Slough Tree Surgeon Berkshire: An important feature of many properties and gardens in Slough, trees add style, structure and substance to what can frequently be a boring and two dimensional landscape. But issues may occur when trees are neglected or have been impacted by extreme weather events like gales or flooding. The best option if you have work that needs carrying out on your trees, is to consult an experienced tree surgeon in Slough.
Those in Slough who attempt to do tree work by themselves, or by using a non-qualified operative may well cause a risk of damage to the trees, to property or to life. However, even for professional tree surgeons who are aware of all the risks, tree work is not entirely safe. Tree surgery is certainly not a job for novices, and on average there are three deaths and a hundred and forty severe injuries annually within the industry, making it among the most hazardous jobs in the UK.
A poorly maintained or damaged tree can also pose a threat to life, with around 5 people a year being killed by falling trees and branches in the United Kingdom. If you hire someone to perform tree work and subsequently an injury, or damage to property occurs, you could be liable to third-party compensation claims as a consequence of your actions. This is why it is vitally important to retain the services of a professional tree surgeon to work on your trees in Slough. (Figures sourced from HSE).
A trained Slough tree surgeon should be a signed up member of one or both of the two industry bodies found in the United Kingdom. Both the Arboricultural Association and the International Society of Arboriculture offers a website where you can check the professional status and membership of any tree surgeon in Slough. On this website you can check membership of either of these 2 bodies, which gives the tree surgeon in question, Approved ARB Contractor status.
For mediation assistance and for guidance and help at any stage during or after the work has been carried out, you'll be able to contact either one of these trade organisations.
If anyone offers you a price quote for any tree work and they aren't on this directory, you should politely decline their offer and find an approved contractor. You should try and get a minimum of three estimates from different companies in Slough when you're reassured of their professional associations and qualifications. While obtaining the quotes you should ask the questions below, expressing that you need them to provide you with the answers because of the risks involved with the work:
- Can you provide me with a quotation in writing? You should NEVER settle for just a verbal quote. Only ever accept a written quote.
- Can I inspect the quality of your tree work by contacting a person you've recently worked for? Independently examining any recent work is always sensible.
- What is your level of insurance cover? Your tree surgeon ought to be able to produce an insurance certificate covering at the least five million pounds public liability, as stipulated by the ISA and AA.
- Can you show a NPTC certificate for the use of a chainsaw, and documentary verification of your qualifications and professional memberships? The NPTC/LANTRA is a required certificate in law for any tree worker using a chainsaw. Certificates and National Diplomas in Arboriculture are qualifications that could be held by an experienced tree surgeon in Slough.
The written quotation should include easy to understand details about the tree work to be undertaken. Who's responsible for the removal and disposal of debris, tree branches and stumps should be stated, as should details about any trees which might be protected in law, and the steps needed to get permission to carry out work on them. You should also make sure that VAT has been included on the quote unless you are a commercial entity. Recognising that you have a responsibility to employ only capable tradespeople to work on your trees and property, is extremely important.
PRIOR TO WORK COMMENCING - Your selected Slough tree surgeon will need to make enquiries into the possibility of any trees being protected in your area and take the appropriate steps to make sure that any work can be given the green light from the local authorities. To ensure public safety, even protected trees need maintenance in order to cut back dead or dying wood, so finding that a tree is protected does not imply that you are unable to carry out essential work.
At least six weeks written notice is required to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) before any tree work can be carried out, if your property in Slough is inside a conservation area. However, tree stems of under 7.5 centimetres in diameter when measured at 1.5 metres above the ground are free from this requirement. Notice is also not required if pruning or thinning of a protected tree's branches is necessary in order to encourage and sustain growth.
After assessing the health of your trees, your chosen Slough tree surgeon will decide on the appropriate treatments and how the best outcome can be safely accomplished. Where there is any chance of falling debris and branches, a full risk assessment will have to be completed on public spaces, your property, and sections of a neighbour's property that may be affected. The quantity of workers required and the level of protection needed, will also be determined at this stage. This could include various safety precautions along with PPE to guarantee the safety of the general public and nearby property.
ON THE DAY OF WORK - Cones, barriers and safety measures will 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 work area. Where there's the possibility of debris crashing onto a public highway, it might be necessary to halt the traffic temporarily.
Different types of work will demand that the tree surgeon has different levels of protection. At the very least they're going to be wearing protective clothing to prevent cutting injuries to the legs, hands and torso, when doing chainsaw work. Hi-vis clothing, and head and eye protection, must be worn by all workers involved in the operation.
Extra workers will usually be needed to help in the removal of high branches and heavy sections of tree trunk, particularly if working at height is involved, and where climbing equipment and ladders are being deployed. A skip or lorry for removing the waste will be parked as close to the work area as possible, therefore it's recommended that you inform your next door neighbours of the need for unhindered access.
UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - On completion of all the tree work, the site can be cleared of any debris, and all the waste and branches can be taken away. Your tree surgeon should then sign off and provide you with a certificate of work, especially where the trees are covered by TPOs. If any public areas needed safety measures, this protection will be taken away and paths and roads will be re-opened.
If you've got any complaints about the work, you should get them fixed straight away by firstly taking them up with your tree surgeon. If your tree surgeon is a registered member of a professional association, and there is any further dispute or arbitration required, you can get help and advice from the International Society of Arboriculture or the Arboricultural Association so as to reach an acceptable conclusion.
Local Slough tree surgeons will likely have the telephone code 01753 and the postcode SL1. They will operate in Slough itself, as well as nearby areas like Lynch Hill, Middle Green, Hedgerley, Stanwell, Gerrards Cross, Harlington, Chalvey, Yiewsley, Manor Park, Eton, Burnham, Longford, Upton, West Drayton, Langley, Dorney, Iver, Colnbrook, Farnham Royal, Uxbridge, Lent, Stoke Green, George Green, Wexham, Stoke Poges, Datchet, Iver Heath, Cippenham, Harmondsworth, Britwell, Windsor, Stanwell Moor, Fulmer, and these postcodes: SL1 0QB, SL1 0QD, SL1 0JP, SL0 1AF, SL1 0HF, SL1 0QU, SL1 0NX, SL1 0PD, SL1 0LX, SL1 0SD.
For this sort of assistance it's certainly advisable to hire an accredited local tree surgeon. Slough business and home owners can greatly benefit from the expertise that a seasoned professional can offer.
Skills Needed to be Tree Surgeons in Slough
- Decent customer skills.
- Physical skills like co-ordination and movement.
- The capacity to work efficiently with other folks.
- To be methodical and pay attention to detail.
- Have necessary computer skills and know how to perform basic tasks on handheld devices.
- Be mindful of the complexities and dangers involved in all aspects of the work.
- Have the ability to work with your hands.
- Good knowledge of public security and safety.
- Have the ability to repair, use and maintain tools and equipment.
- Be professional and able to complete tasks within a given timeframe.
- Be patient and have the ability to stay focused in times of stress.
Wood Chipping Slough
Most Slough tree surgeons will utilise wood chipping machinery to process the smaller limbs and branches that result from their work. These awesome wood chipping machines can gobble up as much as 40 tonnes of material each hour, depending on which equipment is being used, though the smaller, more commonly used models will process nearer to 5 tons per hour.
Chipped down timber is of course much easier to transport, taking up much less space in the tree surgeon's truck, and can in addition be used for biomass solid fuel, wood pulp, landscaping, mulch, ecosystem restoration, garden pathways, cultivating mushrooms and weed prevention, to name just a few.
Most Slough tree surgeons will be delighted to let you have the wood chips that are generated during your tree work, if you have a use that you want to put them to, otherwise they will generally take them away to use on other landscaping projects. Tree surgeons are an excellent source for wood chippings that you can use for various purposes throughout your garden, even if you do not require any tree surgery work doing on your property in Slough. If you need a load of wood chippings to be delivered then certain tree surgeons will charge a fee for this, others let you take them without cost.
Well known makes of wood chipping machines include T-Mech, Timberwolf, Forest Master and Crytec.
Problems With Tree Roots Slough
Because some trees have really aggressive roots, if they're growing too near to your dwelling in Slough, they can trigger various problems, possibly serious ones. Problems that can occur include blocked drains, damaged foundations and lifting patios. Maples, elms, willows and sycamores, are notorious for having extremely intrusive root systems.
If you are planning to grow any new trees in your garden, it's best to make sure they're placed a suitable distance from pathways, your home, patio areas and your sewerage system. If you already have problems with established trees that are growing too close to your home, you can get advice and help by contacting your friendly local Slough tree surgeon.
You should not attempt to resolve this yourself by just cutting out the invasive tree roots, as this could severely affect the health of the tree or even kill it. For a tree to survive successfully it will still need to get enough water and food, and an established tree care specialist in Slough will know which roots should be left, and which roots can be safely cut back.
Shrub and tree roots sometimes cause cracks in subterranean drains, because sewerage lines provide a constant source of nutrients and water. The joints of a drainage system can soon be compromised by tiny roots, which when established can develop into sizeable root balls and ultimately cause blockages and joint failure. Specialist root removal services will be provided by many local tree surgeons, who will use either electro-mechanical equipment, high pressure jetting or manual rod clearance to remove the offending roots. (Tags: Invasive Tree Roots Slough, Tree Root Problems Slough, Drain Root Removal Slough, Problem Tree Roots Slough).
Removal of Tree Stumps Slough
After getting a big tree felled and removed in Slough, you will be left with one more issue - the tree stump. You might consider leaving it to rot away in a natural way, and be perfectly happy to leave it as it is. However, stumps can be a trip hazard, an eysore and can attract unwanted pests.
There are various techniques for removing a stump completely, but stump removal and stump grinding are the two main options. For the purposes of this section we will be looking at stump removal as opposed to stump grinding.
There are in essence three primary approaches that you can use to remove a tree stump - you can dig it out by hand, you can use a chemical stump killer or you can burn it. If you want to remove a tree stump by yourself, you could employ any of these techniques. If you are going to get a tree surgeon to do the work, they will typically favour the previously mentioned stump grinding process, however a chemically based removal treatment like eco-plugging may be on the agenda.
Burning Tree Stumps: Take great care if you use this method of stump removal, because it can be quite dangerous and could conflict with local laws. It involves drilling several holes into the stump and continuously filling the holes with vegetable oil and left to sit for aa few days. The stump is then stacked up with logs or charcoal and set alight. A fire such as this shouldn't be left unattended, and should be monitored until safe to do so. Once it's finished burning, make certain the fire is completely extinguished, leave it to cool down and then proceed to dig out the roots and burnt stump remains.
Other solutions include digging out and clearing away all the soil from under the stump, and setting a fire in the hollowed-out void that has been established. If your tree stump is in close proximity to other trees, buildings or fences, you shouldn't ever use any of these stump burning procedures.
Chemical Stump Killers: If you opt for the chemical removal solution, you will need to purchase Roundup Tree Stump Remover, Resolva Xtra Tough Tree Stump Killer or Vitax SBK Stump Killer. You must always read and follow the directions to the letter for rates, timings and applications for these chemicals, and be mindful of the fact that they are toxic and oftentimes inflammable. Depending on the dimensions of your stump, and if it's alive or dead at the time of treatment, it can take quite a few weeks or perhaps even months for a stump to rot totally, so consider this to be as a long term rather than a short term fix. As soon as it's decayed, it can be chopped small with an axe and removed with a shovel.
Digging Out a Stump by Hand: Digging by hand is pretty straightforward and involves digging down, cutting all the roots, and freeing the stump. For the final lifting out process you may find that you need to make use of a cable ratchet winch. This is exceptionally hard work and is not for the unfit or faint-hearted.
(Tags: Removal of Tree Stumps Slough, Removing Tree Stumps Slough, Tree Stump Removal Slough, Stump Digging Slough).Emergency Tree Services Slough
There might be some occasions where you have to call an emergency tree surgeon, if you have trees growing in your garden in Slough. Tree surgeons in Slough expect to receive a huge surge in emergency calls when there are high winds and gales, which is why a lot of them offer a 24/7 service for this eventuality. The likelihood of injury or damage is higher during windy weather, with branches breaking off and falling to the ground, and occasionally even entire trees toppling over. Typical problems that happen as a result of tree emergencies are splintered sheds, cracked greenhouses, busted garden furniture and damaged fences.
When sizeable branches snap of and drop onto railway tracks, public walkways and roads, the local authorities in Slough will also frequently need emergency tree surgeons.
There may be a need for "re-balancing" a tree, even after emergency tree surgery has been successfully done, because due to the loss of some limbs, there may be an uneven weight distribution, which could be dangerous but also aesthetically displeasing. To deal with all these various problems, you must contact a local Slough tree surgeon who offers emergency 24/7 services.
Tree Surgery - Safety Aspects
The health and safety aspect is one of the primary concerns when having tree surgery done, as if done badly it can certainly be a dangerous and risky process. There are a great many factors that can go wrong if the "tradespeople" engaged in the project are untrained or inexperienced. Amongst the most familiar worries are not putting on hearing or eye protection, falling timber and branches, neglecting to cordon-off the work area to safeguard vehicles and the general public, little fall protection, in the form of ropes, harnesses and platforms, an absence of head protection and failure to wear cut resistant apparel (especially leggings and boots). On account of such incompetencies, potentially at risk are the street facilities, the people living in the property, passing and stationary vehicles, passers by, the tree surgeon (person working in the tree), workers on the ground, fencing and garden outbuildings, the tree itself, the home or property.
Stump Grinding
It is crucial to make sure you use a company with the appropriate knowhow and tools, when you need to have stump grinding carried out in Slough. The finest Slough tree surgeons will appreciate that every single bit of the stump has to be removed down to a depth of at least 30 cm. Owning the right machines ensures they are able to extract roots and stumps right up to walls and structures without without damaging them. This purpose built stump grinding apparatus is so adaptable that it can even clear away tree stumps which are tucked away in passageways, alleys and other usually inaccessible locations. Where really big trees have to be taken out the stump that is left can be fairly substantial and the major roots will go down to a significant depth, requiring a herculean effort to deal with them them. (Tags: Stump Grinding Slough, Stump Removal Slough, Tree Stump Removal Slough)
Pollarding Slough
Pollarding is mostly conducted for reasons of safety and is a process for considerably reducing the size of trees that have grown too big for their current surroundings. The development of cultivated attributes and the moulding of trees into specific shapes or forms can also be accomplished by the pollarding method. It is quite often seen on trees that function as borders or hedgerows, in addition to trees which grow beside roadways in Slough. Given that pollarded trees have such a harsh and bare visual appearance, and will probably never go back to their former shape, the method isn't generally popular with those who love trees. The beneficial side of pollarding, is that trees that may otherwise have to be removed can be saved. Pollarding is frequently done on broad-leafed tree species like limes, sycamores, beeches, horse chestnuts, oaks, planes and maples. (Tags: Pollarding Slough, Tree Pruning Slough, Tree Pollarding Slough)
Preventing Storm Damage
To most people, trees seem strong, sturdy and capable of standing up to virtually anything Mother Nature can chuck at them. In actual fact certain species of tree can live for many hundreds of years and happily do so without any issues.
Even so, when faced with certain conditions they can be very vulnerable to the elements, and it is not only falling branches or limbs that can result, but the entire tree can topple over in extreme circumstances. Trees have one main weather related enemy, and that is high winds. As extreme weather events and severe storms become more and more common with climate change, this type of damage will happen with greater frequency in Slough as time passes. Heavy snow during winter can also be an issue, as can waterlogged soil resulting from floods or extended periods of rain.
It's advisable to get a professional Slough tree surgeon to examine your trees to reduce the likelihood of problems with your trees in times of severe weather, they'll trim and remove any dead, dying or overhanging branches that could be an issue.
To stop larger trees getting struck by lightning, and to protect nearby buildings and property which could be susceptible to "arcs" or side-flashes, it is also important to install copper conductors, lightning rods, or other lightning protection systems. A tree that's struck by lightning can be killed or severely weakened, a weakened tree can be left vulnerable to decay, pests or disease - not a happy situation! For those of you who believe that lightning is not all that common, there are around 300,000 strikes in the UK every year.
Your local Slough tree surgery company will be able to offer guidance and advice on what can be done to safeguard your trees from storm damage, and reduce the risk of accidents happening because of this. (Tags: Storm Damaged Trees Slough, Storm Damage Slough, Storm Damage Prevention Slough).
TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders) Slough
Another thing to consider before beginning serious work on your trees, is whether or not they have a TPO (Tree Preservation Order) on them. You should check with your local authority to make certain none of the trees within the boundaries of your property are covered by Tree Preservation Orders. If there are Tree Preservation Orders on one or more of your trees, you'll need written consent from your local authority to undertake any of the following: uprooting, removal, topping, lopping, cutting down, wilful damage or wilful destruction. Talk to your tree surgeon about this if you have any concerns - they'll be able to check this out for you.
If you currently live within a conservation area in Slough, you should consult your council concerning any tree surgery work, and if the tree involved has a diameter of over 75mm (at a point 1.5 metres from the ground), you have to give your local planning authority a minimum of six weeks written notice. (Tags: TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders) Slough, Tree Preservation Orders Slough, TPOs Slough).
Eco-Plugging Tree Stumps Slough
Stump grinding is the conventional procedure used by most tree surgeons in Slough for removing large stumps. However, these days there's a less expensive alternative to this procedure in the shape of "eco-plugging". Not only is this option less expensive, it can also be employed where there are stump grinding accessibility issues, in hard-to-reach and awkward places.
Eco-plugging is an effective treatment for killing off tree stumps and doesn't affect the surrounding trees and vegetation. Eco-plugs destroy the entire root system of a stump and can be used during any season of the year and in any weather conditions. Containing a kind of crystalline glyphosate herbicide which is suitable for treating a variety of tree species, eco-plugs work in 95-100 percent of cases. (Tags: Eco-Plugging Slough, Eco-Plugs Slough, Eco-Plugging Tree Stump Removal Slough, Eco-Plug Treatments Slough).
Everyday Duties for a Tree Surgeon
- Assess tree health and treatments.
- Be competent using power tools and equipment.
- Service equipment like chippers and chainsaws.
- Produce telephone or on-site quotations for clients.
- Tidy area upon completion and remove waste from customer's site.
- Fell and remove trees and grind stumps.
- Plant trees and vegetation.
- Prepare tree survey reports for both domestic and commercial clients.
- Climb trees to remove or prune branches as required.
- Cut and chip logs and branches.
- Work with clients and complete administration duties.
- Identify hazards posed by trees.
Tree Surgery Tasks Slough
Slough tree surgeons can generally help you with crown cleaning, hazard assessment, tree surveys, soil terravention, eco-plugging, site clearance, root pruning, tree dismantling, woodland management, formative pruning, arboriculture, shrub maintenance, root flare exposure, tree felling Slough, tree fertilising, tree reduction, tree management Slough, tree lightening protection, root decompaction, residential tree surgery, cut sealing, stump grinding, commercial tree care, tree waste removal, tree planning, crown lifting, vegetation management, damage restoration, repair of storm damaged trees, tree cutting Slough and other tree surgeon services in Slough, Berkshire. Listed are just some of the duties that are conducted by a local tree surgeon. Slough providers will inform you of their full range of services.
Tree Surgeons Nearby
Also find: Colnbrook tree surgeon, Yiewsley tree surgeon, George Green tree surgeon, Harlington tree surgeon, Stanwell tree surgeon, Lynch Hill tree surgeon, Britwell tree surgeon, Hedgerley tree surgeon, Cippenham tree surgeon, Chalvey tree surgeon, Dorney tree surgeon, Manor Park tree surgeon, Langley tree surgeon, Upton tree surgeon, Lent tree surgeon, Harmondsworth tree surgeon, Middle Green tree surgeon, Longford tree surgeon, Fulmer tree surgeon, Stanwell Moor tree surgeon, Stoke Green tree surgeon, Wexham tree surgeon and more. The majority of these localities are catered for by tree surgeons. Residents in these areas can get estimates for tree surgery by clicking here.
Tree Care Services Slough
- Slough Soil Terravention
- Slough Dead Wooding
- Slough Crown Reduction
- Slough Crown Raising
- Slough Hedge Planting
- Slough Hedge Reduction
- Slough Shrub Maintenance
- Slough Tree Removal
- Slough Vegetation Management
- Slough Crown Thinning
- Slough Crown Removal
- Slough Arboriculture
- Slough Forestry Management
- Slough Tree Pruning
If you would like to get local Slough info check here
Tree Surgery SL1 area, and dialling code 01753.
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