Garden tidying and tree trimming

Professional garden tidying and tree trimming ensures that pruning is done at the right time of year to promote growth rather than damaging the specimen. Whether you are reclaiming an overgrown space or performing annual maintenance, hiring a skilled gardener or arborist protects your investment and keeps your outdoor space safe and functional.

What Does the Work Involve?

• Site Survey: Assessing the health of trees and shrubs, identifying species, and checking for Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).
• Tree Pruning: Removing deadwood, thinning the canopy to allow light through, and "lifting" lower branches to improve clearance.
• Hedge Maintenance: Professional reshaping and reduction of hedges to maintain privacy and neatness.
• Borders and Beds: Clearing weeds, cutting back perennials, and raking leaves to prevent rot and pests.
• Waste Management: Chipping branches on-site and removing green waste for legal disposal or composting.
• Safety Checks: Inspecting for nesting birds or protected species before any cutting begins.

Typical Costs

Prices for garden maintenance vary significantly based on the height of the trees and the volume of waste generated. Most UK gardeners charge by the hour for general tidying, while specific tree work is usually quoted as a fixed price per job.

Factors that increase the price include restricted access to the garden, the need for specialist climbing equipment, and the presence of power lines or nearby glass structures that require extra care and rigging.

How Long Does It Take?

• Seasonal Border Tidy: 2–4 hours for a standard semi-detached garden.
• Medium Tree Reduction: 4–6 hours including chipping and clearing.
• Large Hedge Reshaping: 1 full day for established, high-growth hedges like Leylandii.
• Full Garden Clearance: 1–3 days depending on the level of overgrowth and waste volume.

DIY or Professional?

General weeding, leaf raking, and light shrub trimming are excellent DIY tasks. However, anything involving chainsaws, ladders, or heights should be left to a professional. Tree work is inherently dangerous and requires specific insurance that standard home policies do not cover.

Note: If a tree is subject to a TPO or is in a Conservation Area, performing work yourself without permission is a criminal offence that can result in unlimited fines.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Check Qualifications: Look for NPTC or LANTRA certifications for chainsaw use and tree climbing.
• Insurance: Ensure they have Public Liability insurance (minimum £2m, but £5m is preferred for tree work).
• Waste Licence: Ask to see their Environment Agency waste carrier licence to ensure your garden waste isn't fly-tipped.

Questions to ask:

• Are you insured to work at height, and does your policy cover damage to my property?
• Will you check for Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) with the local council?
• Is waste removal included in the quote, or is it an additional charge?
• How do you handle nesting birds or other wildlife found during the work?

UK Regulations

• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: It is an offence to damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. Most work is restricted during nesting season (March to August).
• Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs): You must apply to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) before touching any tree protected by a TPO.
• Conservation Areas: Any tree with a trunk diameter over 75mm requires six weeks' notice to the council before work begins.
• Part P & Utilities: Gardeners must stay a safe distance from overhead power lines (regulated by HSE and UK Power Networks).

Common Problems

• Over-pruning: Taking too much off a tree at once can "shock" it, leading to disease or death; a professional follows the "30% rule."
• Illegal Waste Disposal: If your gardener fly-tips your waste, you are legally responsible and can be fined.
• Property Damage: Falling branches can easily crush fences, sheds, or conservatories if not properly rigged and lowered.
• Neighbour Disputes: Pruning over a boundary line requires care; you are legally entitled to prune back to the boundary, but the arisings technically belong to the neighbour.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time of year to trim trees?

For most deciduous trees, late autumn or winter is best as the tree is dormant. However, some species like Cherry or Plum should be pruned in summer to avoid Silver Leaf disease. Always avoid the main bird nesting season (March to August).

How do I know if my tree has a TPO?

You can check your local council's online planning portal or contact their arboricultural officer. A professional gardener will usually perform this check for you as part of their service.

Can I keep the wood for my log burner?

Yes, you can ask the gardener to "log up" the timber for you. This often reduces the cost of the job as they won't have to pay for waste disposal, though they may charge a small fee for the extra time spent sawing logs to size.

What is the difference between a gardener and an arborist?

A gardener generally focuses on plants, lawns, and small shrubs. An arborist (or tree surgeon) is a specialist trained in the science of tree health and the physical skills required to prune or remove large trees safely using climbing gear.

Will the gardener remove the stumps too?

Standard tree trimming or felling does not include stump removal. This requires a specialist machine called a stump grinder and is usually quoted as a separate "add-on" service.