Tree Surgeon Watford

Using a non-qualified individual for tree work or trying to do the work by yourself, could cause damage to property, harm your trees, or even be life threatening. But even hiring an established tree surgeon who is acquainted with all the dangers doesn't mean that tree work is safe. Within the profession there are an average of 3 deaths and 140 severe injuries per year, making it one of the most hazardous jobs in the United Kingdom.

With around five people per year being tragically killed by falling trees and branches in Britain, even a neglected or damaged tree can also pose a danger to life. You might be liable for any compensation to a third-party as a consequence of your actions, if you hire someone to perform tree work and subsequently property is damaged, or an injury occurs. These are merely some of the reasons why hiring a qualified Watford tree surgeon to carry out the work on your trees is vitally important. (The source of the above figures was HSE UK).

An experienced Watford tree surgeon ought to be a registered member of one or both of the 2 professional bodies found in Britain. You can check out the membership and professional status of any tree surgeon in Watford on the websites of either the AA (Arboricultural Association) or the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture). This website enables you to check out if any particular tree surgeon has ARB Approved Contractor status, and is a member of either of these 2 organisations.

You'll be able to speak to these trade organisations for assistance in arbitration and for advice and help at any stage, if a problem crops up during or after any tree work has been accomplished.

You should politely decline the offer of an estimate from anybody who you cannot find on this directory, and carry on your search for a fully qualified and approved tree surgeon. You should try to get at least three quotes from different companies in the Watford area once you have reassured yourself of their accreditations and professional associations. There are a number of crucial questions that you must ask while you are getting these quotes, and because of the risks involved in the work, you must make it abundantly clear that you need them to provide the answers. You should for example ask:

• What is your level of insurance cover? Your tree surgeon should be able to produce an insurance certificate covering no less than five million pounds public liability, as stated by the AA and ISA.
• Would I be able to to contact someone you've recently worked for, so that I can check your tree work? It is recommended that you carry out an independent examination of any recent work.
• Have you got documentary proof of your qualifications, professional membership and a NPTC certificate for chainsaw use and maintenance? It is required by law that any tree surgeon who uses a chainsaw must have gained NPTC/LANTRA certification. A seasoned tree surgeon in Watford may hold Certificates and National Diplomas in Arboriculture.
• Do you supply quotations in writing? Verbal quotes alone are not sufficient. Always try to get a written quote.

Clear and precise information on all the tree work that's being undertaken must be included on the written quotation. It should include specifics of any trees which might be protected in law, and the required steps to obtain permission to work on them, and also state whose responsibility it is to remove debris, tree branches and stumps. Unless you are a commercial entity, you should also make certain VAT has been included on the quote. It is very important that only qualified tradespeople are hired to work on your trees and property, and this is wholly your responsibility.

PRIOR TO WORK COMMENCING - Making enquiries into the possibility of any of your trees having protected status, your preferred Watford tree surgeon should ensure that any work can get the go-ahead from the relevant local authority department. Even protected trees require maintenance so as to cut back old or damaged wood and ensure public safety, so finding a tree has protected status doesn't mean that work cannot be carried out.

If your property in Watford is within a designated conservation area then no less than 6 weeks written notice is required to the Local Planning Authority before any tree work can be undertaken. However, tree stems of less than 75 millimetres in diameter when measured at 1.5m from ground level are free from this requirement. Also, if a protected tree's branches need to be thinned or pruned to encourage and sustain growth, written notice won't be necessary.

On site they'll carry out a complete assessment of your trees and determine the remedial treatment required and how the required outcome can be achieved with safety in mind. This will include a risk assessment of any areas that may be affected by falling branches, such as in public areas, on your property, and on neighbouring properties. This stage will also determine the amount of workforce required and the level of protection needed. This is both personal protection equipment and other safety measures to keep property and the general public safe from damage or harm.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - Before any cutting of branches, tree felling or climbing is started, safety measures and barriers should be put in place to keep unauthorised persons and passers-by away from the work area. Passing traffic may need to be temporarily stopped if there is a risk of falling debris into a public road.

Different levels of protection will be necessary for the tree surgeon subject to what tree work needs to be completed. At the very least when doing chainsaw work they will be wearing special protective clothing to avoid injuring the hands, torso and legs. All operatives involved in the work must wear high-vis clothing, and head and eye protection, at all times.

Safety climbing equipment and ladders will need to be deployed if any working at height is involved, and to help in the safe removal of high branches and heavy pieces of tree trunk, additional workers will be essential. For the removal of waste, easy access to the work site will be necessary. Therefore, it's advisable to inform your neighbours, as a skip or pick up truck will need to be stationed as close to the work area as possible whilst work proceeds.

UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - All of the waste will be taken away and the area cleared of all debris, as soon as all work has been completed. A certificate of work done will then be created by your tree surgeon, particularly where the trees are under a protection order, which can be signed off and a copy given to you. If any safety measures were put in public spaces they can now be taken down, with roads and paths being re-opened.

If you have any complaints about the completed work, you should get them rectified immediately by firstly speaking to your tree surgeon. If your tree surgeon is a signed up member of a trade body, and there is any further dispute or arbitration required, you can get help and guidance from the AA or the ISA in order to arrive at a satisfactory solution.

Locally based Watford tree surgeons are most likely have the postcode WD17 and the phone code 01923. They'll work in Watford itself, along with nearby areas like Letchmore Heath, Eastbury, South Oxhey, Batchworth, Northwood Hills, Croxley Green, Garston, Elstree, Bushey, Bushey Heath, Oxhey, Aldenham, Pinner Green, Northwood, Rickmansworth, Pinner, and these postcodes: WD17 2BQ, WD17 1DB, WD17 1RB, WD17 1DR, WD17 1UZ, WD17 1BP, WD17 1JJ, WD17 1DL, WD17 1QT, HA5 4QP.

For this kind of service it's unquestionably better to employ an experienced tree surgeon. Watford householders can benefit greatly from the skill sets that are the trademark of a trained professional.

Safety Considerations

Tree surgery can definitely be a dangerous and risky undertaking if done in the wrong way, for this reason one of the principle worries is the health and safety aspect. If the so called tradesmen doing the work are inexperienced or incapable, there are a number of factors that may lead to damage or injury such as not wearing hearing or eyesight protection, no head protection, little or no protection from falling, in the shape of platforms, ropes and harnesses, neglecting to cordon-off the area to protect vehicles and passers-by, failing to wear cut resistant apparel (especially boots and trousers) and falling timber and branches. What might be susceptible because of this sort of incompetence are vehicles, the tree surgeon (up the tree), garden features and fences, the street facilities, the building connected to the property, passing pedestrians, team members working at ground level, the actual tree, the property owners family.

Tree Root Problems Watford

When they're growing too near to your dwelling in Watford, some large trees have really intrusive root systems, and can be troublesome. These problems could include things like cracked patios, damaged foundations and blocked drains, to name just three. Elms, willows, maples and sycamores, are notorious for having extremely aggressive root systems.

If you happen to be planting any new trees, make certain they're located far enough away from patios, paths, your sewerage system and your house, so they won't lead to serious problems in the future. You should bring in a tree surgeon in Watford, to see what can be done to resolve the situation, if pre-existing trees are growing too close to your house and are leading to some of these problems.

This isn't really the sort of task you should attempt to do yourself, and simply cutting out the problematic tree roots could kill off the tree or severely affect it's health in the future. A competent tree care specialist in Watford will know which roots should be left, and which roots can be cut, so the damage is minimised, and the tree is still able to get adequate nutrients and water to thrive and survive.

Since sewerage pipes provide a consistent source of moisture and nutrients, tree and shrub roots often cause cracks in subterranean drains. Blockages and joint failure can arise when the joints of a drainage system are invaded by minute tree roots, which can ultimately grow into huge root balls when they've established themselves. Professional root removal solutions will be offered by many local tree surgeons, who will employ high pressure water jetting, manual rodding or mechanical equipment to eliminate the offending roots.

Preventing Storm Damage

Of all the living things in our garden, trees appear to be the strongest, sturdiest and the most likely to survive the vicissitudes of Mother Nature. Certain species of tree can actually live and continue to grow for hundreds (even thousands) of years and will happily do so in most scenarios.

Extreme climatic conditions can however cause extensive damage to trees, and along with the ever present danger of falling limbs and branches, entire trees can topple over in certain circumstances. Trees have one main weather related enemy, and that is high winds. As extreme weather events and severe storms become more commonplace with climate change, this form of damage will happen with greater regularity in Watford in the future. Heavy snowfall during winter can also cause issues, as can saturated soil resulting from floods or extended periods of rain.

In order to be ready for any issues that may occur during times of severe weather, it is a good idea to have a competent Watford tree surgeon prune and remove any dead, dying or overhanging branches, and check for any other problems.

Larger trees can also be fitted with copper conductors, lightning rods, or other protection systems, to reduce the chances of them being struck by lightning and to stop nearby buildings and property being affected by "arcs" or "jumps". Trees can be damaged, seriously weakened, or even killed by a lightning strike, they can be burnt to the ground, split down the middle, or left vulnerable to decay, disease or pests. You may not feel that lightning strikes are all that common, yet in the UK alone there are approximately 300 thousand strikes each year.

Your local Watford tree surgery company will be able to offer advice on what protection your trees can be given from being damaged by storms, and reduce the risk of accidents occurring as a result of this.

Eco-Plugging Stumps Watford

Stump grinding is the traditional technique employed by most Watford tree surgeons for removing large tree stumps. However, these days "eco-plugging" is widely recognised as a more cost-effective solution to this problem. Eco-plugging is not only less costly, but it's also handy for use in hard-to-reach locations that are inaccessible to stump grinding machinery.

Without affecting any nearby vegetation and trees, eco-plugging is an incredibly effective treatment for eliminating tree stumps. Eco-plugs can be employed in all weather and during any season of the year, and they eliminate the tree stump by killing off the whole root system. Eco-plugs contain a kind of crystalline glyphosate herbicide which is suitable for a variety of trees, and is 95-100% effective. (Tags: Eco-Plugs Watford, Eco-Plugging Watford, Eco-Plug Stump Treatments Watford, Eco-Plugging Tree Stump Removal Watford).

Stump Grinding

It's vital to make sure you work with a firm having the correct knowhow and machinery, when you need to get stump grinding undertaken in Watford. The finest Watford tree surgeons will understand that every last piece of the stump has to be removed to a depth of at least 12 inches. Working with the proper machines ensures they will be able to grind roots and stumps fairly close to structures and walls without without damaging them. The right machinery is also able to take out any stumps found in passageways and alleys. It can involve a herculean effort to get rid of the stumps of huge trees, where the stump and major roots go down to a considerable depth, making the job even more difficult if you don't have the correct gear.

Tree Surveys Watford

There are a number of instances when a tree survey might be necessary, land development and property extension being the most common. As laid out by BS5837 British Standards, if you're clearing some land to prepare for the building of an extension to an existing property or a brand new home in Watford, and there are trees on that land, you might need to implement a tree survey. Tree surveys on both public and private property in Watford, should be handled by a certified arborist or tree surgeon.

A wide range of information will be gleaned about all the trees within the specified area. For example:

• The age of the trees (i.e. young, semi-mature, mature, over-mature and veteran).
• Tree management guidelines.
• The physiological and structural health of the trees.
• A tree reference number for each of the trees.
• The number of trees.
• The spread of branches towards the South, West, North and East.
• The diameter of each tree (measured 1.5m above ground level).
• The predicted lifespan of the trees.
• The species of trees.
• The existence of any Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).
• The height of each tree.

A tree survey will likely not be required if you are not changing the building's footprint and are not changing the access points or service lines of an existing property or home in Watford.

Tree Care Injuries

As has been stated previously in this article, the work that is done by tree surgeons and tree care professionals in Watford can be highly hazardous. Tree work involves a risk of injury to both operatives and those on the ground, therefore all reasonable safety measures should be taken when carrying out work on trees.

As reported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a large majority of fatal and serious injuries are linked to falls from trees, the use of chainsaws, and being hit by a falling branch or tree. The reality is that people involved in tree care have a greater chance of sustaining a serious injury than those in the construction industry.

In terms of insurance claims the most frequent tree care accidents involve lifting injuries, being struck by objects (trees, cranes, ropes, grapple hooks, branches etc) and slipping from ladders.

That's why hiring a seasoned Watford tree surgeon is so important when you've got tree care work that needs to be carried out. Quite often, accidents in the tree care industry are down to untrained operatives trying to do work that they aren't equipped for, nor sufficiently skilled in. Therefore, using a trustworthy and experienced Watford company that has been operating in the area for a good few years, is the best way to avoid such issues.

Tree Pollarding Watford

Where a tree has significantly grown too large for its current setting, it should be drastically reduced in size through a process referred to as pollarding. The development of cultivated features and the transforming of trees into particular forms or shapes can also be accomplished by pollarding. It can regularly be observed on trees that function as boundaries or hedgerows, and trees which grow alongside streets in Watford. The rather stark and naked appearance that is the consequence of pollarding isn't at all popular with tree lovers, given that it is so dissimilar to its natural state. The advantageous aspect of the pollarding process, is that trees which might normally have to be cut down can be saved in-situ. Pollarding is frequently used on broad-leafed tree species like horse chestnuts, beeches, oaks, maples, planes, limes and sycamores.

Hedge Cutting Watford

Whilst the vast majority of projects undertaken by tree surgeons in Watford involves the maintenance and care of trees and shrubs, the trimming of hedges is another process that they regularly perform. Using a professional tree surgeon could be a big advantage when there is work to be done on conifer hedges such as Leylandii, which can soon reach heights that are too tall for your everyday gardener to cope with, requiring specialist tools to successfully manage.

When a hedge is poorly maintained and neglected, it can get out of control and overgrown fairly quickly. If you prefer to have a hedge that does not run riot in large sections of your garden in Watford, regular trimming is recommended, and this is important not simply for visual reasons, but also to make your hedge much stronger.

Tidy hedges help to make your garden and property neater and more desirable, which can be extremely beneficial if you're intending to sell your home sometime soon. You can also obtain hedge cutting services in Letchmore Heath, Eastbury, South Oxhey, Batchworth, Northwood Hills, Croxley Green, Garston, Elstree, Bushey, Bushey Heath, Oxhey, Aldenham, Pinner Green, Northwood, Rickmansworth, Pinner, and Watford itself.

Tree Surgery Tasks Watford

Watford tree surgeons will likely help with commercial tree surgery, fruit tree pruning, woodchipping Watford, stump treatment Watford, drop crotching, formative pruning in Watford, crown removal, terravention, crown cleaning in Watford, root removal in Watford, root pruning Watford, arboriculture Watford, tree work Watford, crown reduction, crown lifting, crown thinning, tree removal, domestic tree care, waste removal in Watford, tree dismantling Watford, hedge cutting in Watford, vegetation management, stump removal, tree care services Watford, hedge lowering, repair of storm damaged trees in Watford, crown raising, woodland clearance, tree topping, coppicing and other tree surgeon services in Watford, Hertfordshire. These are just a few of the duties that are accomplished by a local tree surgeon. Watford companies will tell you about their whole range of services.

Tree Surgeons Nearby

Also find: Eastbury tree surgeon, Sarratt tree surgeon, Bedmond tree surgeon, Chandler's Cross tree surgeon, Letchmore Heath tree surgeon, Garston tree surgeon, Flaunden tree surgeon, South Oxhey tree surgeon, Chipperfield tree surgeon, Oxhey tree surgeon, Batchworth tree surgeon and more. Most of these places are serviced by tree surgeons. Property owners in the area can obtain tree surgery quotations by clicking here.

Tree Care Services Watford

Find a Tree Surgeon in Watford Here

• Watford Vegetation Management
• Watford Hedge Cutting
• Watford Tree Reduction
• Watford Stump Treatment
• Watford Tree Dismantling
• Watford Tree Surveys
• Watford Tree Maintenance
• Watford Crown Lifting
• Watford Crown Thinning
• Watford Dead Wooding
• Watford Tree Pruning
• Watford Root Decompaction
• Watford Woodland Management
• Watford Tree Felling

If you need local information about Watford, Hertfordshire take a look here

Tree Surgery WD17 area, phone code 01923.

01923 - Crown Reduction Watford - Tree Care Watford - Tree Surgeon Watford - Vegetation Management Hertfordshire - Tree Surgeons Watford - Woodland Management Watford - Tree Removal Watford - Stump Grinding Watford