Tree Surgeon St Helens

There is a big risk of damage to the trees, to property or to life, for folks in St Helens who try to do tree work themselves, or by using an unqualified individual. However, tree work is not altogether safe for experienced tree surgeons, who are familiar with all of the dangers involved. In fact tree surgery is among the most hazardous jobs in the United Kingdom, with an average of 140 major injuries and 3 deaths a year within the industry, therefore it's definitely not safe work for amateurs to do.

With around five people each year being fatally wounded by falling trees or branches in Britain, even a damaged or poorly maintained tree can also pose a threat to life. If there is an injury, or damage to property due to you employing somebody to do tree work, you could be liable to third-party compensation claims as a consequence of your actions. These are merely a few of the reasons why retaining the services of a professional St Helens tree surgeon to do the work on your trees is very important. (Source - HSE UK).

SELECTING A TREE SURGEON IN ST HELENS - An experienced St Helens tree surgeon should be an approved member of one or both of the 2 professional industry bodies found in Britain. Both the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and the Arboricultural Association (AA) offers a website where you can check the membership and professional standing of any tree surgeon. This website permits you to check if any particular local tree surgeon has recognised Approved ARB Contractor status, and has membership of either of these 2 bodies.

If there is an issue during or after any tree work has been accomplished you are able to speak to these professional bodies for arbitration assistance and for help and guidance at any stage.

If a tree surgeon who you cannot find on this directory list offers to give you a quote, you are advised to carry on with your search for a fully qualified and approved contractor, and tactfully decline their offer. It is a good idea to get a minimum of 3 different price quotes from various companies in and around St Helens, when you have carefully checked their professional accreditations and associations. You should ask the questions below while acquiring the quotations, making it crystal clear that you need them to provide you with the answers because of the risks involved in tree work:

• Can I contact some former customers so that I can assess the standard of your workmanship? Doing an independent check on any recent work is always recommended.
• What insurance cover do you provide? As recommended by the ISA and AA, your tree surgeon ought to be able to produce an insurance certificate covering no less than £5 Million public liability.
• Can you give me a quotation in writing? You must NEVER accept a verbal quote only. Only ever accept a quote in writing.
• Can you show a NPTC certificate for the use of a chainsaw, and documentary evidence of your qualifications and professional memberships? Any operative/tree surgeon who uses a chainsaw, must by law have gained a NPTC/LANTRA certificate. Qualifications might include Certificates and National Diplomas in Arboriculture.

Easy to understand details of all the tree work that's being undertaken must be included on the written quotation. It should state whose responsibility it is to remove tree branches, stumps and waste, and should also include information on any trees which may be protected in law, and the steps required to obtain permission to carry out work on them. Unless you are a commercial entity, you should also make sure VAT is included on the quote. It's vitally important that only skilled tradespeople are hired to work on your trees and property, and this is entirely down to you. This is laid out by the "Common law duty of care responsibilities under the Occupier's Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984."

PRIOR TO WORK - Finding out whether any of your trees are covered by a a TPO (tree protection order), your chosen St Helens tree surgeon should make certain that any tree work gets the go-ahead from the relevant local authority. Even protected trees need to be maintained so as to cut back dead or damaged wood and ensure the safety of the public, so finding a tree has protected status does not mean that work cannot still be carried out.

If your property in St Helens is situated inside a conservation area, the Local Planning Authority will require a minimum of six weeks written notice of any tree work you are planning to do. This is only required for trees with a trunk diameter of over 75mm in diameter, at a point 1.5m above ground level. Notice is also not a requirement if pruning or thinning of a protected tree's branches is vital to encourage and sustain growth.

After fully assessing the health of the trees on your property, your chosen St Helens tree surgeon will determine the appropriate treatments and how the best outcome can be safely accomplished. This will include a risk assessment of areas that might be impacted by falling debris, such as on your property, in public spaces, and on neighbour's properties. The level of protection required and the amount of workers needed, will also be determined at this stage. To keep the public and other property safe from harm or damage, this will include both personal protection equipment and other safety precautions.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - To keep passers-by and unauthorised persons away from the area of work, barriers and safety measures will be put in place before any tree felling, cutting of branches or climbing is started. It might at some stage be necessary to stop the traffic temporarily, if there is any threat of debris and branches falling onto the road.

The tree surgeon will need different degrees of protection according to the kind of tree work being carried out. When doing chainsaw work, they will as a bare minimum be wearing specialist protective clothing to avoid cutting injuries to the hands, legs and torso. Every worker involved in the operation, must at all times be wearing eye and head protection, and hi-vis clothing.

Additional personnel will normally be necessary to help with the removal of high branches and large pieces of tree trunk, especially if working at height is involved, and where ladders and associated climbing equipment is being used. It's recommended that you inform your next door neighbours of the need for access, because a vehicle or skip for removing the waste will be stationed as close to the work area as possible.

UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - As soon as the work has been completed all of the waste and branches can be taken away and the whole area cleared of any debris. Particularly where the trees are covered by TPOs, a certificate of work done should then be prepared by your tree surgeon, which can be signed off and a copy handed to you. Any safety measures that were put in public spaces can then be taken away, with pathways and roads being re-opened to the public.

If you've got any complaints about or issues with the work, you should get them fixed straight away by firstly speaking to your tree surgeon. If there is any further dispute or arbitration needed, and your tree surgeon is a member of a professional body, you can obtain help and guidance from the AA or the ISA so as to reach a satisfactory solution.

Locally based St Helens tree surgeons are likely to have the telephone code 01744 and the postcode WA11. They will work in St Helens itself, together with nearby areas such as Thatto Heath, Sutton Leach, Eccleston, Dentons Green, West Park, Windlehurst, Sutton Heath, Merton Bank, Windle Island, Haresfinch, Rainhill, Rainford, Peasley Cross, and these postcodes: WA10 1QA, WA10 1UA, WA10 1PY, WA10 1BN, WA10 1LU, WA10 1PN, WA10 1SB, WA10 1FX, WA10 1GE, WA10 1PP.

If you require this kind of service it's certainly wise to hire a qualified local tree surgeon. St Helens business and home owners can benefit from the know-how and skills that are the trademark of a fully trained professional.

Dutch Elm Disease

No longer the problem that it once was, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) has killed millions of elm trees all over the UK over the last 50 years or so. Inadvertently imported into the British Isles, by way of elm logs imported from North America (Canada) in the late 1960s, Dutch Elm Disease is caused by a fungus called Ophiostoma novo-ulmi which is spread by the elm bark beetle (particularly the Scolytus genus).

After arriving, it spread quickly through the movement of elm products such as crates, saplings, mulching bark, and firewood logs with the bark still attached. It was not just Britain that was affected by this dreadful disease, since elm stocks were also devastated in continental Europe and North America.

Generally first manifesting in early summer, the recognisable symptoms of Dutch Elm Disease disease are:

• A "shepherd's crook" reaction on affected twigs.
• Clusters of leaves that turn yellow, wilt and fall.
• Shoots that die back from the tip.
• Dark streaks under the bark of twigs.

The felling of dead, dying and infected trees, has effectively removed the elm bark beetle's favourite habitat, and over the last few years the spread of this disease has been slowed down. A project for the propagation of young saplings that have so far proved resistant to Dutch Elm Disease is now being undertaken.

You can get in touch with your neighbourhood tree surgeon for advice, if you are suspicious you might have affected elm trees in your garden in St Helens, or you can request a diagnosis from the Tree Health Diagnostic & Advisory Service, for which you will be charged a fee.

Trees of the genus Ulmcae and Zelkova are affected.

Agent of spread - small beetles of the Scolytus and Hylorgopinus genera.

Cause - fungi Ophiostoma Ulmi & Ophiostoma Novo-Ulmi.

Ash Dieback (Hymenoscyphus Fraxineus)

First recorded in the United Kingdom in 2021, ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) is a fungal disease that's likely to wipe out about eighty percent of the current ash tree stock, over the next few years. Set to have huge ramifications for our beloved countryside, ash dieback is probably going to be just as disastrous as the earlier epidemic of Dutch Elm Disease (DED).

Ash dieback has a particularly disastrous effect on the native British common ash (Fraxinus excelsior), although it actually affects all trees of the Fraxinus genus, with varying levels of tolerance to it. Thought to have originally come from Asia where the native species of ash (the Chinese ash and the Manchurian ash) were less susceptible, the fungus which causes the disease is called Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (H. fraxineus), and it obstructs a tree's vascular (water transport) systems, causing it to die.

Dispersed by wind blown spores which are produced by the fruiting bodies of the fungus, and can travel for tens of miles, ash dieback (or chalara ash dieback as it is often known) has now spread to most areas of Great Britain.

Impacting tree from every age group, ash dieback can be recognised by symptoms such as:

• Foliage that wilts, turns black in colour and falls early.
• Dark patches on leaves during mid to late summer.
• Dark brown lesions form where limbs join the trunk, and the inner bark under the lesions looks brownish grey.
• Dying leaves and shoots are visible in summer.
• New epicormic growth appears from previously dormant buds (common in trees under stress).

To a certain degree, ash trees can fight off the infection, however they eventually perish as they're repeatedly attacked every year. At this time there is no clear strategy for stopping the spread of aash dieback, and there is no effective treatment.

If you think a tree in your local community is suffering from ash dieback, or you're nervous about a tree on your property in St Helens, you should call in a local tree surgeon to verify the diagnosis, and you can then report it to the Forestry Commission's "Tree Alert Service", although they're presently only interested to know about cases in previously unaffected areas.

Trees of the genus Fraxinus are affected.

Tree Surgery - Health and Safety

The health and safety aspect is one of the most important considerations when you're having tree surgery done, given that if carried out badly it can definitely be a dangerous and risky procedure. Inexperienced or unqualified "tree surgeons" in St Helens are apt to take shortcuts and ignore recognised safety guidelines, meaning that there could be falling branches and timber, not putting on hearing or eye protection, neglecting to cordon-off the area to safeguard pedestrians and vehicles, no head protection, failing to put on cut resistant (chainsaw-proof) apparel (especially leggings and safety boots) and little if any protection from falling, in the shape of platforms, harnesses and ropes. Owing to these incompetencies, most likely vulnerable are nearby properties, employees at ground level, passers by, fencing and garden sheds, facilities on the street, the tree itself, the property owners, parked and passing vehicles, the tree surgeon himself (up the tree).

Tree Surveys St Helens

Tree surveys might be needed for various reasons, but most often when development or property extension is taking place. As required by BS5837 British Standards, if you are clearing a piece of land to make way for a new house or an extension to an existing property in St Helens, and there are trees on that land, you will need to perform a professional tree survey. St Helens tree surveys on both public and private property, must be carried out by an accredited arborist or tree surgeon.

For the area in question, a broad range of information will be produced about the trees within it. For example:

• The existence of any TPOs.
• The age of the trees.
• The number of trees (those of more than 75mm diameter 1.5m from the ground).
• A tree reference number for every tree.
• The health of the trees.
• The branch spread towards the East, North, West and South.
• The diameter of each tree (taken 1.5m above the ground).
• The species of trees.
• Recommendations for tree management.
• The predicted life expectancy of the trees.
• The height of each tree.

If you are doing work on an existing property or home in St Helens but you are not changing the building's footprint and aren't modifying the access points or service lines, a tree survey probably won't be required.

Storm Damage Prevention St Helens

To most people, trees seem strong, sturdy and capable of standing up to pretty much anything that Mother Nature can inflict on them. Some tree species can survive and thrive with no problems for hundreds (even thousands) of years, in particular oaks, sweet chestnuts and yews.

Severe weather can however cause significant damage to trees, and in addition to the danger of falling tree limbs or branches, trees can even fall over completely in certain situations. The primary weather related problem for trees is high winds, and as the number of severe storms and weather events in St Helens increases because of climate change, this kind of damage is becoming more and more commonplace. Heavy snow during winter can also cause problems, as can waterlogged soil resulting from extended periods of rainfall or flooding.

In order to be ready for any issues that might occur during times of severe weather, it's a good idea to have a certified St Helens tree surgeon prune and remove any dead or overhanging branches, and check for any additional problems.

Copper conductors, lightning rods, or other lightning protection systems are also a good idea for larger trees, to prevent them being struck by lightning and to protect nearby property and buildings which may be affected by side-flashes ("arcs") that result in further damage, in addition to harm done to the tree itself. A tree can be killed or seriously weakened when it is struck by lightning, and even where the damage is not instantly apparent, the tree will probably be more susceptible to attacks by disease and pests. For any of you who reckon that lightning is not all that common, there are something like three hundred thousand strikes in the UK annually.

To safeguard your trees from storm damage and lower the chances of major consequences should an unsound tree crash down as a result of extreme weather conditions, ask your local St Helens tree surgery company what can be done. (Tags: Storm Damaged Trees St Helens, Storm Damage St Helens, Storm Damage Prevention St Helens).

Emergency Tree Care St Helens

Having to make an emergency call to a tree surgeon is not something that is liable to arise all that often, however if you've got trees in your garden in St Helens, this might be a necessity at some stage. St Helens tree surgeons expect to receive a huge spike in emergency call-outs when there are gales and high winds, which is why many offer a 24 hour service to cater for this eventuality. The chances of damage or injury is greater when the weather is windy, with branches breaking off and plummeting to the ground below, and sometimes even whole trees collapsing. Falling branches and tree limbs can result in damaged fences, cracked greenhouses, squashed sheds and busted garden furniture, therefore rather than having to cope with the aftermath of such occurrences, avoidance is the vital thing.

Obviously, the local council in the St Helens area will also often need to call out emergency tree care services, when sizeable branches drop onto public walkways, railway lines and streets.

There might be a requirement for "re-balancing" a tree, even after emergency work has been carried out, as because of the loss of some large limbs, there may be an uneven weight distribution, which could be dangerous but also displeasing aesthetically. If you're experiencing any of these tree related issues, you should not attempt to resolve any of them by yourself, and you must promptly contact a local tree surgeon in St Helens who provides emergency tree care services, so that they can advise on the most effective plan of action. You can also get 24 hour emergency tree services in Thatto Heath, Sutton Leach, Eccleston, Dentons Green, West Park, Windlehurst, Sutton Heath, Merton Bank, Windle Island, Haresfinch, Rainhill, Rainford, Peasley Cross, and and of course St Helens. (Tags: Emergency Tree Work St Helens, Emergency Call-Outs St Helens, Emergency Tree Services St Helens, Emergency Tree Surgery St Helens).

A Tree Surgeons's Regular Tasks

• Be proficient with power tools and equipment.
• Fell and remove trees and perform stump grinding.
• Prepare tree survey reports for both domestic and commercial customers.
• Produce on-site or telephone quotations with the clients.
• Cut and chip branches and logs.
• Maintain and service equipment like chippers and chainsaws.
• Climb trees to remove or prune branches as required.
• Evaluate tree health and treatment.
• Work with clients and complete administrative tasks.
• Tidy up work area upon completion and remove waste from customer's site.
• Identify hazards posed by trees.
• Plant trees and vegetation.

Eco-Plugging Stumps St Helens

If you've got large tree stumps in your garden that need to be removed, the typical strategy that is used by most tree surgeons in St Helens is stump grinding. However, nowadays there's a less expensive alternative to this approach in the form of "eco-plugging". Not only is this method less expensive, it can also be employed where there are stump grinding accessibility issues, such as in awkward and hard-to-reach locations.

Without affecting the surrounding vegetation and trees, eco-plugging is a highly effective treatment for eliminating tree stumps. Eco-plugs can be employed at any time of the year and in any weather conditions, and they destroy the whole root system of the tree stump. Containing a kind of crystalline glyphosate herbicide, eco-plugs are 95% to 100% effective, and is suitable for treating a variety of tree species.

Hedge Cutting St Helens

While the majority of projects carried out by tree surgeons in St Helens involves the maintenance and care of trees and shrubs, the cutting back and trimming of hedges is another job that they can carry out. Regular gardeners will often find conifer hedges such as Leylandii hard to cope with, since they can grow tall very rapidly - so a tree surgeon may be needed.

A hedge can pretty quickly become overgrown and out of control when it's poorly maintained and neglected. If you permit a hedge to run riot in large sections of your garden, it can be challenging to fix down the line, therefore regular clipping makes sense for both the aesthetic appeal and health of your hedge.

You can help your whole garden and home to look tidier by neatly trimming your hedges. And if you've got plans to sell your property sometime soon, neat hedges might even add some extra value. (Tags: Hedge Care St Helens, Hedge Trimming St Helens, Hedge Cutting St Helens, Hedge Clipping St Helens).

Tree Surgery Tasks St Helens

St Helens tree surgeons can normally help you with crown thinning in St Helens, root removal St Helens, waste removal, crown cleaning St Helens, fruit tree pruning in St Helens, tree surveys St Helens, monitoring of tree health, root pruning, formative pruning in St Helens, tree lopping, tree pest management, tree felling, tree work, hazard assessment, tree cabling, tree transplanting, tree watering, forestry management in St Helens, drop crotching St Helens, hedge trimming St Helens, tree bracing in St Helens, site clearance, root grinding St Helens, dead wood removal, commercial tree care, tree pollarding, crown lifting in St Helens, air spading, tree maintenance, eco-plugging St Helens and other tree surgeon services in St Helens, Merseyside. Listed are just a handful of the tasks that are performed by a local tree surgeon. St Helens providers will keep you informed about their entire range of services.

Tree Surgeons Nearby

Also find: Peasley Cross tree surgeon, Windlehurst tree surgeon, Thatto Heath tree surgeon, West Park tree surgeon, Laffak tree surgeon, Windle Island tree surgeon, Gillar's Green tree surgeon, Haresfinch tree surgeon, Dentons Green tree surgeon, Moss Bank tree surgeon, Merton Bank tree surgeon, Abbotsfield tree surgeon and more. All of these locations are catered for by tree care companies. Householders in these areas can acquire tree surgery estimates by clicking here.

Tree Care Services St Helens

Find a Tree Surgeon in St Helens Here

• St Helens Woodland Clearance
• St Helens Arboriculture
• St Helens Hedge Reduction
• St Helens Woodland Management
• St Helens Tree Surveys
• St Helens Tree Transplanting
• St Helens Root Removal
• St Helens Tree Planning
• St Helens Tree Cutting
• St Helens Tree Bracing
• St Helens Shrub Maintenance
• St Helens Root Grinding
• St Helens Cable Bracing
• St Helens Tree Watering

If you're interested in local info regarding St Helens, Merseyside check here

Tree Surgery WA11 area, (dialling code 01744).

Tree Surgery St Helens - Tree Felling St Helens - Vegetation Management St Helens Merseyside - Tree Surgeon St Helens - Arboriculturalist St Helens - 01744 - WA11 - Root Removal St Helens - Tree Management St Helens