Tree Surgeon Harpenden

Using a non-qualified person for tree work or trying to do it on your own, could cause damage to property, harm your trees, or even lead to injury or death. However, tree work isn't even safe for qualified tree surgeons, who are acquainted with all the hazards involved with it. On average there are 3 deaths and 140 major injuries annually within the industry, making it among the most hazardous jobs in the United Kingdom and certainly not for amateurs to attempt.

A damaged or neglected tree can also be a threat to life, with around five people annually being killed by falling trees or branches in the UK. You could be liable for any compensation to a third-party due to the consequences of your actions, if you bring in someone to conduct tree work and property is damaged, or an injury occurs. This is why using a competent Harpenden tree surgeon to carry out the work on your trees is imperative. (The figures given were sourced from HSE UK).

FINDING A TREE SURGEON IN HARPENDEN - A competent Harpenden tree surgeon should be a signed up member of one or both of the two industry bodies found in the UK. You can check out the membership and professional status of any tree surgeon in Harpenden on the websites of either the AA (Arboricultural Association) or the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture). On this website you can check out membership of either of these two organisations, which gives the tree surgeon in question, recognised Approved ARB Contractor status.

If there is a problem during or after any work has been completed you can make contact with these professional bodies for mediation and for guidance and help at any point.

If any tree surgeon who isn't on this directory list offers to provide you with a quotation, you should respectfully decline their offer of work and carry on your search for an accredited contractor. You should try and get at least 3 different price quotes from various companies in the Harpenden area when you have reassured yourself of their accreditations and professional memberships. You should ask the following questions whilst getting the quotations, stating you need them to provide the answers because of the risks involved in the work:

• Can you offer me a written quotation? You should NEVER settle for just a verbal quote. Only ever accept a written quote.
• Can I contact some former clients so that I can inspect the standard of your tree work? It's generally a good idea to carry out an independent examination of recently completed work.
• Do you have a NPTC/LANTRA certificate for the use of a chainsaw, and documentary evidence of your professional memberships and qualifications? Any tree surgeon/worker using a chainsaw, must by law have a NPTC/LANTRA certificate. Qualifications might include City & Guilds Certificates and Diplomas in Arboriculture.
• Exactly what is your level of insurance cover? As recommended by the ISA and AA, your tree surgeon should be able to produce a certificate covering no less than £5 Million public liability insurance.

The written quotation that you're provided with should include easy to understand details about the planned work. It should indicate whose responsibility it is to remove waste, tree branches and stumps, and should also include information on any trees which may be protected in law, and the steps needed to get permission to carry out work on them. Unless you are a commercial entity, you should also make sure VAT has been included on the quotation. It is crucial to recognise that you've got a responsibility for hiring only skilled tradespeople to work on your trees and property.

PRIOR TO WORK - Your preferred Harpenden tree surgeon will need to enquire whether any of your trees are protected and make the appropriate steps to ensure that any work can get the green light from the local authorities. To ensure public safety, even protected trees require maintenance in order to cut back dead or dying wood, so discovering that a tree is protected does not imply that you are unable to carry out essential work.

If your property in Harpenden is located in a conservation area then at least 6 weeks written notice is required to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) before any tree work can be performed. This is only applicable to trees with a trunk diameter of more than 7.5 centimetres in diameter, at a point 1.5m from ground level. If the pruning or thinning of a protected tree's branches is required to sustain and promote growth, notice is also not necessary.

On site they will conduct a complete assessment of your tree's health and determine the remedial treatment required and how the required outcome can be achieved with safety in mind. This involves conducting a full risk assessment to include your property, public areas and any sections of a neighbour's property that could be affected by falling debris. This stage will also establish the level of protection needed and the number of workers required. This could include various safety precautions as well as PPE (personal protective equipment) to ensure the safety of the general public and adjacent property.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - Safety measures and barriers should be put in place before any climbing, tree felling or cutting of branches commences, to keep unauthorised persons away from the area of work. When there's the possibility of debris falling onto a public road, it might be necessary to briefly halt the traffic.

The tree surgeon will need varying degrees of protection based on the kind of tree work being completed. At the very least they'll be wearing protective clothing to avoid cutting injuries to the hands, legs and torso, when doing chainsaw work. High visibility clothing, and head and eye protection, should be worn by all workers involved in the operation.

Climbing equipment and ladders will need to be deployed if working at height is involved, and to help in the removal of high branches and heavy sections of tree trunk, additional personnel will be needed. For removing waste, unhindered access to the work site will be necessary. Therefore, it is a good idea to inform your next door neighbours, because a skip or pick up truck will need to be parked as close as possible to the workplace while the work progresses.

UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - The whole site can be cleared of all debris, and all the branches and waste can be taken away, after all of the tree work has been completed. Your tree surgeon should then sign off and give you a certificate of work, especially in the case of any protected trees. Highways and footpaths can then be re-opened, and any safety measures places in public spaces taken away.

If you've got any problems or issues with the completed work, you should first take them up with the tree surgeon in order that they can be put right immediately. If there's any further dispute, and your tree surgeon is a registered member of a professional trade body, you can get help and advice from the International Society of Arboriculture or the Arboricultural Association so as to come to a satisfactory conclusion.

Locally based Harpenden tree surgeons will probably have the telephone code 01582 and the postcode AL5. They will operate in Harpenden itself, in addition to nearby areas like Codicote, Marshalls Heath, Childwickbury, Peters Green, Batford, Redbourn, Flamstead, Hatching Green, East Hyde, Mackerye End, Gustard Wood, Kinsbourne Green, Wheathampstead, Kimpton, and these postcodes: AL5 1AA, AL5 1BG, AL5 1JG, AL5 1BE, AL5 1HG, AL5 1JY, AL5 1NQ, AL5 1JR, AL5 1SD, AL5 1PR.

If you require this sort of assistance it's certainly advisable to use a competent tree surgeon. Harpenden business and home owners can substantially benefit from the skills and expertise offered by a trained professional.

Tree Pollarding Harpenden

The procedure whereby the size of a tree is significantly lessened because it's outgrown its present surroundings, is know as pollarding. It can occasionally be employed for practical or aesthetic reasons to mould a tree into a particular form or shape. Trees which grow alongside roads in Harpenden are quite often pollarded, as are those used for borders and in managed hedgerows. The rather naked and harsh appearance that is the consequence of pollarding is not very popular with those who adore trees, as it's so dissimilar to its attractive natural state. Tree species such as maples, sycamores, limes, beeches, oaks, horse chestnuts and planes are regular contenders for pollarding, and the advantageous aspect of this process is that trees which would normally need to be removed can be preserved for generations to come. (Tags: Tree Pollarding Harpenden, Tree Pruning Harpenden, Pollarding Harpenden)

Essential Skills for a Tree Surgeon in Harpenden

• Being able to work successfully others.
• Physical skills such as coordination and movement.
• Be conscious of the complexities and dangers involved with the various aspects of work.
• Have an organised and methodical working approach.
• Customer service skills.
• Have necessary computer skills and know how to perform tasks with handheld devices.
• Be patient and have the ability to stay calm and focused in stressful circumstances.
• Be capable of repairing, maintaining and using machinery and tools.
• Be able to work with your hands.
• Be professional and capable of completing work within the given time frame.
• Good knowledge of public safety and security.

Cable Bracing Harpenden

When a tree poses a risk to nearby property or passers-by, or if it's showing signs of damage or decay, the tree can be supported using a procedure known as cable bracing. When older or valuable trees in Harpenden are concerned, cable bracing is generally used where it's unsatisfactory to fell a tree or cut out large sections that are unsafe or unstable.

The fitting of a cable bracing setup might be an option to add support to the V-shaped forks, defective joints and weak limbs of a tree. By the installation of rods and cables most Harpenden tree surgeons will be equipped to alleviate structural stress and extend the lifespan of old and valuable trees using different kinds of bracing work.

Cable bracing has the goal of providing a shock-absorbing and flexible method of support that's non-invasive and does not cause additional damage to the tree by drilling and bolting the branches. An extensive risk risk assessment must be conducted by an arborist of tree surgeon before any actual cable bracing work can commence. This is necessary to ensure the safety of the tree and adjoining areas as the work proceeds.

Stump Grinding

If you've got a need for specialist services such as stump grinding in Harpenden, making certain you employ a tree surgeon with the proper knowhow and equipment is extremely important. Expert tree surgeons always grind down all sizes of tree stump to twelve inches or more below the surface. Grinding down roots and stumps fairly close to walls and buildings while avoiding damage, can only be carried out if your tree surgeon has access to the appropriate machinery. The purpose built stump grinders can also cope with any obstinate tree stumps tucked away in alleys and passageways. Where really big trees need to be removed the stump that remains can be quite substantial and the thicker roots are going to go down to a considerable depth, demanding a herculean effort to remove them. (Tags: Stump Grinding Harpenden, Stump Removal Harpenden, Tree Stump Grinding Harpenden)

Storm Damage Harpenden

Although we're all conscious of the extreme power of Mother Nature, large trees seem strong, sturdy and capable of standing up to more or less anything. The lifespan of most trees far surpasses that of humans or animals, and in fact some types such as yews, oaks and sweet chestnuts can live and continue to grow happily for hundreds (even thousands) of years.

However, they can be very vulnerable to the elements when confronted by certain conditions, and it is not simply the possibility of falling tree limbs and branches, but in extreme circumstances the entire tree can crash to the ground. The main weather related problem for trees is high winds, and as the number of severe storms and weather events in Harpenden escalates due to climate change, this sort of damage has become more and more commonplace. Other issues can be heavy snowfall during wintertime, and saturated soil during flooding or extended periods of rainfall.

In order to be prepared for any problems that might occur during severe weather conditions, it is a good idea to have an experienced Harpenden tree surgeon trim and remove any dead, dying or overhanging branches, and check for any further issues.

Bigger trees can also have lightning rods, copper conductors, or other lightning protection systems installed, to reduce the chances of them being struck by lightning and to stop nearby buildings and property being affected by "arcs" or "jumps" from one conductive path to another. A lightning strike can kill a tree completely, or drastically weaken it, rendering it more susceptible to disease or pest attacks. You might not believe that lightning strikes are that common, however in the UK there are something like 300,000 lightning strikes every year.

If you are anxious about the chance of your trees in Harpenden being damaged by storms, you should ask what your local tree surgery company can do to safeguard them, and reduce the risk of accidents occurring. (Tags: Storm Damage Harpenden, Storm Damage Prevention Harpenden, Storm Damaged Trees Harpenden).

Chainsaws in Tree Surgery

The most commonplace tool that experienced tree surgeons in Harpenden use is the chainsaw. It's a versatile and effective tool, but can be rather dangerous in the wrong hands. The most popular style of chainsaw with professional users is the petrol driven version, being easy to handle and more portable, although nowadays it's possible to obtain rechargeable battery chainsaws and mains operated ones. For slicing effortlessly through large limbs and tree trunks, petrol chainsaws are really the only effective option, being extremely powerful and able to cope with even the most demanding of tree work.

A chainsaw is essentially composed of a revolving motor-driven chain which is armed with a row of razor-sharp teeth which readily cut through the bark and inner wood of a tree. Aside from what powers them, there are also a variety of types of chainsaw for different functions, rear-handled for work at ground level (two handed), top-handled for working at height (and which can be operated with one hand) and pole saws for hard to reach branches and long distance pruning.

Whilst working at height a tree with a rapidly twirling blade in your hand is a fairly dangerous thing to do, you'll seldom see a professional Harpenden tree surgeon who doesn't make use of a chainsaw. To be able to become a member of the Arboricultural Association, being trained in the safe use of chainsaws is one of the main prerequisites.

There are numerous different brands and models of chainsaw, but the main ones used by professionals in Harpenden are Husqvarna, Hyundai, Stihl and Makita.

A Tree Surgeons's Day to Day Duties

• Identify hazards posed by trees.
• Tidy up area upon completion and fulfil removal of waste product from customer's site.
• Work with customers and complete administration tasks.
• Chip and cut branches and logs.
• Evaluate the health of trees and formulate treatment plan.
• Be proficient with power tools and other powered equipment.
• Service equipment like chainsaws and chippers.
• Fell and remove trees and grind stumps.
• Climb trees to prune or remove branches as required.
• Prepare tree survey reports for both domestic and commercial clients.
• Tree planting and transplanting.
• Create telephone or on-site quotations for clients.

Emergency Tree Care Harpenden

If you've got large trees growing in your garden in Harpenden, there might be situations when you have to contact a tree surgeon in an emergency. Tree surgeons in Harpenden expect to receive a surge in emergency call-outs when there are high winds and storms, which is why many of them offer a 24/7 service to cater for this eventuality. Branches are more likely to break off and fall when the weather is windy, and a higher risk of an entire tree toppling over and harming people or property. Plummeting branches and tree limbs can result in smashed greenhouses, damaged fences, broken garden furniture and squashed sheds, therefore rather than having to deal with the aftermath of such occurrences, prevention is the most important thing.

Naturally, the local authorities in Harpenden will also occasionally need to call on emergency tree care services, when large branches drop onto public walkways, railway tracks and streets.

Even when the emergency work has been carried out, a tree which has lost some large branches may need to be "re-balanced", and this may be carried out for purely aesthetic reasons or because the tree now looks lopsided, with the weight unevenly distributed, quite possibly resulting in further concerns. To deal with all of these various issues, you should call up a local Harpenden tree surgeon who offers emergency 24/7 services. (Tags: Emergency Tree Services Harpenden, Tree Care Emergencies Harpenden, Emergency Tree Surgery Harpenden, Emergency Call-Outs Harpenden).

Tree Surgery Tasks Harpenden

Harpenden tree surgeons can usually help with crown cleaning, tree watering, woodland clearances, brush cutting Harpenden, landscaping, tree felling Harpenden, hazard assessment in Harpenden, formative pruning Harpenden, damage restoration, stump treatment, crown reduction Harpenden, fruit tree pruning, tree reduction, hedge cutting in Harpenden, stump grinding, crown lifting, forestry management in Harpenden, tree fertilising, crown removal Harpenden, root removal, shielding trees from grazing, airspading, tree dismantling, tree surveys, decompaction Harpenden, commercial tree care, woodchipping, health assessments, tree transplanting in Harpenden, dead-wooding in Harpenden and other tree surgeon services in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. These are just a small portion of the activities that are performed by a local tree surgeon. Harpenden providers will keep you informed about their whole range of services.

Tree Surgeons Nearby

Also find: Kimpton tree surgeon, Batford tree surgeon, Kinsbourne Green tree surgeon, East Hyde tree surgeon, Mackerye End tree surgeon, Flamstead tree surgeon, Peters Green tree surgeon, Marshalls Heath tree surgeon, Childwickbury tree surgeon, Hatching Green tree surgeon, Gustard Wood tree surgeon and more. The majority of these towns and villages are catered for by local tree surgeons. Business and home owners in the area can obtain quotations for tree surgery by going here.

Tree Care Services Harpenden

Find a Tree Surgeon in Harpenden Here

• Harpenden Eco-Plugging
• Harpenden Hedge Reduction
• Harpenden Woodchipping
• Harpenden Tree Transplanting
• Harpenden Tree Bracing
• Harpenden Wood Chipping
• Harpenden Tree Pruning
• Harpenden Root Removal
• Harpenden Tree Care
• Harpenden Tree Shaping
• Harpenden Woodland Management
• Harpenden Stump Removal
• Harpenden Tree Topping
• Harpenden Vegetation Management

For the latest local Harpenden info look here

Tree Surgery AL5 area, (dialling code 01582).

Tree Management Harpenden - 01582 - Arboriculture Harpenden - Crown Thinning Harpenden - Vegetation Management Harpenden - AL5 - Stump Removal Harpenden - Tree Pruning Harpenden - Forest Management Harpenden