Leeds Tree Surgeon West Yorkshire: Trees in your garden and around your property in Leeds, add style, structure and substance to what can often be a largely two dimensional landscape. But when neglected or damaged by extreme weather conditions, for instance flooding or storms, trees can be a bit of an issue. The safest option if there's work that needs completing on your trees, is to consult an experienced tree surgeon in Leeds.
Employing a non-qualified individual for tree work or attempting to do the work on your own, could harm your trees, cause damage to property, or even lead to injury or death. However, tree work is not altogether safe for professional tree surgeons, who are acquainted with all the risks involved with it. Within the industry there are a thought provoking average of three deaths and one hundred and forty serious injuries per year, making tree surgery one of the most hazardous jobs in Britain.
With falling branches or trees causing around five fatalities annually in Britain, a danger to life can even be posed by a neglected or damaged tree. If an injury occurs, or property is damaged due to you employing somebody to perform tree work, you could be liable to third-party compensation claims due to the consequences of your actions. The above are just some of the reasons why retaining the services of an accredited Leeds tree surgeon to undertake the work on your trees is imperative. (The figures given were sourced from HSE UK).
A trained tree surgeon in Leeds will likely be an approved member of at least one of the 2 main trade bodies. The membership and professional status of any tree surgeon in Leeds can be checked on the websites of both the AA (Arboricultural Association) and the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture). This website enables you to check out if any specific tree surgeon has ARB Approved Contractor status, and has membership of either of these bodies.
If there is a problem during the tree work, or after it has been accomplished you're able to contact these trade associations for assistance in arbitration and for advice and help.
If a tree surgeon who you cannot find on this directory list offers to give you a quotation, it is recommended that you continue your search for an approved and fully qualified contractor, and courteously decline their offer. It is a good idea to get a minimum of three different estimates from various companies in and around Leeds, as soon as you have diligently checked their professional qualifications and associations. There are various vital questions that you should ask while you're in the process of obtaining the quotes, and due to the risks of the work involved, you must make it abundantly clear that you need them to provide you with the answers. You should for instance ask:
- Can you give me a written quotation? Only ever accept a written quote. NEVER settle for a verbal quote alone.
- What is your level of insurance cover? Your tree surgeon ought to be able to produce an insurance certificate covering a minimum of five million pounds public liability, as outlined by the ISA and AA.
- Would it be possible for me to contact somebody you have recently worked for, so that I can assess your tree work? It is advisable to carry out an independent examination of any recent work.
- Can you show a NPTC certificate for the use of a chainsaw, and documentary evidence of your qualifications and professional memberships? It is required by law that any tree worker who uses a chainsaw must have gained a NPTC/LANTRA certificate. Qualifications can include Certificates and National Diplomas in Arboriculture.
The written quotation that you're provided with must include clear and concise details of the proposed work. It should state whose responsibility it is to remove waste, tree branches and stumps, and should also include specifics of any trees which could be protected, and the steps required to obtain permission to work on them. You should also make certain that VAT is included on the quotation unless you're a commercial business. It is vitally important to understand that you have a responsibility for employing only trained tradespeople to work on your property and trees. This is stated by the "Common law duty of care responsibilities under the Occupier's Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984."
PRIOR TO WORK BEGINNING - Your chosen Leeds tree surgeon will need to make enquiries into the possibility of any trees being protected in your area and make the necessary steps to make sure that any tree work can be given the go-ahead from the local authorities. Finding a tree has got protected status doesn't signify that work cannot be carried out, as even protected trees require maintenance so as to cut back old or damaged wood and ensure public safety.
If your property in Leeds is located in a conservation area then no less than 6 weeks written notice must be given to the Local Planning Authority before any tree work can be performed. This written notice isn't required if the tree stem is less than seventy five millimetres in diameter when measured at 1.5m from the ground. If a protected tree's branches need to be pruned or thinned to encourage and sustain growth, it's also not necessary to provide written notice.
After carrying out a full assessment of your trees health, your Leeds tree surgeon will determine the remedial treatment required and how best to achieve the required outcome in a safe manner. Your property, public spaces and any parts of neighbouring properties that could be impacted by falling debris and branches will all be given a risk assessment. The number of operatives required and the level of protection needed, will also be established at this stage. This could include various safety measures as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) to guarantee the safety of the general public and adjacent property.
ON THE DAY OF WORK - To keep passers-by and unauthorised persons away from the area of work, cones, barriers and safety measures should be put in place before any cutting of branches, tree felling or climbing commences. It may at some stage be necessary to halt the traffic momentarily, if there's any threat of branches and debris falling onto the highway.
Different kinds of tree work will demand that the tree surgeon has varying degrees of protection. When carrying out basic work with a chainsaw, to avoid injuring the legs, torso and hands, they will as a bare minimum be wearing specialist protective clothing. Without exception, every worker involved in the operation should wear head and eye protection, and high visibility clothing.
Additional staff will usually be necessary to help in the removal of high branches and large sections of tree trunk, particularly if any working at height is involved, and where safety climbing equipment and ladders are being used. For taking waste away from the work area, a skip or truck will be stationed as close as possible to the work area. This need for easy access is as good a reason as any for informing your neighbours of the work.
UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - The whole site can be cleared of all debris, and all the branches and waste can be taken away, when all of the tree work has been concluded. A certificate of work done should then be created by your tree surgeon, particularly where the trees are covered by TPOs, which will be signed off and a copy presented to you. If there were any public spaces that required safety measures, this will be removed and paths and roads will be re-opened to the public.
If you've got any complaints about or issues with the completed work, you should get them fixed straight away by first of all taking them up with the tree surgeon. If any further arbitration is required, and your tree surgeon is a signed up member of a trade association, you can obtain help and guidance from the International Society of Arboriculture or the Arboricultural Association so as to come to a satisfactory conclusion.
Local Leeds tree surgeons will probably have the dialling code 0113 and the postcode LS1. They'll work in Leeds itself, along with nearby areas such as Potternewton, Beeston, Churwell, Armley, Harehills, Colton, Belle Isle, Seacroft, Green Side, Lower Wortley, Burley, Woodhouse, Headingley, Saxton Gardens, Sheepscar, Hunslet Cars, Gledhow, and these postcodes: LS1 2FA, LS1 4AN, LS1 2SZ, LS1 3ED, LS1 1NZ, LS1 2FE, LS1 1TB, LS1 2HD, LS1 3HQ, LS1 3AL.
For this sort of assistance it is unquestionably wise to hire a trusted local tree surgeon. Leeds homeowners can benefit greatly from the skills and dexterity that are the trademark of a seasoned professional.
Skills Needed by Tree Surgeons in Leeds
- Good customer skills.
- Physical skills like movement and co-ordination.
- To be methodical and pay close attention to detail.
- Have a good understanding of public security and safety.
- Have patience and the ability to stay focused in times of stress.
- Be professional and capable of completing tasks within a set timeframe.
- Be capable of repairing, maintaining and using machinery and tools.
- Be mindful of the dangers and complexities involved with the various areas of work.
- The ability to work happily with other people.
- Have the ability to work well with your hands.
- Have essential computer skills and know how to accomplish basic tasks on handheld devices.
Firewood/Logs Leeds
When you're looking for firewood or logs in Leeds, it is always worth contacting your local tree surgeon, because they can be an excellent source for this. Since tree surgeons spend the majority of their days cutting down trees and branches, I suppose this is not really surprising.
If you are lucky, you may find a tree surgeon in the Leeds area who gives logs and branches away free to collectors, these will usually be "green" and in need of drying out. Others will sell their logs in bags or by the tonne, and these will typically be fully dried and seasoned logs, that are ready for burning.
Putting "wet" logs on your wood burner or open fire is not a good idea, and will produce a lot of smoke and clog up your flue. You should only use logs which have been dried out for a minimum of twelve months and have a moisture content of 20% or lower. Normally tree surgeons in Leeds will have stocks of assorted hardwood logs, and the benefit of these is that they give a sustained burn, providing 3 or 4 hours of comforting heat. The drawback of hardwood is that it can be quite tricky to light, therefore if you can get your hands on some softwood logs, these are terrific for initially getting a fire started. (Tags: Logs and Firewood Leeds, Firewood Logs Leeds, Firewood Leeds, Softwood Firewood Leeds).
Control of Vegetation
It is not merely the removal and maintenance of trees that your nearby Leeds tree surgeon will be happy to help you with, but also any kind of unchecked vegetation that is jungling up your land or garden. Lots of tree care experts will be quite happy to cut down and remove shrubs, bushes, overgrown vegetation and weeds which may be taking hold around sheds, walkways, driveways, buildings or garages, and being a nuisance. If you are going to maintain your precious garden effectively then all of this excess growth has to be taken away on a regular basis, and if you've got the inclination and time then this is definitely a job that you may tackle on your own if you are fit enough, or you might get a local tree surgeon to call in every few months to make certain it is looking good. The management of vegetation is a must if you are going to have easy and safe access to every part of your property and if this is forgotten the plants and vegetation will pretty quickly get out of control and take away the enjoyment of your garden. Besides everything else your garden will also look better when maintained properly.
Tree Surveys Leeds
There are a number of instances when tree surveys might be necessary, property extension and land development being the most commonplace. If you happen to be clearing a piece of land to make room for an extension to an existing property or a brand new home in Leeds, for example, you may need to perform a tree survey to British Standards BS5837 if trees exist on that land. Tree surveys in Leeds should be completed by a certified tree surgeon or arboricultural surveyor, and this is the case whether the survey is being carried out on either a private or public property.
Within the specified area, a properly done tree survey will produce a whole host of information about all the trees. For instance:
- The life expectancy of the trees.
- The species of trees.
- The height of each tree in metres.
- Recommendations for tree management.
- The existence of any TPOs.
- The diameter of each tree (taken 1.5m above the ground).
- The age of the trees.
- The spread of the branches to South, East, North and West.
- The structural and physiological health of the trees.
- The number of trees (those of over 75mm diameter 1.5m from ground level).
- Allocating a tree reference number for each tree.
If you are doing work on an existing home in Leeds but are not changing the building's footprint and aren't modifying the access points or service lines, a tree survey will probably not be required.
Tree Stump Removal Leeds
When you've had a tree cut down and removed from your garden in Leeds, unless arranged with the tree surgeon, you will likely be left with a tree stump to deal with. You might consider allowing it to break down and rot away in a natural way, and be quite happy to leave it to its own devices. However, a big tree stump could take quite a few years to break down, and might even send out new suckers in an effort to restore itself to its former glory. Protruding stumps can also be a trip hazard, can attract undesirable pests, and be an eyesore as well.
There are various ways that you can remove a tree stump, if you decide that this is the best course of action, although the two main choices are stump removal or stump grinding. In the next few lines, we will be considering the various methods of removal.
Digging out by hand, chemical treatments or burning, are the three main techniques for getting rid of a tree stump. If you want to remove a tree stump yourself, you could employ any of these solutions. If you're planning to get a tree surgeon to perform the work, they'll usually favour the previously mentioned stump grinding solution, however a chemically based stump removal treatment such as eco-plugging may be on the agenda.
Stump Burning Techniques: Take care if you choose this approach to stump removal, because stump burning can be quite dangerous and could contravene local legislation. Several 1" holes will need to be drilled in the tree stump, and over a period of several days regularly topped up with vegetable oil. The stump is then stacked up with charcoal or logs and set alight. Such a fire shouldn't be left unwatched, and should be supervised until safe to do so. When the fire has ceased burning, you need to make certain that it is fully extinguished and cooled off, after which you will be able to dig out the stump debris and roots.
This isn't the only way to burn a stump, and you could also try scooping out all the soil from beneath the stump and building a fire in the cavity that's been created underneath. None of these burning procedures should should be considered appropriate if the stump is near to other trees, fences or a building.
Digging Out by Hand: The technique for digging out a stump by hand is rather self-explanatory, and requires shoveling out out as much of the earth as possible from around the roots, cutting any thick roots with a handsaw or chainsaw, and finally freeing the stump so that it can be lifted out. A cable ratchet winch might be needed to complete this process. This has a tendency to be exhausting and laborious work, and should never be tackled unless you are physically fit and up to the job.
Chemical Stump Treatments: If you settle on the chemical removal option, you'll need to purchase Roundup Tree Stump Remover, Vitax SBK Stump Killer or Resolva Xtra Tough Tree Stump Killer. It is vital that you follow the manufacturer's directions to the letter when working with any of these chemical substances, as they can be extremely toxic and dangerous. This should be seen as a long, rather than short term solution to stump removal, since it can take a few weeks or even months to completely rot away, depending on the size of the stump. It will still have to be chopped up and removed with a spade and axe once it has completely rotted away.
Pollarding Trees Leeds
Pollarding is on the whole carried out for the sake of safety, and is a process which is used for substantially reducing a tree's proportions when it's got too large for its location. It can occasionally be employed for visual or functional motives to change a tree into a particular form or shape. Trees that grow beside highways in Leeds are frequently pollarded, as are those that are used for borders and in hedgerows. For folks who adore trees this is not a particularly popular technique, seeing that the result tends to be rather bare and harsh, with the overall appearance of being almost dead. However, irrespective of the fairly unsightly appearance of pollarded trees like horse chestnuts, oaks, maples, beeches, sycamores, planes and limes, there's a beneficial feature to this process, in that such trees can be conserved when they would otherwise have to be cut down.
Dutch Elm Disease
Not quite the issue now that it once was, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) has killed tens of millons of precious elm trees throughout the UK during the last fifty years or more. Inadvertently imported into the UK, by way of elm logs imported from North America (Canada) in the late nineteen sixties, Dutch Elm Disease is caused by a fungus called Ophiostoma novo-ulmi which is spread by the elm bark beetle.
After its arrival, it spread rapidly through the movement of elm products like saplings, bark mulch, crates, and logs with the bark on. Believed to have originated from Asia (possibly Japan), DED didn't only affect trees in Great Britain, but also devastated the stocks of elms in continental Europe, North America and New Zealand.
The symptoms of Dutch Elm disease generally first show up in early summer, and can be recognised by:
- Clusters of leaves turning yellow, wilting and falling.
- New shoots dying back from the tips.
- Dark spots or rings in the cross-section of twigs.
- A "shepherd's crook" effect on affected twigs.
The spread of this disease has been dramatically slowed down by the removal of dead, infected and dying trees, which has essentially decimated the elm bark beetle's habitat. The propagation of young elms that up to now have proven resistant to Dutch Elm Disease is now being undertaken.
If you've got elms in your garden in Leeds, and have suspicions they might be affected by Dutch Elm Disease, contact your local tree surgeon for guidance, or request a diagnosis from the Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service (THDAS).
Tree Surgery - Safety Considerations
One of the most important worries with doing tree surgery in Leeds is the safety aspect, as it is a risky and dangerous process if handled incorrectly. If the so called tradespeople engaged in the work are unqualified or inexperienced, there are many things that can go amiss such as no head protection, failing to put on cut resistant clothing (particularly boots and trousers), little if any protection from falling, in the shape of platforms, ropes and harnesses, falling branches and timber, not cordoning off the area to protect the public and vehicles and not wearing hearing or eyesight protection. What may be vulnerable because of this type of incompetence are fences and garden features, the home owners, the tree itself, parked and passing vehicles, the tree surgeon (up the tree), passers by, nearby buildings, those working at ground level, the street facilities.
Stump Grinding
If you've got a need for specialised services such as stump grinding in Leeds, making certain you use a tree surgeon with the proper knowhow and machinery is critical. Any decent tree surgeon in Leeds will fully understand the need for eliminating every last piece of the stump down to at least a twelve inch depth, to make sure it doesn't grow back. Using the correct machines means they can extract stubborn roots and stumps very close to walls and structures without causing any damage. This purpose built stump grinding equipment is so adaptable that it can even eradicate stumps which are tucked away in alleys, passageways and similarly inaccessible spots. If you're taking out a big tree the resulting stump may be really substantial and regardless of what you're intending to use the space for, the likelihood is that the tree stump will need to be taken out well below the surface. (Tags: Tree Stump Grinding Leeds, Stump Removal Leeds, Stump Grinding Leeds)
Eco-Plugging Stumps Leeds
If you have large tree stumps in your garden that need to be removed, the customary strategy used by most Leeds tree surgeons is stump grinding. However, "eco-plugging" has become more popular as a simpler and more affordable solution to this problem. Not only is this solution less expensive, but it can also be used where stump grinding accessibility issues exist, for example in hard-to-reach and awkward places.
Eco-plugging is an extremely effective treatment for eliminating tree stumps and does not affect the surrounding trees and vegetation. Eco-plugs eliminate the stump by destroying the whole root system, and can be employed in all weather, and at any time of the year. Containing a type of granular glyphosate herbicide which is suitable for treating a wide selection of tree species, eco-plugs work in 95% to 100% of cases. (Tags: Eco-Plugging Leeds, Eco-Plug Treatment Leeds, Eco-Plugging Tree Stump Removal Leeds, Eco-Plugs Leeds).
Tree Surgery Tasks Leeds
Leeds tree surgeons can generally help with health assessments, tree felling, tree cutting, woodchipping, air spading, tree planning, hedge planting, landscape clearing, tree shaping, conrolling pests Leeds, tree bracing Leeds, site clearance in Leeds, tree surveys, hedge lowering, safety inspections, fruit tree pruning, cabling Leeds, tree work Leeds, root removal Leeds, stump removal, tree maintenance, hedge reduction, tree lightening protection in Leeds, crown lifting, tree reduction, residential tree care, tree topping, terraventing, coppicing, forestry management and other tree surgeon services in Leeds, West Yorkshire. These are just a few of the tasks that are accomplished by a tree surgeon. Leeds specialists will be happy to tell you about their entire range of services.
Tree Surgeons Nearby
Also find: Hunslet Cars tree surgeon, Colton tree surgeon, Harehills tree surgeon, Green Side tree surgeon, Woodhouse tree surgeon, Headingley tree surgeon, Armley tree surgeon, Saxton Gardens tree surgeon, Sheepscar tree surgeon, Lower Wortley tree surgeon, Seacroft tree surgeon, Belle Isle tree surgeon, Gledhow tree surgeon, Churwell tree surgeon, Potternewton tree surgeon and more. Most of these places are serviced by local tree surgeons. Householders in these areas can obtain quotes for tree surgery by clicking here.
Tree Care Services Leeds
- Leeds Tree Cutting
- Leeds Root Decompaction
- Leeds Tree Inspections
- Leeds Site Clearance
- Leeds Tree Lopping
- Leeds Tree Transplanting
- Leeds Arboriculture
- Leeds Air-Spading
- Leeds Eco-Plugging
- Leeds Root Grinding
- Leeds Tree Pruning
- Leeds Root Removal
- Leeds Crown Raising
- Leeds Stump Treatment
More Leeds Trades: Needless to say, whenever you're having tree surgery done in Leeds, West Yorkshire, you'll probably be in need of other garden related services, and along with a tree surgeon in Leeds, West Yorkshire, you may additionally need patio layers in Leeds, weeding services in Leeds, garden clearances in Leeds, landscapers in Leeds, driveway pavers in Leeds, garden shed installers in Leeds, decking installers in Leeds, artificial grass installers in Leeds, gate installers in Leeds, lawn mowing in Leeds, pond installers in Leeds, garden design in Leeds, local SKIP HIRE in Leeds, rubbish removal in Leeds, hedge trimming in Leeds, soil drainage services in Leeds, and other different Leeds tradespeople.
Leeds, West Yorkshire: Leeds is the largest city in the county of West Yorkshire (West Yorks), England, with a resident population of more than 470,000. The greater metropolitan borough of the city is England's second largest district having a population of 793,139 (2019 est.). Leeds is placed to the south-west of York, north-east of Manchester, north of Sheffield and east of Bradford. It is approximately 44.8 miles from Manchester, 11.4 miles from Bradford, 36 miles from Sheffield, 24 miles from York and 196 miles from London. Governed by Leeds City council, the city embodies the core of the City of Leeds metropolitan borough in conjunction with the W Yorks towns of Otley, Pudsey, Rothwell, Morley, Horsforth, Yeadon and Wetherby. An insignificant manorial borough back in the thirteenth century, Leeds developed into a prime centre for the manufacturing and trading of wool during the 17th and 18th centuries. With the arrival of the Industrial Revolution, Leeds became a major mill town with industries such as flax, printing, engineering, iron and linen, becoming ever more important, although wool was still the dominant industry. From its relatively unpretentious existence as a 16thC market town, by the mid-twentieth century Leeds had absorbed all of its surrounding villages and settlements and had expanded to become a highly populated urban area. In 1626 it was given its town charter, and in 1893, Leeds attained City status. Surrounding towns and villages include; Potternewton, Beeston, Churwell, Armley, Harehills, Colton, Belle Isle, Seacroft, Green Side, Lower Wortley, Burley, Woodhouse, Headingley, Saxton Gardens, Sheepscar, Hunslet Cars, Gledhow. If you would like to get local Leeds information look here.
Tree Surgery LS1 area, telephone code 0113.
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