Tree maintenance and cutting

Engaging a professional arborist ensures that work is carried out according to British Standards (BS3998), protecting the health of the tree and ensuring you stay on the right side of local planning laws. Whether it’s a simple crown reduction or a complex sectional dismantle, professional intervention is essential for any work involving heights or heavy machinery.

What Does the Work Involve?

• Site Assessment: Checking for Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), conservation area constraints, and nesting birds or protected wildlife.
• Pruning & Shaping: Targeted cutting to improve tree health, including crown thinning (removing small branches) and crown lifting (removing lower branches).
• Crown Reduction: Reducing the overall height and spread of the canopy to manage size and wind resistance.
• Sectional Dismantling: Taking a tree down piece by piece using rigging and ropes, typically used in confined urban gardens where a straight fell is impossible.
• Deadwooding: Removing dead, dying, or diseased branches that pose a falling risk to people or property.
• Waste Processing: Chipping smaller branches into mulch and logging larger sections for firewood or disposal.
• Stump Management: Optional grinding of the remaining stump to below ground level to allow for replanting or turfing.

Typical Costs

Prices vary significantly based on the tree's location, species, and proximity to buildings or power lines. Disposal costs are a major factor; if you choose to keep the wood chips or logs on-site, you can often negotiate a lower total price.

How Long Does It Take?

• Minor Pruning/Hedge Trimming: 1–3 hours for a single operative or small team.
• Medium Tree Removal: 4–6 hours, including chipping and site tidying.
• Large Sectional Dismantle: 1–2 full days depending on complexity and weather conditions.
• Stump Grinding: 30–90 minutes per stump, assuming clear access for the machine.

DIY or Professional?

Tree surgery is one of the most dangerous professions in the UK and should almost never be attempted as a DIY project. Working at height with chainsaws requires specialist training, NPTC qualifications, and heavy-duty PPE that the average homeowner does not possess.

Attempting to fell a tree yourself can lead to catastrophic property damage or fatal injury; furthermore, most home insurance policies will not cover DIY tree work accidents.

Professional arborists carry Public Liability insurance (typically £5m–£10m) and understand the legalities of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. Only very basic pruning of small shrubs or low-level fruit trees using hand tools is suitable for a DIY enthusiast.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Qualifications: Ensure they hold NPTC or LANTRA certifications for chainsaw use, climbing, and aerial rescue.
• Insurance: Ask to see a valid Public Liability Insurance certificate specifically covering tree surgery.
• Accreditation: Look for "Arboricultural Association Approved Contractors" for the highest standard of work.
• Check for TPOs: A reputable surgeon will always check with the local council for Tree Preservation Orders before starting.

Questions to ask your tree surgeon:

• Are your quotes inclusive of waste removal and VAT?
• Will you be working to British Standard BS3998:2010?
• Do you provide a written risk assessment for the job?
• Can you provide references or a portfolio of similar removals in tight spaces?

UK Regulations

• Tree Preservation Orders (TPO): It is a criminal offence to cut, top, or lop a tree protected by a TPO without written council consent.
• Conservation Areas: You must give the Local Planning Authority six weeks' notice (a Section 211 notice) before carrying out work on trees in these areas.
• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: It is illegal to disturb nesting birds (typically March to August) or bat roosts.
• Felling Licences: If you are removing more than 5 cubic metres of timber in a calendar quarter, you may require a licence from the Forestry Commission.

Common Problems

• Topping Trees: Cutting the top off a tree to reduce height often leads to rapid, weak regrowth and fungal decay; always opt for crown reduction instead.
• Hidden TPOs: Homeowners are legally responsible for checking TPOs; failing to do so can result in fines of up to £20,000 per tree.
• Poor Waste Management: Leaving "arisings" (cuttings) on-site can lead to pests or fire hazards if not properly stacked or chipped.
• Underground Services: Stump grinders can easily sever shallow gas or water lines; always mark out services before grinding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cut branches that overhang my property from a neighbour's tree?

Yes, under UK Common Law, you can prune branches back to your boundary line, provided the tree isn't protected by a TPO. You must offer the "arisings" (the cuttings) back to the neighbour, though they are not obliged to accept them.

What is the best time of year for tree maintenance?

Most trees are best pruned in late autumn or winter when they are dormant and have no leaves. However, species like Cherry or Plum should be pruned in summer to avoid Silver Leaf disease.

How do I know if my tree has a TPO?

You can check your local council's website, which usually features an interactive map of protected trees. Alternatively, call the local planning department's arboricultural officer.

Will a tree surgeon remove the stump as part of the price?

Usually, no. Stump grinding is typically quoted as an optional extra because it requires a different machine and additional labour. Always clarify this in your initial quote.

What happens to the wood after a tree is cut down?

Most surgeons will chip the small branches for mulch and take the larger logs away. If you have a log burner, you can ask them to "ring up" the trunk into moveable sections for you to split later.

Do I need to be home while the work is being done?

As long as the team has access to the garden and a power source (if needed), you do not need to be present. However, it is helpful to be there at the start to confirm the scope of work.