Tree Surgeons Highbridge

Those who use an unqualified operative, or try to do tree work for themselves, may risk damaging trees, property or even life. But even using a knowledgeable tree surgeon who knows all the hazards doesn't necessarily mean that tree work is safe. The reality is tree surgery is one of the most hazardous jobs in Britain, with an average of 140 major injuries and 3 deaths per year within the profession, consequently it is certainly not safe work for amateurs.

There's also a risk to life from damaged or poorly maintained trees in Highbridge, as around five people a year are fatally wounded in Britain by falling branches or trees. If an injury, or damage to property occurs due to you hiring someone to conduct tree work, you could be liable for any compensation to any third-party due to the consequences of your actions. These are the reasons why it's imperative to employ a competent tree surgeon to undertake the work on your trees. (The source of the above figures was HSE UK).

CHOOSING A TREE SURGEON IN HIGHBRIDGE - A certified Highbridge tree surgeon will likely be a member of one or both of the two main trade bodies. Both the International Society of Arboriculture and the Arboricultural Association offers a website where you can check out the membership and professional status of any tree surgeon in Highbridge. To determine whether any particular local tree surgeon has recognised Approved ARB Contractor status and has membership of either of these associations, you can check on this page.

If an issue crops up during the course of the tree work, or after it has been concluded you are able to communicate with these trade associations for mediation and for advice and help.

You shouldn't be afraid to politely decline the offer of an estimate from someone who you are unable to find on this directory list, as at the end of the day, it's an approved contractor that you are actually looking for. You should try and get at least 3 different price quotes from various companies in and around Highbridge once you have reassured yourself of their professional associations and qualifications. There are several crucial questions that you must ask while you're in the process of acquiring these quotations, and due to the risks involved in the work, you must make it abundantly clear that you really need the answers. You should for instance ask:

• Is It Possible To contact a recent person who you've worked for so that I can inspect the quality of your tree work? Doing an independent check on any recent work is always recommended.
• Do you have documentary evidence of your qualifications, professional membership and a NPTC certificate for the use of a chainsaw? It is required by law that any tree surgeon/operative using a chainsaw must hold a NPTC/LANTRA certificate. A certified Highbridge tree surgeon could hold City and Guilds Certificates and Diplomas in Arboriculture.
• Exactly what is your level of insurance cover? Your tree surgeon ought to be able to show you an insurance certificate covering at the least five million pounds public liability, as stipulated by the ISA and AA.
• Can you provide me with a quotation in writing? You should only ever accept a written quote. NEVER accept a verbal quote only.

On the written quote that you receive, you'll need there to be clear and concise details of all the work that is being undertaken. It should include specifics of any trees which might be protected, and the required steps to get permission to carry out work on them, and also state whose responsibility it is to remove tree branches, stumps and waste. Unless you're a commercial business, you should also make certain VAT has been included on the quote. It's crucial that only skilled people are employed to work on your property and trees, and this is entirely down to you.

PRIOR TO WORK BEGINNING - The tree surgeon you have selected in Highbridge, will be able to look into whether any of the trees on your property are covered by a a TPO (tree protection order), and will consult with the local authority to find out if the green light for any work is possible. Even protected trees need maintenance so as to cut back dead or damaged wood and ensure the safety of the public, so discovering that a tree has protected status does not signify that work can't still be carried out.

At least 6 weeks written notice is required to the Local Planning Authority before any tree work can be carried out, if your property in Highbridge is located in a designated conservation area. This only applies to trees with a stem diameter of over 7.5cm in diameter, at a point 1.5 metres from ground level. Also, it's not necessary to give written notice if a protected tree's branches need pruning or thinning simply to encourage and sustain growth.

After assessing the health of the trees on your property, your Highbridge tree surgeon will determine the necessary treatments and how the required outcome can safely be achieved. This involves performing a risk assessment to include your property, public areas and any parts of neighbouring properties that could be impacted by falling debris and branches. The level of protection needed and the number of operatives required, will also be determined at this point. To keep the public and other property safe from damage or harm, this will include both personal protection equipment and other safety measures.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - Before any climbing, tree felling or cutting of branches commences, barriers and safety measures will be put in place to keep unauthorised persons and passers-by away from the area of work. It might at some point be necessary to stop the traffic momentarily, if there's a danger of debris and branches falling onto the highway.

The tree surgeon will need different degrees of protection subject to the type of work being carried out. At the very least when doing chainsaw work they're going to be wearing special protective clothing to avoid cutting injuries to the hands, torso and legs. Without exception, every worker involved in the operation should wear head and eye protection, and high-vis clothing.

Climbing equipment and ladders will be needed if any working at height is involved, and to help in the safe removal of high branches and heavy sections of tree trunk, additional workers will be necessary. For hauling waste materials away from the area, a skip or truck will be parked as close to the work area as possible. This requirement for access is a good reason to inform your neighbours of the proposed work.

UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - On completion of all the tree work, the site can be cleared of any debris, and all of the waste can be taken away. Your tree surgeon will then prepare and sign off a certificate of work done, a copy of which will be handed to you. This is particularly important where trees covered by a protection order are involved. Roads and paths can then be re-opened to the public, and any safety measures places in public areas taken away.

Problems or issues should be fixed immediately by approaching the tree surgeon directly. If any further arbitration is needed, and your tree surgeon is an approved member of a trade body, you can receive help and guidance from the Arboricultural Association or the International Society of Arboriculture so as to come to a satisfactory solution.

Protecting Trees in Winter

Although long periods of intense cold are fairly rare in the United Kingdom it's still worthwhile to think about a few precautionary measures for protecting your shrubs and trees when the weather turns bad. Even the trees, plants and shrubs that we usually consider to be hardy, can find the winter season hard to endure, especially during the colder months, and they will always benefit from some TLC and extra protection.

Although many of your trees will have already dropped their leaves by wintertime in Highbridge, it is strong winds and storms that cause the biggest concern, and despite the fact that they offer less wind resistance, they may still be damaged. If a tree on your property is swaying precariously in the wind, or has been damaged by gales, a local tree surgeon will have to be brought in to complete an examination. Heavy snowfall can also cause branches to snap, so be on the lookout when this type of weather is expected. A substantial layer of mulch around the base of trees and shrubs (in particular newly planted ones), will help in keeping the roots frost-free and stopping them from becoming dehydrated.

Vegetation Control

While most property owners in Highbridge will assume that tree surgeons only tackle the maintenance and removal of trees, that is simply not the truth, given that the majority of tree surgeons are also willing to manage overgrown land and gardens that are choked with out-of-control plant growth. Professional tree surgeons will normally be prepared to cut down and remove bushes, overgrown vegetation, shrubs and weeds that might be thriving around patios, sheds, driveways, paths or buildings, and generally creating an annoyance. If you are going to maintain your garden effectively then all this excess growth should be taken away frequently, and if you find you have the time and inclination this is a job you may undertake by yourself if you are fit and well, or you can ask a tree surgeon to come now and again to make certain it is in shape. The management of vegetation is crucial if you're to keep easy and safe entry to every area of your property and if this is not done the vegetation and plants will very quickly become a menace and take away the enjoyment of your garden. Aside from anything else your garden will also look much better when properly maintained.

Dutch Elm Disease

A fungal disease which has wiped out many millions of elm trees all over Great Britain during the past 50 yrs or so, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) is not quite as big a problem as it was previously. Unintentionally brought into the United Kingdom, in infected elm logs imported from North America (Canada) in the late 1960s, Dutch Elm Disease (DED) is caused by a fungus called Ophiostoma novo-ulmi which is spread by the elm bark beetle.

Its rapid spread was primarily down to to elm products such as bark mulch, elm crates, saplings, and logs with the bark still attached, being transported around Great Britain. This awful disease did not just impact elms in Great Britain, but also ravaged 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 from Asia.

The first symptoms of Dutch Elm Disease are:

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

It typically starts to show up in early summer.

As a consequence of disease and the felling of dead, dying and infected trees, there are now hardly any large elms remaining in Great Britain's countryside, therefore the spread has slowed and the elm bark beetle's favourite habitat essentially removed. The propagation of young elms that are resistant to DED is a continuing project.

You can put in a request for a diagnosis from the THDAS (Tree Health Diagnostic & Advisory Service), or you can contact your local tree surgeon for advice and guidance, if you've got elm trees in your garden in Highbridge, and have suspicions they might be affected by DED.

Emergency Call-Outs Highbridge

Making an emergency call to a tree surgeon is not an occurrence that is likely to happen very frequently, but if you've got trees in your garden in Highbridge, this could be a necessity at some time. Some tree surgeons in Highbridge offer a 24/7 service, and when there are high winds and gales, they typically face an increase in emergency call outs. The risk of injury or damage is higher when the weather is blustery, with branches breaking off and falling to the ground below, and sometimes even entire trees toppling over. Falling branches and tree limbs can lead to squashed sheds, smashed greenhouses, damaged fences and broken garden furniture, therefore rather than having to deal with the consequences of such events, avoidance is the key.

Of course, the local council in the Highbridge area will also occasionally need to call on emergency tree surgery services, when substantial branches drop onto highways, public walkways and railway lines.

There might be a requirement for "re-balancing" a tree, even after emergency tree work has been successfully done, because because of the loss of some large limbs, there could be a weight distribution problem, which could be hazardous but also displeasing aesthetically. To deal with all these various problems, you must contact a local Highbridge tree surgeon who provides emergency 24/7 services. You should also be able to get emergency tree services in Alstone, East Brent, Bason Bridge, Yarrow, East Huntspill, Brent Knoll, West Huntspill, Woolavington, Puriton, Berrow, Edithmead, Northwick, Walrow, Huntspill, Watchfield, Stretcholt, Pawlett, and Highbridge itself.

Safety Considerations

The health and safety issue is one of the key considerations when you are having tree surgery done, given that if done improperly it can be a dangerous procedure. There are plenty of factors that can go awry if the "tradespeople" carrying out the tree surgery are inexperienced or untrained. The most commonplace issues are not using hearing or eye protection, falling branches and timber, no head protection, little fall protection, in the shape of ropes, platforms and harnesses, failing to wear cut-proof (chainsaw resistant) clothing (in particular safety boots and trousers) and neglecting to cordon-off the area to protect vehicles and the general public. What might be susceptible because of this type of incompetence are the people living in the property, the actual tree, facilities on the street, passing and stationary vehicles, passers by, the tree surgeon (person working in the tree), nearby structures, garden features and fences, the groundsperson.

Eco-Plugging Tree Stumps Highbridge

If you have a large stump in your garden which needs to be removed, the customary procedure used by most tree surgeons in Highbridge is stump grinding. There is however a cheaper solution to this problem these days, which is known as "eco-plugging", and is growing in popularity. It isn't just the fact that eco-plugging is less expensive that makes it an appealing method for stump removal, but also that it can be used in awkward and inaccessible locations which may be challenging to get to with bulky stump grinding machines.

For eradicating tree stumps without affecting the surrounding vegetation and trees, eco-plugging is an extremely effective treatment. Eco-plugs can be employed in all weather conditions and at any time of the year, and they eliminate the stump by killing off the entire root system. Containing a form of crystalline glyphosate herbicide, eco-plugs are 95% to 100% effective, and is suitable for treating a wide array of tree species.

Leylandii Hedge Removal Highbridge

Highbridge residents often choose Leylandii hedges as they grow quickly and provide excellent privacy. However, they can rapidly become overgrown and burdensome to maintain. When it comes to removing a Leylandii hedge, there are a few important things to consider. The first thing to do is to verify that the hedge is not protected by any legal regulations, such as a Tree Preservation Order. If the hedge is protected, you will have to acquire authorization from the local council before removing it. Additionally, Leylandii hedges can possess extensive root systems, which underscores the need to employ a certified tree surgeon to safely remove both the hedge and its roots. Once the hedge is removed, it's essential to dispose of the waste in a manner that is environmentally safe and responsible. In summary, removing a Leylandii hedge can be a perilous and time-intensive undertaking, necessitating the adoption of appropriate precautions and the possible enlistment of expert assistance.

Coming Soon:

Stump grinding machines - article 678.

Tree Surgery Tasks Highbridge

Highbridge tree surgeons can normally help with crown reduction, tree transplanting, tree watering, emergency tree removal, brush cutting services Highbridge, stump removal, retrenchment pruning, root pruning in Highbridge, crown removal, removal of storm damaged trees, root flare exposure in Highbridge, tree reduction, vegetation management, the protection of trees from grazing, crown lifting, damage restoration, landscape clearance, dead wooding, hedge planting, fruit tree pruning in Highbridge, tree management, forestry management, woodland clearance, landscaping Highbridge, formative pruning, commercial tree surgery, root decompaction, tree lopping, waste removal, tree cutting in Highbridge, tree maintenance, root grinding, tree pest management, tree removal, tree planning and other tree surgeon services in Highbridge, Somerset. These are just an example of the tasks that are handled by tree surgeons. Highbridge providers will be delighted to keep you abreast of their full range of services.

More Highbridge Trades: Undoubtedly, whenever you're having tree surgery done in Highbridge, Somerset, you are likely to be in need of other garden related services, and apart from a tree surgeon in Highbridge, Somerset, you may also need waste removal in Highbridge, patio cleaning in Highbridge, weeding in Highbridge, garden designers in Highbridge, garden shed installers in Highbridge, garden wall construction in Highbridge, hedge cutting in Highbridge, artificial grass installation in Highbridge, landscaping in Highbridge, driveways in Highbridge, garden clearance in Highbridge, grass cutting in Highbridge, garden pond installation in Highbridge, decking installers in Highbridge, local SKIP HIRE in Highbridge, gate installers in Highbridge, and other different Highbridge tradespeople.

Tree Surgeons Near Highbridge: Also find: Brent Knoll tree surgeons, Bason Bridge tree surgeons, Yarrow tree surgeons, Huntspill tree surgeons, Alstone tree surgeons, West Huntspill tree surgeons, Puriton tree surgeons, Walrow tree surgeons, Woolavington tree surgeons, East Brent tree surgeons, Edithmead tree surgeons, Stretcholt tree surgeons, Northwick tree surgeons, Pawlett tree surgeons, Berrow tree surgeons, East Huntspill tree surgeons, Watchfield tree surgery and more. All of these places are covered by local tree surgeons. Highbridge homeowners and others can get price quotes by going here.

(Sourced from tree surgeons Highbridge text version four.)

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