Banbury Tree Surgeon Oxfordshire: Adding style, structure and substance to what can quite often be a two dimensional area, trees are an attractive feature of gardens and properties in Banbury. However, when neglected or impacted by severe weather conditions, for example high winds or flooding, trees can be a bit of an issue. Before any work begins, the safest option is to get advice from a skilled tree surgeon in Banbury, when your trees need looking at.
There's an enormous risk of damage to property, the trees and to life, for folks in Banbury who attempt to do tree work on their own, or by employing unqualified personnel. However, tree work is not a safe vocation, even for qualified tree surgeons, who are familiar with all the dangers. Tree surgery is definitely not a job for novices, and on average there are 140 major injuries and 3 deaths each year within the industry, making it one of the most dangerous jobs in Britain.
A neglected or damaged tree can also cause a risk to life, with around five people each year being killed by falling trees and branches in the UK. If an injury occurs, or property is damaged due to you hiring somebody to conduct tree work, you could be liable for any compensation to any third-party. This is why retaining the services of a competent Banbury tree surgeon to work on your trees is important. (The above figures were sourced from HSE UK).
CHOOSING A TREE SURGEON IN BANBURY - There are two professional arboricultural bodies that a qualified tree surgeon in Banbury should really be an approved member of. The websites of both the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) and the AA (Arboricultural Association) allow you to check out the membership and professional standing of any tree surgeon in Banbury. Membership of either of these bodies will give the tree surgeon ARB Approved Contractor status which can be checked out on this page.
For mediation assistance and for help and guidance at any point during or after the tree work has been concluded, you are able to speak to either of these professional organisations.
If a tree surgeon who you cannot find on this directory offers to give you an estimate, you are advised to carry on with your search for a fully qualified and approved contractor, and politely decline their offer. When their qualifications and professional associations have been diligently checked, you should try to get at least 3 different quotations from various companies in the Banbury area. While obtaining the quotes you must ask the below questions, expressing that you need them to provide the answers due to the risks of the work involved:
- Do you have documentary verification of your qualifications, professional membership and a NPTC certificate for chainsaw use? The NPTC/LANTRA certificate is required by law for any tree worker using a chainsaw. A professional tree surgeon in Banbury will probably hold National Diplomas and Certificates in Arboriculture.
- Is It Possible To contact a recent person who you have worked for so I can assess the standard of your workmanship? It is always a good idea to do an independent examination of recently completed work.
- How much insurance cover is provided? Your tree surgeon should be able to produce an insurance certificate covering a minimum of £5 Million public liability, as stated by the AA and ISA.
- Can you offer me a written quotation? Only ever accept a quote in writing. NEVER accept a verbal quote only.
Easily followed details of all the tree work that is being undertaken must be included on the written quotation. It should include details about any trees which could be protected, and the steps necessary to obtain permission to carry out work on them, and also state who's responsible for the removal of tree branches, stumps and debris. You should also ensure that VAT is included on the quotation. It is crucial that only competent tradespeople are hired to work on your property and trees, and this is wholly down to you. This is stated under the "Common law duty of care responsibilities under the Occupier's Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984."
PRIOR TO WORK COMMENCING - Your chosen Banbury tree surgeon should enquire whether any of your trees are protected and take the necessary steps to ensure that any tree work can get the green light from the local authorities. To ensure the safety of the public, even protected trees need to be maintained in order to cut back dead or damaged wood, so discovering that a tree is protected does not imply that you are unable to carry out important work.
If your property in Banbury is in a designated conservation area then a minimum of 6 weeks written notice must be given to the Local Planning Authority before any tree work can be performed. This written notice is not required if the tree stem is less than seventy five millimetres in diameter when measured at 1.5 metres from the ground. Also, if a protected tree's branches need to be pruned or thinned to promote and stimulate growth, written notice won't be necessary.
Your chosen Banbury tree surgeon will determine the remedial treatment needed and how best to achieve the required outcome in a safe manner after doing a complete assessment of your trees health. Where there's any chance of falling branches and debris, a full risk assessment will have to be done on your property, public areas, and parts of a neighbour's property that might be affected. The level of protection required and the quantity of workers needed, will also be determined at this stage. This could include a number of safety measures along with PPE (personal protective equipment) to ensure the safety of passers-by and nearby property.
ON THE DAY OF WORK - To keep passers-by and unauthorised persons away from the area of work, barriers and safety measures will be put in place before any tree felling, cutting of branches or climbing is started. It may at some point be necessary to halt the traffic momentarily, if there is a threat of debris falling onto the road.
Different types of tree work will require the tree surgeon to have different levels of protection. When doing basic work with a chainsaw, to avoid injuring the torso, hands and legs, they will at a bare minimum be wearing specialist protective clothing. At all times, every worker involved in the operation should wear hi-vis clothing, and head and eye protection.
Safety climbing equipment and ladders will need to be deployed if any working at height is involved, and to assist in the safe removal of high branches and pieces of tree trunk, additional operatives will be necessary. A skip or pick up truck for removing the waste will be stationed as close to the work area as possible, therefore it is recommended that you inform your nearby neighbours of the need for unhindered access.
UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - The whole area can be cleared of all debris, and all of the branches and waste can be taken away, when all tree work has been completed. Your tree surgeon should then sign off and give you a certificate of work, especially where the trees are under a protection order. Footpaths and roads can then be re-opened to the public, with any safety measures in public areas being removed.
Problems or issues should be put right immediately by approaching the tree surgeon directly. If there's any further dispute, and your tree surgeon is a registered member of a trade association, you can obtain help and advice from the ISA or AA so as to come to an acceptable conclusion.
Locally based Banbury tree surgeons are most likely have the phone code 01295 and the postcode OX16. They'll operate in Banbury itself, together with nearby areas such as Warkworth, Twyford, Great Bourton, Kings Sutton, Bodicote, Grimsbury, Chacombe, Balscote, Bloxham, Overthorpe, Broughton, Hanwell, Easington, Neithrop, Drayton, North Newington, and these postcodes: OX16 0NW, OX16 0LP, OX16 0HY, OX16 0HJ, OX16 0ER, OX15 5FB, OX16 0PN, OX16 0PG, OX16 0BW, OX15 6EJ.
For this kind of service it's certainly advisable to use a trusted local tree surgeon. Banbury home and business owners can benefit greatly from the skills and knowhow that are the trademark of a fully trained professional.
Air-Spading Banbury
When a tree's health is causing you some concerns, this might be due to any number of problems, but it is quite frequently because of issues with the root system. Easy access to the roots of your tree is essential for a qualified Banbury tree surgeon to check for soil compaction, root rot and other potential issues.
Until recently this was quite problematic, because of the potential for root damage during the process of digging down. A method called "air spading" is used by many up-to-date and "savvy" tree surgeons in Banbury, and this enables compacted soil to be broken up and removed by means of compressed air, which doesn't cause any harm to the tree's root system.
Sometimes, heavy foot traffic, building work or passing vehicles can cause the soil surrounding a tree's roots to become compacted, and this is known to have a negative impact on its health. When a tree fails to get ample nutrients and water it can become "stressed", and this means that it is more prone to attacks by pests, insects and diseases. Root flare problems can also be an issue, where the flare at the base of the stem becomes covered in an excess of soil, causing it's tissues to break down, and increasing the chance of root rot. Air-spading is a useful technique for correcting this.
This ingenious process involves the use of an air-spade tool and an air compressor which blows air into the soil at speeds of up to 1200mph, the air enters the spaces in the soil and quickly breaks it up, whilst leaving tree roots and utility lines unaffected. The air flow blows the soil away from the roots, permitting immediate inspection. Problems can then be remedied and the previously compressed soil exchanged for a much looser layer of wood chips and fertiliser to revitalize the tree. (Tags: Air-Spade Investigations Banbury, Air-Spade Banbury, Air-Spading Banbury).
Hedge Cutting Banbury
Although Banbury tree surgeons are mostly associated with the care and maintenance of trees they're often hired to trim and cut back hedges. Using a professional tree surgeon can be a huge benefit when work is needed on conifer hedges (Leylandii for instance), which frequently grow too tall for your average gardener to cope with, needing specialist tools to successfully manage.
A hedge can pretty quickly become overgrown and out of control when it is uncared for and poorly maintained. Regular trimming is recommended if you do not want a hedge to overwhelm large parts of your garden in Banbury, and in addition to making the hedge healthier it will also make it more visually appealing.
If your intentions are to sell your property, neat hedges will help to make your whole garden tidier, and might even increase the value of your home in Banbury.
Tree Transplanting Banbury
Digging up mature trees and transplanting them in an alternative location may sound difficult, however with heavy lifting equipment and vehicle mounted spades, it has become a fairly simple project. Removing a tree from your land no longer means you have to resort to cutting it down and digging out the roots; a specialist tree moving contractor in Banbury can remove and re-plant even adult trees and repair the disturbed ground afterwards.
Moving a tree in Banbury causes less stress to the root-ball and health of the tree in the autumn and winter, but it can still be achieved in warmer summer months by soaking the soil thoroughly before lifting. A huge mechanical tree spade digs down into the soil, and manoeuvred to surround the main root-ball before hauling the uninjured tree from the earth. The tree is then ready to be transferred to its new home for transplanting, or held in temporary storage until it's ready to be replanted.
If you want to move a tree from ground that's got a preservation order upon it, an experienced tree moving business in Banbury can liaise with appropriate agencies to approve replanting in a suitable area.
Skills and Knowledge Necessary for Tree Surgeons in Banbury
- Be alert to the complexities and dangers involved with the various aspects of work.
- Have the ability to work well with your hands.
- The capacity to work efficiently with others.
- Physical skills like coordination and movement.
- Excellent customer skills.
- To be meticulous and pay close attention to detail.
- To be able to execute common tasks on a hand-held device or computer.
- Have the ability to maintain, use and repair tools and machines.
- Be professional and able to complete tasks within a given time frame.
- Be patient and have the ability to stay calm in times of stress.
- Good knowledge of public safety.
Dutch Elm Disease
Destroying tree stocks and killing many millions of elm trees right through Great Britain over the last five decades or so, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) is not so widespread now, as it previously was. Inadvertently imported into Britain from Canada in the late nineteen sixties, DED (Dutch Elm Disease) is spread by the elm bark beetle and caused by the Ophiostoma novo-ulmi fungus.
After arriving in the UK, it quickly spread through the movement of elm products such as crates, saplings, bark mulch, and logs with the bark on. DED didn't just affect Britain, but also decimated the stocks of elm trees in mainland Europe and North America, it is thought to have originated from Asia.
DED generally first shows up in early summer, and the main symptoms are:
- Twigs with rings or spots in cross-section.
- A "shepherd's crook" effect on affected twigs.
- New shoots that die back from the tips.
- Clusters of leaves turning yellow and wilting.
As there are now hardly any substantial elms in the British countryside, the elm bark beetle's favourite habitat has been pretty much eradicated, which has resulted in a slowing down of DED. There's currently a continuing project for the propagation of young trees that are so far resistant to DED.
You can ask for a diagnosis from the THDAS (Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service), or you can contact your local tree surgeon for help and advice, if you have elm trees in your garden in Banbury, and are suspicious that they might be infected with Dutch Elm Disease.
Trees of the families Ulmcae and Zelkova are affected.
Agent of spread - beetles of the Scolytus and Hylorgopinus genera.
Cause - fungi Ophiostoma Ulmi and Ophiostoma Novo-Ulmi.
TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders) Banbury
You should ensure that there is no Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on your trees in Banbury, before you perform any major work on them. You local planning authority is the place to contact to find out if there are TPOs on any of your trees. If one or more of your trees have Tree Preservation Orders, you're prohibited from carrying out removal, wilful damage, lopping, wilful destruction, uprooting, felling or topping, without consent in writing from the local authority. You could ask your tree surgeon to help with this process, any decent one will be ready to offer advice.
Also, if you plan to undertake any work on a tree with a diameter of 75mm or more (1.5m from the ground), and you live inside a conservation area in Banbury, you must give your local council at least six weeks written notice of the work.
Tree Root Problems Banbury
Some larger trees have exceptionally invasive root systems, and could be troublesome when they're growing too close to your dwelling in Banbury. Issues that can occur include lifting patios, blocked drains and damaged foundations. Some of the tree species that have very invasive roots include maples, willows, sycamores and elms.
If you are planting any new trees, make certain that they're positioned far enough away from your house, pathways, your drainage system and patio areas, so they won't lead to problems in the future. If established trees are growing too near to your dwelling and are already causing some of these problems, you should contact a tree surgeon in Banbury, to see what can be done.
If you wish to avoid killing off the tree or severely harming it's health you should not try and do this yourself and just chop off any offending tree roots. A seasoned tree care specialist in Banbury will know precisely which roots should be left in place, and which roots can be cut, so the damage is reduced, and the tree is still able to get enough nutrients and water to survive and thrive.
Structural problems in underground drains are commonly caused by shrub and tree roots, because a continuous source of moisture and nutrients is present in this environment. A drainage system's joints can easily be invaded by teeny roots, which when established can develop into large root balls and ultimately cause blockages and joint failure. Through the use of manual rodding, high pressure jetting or mechanical equipment, certain Banbury tree surgeons will provide specialised root removal solutions. (Tags: Invasive Tree Roots Banbury, Problematic Tree Roots Banbury, Drain Root Removal Banbury, Tree Root Problems Banbury).
Pollarding Trees Banbury
Pollarding is mostly conducted for health and safety reasons and is a process for considerably decreasing the size of trees that have gotten too big for their present environment. This tactic is in some cases employed for visual reasons to mould a tree into a particularly appealing shape or form. It is often noticed on trees that serve as boundaries or hedgerows, in addition to trees which grow beside streets in Banbury. The rather harsh and bare appearance that is the outcome of pollarding is not very popular with those who adore trees, seeing that it is so different from its natural state. The beneficial side of the pollarding process, is that trees which might otherwise need to be removed can be saved. Pollarding is regularly used on broad-leafed tree species like maples, beeches, sycamores, horse chestnuts, limes, oaks and planes. (Tags: Pollarding Banbury, Tree Pruning Banbury, Tree Pollarding Banbury)
Chainsaws
In terms of the tools that are utilised by Banbury tree surgeons, the most commonly seen is the chainsaw. Petrol chainsaws are the most popular with tree care professionals, thanks to their ease of use and portability, although mains electric versions are available, and battery operated chainsaws are getting more popular in certain situations. Where large tree trunks and thick branches need cutting, such substantial tree work calls for the use of the most robust and powerful petrol chainsaws.
Comprising a rotating chain containing a row of teeth that is driven by a motor and slices through the bark and branches, a chainsaw is in fact a fairly simple piece of equipment. For the varied operations that are called for, there are different styles of chainsaw, top-handled for working at height (and which can be used with one hand), pole saws for long distance pruning and hard to reach branches and rear-handled for working on the ground (two handed).
You'll seldom find an experienced Banbury tree surgeon who doesn't use a chainsaw, although working at height a tree with a spinning blade in your hand is not isn't the safest thing to be doing. To be able to become a member of the AA (Arboricultural Association), being trained in the safe use of chainsaws is one of the primary conditions.
Although there are quite a few different chainsaw brands available to professionals, the most popular in Banbury are Husqvarna, Makita, Stihl and Hyundai.
Tree Care Accidents
As was mentioned earlier, the work that tree surgeons and tree care professionals in Banbury do, involves a significant level of danger. When working on trees, there is a considerable risk of injury to both operatives, co-workers and passers-by, so all possible precautions must be implemented.
The vast majority of fatal and major injuries are linked to falls from trees, the use of chainsaws, and being struck by a falling tree or branch, according to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Surprisingly, tree surgeons and arborists are more at risk of being seriously injured than workers involved in construction.
The most commonplace tree surgery accidents in terms of insurance claims, involve being struck by objects (grapple hooks, branches, trees, ropes, cranes etc), slipping from ladders and lifting injuries.
This should all help you understand why it's so critical to employ a professional tree surgeon in Banbury. Most accidents that occur in the tree care industry can be attributed to inexperienced workers trying to tackle tasks that they're not fully trained in. Consequently, to avoid this type of issue, try to always use a reputable and established company which has been trading in the Banbury area for a good few years.
Tree Surgery Tasks Banbury
Banbury tree surgeons will likely help with stump treatment in Banbury, dead wooding, arboriculture, repair of storm damaged trees in Banbury, hedge laying, crown thinning, woodland management, retrenchment pruning, damaged tree removal, tree care services, root grinding, crown reduction, stump grinding Banbury, tree maintenance, staking Banbury, damage restoration, crown cleaning, soil terraventing, tree waste removal in Banbury, commercial tree care in Banbury, root removal in Banbury, formative pruning, coppicing Banbury, root flare exposure Banbury, tree removal, hedge reduction, crown lifting, tree lopping in Banbury, crown raising, eco-plugging Banbury and other tree surgeon services in Banbury, Oxfordshire. These are just an example of the tasks that are undertaken by a local tree surgeon. Banbury professionals will tell you about their full range of services.
Tree Surgeons Nearby
Also find: Kings Sutton tree surgeon, Balscote tree surgeon, Warkworth tree surgeon, Grimsbury tree surgeon, Overthorpe tree surgeon, Neithrop tree surgeon, North Newington tree surgeon, Bodicote tree surgeon, Hanwell tree surgeon, Bloxham tree surgeon, Chacombe tree surgeon, Great Bourton tree surgeon and more. All of these towns and villages are catered for by tree care companies. Home and property owners in these areas can get tree surgery price quotes by going here.
Tree Care Services Banbury
- Banbury Woodland Management
- Banbury Hedge Reduction
- Banbury Wood Chipping
- Banbury Tree Care
- Banbury Tree Cutting
- Banbury Root Decompaction
- Banbury Tree Lopping
- Banbury Stump Treatment
- Banbury Stump Removal
- Banbury Tree Pruning
- Banbury Tree Topping
- Banbury Tree Management
- Banbury Arboriculture
- Banbury Tree Maintenance
Tree Surgeon Jobs Banbury: Find Banbury tree surgeon jobs here: Tree Surgeon Jobs Banbury
To read local info regarding Banbury, Oxfordshire click here
Tree Surgery OX16 area, phone code 01295.
Tree Surgeon Banbury - Woodland Management Banbury - Tree Felling Banbury - Crown Lifting Banbury - Tree Management Banbury - Tree Surgery Banbury - 01295 - Stump Grinding Banbury - Arboriculture Banbury