Why would I need a tree report?

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Prince Tree Surgery - Professional Tree Surgeon in BrentwoodThere are many occasions when a tree report might be necessary. As professional tree surgeons, we get called out by homeowners who are concerned about the risks posed by a particular tree in their garden and also planners who want to make the best use of an area of land when designing new building projects. We also help public sector and commercial business owners assess the potential dangers of trees to the public and members of staff.

 

A tree survey records important information about a tree so owners or site managers can decide what action needs to be taken in the future to protect people and property. The report will record the species of the tree, its vital statistics including height and diameter, its age and most importantly its overall health – whether it shows any evidence of disease, injury of pest infestation and any areas of damage. The report will also estimate life expectancy and make recommendations on what steps should be taken to ensure it remains healthy in the future.

 

Some mortgage companies require a tree report to be carried out before agreeing to a loan because in rare cases, tree roots can cause damage to the foundations of a property which may result in structural movement and subsidence. Insurance companies might also ask for a tree survey to determine cover and liability.

 

Trees are the responsibility of a landowner and you have a duty of care to make sure your trees are safe under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984. An insurance company will not accept liability and pay out damages to anyone injured as a result of a fallen tree if the homeowner didn’t seek professional advice on the risks it posed and take reasonable steps to solve any problems. This means the homeowner could be held personally accountable for such an incident and face private litigation.

 

A tree report is a useful way of maintaining a regular record of a tree’s health and could include photographs for evidential purposes. It could also incorporate a tree safety policy to limit liability for homeowners and private businesses. By following the recommended advice, tree owners are complying with their responsibility to safeguard the public and property from dangerous trees.

 

Tree surgery has advanced considerably in recent years and a wide range of technology is now available to help conduct non-invasive tests measuring decay. Such processes will reduce the inconvenience to homeowners and businesses and help to protect healthy species.

What are the costs of tree removal?

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What are the costs of tree removal?

Tree removal is a large part of any tree surgeon’s work schedule, particularly in autumn when strong gales increase the vulnerability of diseased trees and bring down those already weakened by decay. Tree removal prices depend on so many factors as no two jobs are the same so it’s virtually impossible to provide a standard answer to how much it costs to remove a tree. What we have tried to do is provide a guide as to what’s involved in removing a tree and how external factors such as access and tree size determine the hours and complexity of the work involved so our customers have a realistic insight into the likely costs.

What may appear to a homeowner as a straight-forward tree removal job could involve a multitude of problems, particularly if the tree concerned is situated close to electricity cables and water pipes. It could also be a lengthy task if access to the tree is poor and tree surgeons are required to tackle the tree in stages.

Similarly, if the tree requiring removal overhangs a road or public highway then it is very likely the tree surgery business you hire will need to implement traffic control measures and possible road closures with the consent and support of the local authority. In some cases, the cost of such measures will fall to you, the homeowner, which will increase the cost of the tree removal work considerably.

Removing a small tree (up to about 30 feet high) in an area free of obstacles could cost from £120 including VAT and from £450 for a tree beyond 60f in height but tree surgery costs can amount to £3,000 for complex jobs which require a team of tree surgeons.

Stump removal is a standalone job or can be carried out as part of a tree removal service but almost always entails its own costs rather than being delivered as standard in a tree removal price. Different equipment is required for stump removal and the job can be as tricky as the initial tree felling process, depending on the diameter and condition of the tree stump. A heavily decayed tree stump may be easier to remove than a healthy one and this should be reflected in the price. At Prince Tree Surgery, we use a number of techniques including grinding, digging out (where access is limited) and stump poisoning to remove tree stumps.

Reputable tree surgery businesses should offer a removal service whereby chopped wood is taken off your premises and disposed of correctly. This may already be reflected in the tree removal price you have been quoted or as a separate add-on. At Prince Tree, all our prices include removal and homeowners have the peace of mind knowing that we take our environmental responsibilities seriously and recycle all waste. Homeowner’s should be wary of rogue traders offering exceptionally cheap tree removal services as such traders are unlikely to have the public liability insurance of a professional tree surgery business and the training needed to carry out the job safely and effectively. Many homeowners have not only been left unhappy with the shoddy work undertaken, but have also been left with a waste in which to dispose of themselves.

There is strict health and safety legislation relating to tree surgery and it is not a job that homeowners should tackle either themselves or by hiring unqualified odd job men. A professional tree surgery business will hold the correct indemnity insurance to protect their work (in our case up to £5million) and will also be aware of the legal channels to go through to ensure compliance, including liaison with the local authority over Tree Protection Orders.

 

My tree has outgrown my garden, what should I do?

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Tree surgeons are frequently called out to domestic properties where trees have overtaken gardens. In some circumstances, the position and extent of the root spread could have serious implications on the foundations of the property and the surrounding plant life but in most cases the tree has simply become unsightly or is blocking out the sun, plummeting the garden in shade. Contrary to popular belief, a tree which has outgrown its surroundings doesn’t always need to be felled and a good regular management system will ensure it doesn’t cause any problems in the future.

A qualified tree surgeon can provide advice on what the necessary management system should entail and carry out trimming work to reduce the size of the tree according to the client’s requirements. If the over-sized tree needs to be felled for safety reasons or due to its proximity to a property, tree surgeons can carry out sectional felling which basically means removing parts of the tree slowly to avoid damage to property.

If a tree is causing too much shadow over a property and garden, a tree surgeon can carry out a combination of crown thinning to reduce the leafing density and crown lifting which means removing some of the limbs to bring more light into the garden. Drastic crown reduction is best avoided as it will usually prompt speedy re-growth and place added stress on the tree which can lead to decay. In this situation, it’s always best to consult an experienced tree surgeon rather than tackling the job on a DIY basis as a tree specialist will minimise any damage to the tree and give it the best chance of thriving in the future. Also, by employing an expert the on-going maintenance bill is likely to be less in the long-run than if you’re forced to call out a tree surgeon to repair any mistakes. The sooner you do this the better as the longer an outsized tree is left, the harder it will be to prune.

Crown thinning will usually involve up to 30% of the branches and is best carried out in phases so that an assessment can be made of the effect on the tree before work continues. The height at which this kind of work is undertaken means it should always be carried out by a professional to protect personal safety.