There are many reasons why you may want to remove a tree from your garden. Perhaps your tree is suffering from decay, or growing dangerously close to your property. Or, you may simply wish to utilise the space to build another structure or feature.

Whatever the reason, you should take care to ensure that the tree is removed safely and legally. Although attempting to cut down the tree yourself may appear to be the cheaper option, we would not recommend this if you don’t have the relevant training and machinery to carry out the work safely.

If you want to ensure your tree removal project goes without a hitch, here are just a few reasons why you should hire a qualified tree surgeon:

Safety First

A qualified arborist will have undergone training in important aspects of tree felling, such as the safe operation of chainsaw machinery and controlling the direction trees and their branches fall. This will help to keep everyone on the property safe while the work is being undertaken, as well as protecting any structures or property in the vicinity from damage.

Before hiring a tree surgeon, you should always check their credentials. You can rest assured that any companies with City & Guilds Land-based Services (formerly NPTC) accreditation will carry out the work safely and to a professional standard.

Legally Compliant

By hiring a reputable tree surgeon (or arborist) for your tree felling requirements, you can ensure that the work will be carried in line with the relevant legislation.

If your property is in a conservation zone, you should request a tree survey prior to having any work carried out. This will determine whether any trees you plan to cut down are protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). It is a criminal offence to cut down, destroy or damage protected trees without permission from the relevant local authority – and by doing so you risk a fine of up to £20,000.

So, if you want to stay on the right side of the law, it’s well worth consulting with an expert beforehand!

Everything Taken Care Of

Have you ever started a DIY project, only to realise part way through that the job is much bigger than you’d originally thought? If you call in the experts to remove your tree, you can easily avoid any such hassle.

A time-served arborist will have safely felled thousands of trees throughout their career. As such, they will be able to carry out every aspect of the work without any issues.

First, your arborist will survey the area, checking for any obstructions and ensuring the tree can be felled safely. They will also check the tree for disease and rot, as this may cause the tree to fall unexpectedly and unpredictably.

As we mentioned before, arborists will determine the safest directions for trees and branches to fall, factoring in the direction of branch growth and the wind direction.

Before cutting down the tree itself, the arborist will prune any branches from the top down to avoid any complications once the felling process begins. Only then will they start to make a felling cut. They should also use a felling wedge to help ensure the tree falls in the correct direction.

All Clear!

In addition to felling trees, many arborists will clear away any debris as part of their service, saving you the trouble of sorting out a cluttered garden.

Once the work is complete, you’ll be left with a tree stump. You may prefer to have the stump removed completely, although there is also the option to repurpose it into a unique garden planter! Whatever you decide, your arborist can grind your stump into shape or remove it outright.

Just think, with all that taken care of, you’ll be free to plan your next project, or simply enjoy the extra light and space in your garden! We hope you enjoyed our latest article and hope to bring you more garden and landscaping wisdom in the future.