Carrickfergus Tree Surgeons (BT38): Numerous houses in Carrickfergus have gardens that have trees in them. Whilst trees are both nice to look at and beneficial to the environment they do need to be looked after. Trees can sometimes get diseased, overgrown, or simply need regular maintenance such as pruning. Larger trees can even become dangerous, especially when the weather is windy, and branches or even entire sections of tree can plummet to the ground, perhaps damaging cars, buildings, or worst of all, people. If your home or business premises in Carrickfergus has got trees growing on it, you are the one who is answerable for looking after them.
When it comes to smaller trees, hedges, fruit trees and shrubs, a devoted gardener will be perfectly able to keep them clipped and under control, and will most likely get a certain amount of pleasure from the process. If they can be accessed from ground level, branches can be pruned and trimmed without too much of a problem, and these are certainly tasks that you can have a crack at if you have the right tools, know what you are doing and are confident. If however you have large trees which need to be climbed or reached by ladders, professional help must be sought, and you should not attempt this yourself.
It's not simply the chance of you falling or hurting yourself that is a concern when attempting to access tall trees, it is also the threat of falling branches (or tools) causing damage or injury to those on the ground. Hazardous tools are needed for this kind of task, and just the thought of a novice gardener teetering precariously up a tree brandishing a powered-up chainsaw should send shivers up the spine of the most reckless property owner in Carrickfergus.
For this sort of project, you might imagine that a gardener would be the right person to contact. However, gardeners in the main are not trained in the care of larger trees, but may be a good choice for maintaining shrubs, fruit trees and hedges. A tree surgeon is in fact the individual that you need, and a decent Carrickfergus tree surgeon will have the tools and equipment for the work, and an exhaustive knowledge of all sorts of trees, and tree management. Special tools such as wood chipping machines, chainsaws and harnesses might be required to accomplish your tree care work, but will naturally depend upon the scale of the work and the type and size of trees involved.
A proper tree surgeon in Carrickfergus has to be skilled in the use of such equipment and tools and while many folks in Carrickfergus claim to be tree surgeons, you'll want to hire one who is a qualified arborist and can show the following accreditations:
- CS39 (NPTC 308) - Aerial cutting of trees using free-fall techniques.
- CS31 (NPTC 203) - Fell & process trees up to 380mm (15 inches).
- CS38 (NPTC 206/306) - Tree climbing and aerial tree rescue.
- CS30 (NPTC 201/202) - Chainsaw crosscutting & maintenance.
Tree surgeons should also have first-aid training. It's also vital that all tree surgery in Carrickfergus is performed according to British Standards (BS3998) recommendations.
These are the basic certifications that you ought to be on the lookout for when you're trying to find a genuine tree surgeon in Carrickfergus. If when questioned about such accreditations, the individual you are considering is vague and uncooperative, you should find somebody else. You can tell that someone is a more experienced Carrickfergus tree surgeon if they have also taken the time to get qualifications such as City and Guilds in arboriculture, forestry, woodland ecology & conservation, forest management and countryside management.
Such tree related tasks as tree surgery, stump grinding, the protection of trees from grazing, transplanting, tree felling, tree removal, tree planting, pest control and disease identification, can be undertaken by Carrickfergus tree surgeons, once they're fully trained.
Certain aspects of these services might be needed by the average home owner in Carrickfergus, particularly; crown raising, pruning, damage restoration, crown cleaning, tree felling/removal, crown thinning, root pruning or crown shaping, which are among the more commonplace tree related projects.
It's essential that all Carrickfergus tree surgeons are acquainted with, and proficient in the use of loppers, winches, harnesses, chain saws, stump grinders, rigging pulleys, slackline kits, wood chippers, rigging ropes, climbing ropes, lowering devices, pole saws, and the whole range of tree surgery equipment and tools. If the individual you've picked out arrives on the job with just a handsaw and a ladder, get shot of them and find someone better.
Before you do any serious work on your trees in Carrickfergus, you need to make sure that none of them have Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) You should contact your local authority to make sure none of the trees on your property are covered by TPOs. Ask your tree surgeon about this - they should be able to check all this out for you.
You'll need to locate a reputable tree surgeon in Carrickfergus, as soon as you have decided that you require professional assistance with your tree care. The techniques for accomplishing this are many and varied. You could carry out an online search for the web sites of local tree surgeons in Carrickfergus. You could ask friends and neighbours if they know a company they can recommend. You can look through your local newspaper or check out the Yellow Pages. You can test out one of the online trade portals such as Rated People, Quotatis or My Builder. These methods should give you a short list of potential tree surgeons.
If you would rather have the crème de la crème of tree surgeons you should choose an Arboricultural Association approved contractor, who you know will be certified and fully trained in the following:
- Business management and customer service.
- Operations, knowledge and high work standards.
- Compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Training and development.
- Compliance with legislative requirements and arboricultural contracting.
Sadly, there are often reports in the press about rogue traders and cowboys offering tree surgery services, so once again, asking for evidence of qualifications is essential to identify these sort of people who could be operating in Carrickfergus, and sticking with known local tree surgery companies is usually best. Tree surgery should never be attempted by anyone who's not properly trained, and as we have said before, this sort of is dangerous work.
I am certain that you don't want any damage to be inflicted on your trees, however this could certainly happen if you do not use a person who's experienced. If you want to maintain the health of your trees, stick with the pros, because treating, pruning or lopping trees at the wrong time of the year or in the wrong way can have devastating consequences.
In order to get a broad range of prices you should always try to get at least 3 or 4 quotes from different tree surgeons in Carrickfergus. This will provide you with a selection of tree surgeons in Carrickfergus, but you shouldn't necessarily make your choice on price alone (i.e. go for the cheapest).
Try to ask plenty of probing questions, if they answer confidently and give the impression that they know what they're talking about - the likelihood is they do! Establish everything that's included in the price you have been given, and also make sure that they've got the appropriate insurance. You will need to know if waste removal is included, and that they are going to take away all the waste and branches that result from the work.
Getting references from past customers, is another thing that you can do. If a tree surgery firm in Carrickfergus is honest they will be happy to furnish you with references and possibly even pictures of work that they have completed previously. If they have a Facebook page it might also be worth checking this out, as it can frequently contain a huge amount of information on the company and it's clients.
Tree surgery is available in Carrickfergus and also nearby in: Parkgate, Glengormley, Ballynure, Island Magee, Doagh, Greenisland, Bangor, Straid, Ballycarry, Templepatrick, Ballymena, Moorfields, Whitehead, Newtownabbey, Ballyclare, Larne, and in these postcodes BT38 7BJ, BT38 7EY, BT38 7JZ, BT38 7QW, BT38 7QT, BT38 7QG, BT38 7HB, BT38 7HA, BT38 7AF, and BT38 7AB. Local Carrickfergus tree surgeons will probably have the postcode BT38 and the dialling code 028 93.
For this kind of assistance it's certainly best to hire a reputable tree surgeon. Carrickfergus householders can substantially benefit from the skill sets offered by a seasoned professional.
Tree Surgery Apprenticeships - Training - Courses Carrickfergus
There are very few professions which are more enjoyable and rewarding than tree surgery. There are various ways in which you can start a career in tree surgery including gaining a tree surgery apprenticeship, beginning at the bottom (perhaps as a groundworker) and working towards this role, registering for a private course, taking a course in university or enrolling for a college course. For teenagers, applications for tree surgery apprenticeships in Carrickfergus (when available) can be sent in while they're still attending school. Private and college courses in tree surgery are available all over the UK and are available to people of all ages. Several related university courses are offered in arboriculture, forestry, woodland ecology & conservation, forest management and countryside management, and those with the required qualifications (ordinarily 1 to 3 "A" levels) can aim for foundation degrees, degrees and higher national diplomas. Lastly, you might be able to gain a bit of tree surgery experience by volunteering for the Forestry Commission, the Tree Council, the National Trust or the Woodland Trust, each of who sometimes have opportunities on offer. If you arrived here trying to find details on "how to become a tree surgeon in Carrickfergus", with a bit of luck this article has proved useful. The National Careers website is the place to head in order to find out a lot more details on how to become a tree surgeon.
TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders) Carrickfergus
Another consideration before beginning work on your trees, is whether or not they have a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on them. If you contact your local authority, they'll let you know whether any of your trees are protected by a TPO. You can't perform uprooting, lopping, wilful damage, removal, topping, felling or wilful destruction, without consent in writing from the relevant local authority, if a tree on your property is covered by a TPO. You can ask your tree surgeon to help with this process, any good one will be ready to offer guidance and advice.
If you currently live inside a conservation area in Carrickfergus, you should always consult with your council concerning any tree surgery work that you plan to carry out, and if the tree concerned has a trunk diameter of more than seventy five millimetres (at a point 1.5m from the ground), you have to give your local planning authority a minimum of 6 weeks written notice.
Firewood and Logs Carrickfergus
When you are looking for firewood and logs in Carrickfergus, it is always worth contacting your local tree surgeon, because they are often an excellent source for this. As tree surgeons spend a good deal or their time chopping down trees and branches, I suppose this is no great surprise.
Some Carrickfergus tree surgeons will sell you seasoned and chopped logs which are dry and ready to burn, while others will be happy to give you branches and logs cost-free, as they usually have loads of them to get rid of.
Logs with a moisture level of less than 20% are perfect for burning on your open fire or log burner, and these will have been left to dry out for a year or more. The advantage of getting logs from tree surgeons, is that these are most likely to be assorted hardwood logs, that will generate heat for several hours, giving a sustained burn. If you can get a small supply of softwood logs, these are fantastic for getting a fire burning, and onto which you can toss your dry hardwood logs once the fire is blazing. (Tags: Firewood Carrickfergus, Hardwood Logs Carrickfergus, Firewood Logs Carrickfergus, Logs and Firewood Carrickfergus).
Protecting Trees in the Wintertime
Despite the fact that prolonged periods of extreme cold are quite rare in the UK it is still worthwhile to think about a few precautionary measures for protecting your trees and shrubs when the weather turns bad. Even the most hardy of trees, shrubs and plants can find it tough during the winter season, and just a bit of extra protection in times of intense cold will definitely benefit them.
Obviously where trees are involved it's strong winds that can be the biggest problem and despite the fact that many trees will have already shed their leaves by winter, they can still suffer damage in windy conditions. If you've got a tree on your property that looks like it may be damaged, or shows signs of toppling over, you'll want to get it checked out by a tree surgeon, who can offer advice and guidance. You can also have problems with trees due to heavy snowfall, so when weather like this is expected, keep a watch out for potential damage. A good layer of mulch around the base of trees and shrubs (particularly newly planted ones), can help to keep the roots frost-free and prevent them from becoming dehydrated.
Dutch Elm Disease
A fungal disease which has wiped out millions of precious elm trees throughout the British Isles during the last five decades or more, Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) is not quite the concern that it was previously. Spread by the elm bark beetle and caused by the Ophiostoma novo-ulmi fungus, Dutch Elm Disease (DED) was inadvertently brought into the UK from Canada in the nineteen sixties.
Through the nationwide movement of elm products such as elm crates, bark mulch, saplings, and firewood logs with the bark on, it was spread quickly through the UK after its initial arrival. It was not just the UK that was affected by this awful disease, since elm stocks were also destroyed in mainland Europe and North America.
The signs of DED typically appear first in early summer, and manifest themselves as:
- Twigs with dark streaks beneath the bark.
- Clusters of leaves that turn yellow, wilt and fall.
- A "shepherd's crook" reaction on affected twigs.
- Affected shoots dying back from the tips.
As a consequence of disease and the subsequent chopping down of dying, dead and infected trees, there are not many large elms remaining in the British countryside, and thus the spread has slowed down and the favourite habitat of the elm bark beetle largely removed. A project for the propagation of young saplings that have so far proved resistant to Dutch Elm Disease is currently being undertaken.
If you are suspicious you may have elm trees on your property in Carrickfergus, that might be infected with DED, you could put in a request for a diagnosis from the THDAS (Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service), or speak to your local tree surgeon for guidance.
Management of Vegetation
It's not merely the care and removal of trees that your local Carrickfergus tree surgeon will be happy to help you with, but also any form of rampant vegetation which is clogging up your property. Experienced tree surgeons will normally be delighted to take out shrubs, bushes, overgrown vegetation and weeds which may be taking hold close to walkways, buildings, sheds, patios or drives, and generally causing a pain. If you're to manage your precious garden effectively then all this ever increasing growth must be cut down regularly, and if you have the inclination and time then this is something that you might accomplish yourself if you're reasonably fit, or you might ask a local tree surgeon to call now and again to make sure it is looking good. The management of vegetation is important if you are to keep safe and easy access to all parts of your property and if this is not done the vegetation and plants can soon become a menace and spoil your enjoyment of the garden. Aside from everything else your garden will also look much better when properly maintained. (Tags: Vegetation Management Carrickfergus, De-Vegetation Services Carrickfergus, Vegetation Control Carrickfergus)
Dead-Wooding Carrickfergus
All professional Carrickfergus tree surgeons will carry out the practice of dead-wooding (or deadwooding), which is a necessary part of tree care and maintenance. Where there may be a danger to vehicles, pedestrians or homes, dead-wooding is done to carefully remove the dying and dead branches that are likely to fall. The most typical reasons for tree branches dying are disease, attack by pests, damaged roots or a lack of light, and this is of course a natural process.
Even though the objective of safety is the usual reason for dead-wooding, the task can also be accomplished for aesthetic reasons and for the benefit of the tree. A tree which has too many damaged, dead and dying branches is vulnerable to insect infestation and disease, so you can radically improve a tree's health by eliminating these offending branches. Trees that have lots of dead wood also look unsightly, so to improve its appearance, this can all be removed.
Only substantial dead branches will be cut and removed in most instances, because little risk is posed by the smaller ones. On the other hand, where trees are overhanging a garden, a house, a highway, a park or a public space in Carrickfergus, it may be recommended to remove any dead timber that's in excess of 50 millimetres in diameter.
Tree Removal Carrickfergus
Tree removal often becomes necessary when a tree starts to pose a threat, whether it's due to disease, instability, or growing too large for its surroundings. Trees are undoubtedly important for the environment, but there are situations where they risk damaging nearby property or harming people. Issues like overhanging branches, root damage, or the potential for a tree to fall can make removal the best course of action. While it's not a decision to rush into, it can make your Carrickfergus garden much safer and easier to enjoy, offering greater peace of mind.
Tree removal isn't as straightforward as you might think, especially for bigger trees. It involves careful planning and the proper equipment to ensure it's done safely and efficiently. Professional tree surgeons know how to assess the tree and determine the best way to remove it with minimal disruption to the surrounding area. They'll also handle the disposal, saving you the effort. Attempting to remove a tree yourself can be dangerous, so hiring a professional is always the best option for complex or large-scale tasks.
Removing a tree opens up a variety of new possibilities for your outdoor area. The extra sunlight can greatly benefit the plants around it, and the space that's now available can be used for something new, whether it's a patio, driveway, or an attractive garden feature. Whether you're motivated by safety concerns or just looking to improve the layout of your garden, careful tree removal can significantly change your Carrickfergus garden or outside space, creating a more enjoyable environment for many years to come. (Tags: Tree Removal Carrickfergus).
Chainsaws
With regards to the equipment that is used by professional tree surgeons in Carrickfergus, the most commonly seen is the chainsaw. The preferred style of chainsaw with professionals is the petrol driven version, being easily handled and more mobile, although it is possible to purchase mains operated and rechargeable battery chainsaws. For cutting effortlessly through thick limbs and branches, petrol driven chainsaws are the only real option effective option, being extremely powerful and able to contend with even the heaviest tree work.
Consisting of a revolving chain lined with a row of razor-sharp teeth that slice through the bark and branches, a chainsaw is essentially a rather simple tool. For the varied functions that are called for, there are different types of chainsaw, rear-handled for work at ground level (must always be used with two hands), pole saws for hard to reach branches and long distance pruning and top-handled for working at height (and which can be operated with one hand).
You will almost never find a tree surgeon in Carrickfergus who doesn't use a chainsaw, although clambouring up a tree with a rapidly spinning blade in your hand isn't isn't the safest thing to be doing. One of the primary prerequisites for membership of the Arboricultural Association (AA), is that professional tree surgeons must be trained in the safe use of chainsaws.
Although there are quite a few different chainsaw brands and models available to tree surgery specialists, the most popular in the United Kingdom are Husqvarna, Makita, Stihl and Hyundai.
Crown Thinning Carrickfergus
Taking away small live branches located on the outer region of the crown, but not adjusting the shape or size of that tree, is termed crown thinning. This process is intended to develop a uniform foliage density, which itself achieves several goals such as: to ease the stress on specific limbs caused by gravity, snow, wind, or ice, to prevent the tree from being uprooted in strong winds, to lessen the total weight of the crown, to lower the tree's wind resistance or to let more sunlight in. The all round size and form of the tree ought not to be transformed by crown thinning, and should only result in a uniform foliage thickness surrounding evenly distributed branches. (Tags: Crown Thinning Carrickfergus, Tree Crown Thinning Carrickfergus, Crown Thin Carrickfergus)
Safety Considerations
One of the most important challenges with carrying out tree surgery in Carrickfergus is the health and safety aspect, because this is a risky process if tackled incorrectly. If the individuals doing the project are inexperienced or incapable, there are numerous things that may lead to injury or disaster such as little or no protection from falling, in the form of platforms, ropes and harnesses, falling branches and timber, not using hearing or eyesight protection, inadequate head protection, neglecting to cordon-off the area to safeguard pedestrians and vehicles and failure to wear cut resistant (chainsaw resistant) clothing (in particular safety boots and leggings). On account of such incompetencies, potentially in danger are facilities on the street, fencing and garden outbuildings, the tree surgeon himself (person working in the tree), personnel at ground level, vehicles, the building structure within the property, the people living in the property, passers by, the actual tree.
Necessary Skills to be a Tree Surgeon in Carrickfergus
- Have good customer service skills.
- Have the ability to repair, use and maintain tools and machinery.
- Being able to work happily with others.
- Be able to work well with your hands.
- Have patience and the ability to remain calm and focused in times of stress.
- To be methodical and pay close attention to detail.
- Be professional and able to complete work within the given time frame.
- Physical skills like movement and coordination.
- Have necessary computer skills and know how to accomplish tasks with handheld devices.
- Good knowledge of public safety.
- Be conscious of the dangers and complexities involved in all aspects of work.
Day to Day Duties of a Tree Surgeon
- Fell and remove trees and perform stump grinding.
- Be adept with power tools and powered equipment.
- Work with customers and complete admin tasks.
- Tree planting and transplanting.
- Cut and chip branches and logs.
- Create on-site or telephone quotes with the customers.
- Service equipment like chippers and chainsaws.
- Prepare tree survey reports for domestic and commercial customers.
- Tidy work area on completion and fulfil removal of waste product from customer's site.
- Climb trees to remove or prune branches as required.
- Evaluate tree health and treatment.
- Identify hazards posed by trees.
Emergency Tree Services Carrickfergus
Although emergencies are rare with regards to trees in your garden, accidents do happen, therefore it may pay you to have an emergency phone number where you can reach a tree surgeon in Carrickfergus quickly. When the weather conditions in Carrickfergus are windy and stormy, local tree surgeons typically expect to see an increase in emergency call outs, and as luck would have it some of them offer a 24/7 service for this very reason. The likelihood of injury or damage is increased when the weather is windy, with branches snapping off and plunging to the ground, and sometimes even entire trees toppling over. Plummeting branches and tree limbs can result in squashed sheds, damaged fences, smashed greenhouses and broken garden furniture, so instead of having to contend with the consequences of such events, avoidance is the most important thing.
There is also a requirement for emergency tree surgery services by the local council in Carrickfergus, when public pavements, railway tracks and highways get obstructed or blocked by fallen trees and branches.
Further problems could also arise after the emergency tree work has been successfully accomplished, because when a tree has lost some of it's limbs, it might look lopsided or cockeyed, with more weight on one side than the other - hence "re-balancing" may be needed. For all these problems, you should contact a local tree surgeon in Carrickfergus who offers emergency tree care services, and they will take care of this for you.
Tree Surgery Tasks Carrickfergus
Carrickfergus tree surgeons will likely help you with domestic tree surgery, air spading Carrickfergus, tree care, forestry management in Carrickfergus, waste removal, crown removal, shielding trees from grazing, crown reduction in Carrickfergus, tree lopping, safety inspections Carrickfergus, staking, woodland clearances, fruit tree pruning, root pruning, pollarding, crown raising in Carrickfergus, root removal in Carrickfergus, damage restoration, tree felling, tree planning in Carrickfergus, retrenchment pruning Carrickfergus, root flare exposure, tree pest management, woodland management, tree lightening protection Carrickfergus, hedge reduction, vegetation management, tree dismantling, cut sealing, stump removal, hedge cutting, tree reduction, tree fertilising Carrickfergus, arboriculture Carrickfergus, commercial tree surgery and other tree surgeon services in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. These are just a small portion of the duties that are carried out by local tree surgeons. Carrickfergus companies will be happy to tell you about their whole range of services.
Tree Surgeons Near Carrickfergus
Also find: Newtownabbey tree surgeons, Ballynure tree surgeons, Island Magee tree surgeons, Moorfields tree surgeons, Straid tree surgeons, Ballyclare tree surgeons, Whitehead tree surgeons, Larne tree surgeons, Ballymena tree surgeons, Parkgate tree surgeons, Templepatrick tree surgeons, Doagh tree surgeons, Glengormley tree surgeons, Bangor tree surgeons, Ballycarry tree surgeons, Greenisland tree surgeons and more. All these towns and villages are catered for by experienced tree surgeons. Local householders and others can get quotes by clicking here.
Ways to Find a Tree Surgeon
Several years ago most folks looked in local newspapers, Yellow Pages or even postcards in corner shops to search for tradespeople in Carrickfergus, however the modern equivalent of this seems to be browsing around online directories like Thomson Local, Local Life, Cyclex, City Visitor, 118 118, Yell, Yelp, Mister What and Touch Local, although anybody will get listed into these directories so that there aren't any guarantees of the integrity of any individual listed tree surgeons, meaning you'll be taking pot luck when you use this approach One more resource that you're able to use in order to identify a decent tree surgeon in Carrickfergus is by looking on one of the internet trade portals such as Local Heroes, Rated People, My Builder, My Hammer, TrustaTrader or Checkatrade, and it's on those that customers can publish testimonials and reviews in relation to the standard of work completed and the tree surgeon who did it. The last and maybe actually finest option would be to ask friends and family if they can recommend a tradesperson they've previously used.
Tree Care Services Carrickfergus
- Woodland Clearances
- Tree Shaping
- Crown Removal
- Crown Raising
- Tree Lopping
- Tree Transplanting
- Wood Chipping
- Soil Terravention
- Air-Spading
- Hedge Planting
- Root Decompaction
- Stump Removal
- Site Clearance
- Stump Grinding
To find local Carrickfergus info go here
Tree Surgeon Jobs Carrickfergus: Find Carrickfergus tree surgeon jobs here: Tree Surgeon Jobs Carrickfergus
More: Dead Wooding, Stump Removal, Tree Pollarding, Vegetation Management, Eco-Plugging, Tree Management, Wood Chipping, Tree Pruning, Hedge Cutting, Tree Replanting, Tree Management, Stump Grinding, Crown Removal, Crown Lifting, Tree Dismantling, Crown Lifting, Tree Maintenance, Tree Watering, Tree Pollarding, Tree Bracing, Shrub Maintenance, Tree Transplanting, Vegetation Management, Tree Planting, Arboriculture, Tree Care, Tree Felling, Stump Removal, Tree Management, Tree Bracing.
Tree Surgery BT38 area, 028 93.
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