Tree Surgeon Guildford

Tree Surgery and Tree Management

Guildford Tree Surgeon Surrey: Trees are a crucial feature of many properties and gardens in Guildford, and they can often transform an otherwise 2 dimensional landscape by adding structure, substance and style. This is all well and good, however when trees are poorly maintained, diseased, or damaged by extreme weather events such as flooding or gales, problems may develop which need to be addressed. Prior to any work beginning, the safest option is to seek the guidance of a trained tree surgeon in Guildford, when your trees need looking at.

Guildford Tree Surgeon Quotes (GU1)

There's a big risk of damaging trees, property or even life, for those in Guildford who try to do tree work by themselves, or by employing non-qualified personnel. However, tree work is certainly not a safe vocation, even for certified tree surgeons, who know about all the risks. On average there are 3 deaths and 140 major injuries a year within the profession, making it among the most hazardous jobs in the United Kingdom and definitely not for amateurs to try.

Local Tree Surgeon Guildford

A neglected or damaged tree can also cause a risk to life, with around 5 people a year being fatally wounded by falling trees or branches in Britain. If you hire someone to carry out tree work and there is an injury, or damage to property, you may well be liable to third-party compensation claims. This is why employing a certified Guildford tree surgeon to undertake the work on your trees is imperative. (Source - HSE UK).

A qualified tree surgeon in Guildford will likely be a registered member of one or both of the 2 major professional trade bodies. Both the Arboricultural Association and the International Society of Arboriculture offers a website where you can view the professional status and membership of any tree surgeon in Guildford. On this webpage you can check for membership of either of these associations, which gives the tree surgeon in question, Approved ARB Contractor status.

If an issue arises during or after any work has been accomplished you're able to get hold of these professional associations for mediation assistance and for help and guidance at any stage.

Professional Tree Surgeons Guildford Surrey

You should tactfully decline the offer of a quotation from anybody who isn't on this directory, and carry on your search for an approved and qualified contractor. As soon as you're reassured of their professional accreditations and memberships you should try and get a minimum of three different quotes from various companies in Guildford. You should ask the following questions while acquiring the quotes, making it clear that you need the answers because of the risks of the work involved:

  • Can you give me a quotation in writing? Verbal quotes alone aren't acceptable. Always try to get a quote in writing.
  • Is It Possible To contact a recent person you have worked for so that I can check the quality of your work? Independently checking any recent work is always recommended.
  • What insurance cover is provided? You shouldn't even consider a tree surgeon in Guildford with less than £5 Million public liability insurance as stated by the AA and ISA.
  • Can you show documentary verification of your professional membership, qualifications and a NPTC/LANTRA certificate for the use of a chainsaw? The NPTC/LANTRA certificate is required by law for any worker/tree surgeon using a chainsaw. Qualifications might include National Diplomas and Certificates in Arboriculture.

On the written quotation that you receive, you'll need there to be clear and precise details of all the work that is being undertaken. Who's responsible for removing tree branches, stumps and waste should be stated, as should details of any trees which may be protected, and the steps required to obtain permission to carry out work on them. You should also make certain VAT is included on the quotation. You have a responsibility for hiring only competent people to work on your property and trees, and it is extremely important to understand that. This is stated under the "Common law duty of care responsibilities and sometimes liabilities under the Occupier's Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984."

Click For Tree Surgery Quotations in the Guildford Area of Surrey

PRIOR TO WORK BEGINNING - Checking whether any of your trees are protected, your selected Guildford tree surgeon should ensure that any tree work gets the green light from the relevant local authorities. Even protected trees need to be maintained in order to cut back dead or damaged wood and ensure the safety of the public, so finding a tree has protected status doesn't signify that work cannot be carried out.

At least six weeks written notice is required to the Local Planning Authority prior to any work being undertaken, if your property in Guildford is situated in a conservation area. This notice is not required if the stem of the tree is less than 75mm in diameter when measured at 1.5 metres from the ground. If the branches of a protected tree need to be pruned or thinned to sustain and promote growth, it is also not necessary to supply notice.

Tree Surgery Guildford (GU1)

After fully assessing the health of your trees, your chosen Guildford tree surgeon will determine the necessary treatments and how the required outcome can safely be achieved. Where there's any potential for falling branches and debris, a full risk assessment will need to be performed on public areas, your property, and parts of a neighbour's property that might be impacted. At this stage, the amount of workers needed and the level of protection required will also be established. This could include a number of safety measures as well as PPE (personal protective equipment) to ensure the safety of the general public and adjacent property.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - Cones, barriers and safety measures will be put in place before any climbing, cutting of branches or tree felling commences, to keep passers-by and unauthorised persons away from the work area. Passing traffic might need to be stopped temporarily if there is a threat of debris falling onto a public highway.

The tree surgeon will need different levels of protection depending on the type of work being done. When working with a chainsaw, they will as a bare minimum be wearing specialist protective clothing to avoid cutting injuries to the legs, torso and hands. Without exception, every worker involved in the operation should wear eye and head protection, and high visibility clothing.

Safety climbing equipment and ladders will need to be deployed if any working at height is involved, and to assist in the removal of high branches and sections of tree trunk, additional workers will be needed. For the removal of waste materials, unhindered access to the work site will be necessary. Therefore, it's advisable to inform your neighbours, because a skip or other transportation vehicle will need to be stationed as close to the work area as possible while work proceeds.

UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - Upon completion of all the tree work, the whole area can be cleared of any debris, and all the waste materials can be hauled away. Your tree surgeon will then sign off and present you with a certificate of work, especially in the case of any protected trees. If there were any public spaces that required safety measures, this protection can be removed and highways and footpaths will be re-opened.

Problems or issues should be put right straight away by approaching your tree surgeon directly. If any further arbitration is required, and your tree surgeon is a registered member of a professional association, you can get guidance and help from the ISA or AA in order to come to an acceptable solution.

Click For Guildford Tree Surgery Quotes

Locally based Guildford tree surgery services will most likely have the telephone code 01483 and the postcode GU1. They will operate in Guildford itself, in addition to nearby areas like Stoughton, West Clandon, Shalford, Burpham, Farncombe, Sutton Green, Peasmarsh, Wood Street Village, Woodbridge, Compton, Woodbridge Hill, Onslow Village, Albury, Artington, Merrow, Bellfields, and these postcodes: GU1 1DY, GU1 1RT, GU1 1JJ, GU1 1HQ, GU1 1JN, GU1 1PT, GU1 1PL, GU1 1PR, GU1 1RB, GU1 1LY.

If you require this kind of service it is certainly advisable to use an experienced tree surgeon. Guildford home and business owners can benefit from the skills that a seasoned professional can offer.

The ISA - International Society of Arboriculture

The ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) is a non-profit, international organisation that's based in the United States of America, it has the aim of fostering the awareness and benefits of trees. A membership association that serves the tree care industry across the globe, the ISA promotes the professional practice of arboriculture.

Endorsing best tree care practices through educational publications, events and services, the ISA has a firm focus on allowing those involved in the tree care industry improve their arboricultural expertise, skills and knowledge wherever possible.

After signing a partnership agreement with them the Arboricultural Association was accepted as an associate organisation of the ISA in 2016. The relationship between the two was thus strengthened, and more opportunities made available for United Kingdom and Ireland ISA members. UK tree care professionals having ISA or AA membership can now reap the wide and varied benefits of being part of a unique international network. The International Society of Arboriculture now has professional affiliates and associate organisations in EXTRAcrown thinning, damage restoration, tree shaping, tree watering in Guildford, root flare exposure Guildford, dead wooding Guildford, decompaction, tree lopping, waste removal, root removal, damaged tree cutting and removal, residential tree surgery, stump removal, crown removal Guildford, forestry management, shrub maintenance, hazard assessment, pollarding, tree cutting, soil terravention, tree work, formative pruning, tree topping, tree felling, emergency tree surgery, tree transplanting, hedge reduction Guildford, tree pest management, crown raising, woodland managementTEN, and the UK, and now has a worldwide membership of over 22000.

Tree Removal Guildford

Tree Removal Guildford

Trees can be beneficial, so the removal of a tree should in fact be a last resort. However, there are naturally acceptable triggers for tree removal on your garden or property in Guildford. Among the more typical factors behind having to perform tree removal are if: you've got a dead/dying tree, your tree is simply too big for its setting, the tree is damaged, the tree is diseased, the roots are endangering foundations/retaining walls, your tree is hampering a new construction project or your tree poses a safety hazard. (Tags: Removing Trees Guildford, Tree Removal Guildford, Tree Felling Guildford)

Health and Safety Considerations

Tree Surgery Safety Guildford Surrey

The safety aspect is one of the main concerns when having tree surgery done, given that if carried out badly it can certainly be a hazardous undertaking. Incapable or inexperienced "tree surgeons" in Guildford are apt to cut corners and ignore recognised safety guidance, meaning that there might be neglecting to cordon-off the work area to safeguard passers-by and vehicles, hardly any fall protection, in the form of harnesses, platforms and ropes, falling timber and branches, failing to wear cut resistant apparel (specifically trousers and safety boots), not using hearing or eye protection and a lack of head protection. Owing to such inadequacies, potentially in danger are fencing and garden sheds, stationary and passing vehicles, passing pedestrians, nearby buildings, the actual tree, team members working on the ground, facilities on the street, the home owners, the tree surgeon himself (up the tree).

Ash Dieback

Most likely to devastate around 80 percent of the current United Kingdom ash trees, in the next few years, ash dieback is a highly infectious fungal disease of ash trees, the first case of which was recorded in the UK in 2012. Set to have huge ramifications for our countryside, ash dieback is probably going to be just as catastrophic as the previous epidemic of Dutch Elm Disease (DED).

Trees of the Fraxinus genus are affected by this highly destructive disease, but it has an especially devastating effect on Fraxinus excelsior (the common ash), which is the native UK species. The fungus which causes the disease is named Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (H. fraxineus), and it originated in Asia.

Quickly spread by spores which are able to be blown for miles on the wind, ash dieback has established itself in most regions of the United Kingdom with mortality rates of up to 85 percent.

Impacting tree of all ages, ash dieback can be recognised by symptoms such as:

  • Dark brown necrotic lesions (often diamond shaped) form where limbs meet the trunk, and the inner bark under the lesions looks brownish grey.
  • Leaves that wilt, turn black and fall early.
  • Dying leaves and shoots that are visible during the summertime.
  • New growth appearing from previously dormant buds (epicormic growth).
  • Leaves developing dark patches during the summertime.

To a certain extent, ash trees can fight the infection, however they ultimately die after continued attacks year-on-year. Currently there's no clear strategy for stopping the spread of aash dieback, and there is no cure.

Although the Forestry Commission's "Tree Alert Service" is presently only interested in hearing about reports of cases in new areas where the disease has not previously been recorded, if you are worried about an ash tree in your garden in Guildford, you should contact a local tree surgeon or tree specialist to verify the diagnosis and suggest an effective solution.

Trees of the genus Fraxinus are affected by ash dieback.

(Tags: Ash Dieback Symptoms, Identifying Ash Dieback, Ash Dieback Guildford).

Tree Preservation Orders Guildford

Before performing any serious work on your trees in Guildford, you must make certain that there is not a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on any of them. To find out whether any of your trees are subject to TPOs, speak to your local authority. If one of your trees have TPOs, you cannot carry out wilful damage, topping, felling, wilful destruction, uprooting, removal or lopping, without written consent from the local authority. Any decent tree surgeon in Guildford will be glad to help you with this process.

If you live within a conservation area in Guildford, and intend to undertake any work on a tree with a stem diameter of 75 millimetres or more (1.5m from ground level), you must give at least six weeks notice in writing to your local planning authority. (Tags: TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders) Guildford, Tree Preservation Orders Guildford, Tree Preservation Order Guildford).

Cable Bracing Trees Guildford

Cable bracing is a method that is used to support a tree when it shows signs of decay, damage, or poses a risk to nearby property. Where older or valuable trees in Guildford are involved, cable bracing is used where it's unsatisfactory to fell a tree or cut out large portions that are unsafe or unstable.

The installation of a cable bracing system may be possible to add support to the defective joints, V-shaped forks and weak limbs of a tree. Most tree surgeons in Guildford should be able to undertake various forms of bracing work through the installation of cables and rods to alleviate structural tension and significantly extend the lifespan of old and specimen trees.

Cable bracing doesn't cause further damage to the tree by drilling and bolting the branches, and delivers a flexible and shock-absorbing means of support that is essentially non-invasive. An extensive risk risk assessment must be carried out by a tree surgeon or arborist before any cable bracing work can be undertaken. This is vital to guarantee the safety of the tree and adjoining areas as the project progresses.

Dutch Elm Disease

Destroying tree stocks and killing off millions of elm trees all over the United Kingdom during the past 50 yrs or so, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) isn't so prevalent now, as it was in the past. Spread by the elm bark beetle and caused by the fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, Dutch Elm Disease was unintentionally introduced into the United Kingdom from North America (Canada) in the late nineteen sixties.

After arriving in the United Kingdom, it was rapidly spread through the transportation of elm products such as bark mulch, elm crates, saplings, and firewood logs with the bark on. Thought to have originated from Asia, DED did not only affect trees in the United Kingdom, but also decimated the stocks of elms in mainland Europe and North America.

Usually first materializing in early summer, the recognisable signs of DED disease are:

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

Because there are now very few substantial elms in the British countryside, the favourite habitat of the elm bark beetle has been pretty much eradicated, the result of which has been a slowing of the disease. There is now an ongoing project for propagating young trees which are resistant to DED.

You could request a diagnosis from the Tree Health Diagnostic & Advisory Service, or you can contact your local tree surgeon for help and advice, if you've got elm trees in your garden in Guildford, and suspect they may be afflicted with Dutch Elm Disease.

Tree families affected: Ulmacae and Zelkova.

Agent of spread - beetles of the Scolytus genera.

Cause - fungi Ophiostoma Ulmi and Ophiostoma Novo-Ulmi.

(Tags: Spotting Dutch Elm Disease, Dutch Elm Disease Guildford, Dutch Elm Disease Signs).

Air-Spading Guildford

There are a number of issues that could make the health of your trees a concern, but problems with a tree's root system are quite frequently the cause. A professional tree surgeon in Guildford may need to access the root system of your tree, to be able to check for problems such as soil compaction and root rot.

Until recently this was problematic, because of the possibility of root damage during the process of digging down. Several modern day tree surgeons in Guildford use a system called "air spading", which uses compressed air to efficiently break down and remove compacted soil without the risk of damage to the tree's roots, or any buried utility lines that happen to be nearby.

Sometimes, passing vehicles, heavy foot traffic or building work can cause the soil around a tree's roots to get compacted, and this can have a negative effect on its health. When it doesn't get adequate nutrients and water, a tree can quickly become "stressed", making it more susceptible to attack by pests, insects and diseases. Root flare problems can also be an issue, where the flare at the base of a tree becomes covered in too much soil, causing the tissue to break down, and increasing the possibility of root decay. Air-spading is a useful technique for resolving this.

Blowing air directly into the soil at speeds of up to twelve hundred miles per hour, the innovative air-spading process involves the use of an air compressor and an air-spading tool which forces air into spaces in the soil, causing it to break up instantly, but not affecting the tree roots or nearby utilities. Soil is forced away from the roots by the powerful air flow, meaning that immediate inspection and investigation can take place. A looser covering of chip mulch and fertiliser can then be put in to revive the tree, and a resolution found for any issues. (Tags: Air-Spade Guildford, Air-Spading Guildford, Air-Spade Investigations Guildford).

Eco-Plugging Stumps Guildford

If you'd like to remove a substantial tree stump from your garden in Guildford, the conventional technique used by most tree surgeons is stump grinding, which employs large specialist machines. However, "eco-plugging" has become more popular as an easier and less expensive solution to this problem. This method is not only useful because it is cheaper, but also due to the fact that it can be used in awkward locations that are inaccessible to stump grinding machinery.

For killing off tree stumps without affecting any nearby vegetation and trees, eco-plugging is an effective treatment. Eco-plugs can be utilised during any season of the year and in any weather conditions, and they destroy the entire root system of a tree stump. Containing a form of crystalline glyphosate herbicide which is suitable for treating a wide selection of tree species, eco-plugs get the job done in 95-100 percent of cases.

Protecting Trees and Shrubs in the Wintertime

Protecting your trees and shrubs in winter is possibly a measure that you haven't thought about too much, possibly assuming that the winter weather conditions in the UK are not usually severe enough to warrant this. Even the hardiest of shrubs, trees and plants can find it tough during winter, and a small amount of added protection during times of severe cold will unquestionably be a benefit.

Strong winds and storms can cause the biggest problems where trees are concerned, and although come winter most of your trees will have already shed their leaves, they might still be at risk in extreme conditions. If the weather conditions in Guildford have been windy, and a tree in your garden looks to be damaged or at risk of toppling over, it is recommended that you bring in a tree surgeon to assess whether any action is needed. You can also have issues with trees due to heavy snow, so when this kind of weather is predicted, keep a watch out for potential damage. A substantial layer of mulch around the base of trees and shrubs (especially recently planted ones), can help in keeping the roots frost-free and stopping them from becoming dehydrated.

Tree Surgery Tasks Guildford

Tree Surgery Tasks Guildford UK

Guildford tree surgeons will likely help with crown thinning, damage restoration, tree shaping, tree watering in Guildford, root flare exposure Guildford, dead wooding Guildford, decompaction, tree lopping, waste removal, root removal, damaged tree cutting and removal, residential tree surgery, stump removal, crown removal Guildford, forestry management, shrub maintenance, hazard assessment, pollarding, tree cutting, soil terravention, tree work, formative pruning, tree topping, tree felling, emergency tree surgery, tree transplanting, hedge reduction Guildford, tree pest management, crown raising, woodland management and other tree surgeon services in Guildford, Surrey. Listed are just a few of the duties that are accomplished by a local tree surgeon. Guildford companies will be happy to tell you about their full range of services.

Contact a Tree Surgeon Guildford

Tree Surgeons Nearby

Also find: West Clandon tree surgeon, Burpham tree surgeon, Artington tree surgeon, Bellfields tree surgeon, Wood Street Village tree surgeon, Compton tree surgeon, Sutton Green tree surgeon, Onslow Village tree surgeon, Merrow tree surgeon, Albury tree surgeon, Peasmarsh tree surgeon, Stoughton tree surgeon, Farncombe tree surgeon and more. Practically all of these towns and areas are serviced by tree care companies. Homeowners in these places can acquire tree surgery estimates by going here.

Tree Care Services Guildford

Find a Tree Surgeon in Guildford Here
Tree Surgeon Quotes Guildford Surrey (01483)
  • Guildford Tree Pollarding
  • Guildford Hedge Reduction
  • Guildford Tree Felling
  • Guildford Site Clearance
  • Guildford Shrub Maintenance
  • Guildford Tree Surveys
  • Guildford Tree Dismantling
  • Guildford Root Decompaction
  • Guildford Tree Transplanting
  • Guildford Tree Pruning
  • Guildford Hedge Trimming
  • Guildford Tree Cutting
  • Guildford Hedge Planting
  • Guildford Tree Inspections

More Guildford Trades: Not surprisingly, when you happen to be having tree surgery done in Guildford, Surrey, you'll likely be in need of other garden related services, and aside from a tree surgeon in Guildford, Surrey, you could additionally need garden planning and design in Guildford, soil irrigation in Guildford, landscaping services in Guildford, garden clearance in Guildford, block pavers in Guildford, artificial grass installation in Guildford, garden waste removal in Guildford, garden pond installation in Guildford, grass cutting services in Guildford, hedge cutting in Guildford, SKIP HIRE in Guildford, fencers in Guildford, decking installers in Guildford, weeding in Guildford, patio layers in Guildford, garden shed installers in Guildford, and other different Guildford tradespeople.

To find local Guildford info click here

Tree Surgery GU1 area, and dialling code 01483.

TOP - Tree Surgeon Guildford

Stump Grinding Guildford - GU1 - Tree Surgeons Guildford - Tree Surgeon Guildford - Tree Pruning Guildford - Vegetation Control Guildford Surrey - Crown Lifting Guildford - 01483 - Tree Care Guildford

HOME - TREE SURGEON

(This tree surgeon Guildford page was revised and updated on 09-02-2024)