Tree cutting

Engaging a qualified arborist helps prevent property damage and ensures your garden remains a healthy environment. This guide outlines what to expect when hiring a tree surgeon, from initial site assessments to understanding the complex regulations surrounding Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).

What Does the Work Involve?

• Site Assessment: A thorough inspection of the tree’s health, structural integrity, and proximity to buildings or power lines.
• Safety Setup: Establishing exclusion zones, using rigging systems, and donning full PPE (Chainsaw trousers, helmets, and ear protection).
• Pruning and Shaping: Techniques such as crown lifting, thinning, or reduction to improve light and reduce wind resistance.
• Sectional Felling: Dismantling a tree piece-by-piece using ropes and harnesses to prevent damage to the ground below.
• Waste Management: Chipping branches into mulch and removing heavy timber from the site.
• Stump Treatment: Grinding the remaining stump below ground level or applying eco-plugs to prevent regrowth.

Typical Costs

Prices vary significantly based on the tree's location. If a cherry picker or road closure is required, costs can double. Always confirm if the quote includes the removal of all "arisings" (waste wood and chips).

How Long Does It Take?

• Small Pruning/Hedge Trimming: 1 to 3 hours depending on the volume of growth.
• Standard Tree Removal: 4 to 8 hours for a medium-sized tree with good access.
• Complex Felling: 2 or more days for very large trees or those in restricted urban spaces.
• Stump Grinding: 45 minutes to 2 hours per stump, depending on the species and root spread.

DIY or Professional?

Tree work is one of the most dangerous domestic trades in the UK. While pruning small garden shrubs is a weekend task, any work involving chainsaws, heights, or heavy falling timber must be left to professionals.

Professional tree surgeons carry specific Public Liability insurance that covers damage to your home or your neighbour's property—standard home insurance often excludes DIY accidents involving trees.

Furthermore, felling a tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) without permission can result in unlimited fines. Professionals will handle the legal checks and council applications on your behalf.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Check Credentials: Look for NPTC or LANTRA qualifications and membership in the Arboricultural Association.
• Insurance: Verify they hold at least £5 million in Public Liability insurance.
• Written Quotes: Ensure the quote specifies exactly what happens to the waste and the stump.
• Red Flags: Avoid "door-knockers" or anyone who suggests "topping" a tree, which is a harmful and outdated practice.

Questions to ask:

• "Will you check for TPOs and Conservation Area status before starting?"
• "Do you work to British Standard BS3998:2010?"
• "Is waste disposal and a waste transfer note included in the price?"

UK Regulations

• Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs): It is a criminal offence to cut, top, or fell a tree protected by a TPO without local authority consent.
• Conservation Areas: If your property is in a Conservation Area, you must give the council six weeks' notice (a Section 211 notice) before starting work.
• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: It is illegal to disturb nesting birds or bat roosts. Work may need to be delayed between March and August.
• BS3998:2010: This is the British Standard for Tree Work, which all reputable UK surgeons should follow.

Common Problems

• Underestimating Waste: A single medium tree produces a surprising amount of debris; ensure your surgeon has a high-capacity chipper.
• Property Damage: Unsecured branches can swing into windows or fences; always ensure the team uses proper lowering ropes (rigging).
• Hidden Services: Stump grinders can sever shallow phone lines or water pipes; always point out known utility routes.
• Poor Pruning: Excessive cutting can shock a tree, leading to disease or "epicormic" growth which makes the tree more dangerous in the long run.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cut overhanging branches from my neighbour's tree?

Yes, under UK Common Law, you can prune branches back to your boundary line. However, you must not enter their land, and you should offer the cuttings back to them (though they are not obliged to take them).

When is the best time of year to prune trees?

Most trees are best pruned in late winter or early spring when they are dormant. However, some species like Cherry or Walnut have specific windows to prevent disease or "bleeding" sap.

Will a tree surgeon remove the stump as standard?

Usually, no. Standard tree removal involves cutting the trunk as close to the ground as possible. Stump grinding is typically a separate service requiring different machinery.

How do I find out if my tree has a TPO?

You can check your local council's online planning portal or contact their Tree Officer. Most professional surgeons will perform this check for you as part of their service.

What is 'Crown Reduction' versus 'Topping'?

Crown reduction is a professional technique that shortens branches to lateral buds to maintain the tree's health. Topping is the indiscriminate cutting of the main stem, which often kills the tree or makes it unstable.

What happens if there are birds nesting in my tree?

If active nests are found, the work must legally stop until the chicks have fledged. A professional surgeon will perform a "nest check" before starting any work during the breeding season.