Tree Surgery
Common Tree Treatments
Understanding and selecting the right treatment for your tree and then being confident it can be done safely and accurately is important. We take pride in the quality of our work and prefer to let the trees natural shape be maintained.
Crown Thinning – The removal of a proportion of secondary live branches evenly throughout the crown. The overall outline or shape remains unaltered. This treatment can increase the amount of light passing through, reduce wind resistance and also reduce the weight of heavy branches. Excessive thinning and individual responses of different species can result in rapid growth of new material.
Crown reduction – This is where the overall height or spread of the tree is reduced by the removal of the ends of branches, whilst maintaining the trees natural shape as far as possible. Ideally the reducing cuts should result in pruning wounds o greater than 1/3 of the diameter of the branch remaining. Excessive reductions can stress trees and weaken them making failure and decline more likely or rapid than if no pruning had been done.
Pollarding – This is the removal of new growth from a particular point on a regular basis (every 1-2 years). The term is also commonly but incorrectly used to describe the removal of all branches leaving a stem on a previously unpollarded tree.
Crown Lifting – Removal of the lowest branches and preparation of lower branches for future removal. Ideally large pruning wounds directly on the stem should be avoided as these may reduce the life of the tree. This treatment can also increase the amount of light (under the main crown) but it is also often necessary to provide adequate clearance for traffic and pedestrians on roadside trees, (5.2 and 2.5m respectively)
Felling/Dismantling – In some circumstances trees may need to be removed completely. Where conditions allow it may be felled (perhaps witht the aid of pull line) or it may need to be removed in sections in tighter spaces or where no ground disturbance is allowed. Cranes may also be anoption depending on access and ground stability.
Planting – Trees can be recommended, supplied and planted in a wide variety of sizes, from bare root transplants through to container grown specimens. Care is needed in the sitting, protection and aftercare of new planting.
Other Services
Stump removal – For smaller trees and shrubs stumps or roots can be dug or winched out by hand. For larger stumps or where there are many a stump grinder can make the job much easier. Ground disturbance is minimal and as much or as little of the stump removed as desired. Our standard is to go to around 300mm below ground level, (this is usually sufficient) and then follow any radial roots near or on the surface – hence a small cherry may be a more involved job than a larger oak. The arisings are a mixture of soil and stump chips or shreds and can be re-compacted back into the hole. This is an ideal planting medium for replacement trees, but may settle over a few months.
What happens to all the debris? – Branches are usually reduced in volume by chipping – this material can be left on site for use as a mulch to retail moisture and suppress weeds or removed to a composting site for recyling. Larger logwood can be left on site for use as wood fuel or to make garden features, or removed to be recyled as logs. Higher value material can be removed in lengths and milled where access allows.
Bracing – Support for trees with weak branch unions, or damage in the form of either a dynamic or static systems. Non invasive systems that allow trees to build up material in response to moderate loading yet support under higher loads. Add in link to Wellingham Cedar and photos in gallery.
Legal protection for trees – Tree preservation Orders, trees in conservation areas, trees covered by planning conditions and felling licence requirements (for larger volumes) may all restrict work, and consent is normally required from the relevant body – The Local Authority or Forestry Commission. We are happy to apply on behalf of clients and this is normally included in our prices.
Insurance – We hold public and employers liability insurance together with professional Indemnity cover. These policies are specific to the Arboricultural and Forestry sectors. Evidence of insurance is usually provided either with quotations or before work commences.
crown thinning
crown reduction
dismantling
planting
stump removal
bracing
dismantling
chipping
