Royston Tree Surgeon Hertfordshire: Trees are an important feature of many gardens and properties in Royston, and they will often transform an otherwise two dimensional area by adding structure, style and substance. This is fine and dandy, however when trees are neglected, diseased, or affected by severe weather conditions, for instance storms or flooding, issues can develop which will need to be sorted. If your trees need attention, the safest option is to consult an established tree surgeon in Royston, for their expert advice before any work commences.
Employing non-qualified personnel for tree work or attempting to do it by yourself, could cause damage to property, harm your trees, or even lead to injury or death. But even hiring an experienced tree surgeon who is acquainted with all the dangers doesn't necessarily mean that tree work is safe. Tree surgery is certainly not a job for novices, and on average there are 140 serious injuries and three deaths each year within the profession, making it one of the most hazardous jobs in the UK.
There's also a danger to life from damaged or neglected trees in Royston, since around five people per year are killed in the UK by falling trees and branches. You may well be liable to third-party compensation claims as a consequence of your actions, if you bring in somebody to perform tree work and an injury occurs, or property is damaged. These are the reasons why it's vitally important to retain the services of an experienced tree surgeon to undertake the work on your trees. (All figures from HSE).
There are two industry bodies that an experienced Royston tree surgeon should really be a member of. The websites of both the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the Arboricultural Association (AA) allow you to check out the professional standing and membership of any tree surgeon in Royston. To find out if any particular local tree surgeon has ARB Approved Contractor status and has membership of either of these organisations, you can do a search on this page.
For mediation and for help and advice at any point during or after the work has been carried out, you will be able to contact either one of these professional organisations.
If someone offers to provide you with a price quote for any tree work and you're unable to find them on this directory list, you should politely decline their offer and find an approved contractor. Once their professional memberships and accreditations have been diligently checked, you should try to get a minimum of 3 different estimates from various companies in and around Royston. Whilst obtaining the quotes you should ask the below questions, stating you need the answers because of the risks involved with tree surgery work:
- What level of insurance cover have you got? As stipulated by the AA and ISA, your tree surgeon should be able to show you a certificate covering a minimum of £5 Million public liability insurance.
- Can you show a NPTC certificate for the use of a chainsaw, and documentary verification of your professional memberships and qualifications? It is required by law that any tree worker using a chainsaw must have gained NPTC/LANTRA certification. City & Guilds Certificates and National Diplomas in Arboriculture are qualifications that could be held by a professional Royston tree surgeon.
- Can I inspect the quality of your tree work by contacting a person you've worked for recently? It's a good idea to perform an independent check of any recent work.
- Can you provide a written quotation? You should only ever accept a quote in writing. NEVER take a verbal quote only.
The written quote that you're given should include easily followed specifics of the proposed tree work. Who's responsible for the removal and disposal of debris, tree branches and stumps should be stated, as should information on any trees which may be protected, and the required steps to get permission to carry out work on them. Unless you're a commercial business, you should also make certain VAT has been included on the quote. It's important to realise that you've got a responsibility for employing only competent tradespeople to work on your property and trees.
PRIOR TO WORK BEGINNING - The tree surgeon you have chosen in Royston, will be able to look into whether any of the trees on your property are covered by a a TPO (tree protection order), and will check with the local authority if the go-ahead for any tree work is forthcoming. Even protected trees need maintenance so as to cut back dead or dying wood and ensure the safety of the public, so finding a tree has protected status does not imply that work can't be carried out.
If your property in Royston is within a conservation area, the Local Planning Authority (LPA) will need at least six weeks written notice of any tree work you are planning to do. This notice is not required if the stem of the tree is under seventy five millimetres in diameter when measured at 1.5 metres from ground level. If a protected tree's branches need to be pruned or thinned to sustain and promote growth, it's also not necessary to supply notice.
Your Royston tree surgeon will decide on the remedial treatment needed and how best and safely to achieve the required outcome after performing a full assessment of your trees health. Your property, public areas and any section of a neighbour's property that could be impacted by falling debris will all be given a full risk assessment. The level of protection required and the amount of workforce needed, will also be determined at this stage. To keep property and the general public safe from harm or damage, this will include both PPE (personal protective equipment) and other safety precautions.
ON THE DAY OF WORK - Cones, barriers and safety measures should be put in place before any cutting of branches, tree felling or climbing is started, to keep passers-by and unauthorised persons away from the area of work. Traffic may have to be halted temporarily if there's any threat of falling debris into a public road.
Subject to the kind of work required a tree surgeon will need different levels of protection. When doing chainsaw work, they will at a bare minimum be wearing protective clothing to prevent serious cutting injuries to the torso, legs and hands. At all times, every worker involved in the operation should wear high-vis clothing, and head and eye protection.
Additional staff will generally be necessary to assist in the removal of high branches and heavy pieces of tree trunk, particularly if working at height is involved, and where ladders and associated climbing equipment is being deployed. It is advisable to inform your neighbours of the need for access, since a skip or other method of transporting the waste away will be stationed as close to the work area as possible.
UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - All of the waste will be hauled away and the whole site cleared of any debris, when all tree work has been concluded. Your tree surgeon will then sign off and provide you with a certificate of work, especially in the case of any protected trees. Paths and roads can then be re-opened to the public, and any safety measures places in public areas taken away.
Issues or problems should be put right immediately by approaching the tree surgeon directly. If your tree surgeon is an approved member of a professional trade association, you can obtain guidance and advice from the ISA or AA in order to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion, if there's any further dispute or arbitration required.
Local Royston tree surgeons will likely have the telephone dialling code 01763 and the postcode SG8. They'll operate in Royston itself, along with nearby areas such as Shepreth, Guilden Morden, Chiswick End, Whaddon, Barley, Steeple Morden, Whaddon Gap, Buckland, Meldreth, Melbourn, Ashwell, Litlington, Chipping, Bassingbourn, Therfield, and these postcodes: SG8 5AF, SG8 5DB, SG8 5ZJ, SG8 5DW, SG8 5FZ, SG8 5PY, SG8 5TB, SG8 5WN, SG8 5WU, SG8 5TA.
If you need this sort of service it is definitely far better to hire a certified local tree surgeon. Royston property owners can benefit greatly from the expertise that are the trademark of a trained professional.
Wood Chipping Royston
In order to process the large quantities of tree limbs, vegetation and branches that are the result of their work, most Royston tree surgeons will make use of wood chipping machines. Rapidly gobbling up as much as 40 tonnes of material every hour, these powerful wood chipping systems can handle just about as much as you're physically able to feed into them. Even the smaller, more frequently used models can process a respectable 5 tons every hour without causing any problems.
Chopped down material is of course far easier to transport, taking up much less space in the tree surgeon's wagon or trailer, and can in addition be used for ecosystem restoration, garden pathways, biomass fuel, weed prevention, mulch in gardening, wood pulp, cultivating mushrooms and landscaping, to name just a few.
If you decide that you'd like to hang on to some of the wood chips that your tree surgery project generates, most Royston tree surgeons will be happy for you to keep them. If you don't have any use for them, they'll cart them away for use on other assignments, or ethically dispose of them. Whether or not you need any tree surgery doing, you will appreciate that tree surgeons are an excellent source for wood chippings which you can use throughout your garden in Royston. Some tree surgeons will supply you with wood chips free, others will charge, especially if you need to have them delivered.
Wood chipping machines are made by several companies, some of the most widely known brands include Forst, Timberwolf, T-Mech and Forest Master.
Fundamental Skills for Tree Surgeons in Royston
- Have the ability to use, maintain and repair tools and machines.
- Good customer skills.
- Have necessary computer skills and know how to perform basic tasks with handheld devices.
- Have a good understanding of public safety measures.
- Have patience and the ability to remain calm and focused in times of stress.
- Have the ability to work with your hands.
- Be conscious of the dangers and complexities involved with the various aspects of tree work.
- Be professional and able to complete work within the given time frame.
- Have an organised and methodical way of working.
- The cabability to work alongside other people.
- Physical skills like coordination and movement.
Protecting Trees and Shrubs in the Wintertime
Whilst the winter conditions are rarely harsh enough to warrant protecting your shrubs and trees, it's definitely worth looking at as a precaution. Even the shrubs, plants and trees that we generally think of as hardy, can find the winter season hard to get through, particularly during the colder months, and they will always benefit from some TLC and extra protection.
When you have trees in your garden in Royston, it's strong winds and storms that are the biggest concern, and they could still be vulnerable even though the majority of them will have already shed their leaves by wintertime, offering less resistance to wind. If a tree in your garden is swaying precariously in the wind, or has been damaged by stormy weather, a local tree surgeon will have to be contacted to conduct an inspection. Damage to trees can also result from heavy snowfall, so when this type of weather is on the cards, keep your eyes open for trouble. In the depth of winter, your trees and shrubs may require a bit of protection from frost and ice. Laying a thick covering of mulch round the bases of the stems will enable them to continue absorbing moisture and prevent the soil around the roots from freezing.
Dutch Elm Disease
Although Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) is not quite the problem that is was previously, during the last 50 yrs or so it has wiped out many millions of elm trees right through Great Britain. Inadvertently imported into Great Britain, by way of elm logs imported from Canada in the late 1960s, Dutch Elm Disease (DED) is caused by the Ophiostoma novo-ulmi fungus which is spread by the elm bark beetle.
Through the nationwide movement of elm products like elm crates, mulching bark, saplings, and firewood logs with the bark still attached, it was rapidly spread through the United Kingdom after first arriving. This terrible disease did not only affect elms in Great Britain, but also destroyed tree stocks in mainland Europe and North America. While the origins of DED are as yet unknown, the suspicion is that it first originated in Asia.
DED typically first materializes in early summer, and the main symptoms are:
- Twigs with rings or spots in cross-section.
- Clusters of leaves that turn yellow, wilt and fall.
- Shoots that die back from the tip.
- Twigs turning into a "shepherd's crook".
The felling of dying, infected and dead trees, has effectively eradicated the beetle's favourite habitat, and in recent times the spread of DED has been dramatically slowed down. There is an ongoing project for the propagation of young elms which are so far resistant to Dutch Elm Disease.
If you have suspicions that you might have elm trees on your property in Royston, that may be infected with DED, you can request a diagnosis from the THDAS (Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service), or get in touch with your local tree surgeon for guidance.
Air-Spading Royston
When you are worried about the overall health of a tree, it could be down to various problems, but issues with a tree's root system is a common trigger for such concerns. A local Royston tree surgeon may need to access your tree's root system, in order to check for issues such as root rot and soil compaction.
Because there's a chance of inflicting damage on the roots during the digging process, until recently this was a tricky thing to achieve. To effectively break down and clear away compacted soil without damaging tree roots or utility lines, a modern day technique which is frequently used by tree surgeons is "air spading".
The health of a tree can be negatively impacted when the soil around the roots becomes compacted by construction work, foot traffic or passing vehicles. When a tree fails to get ample nutrients and water it can become "stressed", and this makes it more prone to attack by diseases, insects and pests. There can also be problems with root flare, where the flare at the base of the stem gets covered in soil, causing the tissue to break down, and heightening the possibility of root decay. Air-spading is a helpful technique for correcting this.
Involving the use of an air compressor and an air-spading tool, the air-spading process blows high-speed air into the soil, this breaks it up by penetrating spaces in the soil, but leaves tree roots and utilities unaffected. As soil is directed away from the tree's roots by the powerful air flow, immediate inspection can be accomplished. The soil can then be replaced with wood chips and fertiliser to encourage the tree to rejuvenate, and solve any problems. (Tags: Air-Spade Royston, Air-Spade Investigations Royston, Air-Spading Royston).
Tree Stump Removal Royston
When you have a tree that needs felling and removing in your garden in Royston, you will also need to consider what's to be done with the stump. You might be thinking about using the stump as a quirky garden seat or some other useful feature, and might be quite happy to leave it in position until it rots away with time. However, tree stumps in your garden can be trip hazards, can attract unwelcome pests, and can even send out new suckers in an effort to regrow themselves.
If you elect to get rid of the tree stump once and for all, there are various ways to achieve this, but basically they fall under two main choices stump removal and stump grinding. In the next couple of paragraphs we'll be looking at the removal alternative rather than stump grinding.
There are essentially 3 techniques for getting rid of a tree stump - chemical treatments, digging out by hand or burning. If you are planning to remove a stump yourself, the use of any of these strategies might be possible. If you are using a tree surgeon in Royston, they will generally plump for the previously mentioned stump grinding method.
Chemical Treatments: For chemically removing a tree stump you'll need to purchase Vitax SBK Stump Killer, Resolva Xtra Tough Tree Stump Killer or Roundup Tree Stump Remover. You should always read and closely follow the instructions for applications, timings and quantities for these chemical substances, and be mindful that they're toxic and often inflammable. This should be seen as a long term stump removal solution, as it can take several weeks or even months to completely rot away, depending on its dimensions. It will still have to be chopped up and removed with a spade and axe once it has rotted away completely.
Digging Out a Stump by Hand: Digging by hand is pretty straightforward and will involve digging down, cutting all the roots, and releasing the stump. You might need to use some form of winch for the final lifting out of the tree stump. This has a tendency to be laborious and exhausting work, and should not be tackled unless you are fit and up to the task.
Stump Burning Methods: Because it can be quite dangerous and may conflict with local legislation, stump burning is not really recommended, so if you use this approach, be careful. You will have to drill several one inch holes into the stump, and pour in vegetable oil, you'll have to keep the holes topped up for a number of days until the stump is fully soaked. You should then stack charcoal around the tree stump and set fire to it. This shouldn't ever be left unattended, but be monitored continually. When the fire has finally stopped burning, you must ensure that it is fully extinguished and cool, after which you can dig out the roots and stump ashes.
An alternative method is scooping out all the soil from below the tree stump and setting a fire in the cavity underneath. Never burn a stump if it's near a building, fences or other trees.
Woodland Clearance Royston
Clearing land by woodland clearance in the Royston area can be impacted by local and national regulations in force, contingent on where the ground is, and what fauna and flora is present in the place which is going to be cleared. Hiring the skills of a professional Royston tree surgeon for your woodland clearance project, will see them following applicable protection orders and covenants, apply for any required permits, and using environmentally friendly techniques for completing the clearance.
A good tree surgeon will establish if there are any felling restrictions, special planning permissions or ecological constraints by conducting a full site survey and having discussions with the local council. Mitigation procedures might have to be employed if there is protected animal species or vegetation on site; this could involve the relocation of creatures such as reptiles or bats, and the replanting of rare trees to another protected site.
The specialist mulching, chipping and felling equipment used in woodland clearance means that it is far more efficient and cost effective to hire a specialist tree surgeon to complete the project.
Safety
The safety issue is one of the major concerns when doing tree surgery, since if conducted improperly it can definitely be an extremely dangerous procedure. Inexperienced or incapable "tree surgeons" in Royston are likely to cut corners and disregard recognised safety guidelines, with the result that there could be inadequate head protection, not putting on hearing or eye protection, no fall protection, in the shape of platforms, ropes and harnesses, falling branches and timber, failing to put on cut resistant apparel (in particular boots and leggings) and not roping off the work area to safeguard vehicles and passers-by. Vulnerable because of these inadequacies are the property owners, passing and parked vehicles, the groundsman, the tree surgeon himself (up the tree), fencing and garden outbuildings, the actual tree, nearby properties, the street facilities, passing pedestrians.
Tree Cable Bracing Royston
In certain situations where a tree is showing signs of damage, decay, or is a hazard to nearby persons or property, a procedure called cable bracing will often be used to offer support to the tree. When highly valued or older trees in Royston are concerned, cable bracing is used where it is unsatisfactory to fell a tree or remove large sections that are unstable.
The fitting of a cable bracing system might be an option to add support to the V-shaped forks, weak limbs and defective joints of a tree. Through the installation of cables and rods most tree surgeons in Royston will be prepared to redistribute structural stresses and prolong the life of old and valued trees using different kinds of bracing work.
The objective of cable bracing is to provide a non-invasive method of support which doesn't cause damage to the tree by having to drill and bolt the branches, and is both flexible and shock-absorbing. A risk assessment, to guarantee the safety of the tree and encircling areas, must be carried out before the commencement of any cable bracing project in Royston.
Problematic Tree Roots Royston
Because certain trees have particularly invasive root systems, if they are growing too near to your property in Royston, they can trigger various issues, possibly serious. Damaged foundations, blocked drains and cracked patios, are among the most commonplace issues that you may run into. Species like elms, willows, sycamores and maples, are trees that have very invasive root systems.
If you are planning to plant any new trees on your property, it is best to make sure they are positioned a suitable distance from your sewerage pipes, your home, pathways and patios. If you're already experiencing problems with existing trees that are growing too near to your house, you can get advice and help by bringing in your friendly local Royston tree care specialist.
To avoid severely harming the health of your tree or even killing it off altogether, you shouldn't just cut out the invasive roots in an attempt to deal with this yourself. To successfully survive, a tree will still need to get ample water and food, and a knowledgeable tree care specialist in Royston will know precisely which roots should be left, and which roots can be safely cut.
Underground drainage systems are very attractive to tree and shrub roots, as they provide a continuous source of water and nutrients, and they can frequently suffer cracks and structural damage. A drainage system's joints can easily be invaded by minute tree roots, which when established can grow into large root balls and ultimately cause blockages and joint failure. Through the use of manual rodding, mechanical equipment or high pressure water jetting, some Royston tree surgeons will be able to provide specialised root removal solutions. You should also be able to obtain root removal services in Shepreth, Guilden Morden, Chiswick End, Whaddon, Barley, Steeple Morden, Whaddon Gap, Buckland, Meldreth, Melbourn, Ashwell, Litlington, Chipping, Bassingbourn, Therfield, and in Royston itself. (Tags: Drain Root Removal Royston, Invasive Tree Roots Royston, Tree Root Problems Royston, Problem Tree Roots Royston).
Hedge Trimming Royston
Whilst the maintenance and care of trees is the main focus of tree surgeons in Royston, they are often required to carry out work on hedges, for instance controlling the height and routine trimming. When you have conifer hedges like Leylandii, this is especially valuable, since they can grow so tall that a homeowner or gardener will find them impossible to cope with using regular tools.
When a hedge is neglected or poorly maintained, it can become overgrown and out of control very quickly. Regular trimming is recommended if you do not want a hedge to overrun large sections of your garden in Royston, and along with making the hedge stronger it will also make it more visually appealing.
Tidy hedges help make your property and garden neater and more appealing, which can be a big advantage if you're considering selling your home sometime soon. You can also get hedge trimming services in Shepreth, Guilden Morden, Chiswick End, Whaddon, Barley, Steeple Morden, Whaddon Gap, Buckland, Meldreth, Melbourn, Ashwell, Litlington, Chipping, Bassingbourn, Therfield, and Royston, Hertfordshire. (Tags: Hedge Clipping Royston, Hedge Cutting Royston, Hedge Maintenance Royston, Hedge Trimming Royston).
Everyday Duties of a Tree Surgeon
- Establish hazards posed by trees.
- Be competent using power tools and powered machinery.
- Fell and remove trees and grind stumps.
- Prepare tree survey reports for both domestic and commercial customers.
- Climb trees to remove or prune branches.
- Tidy up work area on completion and fulfil removal of waste product from client's site.
- Assess the health of trees and prepare treatment plans.
- Maintain and service equipment like chippers and chainsaws.
- Work with customers and complete admin tasks.
- Cut and chip branches and logs.
- Create on-site or telephone quotes with the customers.
- Plant trees and vegetation.
Ash Dieback
First reported in Britain in 2021, ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) is a deadly fungal disease which is likely to decimate close to eighty percent of the current ash trees, in the next few years. Set to have huge ramifications for our countryside, ash dieback is likely to be just as devastating as the previous outbreak of Dutch Elm Disease (DED).
A disease that affects trees of the Fraxinus genus, it has a particularly disastrous effect on Fraxinus excelsior, the common ash that is native to the UK. Originating in Asia, the fungus which causes ash dieback is named Hymenoscyphus fraxineus.
Quickly spread by minute spores released from the fruiting bodies of the fungus, and are able to be blown for miles on the wind, ash dieback is prevalent in most areas of Britain with mortality rates of up to 85 percent.
Impacting tree from every age group, ash dieback can be recognised by symptoms such as:
- Dying shoots and leaves are visible in summer.
- New epicormic growth appearing from buds that were previously dormant.
- Leaves with dark patches that develop during the summertime.
- Foliage that wilts, turns black in colour and falls prematurely.
- Dark brown necrotic lesions form where branches meet with the trunk, and the inner bark under the lesions looks brownish grey.
To a certain degree, ash trees have the ability to fend off the disease, however they ultimately die after continual attacks every year. At present there's no clear-cut strategy for stopping the spread of achalara ash dieback, and there is no effective treatment.
If you believe that you have discovered a case of ash dieback in your garden in Royston, or someplace in the local community, you could report it to the Forestry Commission's "Tree Alert Service", although ash dieback is so prevalent throughout the United Kingdom that they are only really interested in hearing about cases discovered in locations not previously affected. You should still however contact a local tree surgeon, who will offer guidance and advice on how best to proceed.
(Tags: Identifying Ash Dieback, Chalara Ash Dieback Royston, Signs of Ash Dieback).Tree Surgery Tasks Royston
Royston tree surgeons will likely help you with root pruning in Royston, tree staking in Royston, crown reduction, vegetation management Royston, damaged tree cutting and removal, the protection of trees from grazing Royston, tree shaping, brush cutting, eco-plugging, coppicing Royston, tree lightening protection, tree reduction Royston, crown thinning in Royston, shrub maintenance, tree work, pest control, tree topping, dead wooding, tree maintenance, stump treatment Royston, landscape clearing in Royston, drop crotching, tree dismantling, emergency tree surgery, stump grinding in Royston, root removal, tree planning, tree surveys, damage restoration, crown lifting and other tree surgeon services in Royston, Hertfordshire. Listed are just a selection of the tasks that are carried out by a tree surgeon. Royston professionals will tell you about their full range of services.
Tree Surgeons Nearby
Also find: Meldreth tree surgeon, Guilden Morden tree surgeon, Litlington tree surgeon, Bassingbourn tree surgeon, Shepreth tree surgeon, Barley tree surgeon, Chipping tree surgeon, Whaddon Gap tree surgeon, Therfield tree surgeon, Ashwell tree surgeon, Buckland tree surgeon, Steeple Morden tree surgeon, Whaddon tree surgeon and more. Pretty much all of these places are serviced by tree surgeons. Residents in the area can get tree surgery quotes by going here.
Tree Care Services Royston
- Royston Tree Topping
- Royston Hedge Planting
- Royston Tree Watering
- Royston Tree Pollarding
- Royston Eco-Plugging
- Royston Soil Terraventing
- Royston Crown Cleaning
- Royston Woodchipping
- Royston Tree Dismantling
- Royston Tree Bracing
- Royston Tree Reshaping
- Royston Hedge Cutting
- Royston Cable Bracing
- Royston Tree Inspections
Tree Surgeon Jobs Royston: Find Royston tree surgeon jobs here: Royston Tree Surgeon Jobs
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Tree Surgery SG8 area, phone code 01763.
Tree Removal Royston - Stump Removal Royston - Vegetation Control Royston - Root Removal Royston - Tree Management Royston - Tree Care Royston - Arboriculture Royston - Crown Thinning Royston - Forest Management Royston