St Albans Tree Surgeons (AL1): Even though there are numerous tasks that you may do by yourself in your garden, there are certain things that really should not be done if you do not know just what you are up to and you have got the right tools and equipment to do them in safety. A process which may come into this area is tree maintenance. While you might think it's easy to just lop several branches off of a tree, there's actually a lot more involved than you may think. If this task is not done at the right time and not conducted in the correct manner it is quite easy to cause harm to the trees, which might in the long term cost far more than if you'd have used a skilled tree surgeon in the first place. When you have tall trees on your property you would be stupid to even consider trying to deal with them on your own, because, apart from anything else, you might soon finish up in in the emergency department of your local hospital with bone fractures or perhaps something worse. For this reason and others, your top priority must be to search for a decent tree care specialist near you.
There could be many different reasons why you need to call in a tree surgeon, therefore it would be useful to skip through some of them now. Tree surgeons don't just deal with dangerous trees that may tumble onto a road or building, as you may have seen following gales. They also sort out things such as removing old tree stumps that are in the way, monitoring trees for damage or disease so that problems can be dealt with right away, creating tree management or maintenance plans to keep your trees in good condition and reducing or thinning trees to let more light into the garden.
Before choosing any tree surgeon you ought to be sure that that they're affiliated with the Arboricultural Association, which is the primary professional trade body for this occupation in the UK. They should also have the correct level of public liability insurance so that all mishaps and accidents are well covered, and should be able to help you with applications for permission to do the tree work from the local authority. A tree assessment needs to be performed before work begins to your trees aren't located in a Conservation Area or protected by a Preservation Order (TPO).
Safety is undoubtedly the primary concern when conducting any sort of tree surgery in St Albans, and your tree surgeon needs to be familiar with all of the necessary safety measures. He'll have got all the required gear to safely work on your trees and make sure that they're not harmed in any way throughout the process, nor any injury is done to your home or yourself while the work progresses.
Using climbing and tree surgery equipment comes as second nature to a competent tree surgeon, and he'll swiftly start work using rigging ropes, winches, wood shredders, chain saws, rigging plates, pole saws, slacklines, lowering slings, harnesses, climbing ropes, loppers and stump grinding equipment. Much of this equipment is very sophisticated and has been created to make the practice of tree surgery both simpler and safer.
Needless to say there are a lot of waste materials produced during the process of tree surgery and this has to be taken away and ethically disposed of. This ought to be included in the original estimate, so ensure that this is in fact so. The ethical disposal of waste is really a legal responsibility for tree surgeons, and so be skeptical of anyone that can't verify that this applies to them.
St Albans tree surgeons deliver services all around the town, but you don't need to worry if you are living outside the town since most of them will be happy to travel the short distance to places such as Fleetville, Chiswell Green, Gorehambury, Bedmond, Bricket Wood, Saint Stephens, Napsbury, The Camp, Porters Wood, Marshalswick, Childwickbury, Saint Julians, New Greens, Frogmore, Townsend, Lemsford etc. Subsequently, wheresoever in the St Albans locale you call home, you'll be able to find a dependable tree surgeon, and also throughout the county of Hertfordshire and beyond.
Tree surgeons don't just climb, fell and trim trees using specialized equipment and tools, they're also tasked with their preservation and protection. By means of mindful observation they can pinpoint potential hazards that may put the general public in jeopardy. They are responsible for making certain trees are healthy, disease-free and in a position to prosper and grow, providing enjoyment for all.
Tree surgery is widely available in St Albans and also nearby in: Lemsford, Gorehambury, Townsend, Park Street, London Colney, Saint Julians, The Camp, Porters Wood, Bricket Wood, Chiswell Green, Childwickbury, Fleetville, Bedmond, Saint Stephens, Frogmore, New Greens, Napsbury, Marshalswick, and in these postcodes AL1 1BT, AL1 1SQ, AL1 1EA, AL1 1TZ, AL1 1TU, AL1 1RF, AL1 1ST, AL1 1QW, AL1, and AL1 1RP. Local St Albans tree surgeons will likely have the postcode AL1 and the dialling code 01727.
If you need this sort of service it is unquestionably wise to use a certified local tree surgeon. St Albans home and property owners can benefit greatly from the expertise and knowledge that are the trademark of a fully trained professional.
Dutch Elm Disease
Although Dutch Elm Disease (Ophiostoma novo-ulmi) isn't quite the concern that it was at one time, over the past five decades or more it has killed tens of millons of elm trees all around Britain. Accidentally introduced into the United Kingdom from Canada in the 1960s, Dutch Elm Disease is spread by the elm bark beetle (particularly the Scolytus genus) and caused by the fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi.
Its swift spread was attributed mainly to elm products such as bark mulch, saplings, elm crates, and logs with the bark still attached, being moved around Great Britain. DED didn't just affect Britain, but also ravaged elm stocks in mainland Europe and North America, it is thought to have originated from Asia (possibly Japan).
DED typically first appears in early summer, and the main signs are:
- New shoots dying back from the tips.
- Clusters of leaves that turn yellow, wilt and fall.
- Dark rings or spots in the cross-section of twigs.
- Twigs turning into a "shepherd's crook".
The spread of DED has been slowed by the chopping down of dead, infected and dying trees, which has effectively decimated the beetle's habitat. The propagation of young elm saplings that up to now have proven resistant to DED is being undertaken.
You can put in a request for a diagnosis from the Tree Health Diagnostic & Advisory Service (THDAS), or you can contact your neighbourhood tree surgeon for guidance and advice, if you happen to have elm trees on your property in St Albans, and have suspicions they might be affected by DED.
(Tags: Dutch Elm Disease St Albans, Spotting Dutch Elm Disease, Dutch Elm Disease Signs).Eco-Plugging Stump Removal St Albans
The standard strategy that's used for removing tree stumps by most St Albans tree surgeons is stump grinding. There is however a less costly alternative to this procedure nowadays, which is known as "eco-plugging", and is growing ever more popular. Eco-plugging isn't only cheaper, but it's also ideal for use in hard-to-reach locations that are largely inaccessible to stump grinding machinery.
An extremely effective treatment for eliminating tree stumps, eco-plugging has no effect on any nearby trees and vegetation. Eco-plugs eliminate a tree stump by destroying the entire root system, and can be put to use in all weather, and during any season of the year. Eco-plugs contain a kind of granular glyphosate herbicide which is suitable for treating a wide selection of tree species, and is 95-100% effective.
The International Society of Arboriculture
The International Society of Arboriculture, normally referred to as simply the ISA, is a non-profit international organisation that is headquartered in Atlanta, USA. Providing accreditations for tree care specialists across the globe, the ISA is a membership association that nurtures the professional practice of arboriculture.
Promoting best practices in tree care, and focusing on education, research and technology, the ISA provides educational publications, services and events develop the arboricultural expertise, knowledge and skills of individuals in the tree care sector.
Since signing an agreement with them in mid-2016 the Arboricultural Association (AA) has been an associate organisation of the International Society of Arboriculture. The relationship between the two was therefore strengthened, and further opportunities opened up for UK and Ireland ISA members. Any UK tree care professionals having either ISA or AA membership can now enjoy the wide and diverse benefits of being an integral part of a global network. The ISA has now got over 22,000 members worldwide with associate organisations and professional affiliates in New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
Woodland Clearance St Albans
Engaging in woodland clearance in the St Albans area can be affected by national and local regulations in force, subject to where your land is, and what flora and fauna is present in the place that is going to be cleared. A professional tree surgeon in St Albans can provide you with a full end to end service that will comply with all covenants and laws on the land, and also do the clearance in an environmentally friendly way.
An extensive site survey will be completed by the tree surgeon who'll also collaborate with woodland authorities and organisations to make certain your clearance is undertaken legally and safely. If it is found that protected plant or animal life is on the site to be cleared, it may be necessary to relocate such species, if approved by the appropriate authorities.
Because of the equipment needed for woodland clearance, i.e. mulching, felling and chipping machines, it is highly cost effective to bring in a professional tree surgery company to take on the work.
Wood Chipping St Albans
Most St Albans tree surgeons will utilise wood chipping machinery to process the smaller branches and tree limbs that are generated by their work. These powerful wood chipping systems can gobble up as much as forty tons of material every hour, depending on which equipment is being used, though the most commonly used machines will process nearer to 5 tons every hour.
Having numerous uses such as landscaping, wood pulp, mushroom cultivation, weed prevention, ecosystem restoration, biomass solid fuel, garden walkways and woody mulch, the chipped down timber is also less cumbersome to transport.
If you decide that you'd like to hang on to some of the wood chips that result from your tree surgery project, most St Albans tree surgeons will be happy for you to keep them. If you have no use for them, they will take them away for use on other jobs, or appropriately dispose of them. Whether you need tree surgery or not, you'll find that tree surgeons are a great source for wood chips that you can use for various purposes in your garden in St Albans. If you need wood chips to be delivered then certain tree surgeons will charge you for this, others let you have them without cost.
Wood chipping machines are made by a number of companies, some of the best known makes include Forst, Forest Master, Timberwolf and T-Mech. (Tags: Wood Chips St Albans, Wood Chipping St Albans, Wood Chipping Services St Albans, Wood Chipping Machines St Albans).
Crown Thinning St Albans
Because it helps to help reduce the tree's wind resistance, to allow more light throughout, to cut down the stress upon specific limbs resulting from wind, gravity, ice, or snow, to prevent the tree being uprooted when it is windy or to decrease the overall weight of the crown of the tree, a number of of the little branches that are growing on the outer crown of a broad leafed tree are clipped in a procedure which is called crown thinning. The overall shape and dimensions of your tree aren't altered by this process, and the likelihood is that it will need to be carried out on a fairly regular schedule, as more shoots grow. A uniform foliage density encompassing uniformly spread out branches should be the arborist's goal when crown thinning, it should not alter the all round form and size of the tree. (Tags: Crown Thinning St Albans, Crown Thin St Albans, Tree Crown Thinning St Albans)
Ash Dieback
A damaging fungal disease which is likely to decimate about 80 percent of the current UK ash tree stocks, over the next few years, ash dieback (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus) was first documented in the United Kingdom in 2012, when a nursery imported a significant number of trees from Holland. Set to have huge repercussions for our countryside, ash dieback is probably going to be just as damaging as the preceding outbreak of Dutch Elm Disease.
A damaging disease of the Fraxinus genus of trees, ash dieback has a particularly devastating effect on the British common ash (Fraxinus excelsior). Believed to have originally come from Asia where the native species of ash (the Manchurian ash and the Chinese ash) were more resistant, the fungus which causes ash dieback is known as Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (H. fraxineus), and it blocks a tree's water transport (vascular) systems, causing it to die.
Quickly spread by microscopic spores produced by the fruiting bodies of the fungus, and are able to travel on the wind for tens of miles, ash dieback (or chalara ash dieback as it is sometimes known) has established itself in most areas of the UK with mortality rates of up to 85 percent.
Affecting tree of all ages, ash dieback can be recognised by the following symptoms:
- New epicormic growth appears from previously dormant buds.
- Wilting leaves that turn black in colour and fall prematurely.
- Leaves that develop dark patches during the summertime.
- Dying shoots and leaves are visible in summer.
- The formation of diamond shaped lesions where branches connect to trunk.
Even ash trees which are able to fight the disease, are attacked year after year and ultimately succumb and die. There is presently no effective treatment for chalara ash dieback, and no clear-cut strategy for stopping it spreading.
If you suspect a tree in your local neighbourhood is contaminated with ash dieback, or you're anxious about a tree on your property in St Albans, you should bring in a local tree surgeon to affirm the diagnosis, and you can report it to the Forestry Commission's "Tree Alert Service", although they are now only interested in hearing about cases in previously unaffected areas.
Trees of the genus Fraxinus are affected by ash dieback.
(Tags: Ash Dieback St Albans, Ash Dieback Symptoms, Spotting Ash Dieback).Tree Removal St Albans
Tree removal can become necessary if a tree is diseased, unstable, or too large for the space it occupies. While trees are vital to our environment, there are moments when they pose dangers to nearby structures or individuals. Overgrown branches, invasive roots, or the possibility of a tree falling can make removing it the best solution. It's not a decision to be taken lightly, but when required, it can increase the safety and practicality of your outdoor space in St Albans, giving you greater peace of mind.
Removing a tree isn't as simple as it looks, especially with larger trees. It requires careful planning and the right equipment to make sure it's done safely and efficiently. Professional tree surgeons have the expertise to assess the tree and figure out the best way to remove it with minimal impact on the surrounding area. They'll also take care of disposing of the tree, saving you the hassle. Trying to remove a tree yourself can be risky, so hiring an expert is always the best choice for complex or large-scale jobs.
After a tree has been taken out, your outdoor space opens up to exciting new possibilities. The extra sunlight can be great for nearby plants, and that freed space could become a fantastic new addition - think patio, a driveway, or even a charming garden feature. Whether you're considering this for safety reasons or just to reimagine your garden's layout, when tree removal is done with thoughtfulness, it can really elevate your St Albans garden or outdoor area, making it a more enjoyable space for years down the line. (Tags: Tree Removal St Albans).
Chainsaws in Tree Surgery
In terms of the tools that are used by St Albans tree surgeons, the chainsaw is the most commonly seen. Although mains electric and battery versions of chainsaw are available, the most popular type with professionals are powered by petrol, due to their ease of use and portability. Where thick limbs and large tree trunks need cutting, such heavy tree work calls for the use of the most powerful petrol chainsaws.
A chainsaw is basically composed of a revolving engine-driven chain which is armed with a row of razor-sharp teeth that effortlessly cut through the bark and inner wood of a tree. Apart from what powers them, there are also different styles of chainsaw for different procedures, rear-handled for working on the ground (two handed), pole saws for hard to reach branches and long distance pruning and top-handled for working at height (and which can be used with one hand if required).
Even though it isn't the safest thing to be carrying up a tree, it is very rare that you'll find a tree surgeon in St Albans that does not use a chainsaw just about every day. So as to gain membership of the AA (Arboricultural Association), being fully trained in the safe use and maintenance of chainsaws is one of the main requirements.
There are many different makes and models of chainsaw, but the main ones used by professionals in the UK are Stihl, Hyundai, Makita and Husqvarna.
Emergency Tree Services St Albans
There may be occasions where you need to call a tree surgeon in an emergency, if you have trees growing in your garden in St Albans. Tree surgeons in St Albans typically expect to receive a surge in emergency call-outs when there are storms and high winds, which is why some of them offer a 24/7 service to cater for this eventuality. There's a greater chance of branches breaking off and falling when the weather is windy, and a higher risk of a whole tree toppling over and harming people or property. Avoidance is definitely preferable to having to tackle the consequences, and commonplace issues that can be caused by falling tree limbs and branches include damaged fences, squashed sheds, busted garden furniture and smashed greenhouses.
Emergency tree care services will also frequently be needed by the local authorities in St Albans, since substantial tree branches sometimes break off and fall onto highways, public walkways and railway lines, calling for prompt attention.
Even after the emergency tree work has been carried out, a tree that has lost a lot of limbs might have to be "re-balanced", and this could be done for aesthetic reasons or because the tree will now be lopsided, with the weight unevenly distributed, possibly resulting in additional problems. For all of these issues, you should call up a local tree surgeon in St Albans who offers emergency tree care services, and they'll deal with all of this for you. You should also be able to get emergency tree surgery services in Fleetville, Chiswell Green, Gorehambury, Bedmond, Bricket Wood, Saint Stephens, Napsbury, The Camp, Porters Wood, Marshalswick, Childwickbury, Saint Julians, New Greens, Frogmore, Townsend, Lemsford, and St Albans, Hertfordshire.
TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders) St Albans
Another thing to consider before beginning major work on your trees, is whether they've got a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on them. To find out whether any of your trees are protected by TPOs, get in touch with your local planning authority. Written local authority consent is essential if removal, wilful destruction, lopping, uprooting, cutting down, topping or wilful damage is intended on any tree that is subject to a TPO. Ask your tree surgeon if you're anxious about this - they should be able to check all this out for you.
If you currently live in a conservation area in St Albans, you should consult with your council regarding any tree surgery work, and if the tree involved has a stem diameter of over 75mm (at a point 1.5 metres from the ground), you have to give your local authority at least 6 weeks notice in writing. (Tags: Tree Preservation Orders St Albans, TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders) St Albans, Tree Preservation Order St Albans).
Tree Surgery Injuries
As has been previously stated in this article, the work that is tackled by tree care professionals in St Albans can be fairly dangerous. When work is being done on trees, there is a considerable risk of injuries to both operatives and passers-by, so all possible safety measures should be implemented.
As stated by figures gathered by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), falls from trees, the use of chainsaws, and being hit by a falling branch or tree are responsible for the vast majority of major and fatal injuries. In actual fact, tree surgeons and arborists are more at risk of serious injury than those involved in construction.
The majority of accident claims, when it comes to insurance, are for lifting injuries, being struck by objects (trees, grapple hooks, branches, cranes, ropes etc) and falling from ladders.
This should all help you to appreciate why it's so crucial to employ a knowledgeable tree surgeon in St Albans. Most accidents that happen in the tree care industry are attributable to unskilled workers trying to tackle tasks that they are not properly trained in. Therefore, try to always use an experienced and reputable company that has been working in the St Albans area for several years, to sidestep this problem.
Storm Damaged Trees St Albans
Although we are all conscious of the extreme power of Mother Nature, big trees seem strong, sturdy and capable of standing up to just about anything. Certain tree varieties can survive and thrive with no issues for many hundreds of years, in particular sweet chestnuts, yews and oaks.
Even so, trees can be quite vulnerable to the elements when confronted by a certain set of conditions, and it is not just the risk of falling branches or tree limbs, but in extreme circumstances the whole tree can fall down. High winds pose serious problems for trees, and this kind of damage is becoming more and more common in St Albans, as the number of violent weather events and storms increases with climate change. Extended periods of rain or flooding can cause the soil around roots to become saturated, which can cause additional problems for trees, as can heavy snowfall during wintertime.
It's advisable to get a competent St Albans tree surgeon to examine your trees to reduce the chance of problems with your trees in times of severe weather, they will prune and remove any dead or excessively long branches that could be a problem.
To stop bigger trees being struck by lightning, and to protect nearby buildings and property which might be affected by "arcs" or side-flashes, it is also important to install copper conductors, lightning rods, or other lightning protection systems. A tree can be killed or severely weakened by a lightning strike, and even when the effect is not instantly apparent, the tree will likely be more vulnerable to attacks by disease and pests. You might not think that lightning strikes are all that common, yet in the UK there are something like 300 thousand strikes annually.
If you're concerned about the possibility of storm damage to your trees in St Albans, you should ask what your local tree surgery company can do to protect them, and minimise the risk of accidents occurring.
Tree Surgery Tasks St Albans
St Albans tree surgeons can normally help with tree management, tree bracing, crown reduction, tree topping, the protection of trees from grazing in St Albans, crown cleaning, tree watering, commercial tree surgery in St Albans, tree work, forestry management in St Albans, tree removal, crown raising, health inspections, decompaction, hazard assessments, safety inspections, stump grinding St Albans, site clearance, tree planting, stump removal St Albans, hedge reduction, retrenchment pruning, waste removal St Albans, brush cutting St Albans, crown removal, woodland clearance, tree reduction in St Albans, damaged tree removal, tree cutting, tree maintenance St Albans, tree planning, felling of storm damaged trees, root pruning, terraventing, hedge laying and other tree surgeon services in St Albans, Hertfordshire. These are just a selection of the activities that are performed by tree surgeons. St Albans professionals will let you know their whole range of services.
Ways to Locate a Tree Surgeon
There are in fact numerous ways open to you for finding tree surgeons in St Albans and the chief method which folks used years ago was to check in the Yellow Pages or a local newspaper. These days local rags and such like seem to be on the internet together with various web directories like Yell, Mister What, Cyclex, Thomson Local, Touch Local, City Visitor, 118 118, Yelp and Local Life, whilst being listed in these kinds of web directories is no guarantee of the quality of any particular company seeing that any tree surgeon prepared to fork out the fee for the listing will be found in them Trade portals are an additional resource which you're able to use to hunt for a decent tree surgeon, try out My Builder, My Hammer, Checkatrade, Rated People, TrustaTrader or Local Heroes, and as you'll very quickly find out, the potential to read customer reviews is the principal benefit of these portals. Making it possible for you to select a quality craftsman who has been recommended and rated by others. The last and perhaps actually best alternative would be to ask neighbours, acquaintances and family to recommend somebody they have used previously.
Tree Surgeons Near St Albans
Also find: Childwickbury tree surgeons, Saint Julians tree surgeons, Lemsford tree surgeons, London Colney tree surgeons, New Greens tree surgeons, Park Street tree surgeons, The Camp tree surgeons, Bricket Wood tree surgeons, Frogmore tree surgeons, Marshalswick tree surgeons, Porters Wood tree surgeons, Townsend tree surgeons, Napsbury tree surgeons, Fleetville tree surgeons, Bedmond tree surgeons, Chiswell Green tree surgeons, Saint Stephens tree surgeons, Gorehambury tree surgeons and more. Most of these villages and towns are catered for by trained tree surgeons. Local home and business owners and others can get quotes by going here.
Tree Care Services St Albans
- Stump Treatment
- Hedge Reduction
- Dead Wooding
- Tree Planning
- Tree Management
- Woodchipping
- Tree Reduction
- Tree Removal
- Stump Grinding
- Woodland Clearance
- Root Decompaction
- Tree Care
- Tree Cutting
- Crown Lifting
More St Albans Trades: Needless to say, whenever you are having tree surgery done in St Albans, Hertfordshire, you are likely to be in need of other garden related services, and as well as a tree surgeon in St Albans, Hertfordshire, you might additionally need hard landscaping in St Albans, artificial grass installation in St Albans, hedge clipping in St Albans, garden clearance in St Albans, pond installers in St Albans, garden designers in St Albans, soil irrigation in St Albans, weeding in St Albans, rubbish removal in St Albans, patio installers in St Albans, SKIP HIRE in St Albans, gate fitters in St Albans, decking specialists in St Albans, garden shed installers in St Albans, lawn mowing in St Albans, block paving in St Albans, and other different St Albans tradespeople.
More: Crown Cleaning, Shrub Maintenance, Crown Thinning, Air-Spading, Crown Cleaning, Woodland Clearances, Soil Terraventing, Hedge Reduction, Stump Treatment, Soil Terraventing, Crown Raising, Stump Grinding, Arboriculture, Tree Lopping, Woodland Management, Tree Reshaping, Tree Inspections, Dead Wooding, Tree Care, Hedge Planting, Crown Removal, Root Grinding, Crown Thinning, Air-Spading, Tree Transplanting, Tree Inspections, Woodland Clearances, Woodland Management, Tree Removal, Hedge Cutting.
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Tree Surgery AL1 area, and dialling code 01727.
Tree Pruning St Albans - Tree Surgeon St Albans - Tree Management St Albans - Tree Surgery St Albans - Arboriculturalist St Albans - Tree Surgeons St Albans - Forest Management St Albans - Tree Felling St Albans - Crown Lifting St Albans