Wilmslow Tree Surgeon Cheshire: Adding substance, structure and style to what can often be a two dimensional landscape, trees are a crucial feature of gardens and properties in Wilmslow. However, when neglected or affected by severe weather conditions, for example gales or flooding, trees can be a bit of an issue. Prior to any work beginning, the safest option is to consult with a skilled tree surgeon in Wilmslow, when your trees need looking at.
Employing a non-qualified individual for tree work or trying to do it on your own, could harm your trees, cause damage to property, or even be life threatening. However, even for qualified tree surgeons who know about all the risks, tree work is not entirely safe. Tree surgery is certainly not a task for novices, and on average there are 140 serious injuries and 3 deaths each year within the industry, making it among the most hazardous jobs in Britain.
With falling trees and branches causing around five deaths annually in the UK, a danger to life can even be presented by a damaged or neglected tree. You could be liable to third-party compensation claims due to the consequences of your actions, if you hire somebody to conduct tree work and an injury occurs, or property is damaged. This is why retaining the services of an experienced Wilmslow tree surgeon to do the work on your trees is vitally important. (Figures sourced from HSE).
There are two professional bodies that a competent Wilmslow tree surgeon should really be a signed up member of. You can check up on the membership and professional standing of any tree surgeon on the websites of either the Arboricultural Association (AA) or the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). To determine whether any particular tree surgeon has recognised ARB Approved Contractor status and has membership of either of these bodies, you can check on this page.
If there is an issue during or after any work has been accomplished you are able to contact these trade bodies for mediation assistance and for help and advice at any point.
If a tree surgeon who you're unable to find on this directory offers to provide you with an estimate, it is recommended that you continue your search for a fully qualified and approved contractor, and courteously decline their offer. When their accreditations and professional memberships have been meticulously checked, you should try and get a minimum of three estimates from different companies in and around Wilmslow. Whilst getting these quotes you should ask the following questions, stating you need to know the answers because of the risks of the work involved:
- Can you give me a quotation in writing? You must NEVER settle for a verbal quote only. Only ever accept a written quote.
- Would it be possible for me to contact someone you've recently done work for, so that I can assess your work? Independently examining any recent work is always sensible.
- Do you have documentary evidence of your professional membership, qualifications and a NPTC certificate for chainsaw use? The NPTC/LANTRA certificate is required by law for any tree surgeon/operative who uses a chainsaw. Qualifications might include City & Guilds National Diplomas and Certificates in Arboriculture.
- Precisely what is your level of insurance cover? As stipulated by the AA and ISA, your tree surgeon ought to be able to show you an insurance certificate covering a minimum of five million pounds public liability.
The written quotation should include clear and concise details about the work to be undertaken. Who's responsible for the removal of waste, tree branches and stumps should be stated, as should specifics of any trees which could be protected, and the steps required to obtain permission to carry out work on them. Unless you are a commercial business, you should also make certain VAT has been included on the quote. Realising that you've got a responsibility for hiring only trained tradespeople to work on your property and trees, is crucial. 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 BEGINNING - Your selected Wilmslow tree surgeon will need to make enquiries into the possibility of any trees being protected in your area and make the appropriate steps to make certain that any work can get the go-ahead from the local authority. To ensure the safety of the public, even protected trees require maintenance in order to cut back old or dying wood, so finding that a tree is protected does not imply that you're unable to carry out necessary work.
If your property in Wilmslow is located in a designated conservation area then at least 6 weeks written notice must be given to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) prior to any work being carried out. However, tree trunks of under 75 millimetres in diameter when measured at 1.5 metres from ground level are exempt from this requirement. Also, if the branches of a protected tree need to be thinned or pruned in order to sustain and promote growth, written notice will not be necessary.
After assessing the health of your trees, your Wilmslow tree surgeon will determine the appropriate treatments and how the best outcome can be safely achieved. 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 neighbouring properties. This stage will also ascertain the number of operatives needed and the level of protection required. This is both PPE (personal protective equipment) together with other safety precautions to keep the public and other property safe from damage or harm.
ON THE DAY OF WORK - Cones, barriers and safety measures will be put in place before any climbing, cutting of branches or tree felling is started, to keep passers-by and unauthorised persons away from the area where work is going on. Where there is the chance of branches and debris falling onto a public road, it might be necessary to briefly stop the traffic.
Varying levels of protection will be necessary for the tree surgeon subject to what work needs to be carried out. When doing chainsaw work, they will at a bare minimum be wearing protective clothing to avoid serious cutting injuries to the torso, legs and hands. All workers involved in the operation should be wearing eye and head protection, and high-vis clothing, at all times.
Extra workers will normally be required to help in the safe removal of high branches and large sections of tree trunk, especially if working at height is involved, and where ladders and associated climbing equipment is being used. It's a good idea to inform your neighbours of the need for access, as a truck or skip for removing the waste will be stationed as close to the work area as possible.
UPON COMPLETION OF WORK - When the work has been finished all of the waste and branches will be taken away and the whole site cleared of all debris. Especially when the trees are protected, a certificate of work should then be prepared by your tree surgeon, which will be signed off and a copy presented to you. Roads and footpaths can then be re-opened to the public, and any safety measures places in public spaces removed.
Issues or problems should be rectified immediately by approaching your tree surgeon directly. If there's any further dispute, and your tree surgeon is a signed up member of a professional association, you can receive help and advice from the ISA or AA in order to reach a satisfactory solution.
Local Wilmslow tree surgery services are likely to have the postcode SK9 and the telephone code 01625. They will work in Wilmslow itself, as well as nearby areas such as Dean Row, Alderley Edge, The Carrs, Warford, Poynton, Nether Alderley, Cheadle Heath, Heald Green, Newton, Mottram St Andrew, Woodford, Knolls Green Village, Lacey Green, Bramhall, and these postcodes: SK9 1QU, SK9 1BY, SK9 2AX, SK9 1YZ, SK9 0DU, SK9 0BX, SK9 1RA, SK9 1NE, SK9 1BR, SK9 1PB.
If you need this sort of service it's certainly advisable to bring in a trusted local tree surgeon. Wilmslow property owners can benefit from the expertise and knowhow offered by a fully trained professional.
Tree Surveys Wilmslow
Tree surveys may be necessary for a number of reasons, but most often when development or property extension is involved. If you happen to be clearing some land in Wilmslow which has trees growing on it, to prepare for the building of an extension to an existing property or a brand new house, you'll need to conduct a tree survey as required by the British Standards BS5837. Whether a survey is being undertaken on a public or private property, it must be completed by an accredited Wilmslow tree surgeon or tree surveyor.
A properly done tree survey will glean a number of details about the trees within a defined area. For instance:
- Recommendations for tree management.
- The age of the trees (i.e. young, semi-mature, mature, over-mature and veteran).
- The diameter of each tree (measured 1.5m above ground level).
- The species of trees on the site.
- The existence of any TPOs.
- A tree reference number for each of the trees.
- The number of trees.
- The height of each tree in metres.
- The structural and physiological health of the trees.
- The branch spread to the North, South, East and West.
- The expected lifespan of the trees.
You will most likely not need to do a tree survey if you happen to be doing work on an existing home in Wilmslow but you aren't extending the building's footprint and are not changing the access points or service lines.
Chainsaws
The most dangerous and perhaps the most commonplace piece of equipment that is used by professional tree surgeons in Wilmslow, is the chainsaw. Despite the fact that battery and mains electric models of chainsaw are available, the most popular with professionals are powered by petrol, because of their ease of use and greater mobility. For cutting effortlessly through large limbs and trunks, petrol driven chainsaws are the only real option effective option, being extremely powerful and able to cope with even the most substantial tree work.
A chainsaw is basically composed of a rotating engine-driven chain which is armed with a set of razor-sharp teeth that slice through the bark and inner wood of a tree. Chainsaws also come in different types, each having a specific use - rear-handled for working on the ground (must always be used with two hands), top-handled for working at height (and which can be used with one hand if necessary) and pole saws for long distance pruning and hard to reach branches.
Even though it's not the safest thing to be climbing up a tree with, it's fairly rare to find an experienced Wilmslow tree surgeon who doesn't use a chainsaw more or less every day. All professional tree surgeons need to be trained in the safe use of chainsaws, and it is one of the key prerequisites for gaining membership of the AA (Arboricultural Association).
Although there are many different chainsaw makes available to professional tree surgeons, the most popular in the United Kingdom are Hyundai, Makita, Stihl and Husqvarna.
Stump Grinding
If you have a requirement for specialised services such as stump grinding in Wilmslow, making sure you use a company with the appropriate knowhow and tools is critical. Skilled tree surgeons should be able to extract all of the stump to a good 12 inches below the surface. Owning the proper machinery means that they can grind out stubborn stumps and roots right up to buildings and walls while avoiding damage. Even any stumps that are tucked away in passageways and alleys, can be removed using the proper machinery. Where really massive trees need to be removed the tree stump that is left can be quite substantial and the main roots are going to go down to a significant depth, demanding a herculean effort to deal with them them.
Tree Stump Removal Wilmslow
If you are in a position where you have to have a substantial tree chopped down and removed from your property in Wilmslow, you are perhaps going to be stuck with a stump, which also needs to be dealt with. Now, in certain situations you may be quite happy to leave the tree stump in position and let it rot and break down naturally. However, a substantial tree stump could take a number of years to rot down, and might even produce suckers in an effort to restore itself to its former glory. Protruding tree stumps can also attract unwanted pests, be a trip hazard, and be an eyesore.
If you decide to remove the stump entirely, there are a number of ways to do this, however they fall under 2 primary choices stump grinding or stump removal. Purely for the purposes of this section we'll be looking at stump removal in Wilmslow as opposed to stump grinding.
There are in essence 3 techniques for getting rid of a tree stump - burning, digging out by hand and chemical treatments. You could make use of any of these solutions if you intend to remove a stump on your own. If a local tree surgeon is going to be undertaking the work, stump grinding is generally their technique of choice, however eco-plugging or another chemically based removal treatment might also be offered.
Tree Stump Burning: Since it can be quite dangerous and could conflict with local laws, stump burning isn't really recommended, so if you use this method, take great care. The burning technique involves drilling a few one inch holes into the stump, filling and topping them up with vegetable oil for a few days until soaked. You can then cover the stump with charcoal or logs and set fire to it. This should not then be left unattended, and be continually supervised. When the fire has finally burnt out, you need to make sure that it is extinguished and cool, after which you will be able to dig out the remnants of stump and roots.
You will find there are various other burning techniques, such as digging out underneath the stump and setting a fire in the excavated root bowl. There are of course various circumstances where burning is not appropriate, for example when there are fences, a building or other trees close to the stump in question.
Chemical Stump Removers: For chemically removing a stump you will need to invest in Vitax SBK Stump Killer, Resolva Xtra Tough Tree Stump Killer or Roundup Tree Stump Remover. When using any of these you should always follow the instructions closely, as these chemicals can be very dangerous. Your stump will take several weeks to rot and can then be removed with an axe and spade.
Digging Out a Stump by Hand: Digging out 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 reveal the roots, cutting the roots with loppers or a saw, and finally freeing the stump, to make it easier to get out. For the final freeing up process you might find that you need to make use of some form of winch. This is tedious and tiring work.
(Tags: Tree Stump Removal Wilmslow, Removal of Tree Stumps Wilmslow, Removing Tree Stumps Wilmslow, Chemical Stump Killers Wilmslow).Eco-Plugging Stumps Wilmslow
Stump grinding is the customary strategy used by most Wilmslow tree surgeons for removing large tree stumps. However, nowadays there's a cheaper alternative to this procedure in the shape of "eco-plugging". This method is not only useful because it's cheaper, but also due to the fact that it can be used in awkward locations that are largely inaccessible to stump grinding machines.
Without affecting the surrounding vegetation and trees, eco-plugging is an exceptionally effective treatment for eliminating tree stumps. Eco-plugs kill off the whole root system of a stump and can be utilised throughout the year and in any weather. Eco-plugs contain a kind of granular glyphosate herbicide which is suitable for treating a variety of tree species, and is 95-100 percent effective.
Air-Spading Wilmslow
When you are concerned about the health of a tree, it may be due to a number of problems, but issues with the root system is a common cause of such concerns. A certified tree surgeon in Wilmslow might need to access the roots to check for root rot, soil compaction, or other problems.
Because there's a likelihood of inflicting damage on the roots during the digging process, during the past this was a difficult thing to achieve. To successfully break down and clear away compressed soil without causing damage to tree roots or utility lines, a modern day system which is often used is "air spading".
The general health of a tree can be affected when the soil around the roots becomes compacted by heavy foot traffic, construction work or passing vehicles. When a tree lacks water and nutrients it can become "stressed", and this makes it more susceptible to attack by diseases, pests and insects. Root flare problems can also be an issue, when the flare around the base of the stem becomes covered with soil, causing it's tissues to break down, and increasing the likelihood of root decay. Air-spading is useful for correcting this.
By forcing air into voids in the soil at speeds of up to 1200mph through the use of an air-spade and an air compressor, the innovative air-spading process rapidly breaks up the soil without harming or damaging the tree roots. As the surrounding soil is directed away from the tree's roots by the powerful flow of air, immediate inspection can take place. A solution can then be found for any any obvious problems, and the previously compact soil replaced with wood chips and fertiliser to help encourage the tree to revive.
Tree Surgery - Health and Safety
Tree surgery can certainly be a hazardous process if carried out badly, hence one of the key concerns is the health and safety issue. If the so called tradesmen engaged in the project are inexperienced or unqualified, there are a great many things that may lead to injury or damage such as a lack of head protection, neglecting to cordon-off the work area to protect the general public and vehicles, failing to put on cut resistant clothing (in particular boots and trousers), not using hearing or eyesight protection, little if any fall protection, in the shape of harnesses, ropes and platforms and falling branches and timber. Owing to this kind of incompetence, potentially in jeopardy are the street facilities, fencing and garden features, team members working at ground level, the property or home, the tree itself, the property owners family, the tree surgeon (up the tree), vehicles, passing pedestrians.
Storm Damaged Trees Wilmslow
To most people, trees seem strong, sturdy and capable of standing up to just about anything Mother Nature can inflict on them. The lifespan of most tree species far surpasses that of humans or animals, and in fact certain varieties like oaks, sweet chestnuts and yews can survive for many hundreds of years.
Nevertheless, trees can be quite susceptible to the elements when facing certain conditions, and it isn't only the danger of falling branches and limbs, but in times of severe weather the entire tree can fall over. Trees have one major weather related enemy, and that is high winds. As violent storms and extreme weather events become more and more commonplace with climate change, this form of damage will occur with greater regularity in Wilmslow. Soil that becomes saturated during floods or prolonged periods of rainfall can be another problem, as can heavy snow in winter.
To trim and remove any dead, dying or excessively long branches that may cause an issue in times of severe weather, it is a good idea to get a competent Wilmslow tree surgeon to examine your trees on a regular basis.
It is also a good idea to fit taller trees with lightning rods, copper conductors, or other protection systems, to stop them being struck by lightning, and to safeguard nearby buildings and property which might be vulnerable to side-flashes ("arcs"). A tree that's struck by lightning can be killed or severely weakened, a weakened tree can be left susceptible to disease, decay or pests. For those of you who believe that lightning isn't all that common, there are about 300 thousand strikes in the United Kingdom annually.
Ask your local Wilmslow tree surgery company what can be done to safeguard your trees from being damaged by storms and lower the chance of severe consequences should an unsound tree fall down as a result of bad weather. (Tags: Storm Damage Prevention Wilmslow, Storm Damage Wilmslow, Storm Damaged Trees Wilmslow).
Dutch Elm Disease
A fungal disease which has killed tens of millons of elm trees all around the United Kingdom over the past five decades or so, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) isn't quite as big an issue as it once was. Caused by the Ophiostoma novo-ulmi fungus which is spread by the elm bark beetle (particularly the Scolytus genus), Dutch Elm Disease (DED) was imported into Britain inadvertently in the nineteen sixties from North America (Canada).
After its arrival, it was spread rapidly through the movement of elm products like bark mulch, elm crates, saplings, and firewood logs with the bark still attached. Thought to have originally come from Asia (probably Japan), DED didn't only affect trees in Great Britain, but also devastated the stocks of elm trees in continental Europe, North America and New Zealand.
Normally first manifesting in early summer, the main symptoms of DED disease are:
- Twigs with spots or rings in cross-section.
- A "shepherd's crook" effect on affected twigs.
- Clusters of leaves that turn yellow, wilt and fall.
- Affected shoots dying back from the tips.
Due to disease and the subsequent chopping down of dying, dead and infected trees, there are not many large elms surviving in the UK countryside, therefore the spread has slowed down and the favourite habitat of the beetle essentially removed. The propagation of young saplings that are resistant to DED is a continuing project.
You could put in a request for a diagnosis from the Tree Health Diagnostic & Advisory Service (THDAS), or you can get in touch with your local tree surgeon for guidance, if you happen to have elm trees on your property in Wilmslow, and suspect that they might be infected with Dutch Elm Disease.
Tree families affected: Ulmacae and Zelkova.
Spread by - beetles of the Scolytus and Hylorgopinus genera.
Cause - fungi Ophiostoma Ulmi and Ophiostoma Novo-Ulmi.
Cable Bracing Trees Wilmslow
Cable bracing is a procedure that's used to offer support to a tree when it shows signs of damage, decay, or presents a risk to nearby property (or persons). This technique is generally used on valuable or older trees in Wilmslow, where felling or the removal of large unsafe portions is undesirable for aesthetic or other reasons.
The fitting of a cable bracing setup might be an option to add support to the defective joints, weak limbs and V-shaped forks of a vulnerable tree. Most tree surgeons in Wilmslow will be equipped to undertake different kinds of bracing work through the fitting of rods and cables to help redistribute structural tension and prolong the life of old and specimen trees.
Cable bracing does not cause additional damage to the tree by drilling and bolting the branches, and offers a shock-absorbing and flexible means of support that is largely non-invasive. Before any cable bracing work can begin, a risk risk assessment must be carried out to guarantee the safety of the tree and nearby areas. (Tags: Cable Bracing Techniques Wilmslow, Tree Cable Bracing Wilmslow, Cable Bracing Trees Wilmslow, Cable Bracing Wilmslow).
Pollarding Trees Wilmslow
The technique whereby a tree's size is radically lessened because it has grown too big for its existing setting, is know as pollarding. This tactic is from time to time used for visual reasons to transform a tree into a particularly appealing shape or form. You'll quite often witness trees that have been pollarded alongside roads in Wilmslow, and also quite frequently in hedgerows For individuals who appreciate trees it's not an especially popular process, since the result is inclined to be somewhat harsh and bare, with the appearance of being practically lifeless. However, in spite of the relatively unsightly appearance of pollarded trees such as sycamores, planes, limes, oaks, maples, horse chestnuts and beeches, there is a beneficial aspect to this process, in that these trees can be conserved when they'd otherwise have to be felled. (Tags: Tree Pollarding Wilmslow, Pollarding Wilmslow, Tree Pruning Wilmslow)
Tree Surgery Tasks Wilmslow
Wilmslow tree surgeons will likely help you with forestry management, tree maintenance in Wilmslow, damaged tree removal, fruit tree pruning, arboriculture, crown raising Wilmslow, tree watering Wilmslow, commercial tree surgery Wilmslow, safety inspections, crown removal, hedge trimming, tree cabling, tree fertilising in Wilmslow, tree dismantling Wilmslow, tree removal, stump treatment in Wilmslow, woodland clearances, shielding trees from grazing animals, root pruning, domestic tree care, felling of storm damaged trees, tree lopping in Wilmslow, monitoring of tree health in Wilmslow, woodchipping, hedge laying Wilmslow, tree topping, pollarding, stump removal, landscape clearance, tree pruning and other tree surgeon services in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Listed are just a few of the tasks that are handled by a local tree surgeon. Wilmslow professionals will inform you of their entire range of services.
Tree Surgeons Nearby
Also find: The Carrs tree surgeon, Heald Green tree surgeon, Alderley Edge tree surgeon, Lacey Green tree surgeon, Mottram St Andrew tree surgeon, Warford tree surgeon, Newton tree surgeon, Nether Alderley tree surgeon, Knolls Green Village tree surgeon, Dean Row tree surgeon and more. All these locations are catered for by tree care companies. Home and business owners in these places can get tree surgery estimates by clicking here.
Tree Care Services Wilmslow
- Wilmslow Arboriculture
- Wilmslow Crown Lifting
- Wilmslow Stump Removal
- Wilmslow Tree Transplanting
- Wilmslow Crown Raising
- Wilmslow Site Clearance
- Wilmslow Crown Thinning
- Wilmslow Tree Pruning
- Wilmslow Tree Management
- Wilmslow Tree Replanting
- Wilmslow Tree Bracing
- Wilmslow Cable Bracing
- Wilmslow Hedge Planting
- Wilmslow Vegetation Management
Tree Surgeon Jobs Wilmslow: Find Wilmslow tree surgeon jobs here: Tree Surgeon Jobs Wilmslow
Tree Surgery SK9 area, 01625.
Vegetation Control Cheshire - Arboriculture Wilmslow - 01625 - Tree Surgeon Wilmslow - Tree Care Wilmslow - Crown Reduction Wilmslow - Tree Management Wilmslow - Root Removal Wilmslow - Forest Management Wilmslow