Tree Surgeon Westerham

Those who use an unqualified person, or attempt to do tree work themselves, may risk damaging property, trees or even life. But even employing a specialist tree surgeon who's aware of all the hazards does not mean that tree work is safe. Tree surgery is definitely not a job for amateurs, and on average there are 140 major injuries and 3 deaths annually within the profession, making it among the most dangerous jobs in the United Kingdom.

With around five people annually being fatally wounded by falling branches or trees in the United Kingdom, even a damaged or poorly maintained tree can also be a danger to life. If you employ someone to carry out tree work and an injury occurs, or property is damaged, you might be liable for any compensation to any third-party. This is why it is imperative to employ a competent tree surgeon to do the work on your trees. (Figures sourced from HSE UK).

There are 2 professional trade bodies that an experienced Westerham tree surgeon should really be a member of. The professional standing and membership of any tree surgeon in Westerham can be checked out on the websites of both the Arboricultural Association and the International Society of Arboriculture. On this webpage you can check for membership of either of these organisations, which gives the tree surgeon in question, Approved ARB Contractor status.

For arbitration assistance and for guidance and help at any stage during or after the work has been completed, you will be able to contact either of these industry associations.

You should not be frightened to graciously decline the offer of a quotation from somebody who you cannot find on this directory list, since after all, it's an approved and fully qualified contractor that you should be looking for. As soon as you've reassured yourself of their professional memberships and qualifications you should try to get a minimum of three estimates from different companies in the Westerham area. There are several crucial questions that you need to ask while you're in the process of obtaining the quotations, and because of the risks involved in the work, you should make it crystal clear that you really need the answers. You should for instance ask:

• Can you give me a written quotation? You must NEVER accept a verbal quote only. Only ever accept a quote in writing.
• Do you have documentary proof of your professional membership, qualifications and a NPTC/LANTRA certificate for the use of a chainsaw? Any tree surgeon using a chainsaw, must by law hold NPTC/LANTRA certification. City and Guilds Certificates and National Diplomas in Arboriculture are qualifications that could be held by a certified tree surgeon in Westerham.
• Could I contact some former clients so that I can check the quality of your tree work? Doing an independent check on any recent work is always recommended.
• Exactly what level of insurance cover have you got? As stipulated by the ISA and AA, your tree surgeon should be able to produce an insurance certificate covering no less than £5 Million public liability.

On the written quote that you receive, you will need there to be clear and accurate details about all the tree work that is being undertaken. It should state who's responsible for the removal of tree branches, stumps and debris, and should also include details of any trees which might be protected in law, and the steps required to obtain permission to carry out work on them. You should also make sure that VAT has been included on the quote. It is vitally important that only qualified tradespeople are employed to work on your trees and property, and this is wholly your responsibility.

PRIOR TO WORK BEGINNING - Finding out whether any of your trees are protected, your preferred Westerham tree surgeon should make certain that any work gets the go-ahead from the appropriate local authorities. Finding a tree has protected status does not mean that work can't be carried out, as even protected trees need maintenance so as to cut back old or dying wood and ensure the safety of the public.

If your property in Westerham happens to be within a designated conservation area, the Local Planning Authority will require no less than 6 weeks written notice of any intended tree work. This is only required for trees with a trunk diameter of more than 7.5 centimetres in diameter, at a point 1.5m above the ground. If the branches of a protected tree need thinning or pruning to sustain and encourage growth, it is also not necessary to provide written notice.

After conducting a thorough assessment of your trees health, your Westerham tree surgeon will determine the remedial treatment needed and how the required outcome can be achieved with safety in mind. This will involve doing a risk assessment to include your property, public spaces and any sections of a neighbour's property that could be affected by falling branches and debris. This stage will also ascertain the level of protection needed and the number of operatives required. This is both PPE (personal protective equipment) along with other safety measures to keep the public and other property safe from harm or damage.

ON THE DAY OF WORK - Safety measures and barriers should be put in place before any climbing, cutting of branches or tree felling is started, to keep unauthorised persons away from the work area. Passing traffic might have to be temporarily stopped if there's a risk of falling debris into a public highway.

Varying levels of protection will be necessary for the tree surgeon according to what tree work needs to be carried out. When doing chainsaw work, they will at a bare minimum be wearing special protective clothing to prevent cutting injuries to the hands, legs and torso. Hi-vis clothing, and eye and head protection, should be worn by all operatives involved in the work.

Climbing equipment and ladders will need to be deployed if any working at height is involved, and to help in the removal of high branches and heavy pieces of tree trunk, extra workers will be necessary. For removing waste, access to the site will be needed. So, it's advisable to inform your neighbours, because a skip or lorry will need to be parked as close as possible to the workplace while work proceeds.

AFTER COMPLETION OF WORK - When the tree work has been completed all the waste materials can be hauled away and the whole area cleared of all debris. Especially where the trees are covered by TPOs, a certificate of work should then be created by your tree surgeon, which can be signed off and a copy handed to you. If any safety measures were put in public spaces they can now be removed, with pathways and roads being re-opened.

If you have any issues or problems with the finished work, you should first take them up with the tree surgeon so that they can be put right immediately. If there's any further dispute or arbitration required, and your tree surgeon is a signed up member of a professional association, you can obtain advice and help from the International Society of Arboriculture or the Arboricultural Association in order to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Local Westerham tree surgeons will probably have the postcode TN16 and the telephone code 01959. They'll work in Westerham itself, along with nearby areas such as Brasted Chart, Woldingham, Edenbridge, Limpsfield, Dunton Green, Chipstead, Crockham Hill, Oxted, Titsey, Sundridge, Hawleys Corner, Tatsfield, Brasted, Force Green, and these postcodes: TN16 1SB, TN16 1BZ, TN16 1TU, TN16 1ES, TN16 2EY, TN16 1DD, TN16 1SR, TN16 1TL, TN16 1ED, TN16 1AJ.

For this type of service it is definitely best to use an accredited tree surgeon. Westerham home and business owners can greatly benefit from the skills that are the trademark of a seasoned professional.

Control of Vegetation

Tree surgeons don't just handle the care and removal of trees alone, they will also deal with all kinds of vegetation which might be strangling your garden and taking over the entire area. Generally tree specialists will be quite happy to get rid of overgrown vegetation, bushes, shrubs and weeds which may be thriving close to buildings, walls, paths, sheds or driveways, and generally causing a pain. If you're to manage your garden properly then this unwanted growth has to be reduced at least once a year, and if you've got the inclination and time then this is certainly something you could tackle by yourself if you're reasonably fit, or you might book in your local tree surgeon to call in occasionally to keep it under control. Vegetation control is important if you're to maintain safe and easy access to every part of your property and if this is forgotten the vegetation will soon get out of control and ruin your enjoyment of the garden. Besides everything else your garden will look much better when properly maintained.

A Tree Surgeons's Everyday Duties

• Tree planting and transplanting.
• Assess tree health and treatments.
• Deal with clients and complete administrative duties.
• Tidy up area upon completion and remove waste products from customer's site.
• Climb trees to prune or remove branches.
• Prepare telephone or on-site quotations for customers.
• Be competent using power tools and powered equipment.
• Fell and remove trees and perform stump grinding.
• Produce tree survey reports for commercial and domestic customers.
• Cut and chip branches and logs.
• Establish dangers posed by trees.
• Service equipment like wood chippers and chainsaws.

Storm Damage Westerham

Of all the things that grow in our gardens, trees appear to be the strongest, sturdiest and the most able to survive the vicissitudes of Mother Nature. Some types of trees can in fact live for several hundred years and will do so happily in most circumstances.

Extreme weather conditions can however cause extensive damage, and along with the constant danger of falling branches or tree limbs, trees can even fall to the ground completely in certain circumstances. The principal weather related enemy of trees is wind, and as the number of violent weather events and storms in Westerham escalates because of climate change, this form of damage is becoming more and more common. Other problems can be heavy snow during wintertime, and saturated soil during flooding or prolonged periods of rainfall.

To trim and remove any dead, dying or excessively long branches that might cause a problem in times of severe weather, it is a good idea to get an experienced Westerham tree surgeon to examine your trees fairly regularly.

It's also important to fit bigger trees with copper conductors, lightning rods, or other lightning protection systems, to stop them getting struck by lightning, and to safeguard surrounding buildings and property which might be vulnerable to side-flashes ("jumps"). A tree which is struck by lightning can be severely weakened or even killed, a weakened tree can be left vulnerable to pests, decay or disease. Lightning is more common than you might think, and there are something like 300,000 strikes each year in the UK.

To protect your trees from being damaged by storms and reduce the chances of drastic consequences should an unsound tree crash down as a result of extreme weather, ask your local Westerham tree surgery company what they can do.

Cable Bracing Westerham

In specific circumstances where a tree is showing signs of decay, damage, or is a danger to nearby persons or property, a technique called cable bracing will often be used to provide support for the tree. This strategy is often used on older or valued trees in Westerham, where felling or the removal of large unstable portions needs to be avoided for reasons of aesthetics.

In order to support weak limbs, defective joints and V-shaped forks in a tree, a purpose designed cable bracing setup can be used. To help mitigate structural stresses and prolong the lifespan of old and specimen trees most Westerham tree surgeons should be able to carry out different types of bracing work by the installation of rods and cables.

Cable bracing has the objective of offering a shock-absorbing and flexible means of support that's non-invasive and doesn't cause additional damage to the tree by drilling and bolting the branches. A risk assessment must be completed by a tree surgeon or arborist before any actual work can commence. This is vital to guarantee the safety of the tree and encircling areas as the work proceeds. (Tags: Cable Bracing Trees Westerham, Cable Bracing Techniques Westerham, Cable Bracing Westerham, Tree Cable Bracing Westerham).

Necessary Skills to be a Tree Surgeon in Westerham

• Have necessary computer skills and know how to accomplish tasks on handheld devices.
• Being able to work alongside others.
• Be able to work well with your hands.
• Be mindful of the dangers and complexities involved with the various areas of work.
• Be professional and capable of completing tasks within a given time frame.
• Customer service skills.
• Patience and the ability to stay calm in stressful circumstances.
• Good knowledge of public safety and security.
• Physical skills like coordination and movement.
• Have the ability to use, repair and maintain tools and machinery.
• Have a systematic and methodical approach to work.

Air-Spading Westerham

When you are worried about the health of a tree, it may be due to a number of issues, but problems with a tree's root system is a common trigger for such worries. A certified Westerham tree surgeon might need to access the root system of your tree, to be able to check for problems such as soil compaction and root rot.

Due to the potential for root damage during the process of digging down, this was difficult to do during the past. The system that numerous modern day tree surgeons use is called "air spading", which is where compressed air is employed to break up and clear away compacted soil without damaging tree roots or utilities.

The health of a tree can be affected when the soil around the roots becomes compacted by building work, foot traffic or passing vehicles. When a tree becomes "stressed" it is more vulnerable to attack by pests, insects and disease, and this stress can be caused by a lack of water and nutrients. Root flare problems can also be corrected with air-spading, and this is where the flare around the base of the stem becomes covered with an excess of soil, heightening the likelihood of root rot by causing tissue breakdown.

Blowing air into the soil at a speed of twelve hundred miles per hour, the air-spading process necessitates the use of an air compressor and an air-spading tool which forces air into voids in the soil, causing it to break down rapidly, but not damaging harming the tree roots or utilities. Soil is forced away from the roots by the highly powerful flow of air, enabling immediate investigation. The previously compacted soil can then be replaced with a looser layer of wood chip mulch and fertiliser to encourage the tree to revive, and solve any problems. (Tags: Air-Spading Westerham, Air-Spade Westerham, Air-Spade Investigations Westerham).

The Use of Chainsaws

Probably the most commonplace piece of equipment used by Westerham tree surgeons, the chainsaw is also the most dangerous in the wrong hands. Although mains and battery models of chainsaw are available, the most preferred by professionals are driven by petrol, thanks to their ease of use and greater portability. For heavy tree work, the only sensible choice is to use petrol driven chainsaws, given that they're able to effortlessly slice through limbs and trunks of any proportions, and are exceptionally powerful.

Basically, a chainsaw comprises a revolving motor-driven chain that has a series of teeth for cutting through bark and wood. There are also a variety of types of chainsaw, rear-handled for work at ground level (two handed), top-handled for working at height (and which can be operated with one hand) and pole saws for long distance pruning and hard to reach branches.

Despite the fact that carrying a spinning blade while precariously balancing up a tree isn't the safest job in the world, it's pretty rare to find an experienced Westerham tree surgeon who doesn't use a chainsaw in his/her everyday activities. One of the key requirements for membership of the Arboricultural Association (AA), is that professional tree surgeons need to be trained in the maintenance and safe use of chainsaws.

Although there are quite a few different chainsaw brands available to tree care professionals, the most popular in Westerham are Stihl, Hyundai, Makita and Husqvarna.

Tree Root Problems Westerham

You could face issues when some large trees that have particularly aggressive root systems are growing too close to your Westerham house. Among the most common issues are: damaged foundations, cracked patios and blocked drains. Very aggressive root systems are found in tree species like sycamores, maples, elms and willows.

If you are planning to plant any new trees in your garden, it is a good idea to ensure they are positioned a good distance from your house, paths, your drainage pipes and patios. If you've already got issues with established trees that are growing too near to your home, you can get guidance and advice by bringing in your local Westerham tree surgeon.

To avoid seriously harming your tree's health or even killing it, you certainly should not simply chop off the offending roots in an attempt to resolve this yourself. A professional arborist in Westerham will know which roots should be left in place, and which roots can be cut back, so any damage to property is reduced, but the tree is still able to get ample water and food to thrive and survive.

As sewage lines provide a steady source of nutrients and water, shrub and tree roots quite often cause structural issues in subterranean drains. Joint failure and blockages can occur when a drainage system's joints are invaded by teeny roots, which can ultimately develop into enormous root balls once they've established themselves. By using mechanical equipment, high pressure jetting or manual rod clearance, certain Westerham tree surgeons will be happy to offer specialist root removal services. (Tags: Drain Root Removal Westerham, Problem Tree Roots Westerham, Tree Root Problems Westerham, Invasive Tree Roots Westerham).

Tree Surgery Tasks Westerham

Westerham tree surgeons will likely help you with dead-wooding, tree management in Westerham, shrub maintenance Westerham, tree waste removal Westerham, tree watering, root removal in Westerham, cut sealing, hedge lowering, coppicing Westerham, damage restoration Westerham, landscaping in Westerham, tree reshaping Westerham, tree planning, brush cutting Westerham, safety inspections, woodland clearance in Westerham, stump treatment, woodchipping, tree lopping, stump grinding in Westerham, tree transplanting, formative pruning, hazard assessment, tree bracing, arboriculture Westerham, root flare exposure, health assessments Westerham, hedge planting, eco-plugging, decompaction and other tree surgeon services in Westerham, Kent. Listed are just a handful of the activities that are undertaken by a tree surgeon. Westerham providers will inform you of their whole range of services.

Tree Surgeons Nearby

Also find: Woldingham tree surgeon, Tatsfield tree surgeon, Limpsfield tree surgeon, Chipstead tree surgeon, Brasted Chart tree surgeon, Dunton Green tree surgeon, Sundridge tree surgeon, Crockham Hill tree surgeon, Titsey tree surgeon, Force Green tree surgeon, Brasted tree surgeon, Hawleys Corner tree surgeon and more. Most of these places are served by tree surgeons. Home and property owners in these areas can get quotations for tree surgery by clicking here.

Tree Care Services Westerham

Find a Tree Surgeon in Westerham Here

• Westerham Crown Thinning
• Westerham Crown Cleaning
• Westerham Site Clearance
• Westerham Tree Dismantling
• Westerham Vegetation Management
• Westerham Tree Replanting
• Westerham Tree Planning
• Westerham Crown Reduction
• Westerham Soil Terravention
• Westerham Tree Pruning
• Westerham Crown Lifting
• Westerham Hedge Reduction
• Westerham Tree Pollarding
• Westerham Tree Bracing

Tree Surgeon Jobs Westerham: Find Westerham tree surgeon jobs here: Westerham Tree Surgeon Jobs

To obtain local info about Westerham, Kent go here

Tree Surgery TN16 area, phone code 01959.

Tree Removal Westerham - Vegetation Control Kent - Forest Management Westerham - TN16 - Crown Lifting Westerham - Tree Surgery Westerham - 01959 - Stump Grinding Westerham - Tree Reshaping Westerham