Widnes Tree Surgeon Cheshire: Trees are an important feature of many gardens and properties in Widnes, and they can transform an otherwise 2 dimensional landscape by adding style, substance and structure. However, when trees have been poorly maintained or have been affected by severe weather conditions, for instance flooding or high winds, issues can occur. The safest option if there's work that needs undertaking on your trees, is to speak to a trained tree surgeon in Widnes.
Using an unqualified person for tree work or attempting to do the work by yourself, could harm your trees, cause damage to property, or even be life threatening. But even using an established tree surgeon who knows all the dangers doesn't mean that tree work is safe. Tree surgery is certainly not a task for amateurs, and on average there are three deaths and 140 severe injuries each year within the industry, making it one of the most hazardous jobs in the UK.
There is also a danger to life from poorly maintained or damaged trees in Widnes, as around five people a year are tragically killed in the United Kingdom by falling branches and trees. If you hire someone to carry out tree work and property is damaged, or an injury occurs, you may well be liable to third-party compensation claims as a consequence of your actions. These are the reasons why it is vitally important to employ a skilled tree surgeon to carry out the work on your trees. (Figures sourced from HSE UK).
There are two trade bodies that an experienced tree surgeon in Widnes should really be an approved member of. The websites of both the International Society of Arboriculture and the Arboricultural Association allow you to check out the professional standing and membership of any tree surgeon in Widnes. This website enables you to check if any specific local tree surgeon has recognised Approved ARB Contractor status, and has membership of either of these two organisations.
For mediation assistance and for help and advice at any point during or after the tree work has been finished, you can get hold of either of these trade associations.
You should respectfully decline the offer of an estimate from anybody who you are unable to find on this directory list, and continue your search for an approved and fully qualified tree surgeon. As soon as you're reassured of their qualifications and professional associations you should try to get a minimum of three quotations from different companies in Widnes. You should ask the following questions whilst obtaining these quotations, making it abundantly clear that you need the answers due to the risks of the work involved:
- What insurance cover is provided? As stated by the ISA and AA, your tree surgeon should be able to show you a certificate covering no less than five million pounds public liability insurance.
- Do you have documentary proof of your professional membership, qualifications and a NPTC/LANTRA certificate for chainsaw use and maintenance? The NPTC/LANTRA is a required certificate in law for any worker/tree surgeon using a chainsaw. Qualifications might include City & Guilds National Diplomas and Certificates in Arboriculture.
- Can I inspect the quality of your tree work by contacting a person you have recently worked for? Doing an independent check on any recent work is always advisable.
- Can you provide a quotation in writing? Verbal quotes alone are not sufficient. Always try to get a quote in writing.
Easy to understand specifics of all the tree work that is being undertaken must be included on the written quote. Who's responsible for the removal and disposal of waste, tree branches and stumps should be stated, as should details of any trees which could be protected, and the steps required to obtain permission to work on them. You should also make sure VAT is included on the quotation. You've got a responsibility to employ only qualified tradespeople to work on your trees and property, and it is very important to understand that.
PRIOR TO WORK COMMENCING - The tree surgeon you have chosen in Widnes, will investigate whether any of the trees on your property are covered by a tree protection order (TPO), and will consult with the local authority to find out if the go-ahead for any tree surgery is forthcoming. To ensure the safety of the public, even protected trees need maintenance in order to cut back old or dying wood, so finding that a tree is protected doesn't suggest that you're unable to carry out important work.
If your property in Widnes is within a conservation area then no less than 6 weeks written notice must be given to the Local Planning Authority prior to any work being carried out. This notice isn't required if the tree trunk is under 75 millimetres in diameter when measured at 1.5m from ground level. Written notice is also not required if thinning or pruning of a protected tree's branches is crucial in order to encourage and sustain growth.
On site they'll carry out a complete assessment of your tree's health and determine the necessary remedial treatment and how best and safely to achieve the required outcome. Where there's any potential for falling branches, a risk assessment will have to be completed on your property, public areas, and sections of neighbouring properties that could be affected. This stage will also ascertain the amount of operatives needed and the level of protection required. This is both personal protective equipment (PPE) along with other safety measures to keep property and the general public safe from harm or damage.
ON THE DAY OF WORK - To keep unauthorised persons and passers-by away from the area of work, safety measures and barriers will be put in place before any cutting of branches, climbing or tree felling begins. If there's any risk of falling debris into a public road, traffic might have to be temporarily stopped.
Different types of tree work will demand that the tree surgeon has varying levels of protection. When working with a chainsaw, they will as a bare minimum be wearing protective clothing to prevent cutting injuries to the legs, hands and torso. Every operative involved in the work, should at all times be wearing high-vis clothing, and head and eye protection.
Ladders and associated climbing equipment will be required if any working at height is involved, and to help in the safe removal of high branches and heavy sections of tree trunk, additional workers will be necessary. A skip or other method of transporting the waste materials away will be stationed as close as possible to the work area, therefore it is advisable to inform your nearby neighbours of the need for unhindered access.
UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - All of the waste and branches will be hauled away and the whole area cleared of all debris, after all work has been concluded. Your tree surgeon will then sign off and give you a certificate of work, especially where the trees are under a protection order. Any safety measures that were put in public spaces can then be taken down, with highways and footpaths 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 first of all speaking to the tree surgeon. If your tree surgeon is a member of a trade association, and any further arbitration is needed, you can get guidance and advice from the Arboricultural Association or the International Society of Arboriculture in order to come to a satisfactory conclusion.
Locally based Widnes tree surgery services will likely have the phone code 0151 and the postcode WA8. They'll work in Widnes itself, along with nearby areas like Runcorn, Penketh, Doe Green, Halewood, Great Sankey, Appleton, Town End, Lunts Heath, Tarbock Green, Cuerdley Cross, Farnworth, Halsnead Park, West Bank, Bold Heath, Gateacre, Moss Bank, and these postcodes: L35 1QZ, WA8 2AH, WA8 2BJ, WA8 0RU, WA8 0YG, WA8 2BW, WA8 0SH, WA8 2BG, L35 3SJ, WA8 0QX.
If you need this sort of service it is definitely best to bring in a reputable tree surgeon. Widnes residents can benefit greatly from the skills and knowhow that a seasoned professional can offer.
Tree Stump Removal Widnes
After having a sizeable tree cut down and removed in Widnes, you'll be left with yet another problem - the tree stump. You may consider leaving it to decay and rot away naturally, and be perfectly happy to leave it to its own devices. However, a sizable tree stump could take many years to rot down, and might even send out suckers in an effort to regrow itself. Tree stumps can also attract unwanted pests, be a trip hazard, and be an eyesore.
There are various methods for getting rid of a tree stump altogether, but stump removal or stump grinding are the 2 primary options. Purely for the purposes of this section we'll be focusing on stump removal as opposed to grinding.
In relation to removing a tree stump, the three main methods are burning, chemical treatment or digging out by hand. If you would like to remove a stump yourself, you can employ any of these strategies. If you're intending to bring in a tree surgeon to carry out the work, they'll generally favour the aforementioned stump grinding approach, although a chemical removal treatment such as eco-plugging may also be suggested.
Chemical Stump Killers: A strong chemical compound such as Resolva Xtra Tough Tree Stump Killer, Vitax SBK Stump Killer or Roundup Tree Stump Remover, will be needed if you choose to go with the chemical treatment option. Avoid contact with the skin when working with any of these chemicals, and also try not to inhale. You should stick rigidly to the manufacturer's directions, for quantities, applications and timings. This should be seen as a long term stump removal solution, since it can take several weeks or even months to rot away, subject to its dimensions. It will still need to be chopped up and dug out with an axe and a spade once it has rotted completely.
Burning a Tree Stump: Since it might be at variance with local legislation and can certainly be quite dangerous, burning a tree stump is not really recommended. Should you choose this approach, great care must be taken. Several 25mm holes will have to be drilled in the tree stump, and for a few days kept topped up with vegetable oil. You can then pile up charcoal around the tree stump and set light to it. You will have to constantly supervise this until the fire has died down. When the fire has burnt out, you need to make certain that it is fully extinguished and cooled off, after which you can manually dig out the roots and stump debris.
There are also additional stump burning methods, such as digging out beneath and setting a charcoal or log fire in the hollowed-out root bowl. If the tree stump is close to other trees, fences or buildings, you shouldn't ever use any of the burning methods.
Digging Out a Stump by Hand: Digging up a stump by hand will require a few tools such as a chainsaw, a handsaw, a pointed spade and loppers. It involves digging down to uncover the roots, cutting the roots with a saw or loppers, and eventually freeing the stump, to make it easier to get out. The use of some form of winch might be needed for the final removal of the stump. This kind of work isn't suited to the unfit or faint-hearted, because it's exhausting and tedious.
Tree Surveys Widnes
Tree surveys may be necessary for a number of reasons, but most often when property extension or development is taking place. If you're clearing a piece of land in Widnes which has trees on it, to make space for a new house or an extension to an existing property, you will need to arrange a tree survey as outlined by the British Standards BS5837. Tree surveys on both private and public property in Widnes, must be handled by a certified tree surgeon or arborist.
If a tree survey is performed correctly, it will glean a whole host of information about the trees located within the specified area. For example:
- The existence of any TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders).
- Guidelines for tree management.
- The health of the trees.
- The ages of the trees (i.e. young, semi-mature, mature, over-mature and veteran).
- The species of each tree.
- The predicted life expectancy of the trees.
- The spread of the branches towards the West, South, North and East.
- Allocating a unique tree reference number for each of the trees.
- The diameter of each tree (measured 1.5m above ground level).
- The number of trees.
- The height of each tree in metres.
A tree survey will likely not be required if you are not extending the property's footprint and are not changing the access points or service lines of an existing home in Widnes.
Deadwooding Widnes
The process of dead-wooding (or deadwooding) is an important element of tree management and care in Widnes, and any decent tree surgeon will be able to offer this service to you. Where there's a threat to vehicles, pedestrians or property, dead-wooding is done to remove the dead and dying branches which are likely to fall. There can be a number of different reasons why the branches of a tree die, the most typical being damaged roots, heavy shading, attack by pests or diseases.
The purpose of dead-wooding is normally one of safety, nevertheless, it is also done to benefit the tree of simply to make it look more attractive. Too many damaged, dead and dying branches can encourage the spread of disease and insect infestation, therefore the removal of these unwanted branches can radically improve a tree's health. Dead and rotting wood also makes a tree look unattractive, and by removing most of this, you can make it look more appealing.
Only substantial dead branches will be cut and removed in most cases, as little risk is posed by the smaller ones. Nonetheless, any dead branches that are in excess of fifty millimetres in diameter may have to be removed in locations where a tree hangs over a garden, a park, a road, a public area or a dwelling in Widnes. (Tags: Deadwooding Widnes, Dead-Wooding Services Widnes, Dead-Wooding Trees Widnes, Dead-Wooding Widnes).
Logs & Firewood Widnes
When you are looking for logs and firewood in Widnes, it is always worth contacting your local tree surgeon, because they tend to be a terrific source for this. Since tree surgeons spend a good deal or their time cutting down trees and branches, I guess this is no great surprise.
Recently cut logs and branches are often available "free to collector" from some Widnes tree surgeons, who are just happy to get shot of them. Other local tree surgeons, with enough space to store them, will dry and season the logs and sell them by the bag, tonne or lorry load, and will sometimes deliver them to your home.
Logs that have been left to dry for at least twelve months are ideal for burning on your open fire or log burner, and they should have a moisture level of under 20%. Tree surgeons in Widnes will mainly have supplies of hardwood logs and these are great for a long, sustained burn which will generate heat for several hours. Softwood logs are superb for getting a fire burning, therefore if you can get hold of some of these too, that is going to be useful. (Tags: Firewood and Logs Widnes, Firewood Logs Widnes, Hardwood Logs Widnes, Firewood Widnes).
Protecting Trees in Winter
Although you may not believe that the weather conditions in the United Kingdom are harsh enough to warrant protecting your trees and shrubs, it might be wise to take another look at this. Even the shrubs, plants and trees that we normally think of as hardy, can find the winter season hard to get through, especially in the colder months, and they will always benefit from a bit of TLC and extra protection.
When you've got trees in your garden in Widnes, it's storms and high winds that cause the biggest concerns, and they may still be susceptible even though the majority of them will have already dropped their leaves when winter arrives, thus being less resistant to wind. If the weather conditions in Widnes have been windy, and a tree on your property seems to be weakened or in danger of falling, it is a good idea to call in a tree surgeon to check whether any action is required. Heavy snow can also lead to snapped branches, so stay alert when this type of weather is anticipated. Protection from ice and frost may be necessary for some shrubs and trees (in particular ones that have been recently planted), and a substantial layer of mulch round their bases will help to keep their roots from freezing, and allow them to absorb much needed moisture.
Skills Necessary for a Tree Surgeon in Widnes
- Physical skills such as movement and co-ordination.
- Be mindful of the complexities and dangers involved in all areas of tree work.
- Be able to work well with your hands.
- To be able to complete basic tasks on a hand-held device or computer.
- Patience and the ability to stay focused in stressful situations.
- The cabability to work efficiently with other people.
- Be professional and capable of completing work within the given time frame.
- Good knowledge of public safety.
- Be capable of maintaining, repairing and using equipment and tools.
- Have good customer service skills.
- Have a methodical and organised way of working.
Tree Surgery Tasks Widnes
Widnes tree surgeons can normally help you with tree care services in Widnes, tree reshaping in Widnes, brush cutting services, coppicing Widnes, tree work, damage restoration, tree fertilising, health assessments, commercial tree surgery, shielding trees from grazing animals, shrub maintenance, tree felling Widnes, hedge lowering, safety inspections, root decompaction in Widnes, hedge laying, tree removal in Widnes, emergency tree removal, woodchipping, fruit tree pruning, dead wooding Widnes, domestic tree surgery, formative pruning, hazard assessments, pest control, stump treatment Widnes, tree transplanting, cabling, crown reduction, tree cutting and other tree surgeon services in Widnes, Cheshire. These are just a selection of the duties that are conducted by a tree surgeon. Widnes providers will keep you informed about their entire range of services.
Tree Surgeons Nearby
Also find: Bold Heath tree surgeon, Cuerdley Cross tree surgeon, West Bank tree surgeon, Lunts Heath tree surgeon, Town End tree surgeon, Gateacre tree surgeon, Tarbock Green tree surgeon, Halsnead Park tree surgeon, Doe Green tree surgeon, Moss Bank tree surgeon, Appleton tree surgeon and more. Most of these locations are serviced by tree care companies. Residents in these localities can acquire tree surgery quotes by going here.
Tree Care Services Widnes
- Widnes Tree Shaping
- Widnes Stump Treatment
- Widnes Soil Terravention
- Widnes Hedge Planting
- Widnes Hedge Reduction
- Widnes Stump Grinding
- Widnes Tree Pollarding
- Widnes Woodchipping
- Widnes Dead Wooding
- Widnes Eco-Plugging
- Widnes Tree Pruning
- Widnes Arboriculture
- Widnes Tree Care
- Widnes Tree Inspections
More Widnes Trades: Not surprisingly, when you are having tree surgery done in Widnes, Cheshire, you'll likely need other garden related services, and aside from a tree surgeon in Widnes, Cheshire, you could additionally need patio installation in Widnes, topiary in Widnes, garden designers in Widnes, soil drainage services in Widnes, garden clearance in Widnes, landscaping services in Widnes, weeding in Widnes, grass cutting services in Widnes, garden pond installation in Widnes, garden shed installation in Widnes, SKIP HIRE in Widnes, gate installation in Widnes, driveway specialists in Widnes, artificial grass installation in Widnes, rubbish removal in Widnes, garden decking in Widnes, and other different Widnes tradespeople.
Tree Surgeon Jobs Widnes: Find Widnes tree surgeon jobs here: Tree Surgeon Jobs Widnes
Tree Surgery WA8 area, and dialling code 0151.
Tree Felling Widnes - Stump Removal Widnes - Tree Surgery Widnes - Forest Management Widnes - Arboriculture Widnes - Vegetation Management Cheshire - Tree Care Widnes - Tree Surgeon Widnes - Tree Surgeons Widnes