks that are carried out by tree surgeons. Hampstead professionals will be happy to inform you of their entire range of services.

More Hampstead Trades: Naturally, whenever you happen to be having tree surgery done in Hampstead, Greater London, you will likely need other garden related services, and as well as a tree surgeon in Hampstead, Greater London, you could also need block paving in Hampstead, garden design and planning in Hampstead, landscaping in Hampstead, hedge clipping in Hampstead, pond maintenance in Hampstead, gate installation in Hampstead, soil irrigation in Hampstead, garden rubbish removal in Hampstead, patio cleaning in Hampstead, garden clearance in Hampstead, lawn mowing in Hampstead, garden shed installation in Hampstead, weeding in Hampstead, garden decking in Hampstead, SKIP HIRE in Hampstead, artifical grass in Hampstead, and other different Hampstead tradespeople.

Tree Surgeons Near Hampstead: Also find: Childs Hill tree surgeons, Fortune Green tree surgeons, Belsize Park tree surgeons, Kentish Town tree surgeons, Frognal tree surgeons, Gospel Oak tree surgeons, Golders Green tree surgeons, Dartmouth Park tree surgeons, Hampstead Heath tree surgeons, Highgate tree surgery and more. Most of these villages and towns are served by tree surgeons. Hampstead homeowners and others can obtain estimates by going here.

(Created with tree surgeons Hampstead text version four.)

Vegetation Control Greater London - Crown Reduction Hampstead - Stump Removal Hampstead - Arboriculturalist Hampstead - Tree Surgeon Hampstead - Tree Management Hampstead - Tree Pruning Hampstead - Tree Care Hampstead - Tree Surgery Hampstead