Portishead Tree Surgeons (BS20) Somerset: Trees in your garden and around your property in Portishead, add structure, style and substance to what can frequently be a largely 2 dimensional area. But when neglected or impacted by extreme weather events like gales or flooding, trees can be a bit of an issue. Prior to any work beginning, the safest option is to get advice from a skilled tree surgeon in Portishead, when your trees need attention.
Folks in Portishead who try to do tree work themselves, or by using an unqualified individual might risk causing damage to the trees, to property or to life. However, tree work isn't a safe vocation, even for trained tree surgeons, who are acquainted with all the hazards. Tree surgery is certainly not a task for novices, and on average there are one hundred and forty serious injuries and three deaths per year within the profession, making it one of the most dangerous jobs in Britain.
A poorly maintained or damaged tree can also be a danger to life, with around five people a year being fatally wounded by falling trees or branches in Britain. If you employ someone to carry out tree work and subsequently an injury, or damage to property occurs, you might be liable for any compensation to any third-party. The above are just some of the reasons why hiring an experienced Portishead tree surgeon to undertake the work on your trees is imperative. (Source - HSE UK).
A competent Portishead tree surgeon will likely be a registered member of at least one of the two main professional trade bodies. You can check the professional status and membership of any tree surgeon on the websites of either the International Society of Arboriculture or the Arboricultural Association. On this webpage you can check membership of either of these associations, which gives the tree surgeon in question, recognised ARB Approved Contractor status.
For mediation assistance and for advice and help at any stage during or after the work has been finished, you are able to make contact with either of these trade associations.
If anyone offers you a quotation for any tree work and you can't find them on this directory, you should graciously decline their offer and find an approved contractor. You should try and get a minimum of three estimates from different companies in and around Portishead as soon as you are reassured of their professional associations and qualifications. You should ask the questions below whilst acquiring these quotations, making it clear that you need them to provide the answers due to the risks of the work involved:
- Is It Possible To contact a recent person you have worked for so that I can assess the quality of your workmanship? Independently checking any recent work is always a good idea.
- Can you show documentary evidence of your professional membership, qualifications and a NPTC certificate for chainsaw use and maintenance? The NPTC/LANTRA certificate is required by law for any tree surgeon using a chainsaw. City and Guilds National Diplomas and Certificates in Arboriculture are qualifications that may be held by a certified tree surgeon in Portishead.
- Can you provide a quotation in writing? You must NEVER accept a verbal quote only. Only ever accept a written quote.
- Exactly what is your level of insurance cover? Your tree surgeon should be able to show you an insurance certificate covering at the least £5 Million public liability, as outlined by the ISA and AA.
Clear and concise details of all the work that is to be undertaken should be included on the written quotation. It should include information on any trees which might be protected in law, and the required steps to get permission to carry out work on them, and also state who is responsible for the removal of tree branches, stumps and debris. You should also make certain that VAT has been included on the quotation. You've got a responsibility to hire only capable tradespeople to work on your trees and property, and it is very important to understand that fact.
PRIOR TO WORK - Making enquiries into the possibility of any of your trees having protected status, your preferred Portishead tree surgeon should ensure that any tree work gets the green light from the relevant local authority. Even protected trees need to be maintained in order to cut back old or damaged wood and ensure the safety of the public, so discovering that a tree has protected status doesn't mean that work can't still be carried out.
No less than six weeks written notice must be given to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) prior to any work being performed, if your property in Portishead is in a conservation area. This is only required for trees with a trunk diameter of more than 75 millimetres in diameter, at a point 1.5 metres from ground level. Notice is also not a requirement if thinning or pruning of a protected tree's branches is vital to promote and sustain growth.
Your Portishead tree surgeon will decide on the required remedial treatment and how the required outcome can be achieved with safety in mind after performing a thorough assessment of your trees health. This will include a risk assessment of areas that could be impacted by falling debris, such as in public spaces, on your property, and on neighbour's properties. This stage will also ascertain the amount of operatives needed and the level of protection required. This could include a number of safety precautions as well as PPE (personal protective equipment) to guarantee the safety of the general public and adjacent property.
ON THE DAY OF WORK - Barriers, cones and safety measures will be put in place before any climbing, tree felling or cutting of branches commences, to keep unauthorised persons away from the area of work. It may at some stage be necessary to stop the traffic momentarily, if there's a danger of debris and branches falling onto the road.
The tree surgeon will need varying levels of protection subject to the type of tree work being undertaken. At the very least when doing chainsaw work they're going to be wearing protective clothing to prevent serious cutting injuries to the hands, legs and torso. All workers involved in the operation must wear high visibility clothing, and eye and head protection, at all times.
Additional personnel will generally be necessary to help with the safe removal of high branches and large sections of tree trunk, particularly if working at height is involved, and where ladders and associated climbing equipment is being deployed. A skip or other means of transporting the waste away will be stationed as close to the work area as possible, so it's recommended that you inform your nearby neighbours of the need for access.
AFTER COMPLETION OF WORK - All of the waste will be taken away and the whole area cleared of all debris, as soon as all the work has been completed. Especially when the trees are protected, a certificate of work should then be created by your tree surgeon, which can be signed off and a copy given to you. If any public areas needed safety measures, this protection can be removed and paths and roads will be re-opened.
If you have any issues or problems with the completed work, you should first address them with your tree surgeon so that they can be rectified immediately. If any further arbitration is needed, and your tree surgeon is a member of a trade body, you can obtain advice and guidance from the AA or the ISA in order to reach a satisfactory conclusion.
Locally based Portishead tree surgery services are likely to have the postcode BS20 and the telephone code 01275. They will operate in Portishead itself, together with nearby areas like Clifton, Portbury, Walton Bay, Wraxall, Easton-in-Gordano, Tickenham, Nailsea, West Hill, Weston-in-Gordano, Shirehampton, Redcliff Bay, Sheepway, Clevedon, Clapton-in-Gordano, Avonmouth, and these postcodes: BS20 6JJ, BS20 6PL, BS20 6LX, BS20 6HA, BS20 6AS, BS20 6LU, BS20 6RQ, BS20 1AX, BS20 6EG, BS20 6JS. Verifying this can guarantee that you access a local tree surgeon. Portishead householders can utilise these and numerous other similar services.
If you need this type of assistance it's definitely better to employ a competent tree surgeon. Portishead residents can substantially benefit from the skills and knowledge that are the trademark of a trained professional.
Preventing Storm Damage
While we're all acquainted with the extreme power of Mother Nature, large trees seem sturdy, strong and capable of withstanding just about anything. The life expectancy of most trees far eclipses that of us humans, and actually certain types like oaks, sweet chestnuts and yews can survive for hundreds of years.
Nonetheless, when faced with certain conditions they can be quite vulnerable to the elements, and it is not just falling limbs and branches that can be a consequence, but the whole tree can topple over in extreme weather. The main weather related issue for trees is high winds, and as the frequency of violent weather events and storms in Portishead escalates due to climate change, this type of damage has become more and more commonplace. Another issue can be heavy snowfall during wintertime, and saturated soil during floods or extended periods of rainfall.
To reduce the chance of problems with your trees in times of severe weather, it is recommended that you get a local Portishead tree surgeon to check them out every so often, and prune any dead, dying or overhanging branches.
To stop bigger trees being struck by lightning, and to protect nearby property and buildings which might be affected by side-flashes ("jumps"), it's also a good idea to install copper conductors, lightning rods, or other lightning protection systems. A tree can be killed or seriously weakened when it is struck by lightning, and even if the effect isn't immediately obvious, the tree will be more susceptible to attack by pests and diseases. Lightning is more common than you may believe, and there are about 300,000 lightning strikes annually in the UK alone.
If you're worried about the risk of your trees in Portishead being damaged by storms, you should ask what your local tree care specialist can do to protect them, and lessen the risk of mishaps occurring.
Safety
One of the principal challenges with tree surgery in Portishead is the health and safety aspect, because it can certainly be a dangerous enterprise if handled badly. If the individuals doing the tree surgery are unqualified or inexperienced, there are a number of factors that can go awry such as inadequate head protection, not cordoning off the area to safeguard vehicles and pedestrians, not putting on hearing or eyesight protection, falling timber and branches, failure to wear cut resistant apparel (specifically boots and trousers) and little fall protection, in the form of platforms, ropes and harnesses. In danger due to such incompetencies are passing and parked vehicles, the building structure within the property, the groundsman, facilities on the street, garden sheds and fences, the tree surgeon (person working in the tree), pedestrians, the home owners, the tree itself.
A Tree Surgeons's Day to Day Duties
- Chip and cut branches and logs.
- Work with clients and complete administration tasks.
- Create on-site or telephone quotes with the customers.
- Climb trees to prune or remove branches.
- Evaluate the health of trees and create plans of action.
- Be adept with power tools and powered machinery.
- Fell and remove trees and perform stump grinding.
- Maintain and service equipment like chainsaws and wood chippers.
- Produce tree survey reports for both commercial and domestic customers.
- Clean up area on completion and remove waste products from customer's site.
- Tree planting and transplanting.
- Identify dangers presented by trees.
TPOs (Tree Preservation Orders) Portishead
Another thing to consider before beginning significant work on your trees, is whether or not they have a TPO (Tree Preservation Order) on them. If you get in touch with your local planning authority, they'll tell you whether any of your trees are subject to a TPO. You must not undertake removal, uprooting, cutting down, wilful destruction, topping, wilful damage or lopping, without consent in writing from your local authority, if a tree on your property is subject to a TPO. You could ask your tree surgeon to help with these checks, any dependable one will be ready to offer advice.
If you live in a conservation area in Portishead, and want to conduct any work on a tree with a trunk diameter of 75mm or more, you have to give at least six weeks written notice to your local authority.
Firewood and Logs Portishead
When you're looking for firewood or logs in Portishead, it is always worth contacting your local tree surgeon, because they can be a terrific source for this. As lopping off branches and felling trees is a major part of their daily routine, this is a natural offshoot for the enterprising tree surgeon.
Some tree surgeons in and around Portishead may be willing to let you have logs and branches free of charge, since they always have loads of them to get rid of, whilst others will require paying for chopped and seasoned logs which have been dried out and are ready to burn.
Logs having a moisture level of less than 20 percent are perfect for burning on your open fire or log burning stove, and these should have been left to dry out for 12 months or more. Most often tree surgeons in Portishead will have stocks of hardwood logs, and the benefit of these is that they give a long, sustained burn, and provide many hours of heat. Softwood logs are great for starting a fire, so if you can get hold of some of these as well, that would be helpful. (Tags: Hardwood Logs Portishead, Firewood Portishead, Logs and Firewood Portishead, Firewood Logs Portishead).
Invasive Tree Root Problems Portishead
Because some trees have particularly aggressive root systems, if they are growing too close to your property in Portishead, they can lead to various problems, possibly serious. These problems could include things like cracked patios, blocked drains and damaged foundations, to name just a few. Extremely aggressive roots are found in tree species like maples, sycamores, elms and willows.
Keeping any new trees that you plant on your property, as far away as possible from pathways, patio areas, your drainage pipes and your house, is wise to avoid future complications. If some of these problems are already being caused by pre-existing trees which are growing too close to your dwelling, you should contact a tree surgeon in Portishead for guidance and advice.
To avoid significantly harming your tree's health or even killing it, you certainly shouldn't simply hack away at the offending roots in an attempt to solve this yourself. Understanding which roots can be safely cut, and which roots should be left in place is the realm of the expert, and a seasoned Portishead arborist will make certain the tree is still able to get enough food and water to successfully survive for many years to come.
Since sewage lines provide a consistent source of nutrients and moisture, tree and shrub roots regularly cause cracks in subterranean drains. Tiny roots can quickly invade the joints of a drainage system, and when established develop into massive root balls which can bring about joint failure and an eventual blockage. Some Portishead tree surgeons will provide high quality root removal solutions, which will either involve the use of high pressure water jetting, mechanical equipment or manual rod clearance. You can also obtain root removal services in Clifton, Portbury, Walton Bay, Wraxall, Easton-in-Gordano, Tickenham, Nailsea, West Hill, Weston-in-Gordano, Shirehampton, Redcliff Bay, Sheepway, Clevedon, Clapton-in-Gordano, Avonmouth, and in Portishead itself. (Tags: Invasive Tree Roots Portishead, Problem Tree Roots Portishead, Tree Root Problems Portishead, Drain Root Removal Portishead).
Necessary Skills for Tree Surgeons in Portishead
- Decent customer skills.
- Have patience and the ability to remain focused in times of stress.
- Be professional and able to complete work within the given time frame.
- Have a good understanding of public safety and security.
- Have the ability to work with your hands.
- Be alert to the dangers and complexities involved with the various areas of the work.
- The capacity to work well with other people.
- To be able to conduct common tasks on a hand-held device or computer.
- Be capable of maintaining, using and repairing machines and tools.
- Physical skills such as co-ordination and movement.
- Have a systematic and methodical working approach.
Tree Surveys Portishead
There are various reasons why you could need to have a tree survey performed, and the most commonplace is for development or property extension. As required by British Standards BS5837, if you are clearing a piece of land to make room for a new home or an extension to an existing property in Portishead, and trees exist on that land, you might need to do a professional tree survey. Whether a survey is being undertaken on a private or public property, it should be performed by a certified Portishead arborist or tree surgeon.
For a specified area, a number of details will be gathered about all of the trees within it. For example:
- The species of trees on the site (either scientific or common).
- The age of the trees.
- The height of each tree.
- The branch spread to the West, East, North and South.
- The existence of any TPOs.
- Allocating a tree reference number for each tree.
- The diameter of each tree (taken 1.5m above ground level).
- The physiological and structural health of the trees.
- The expected lifespan of the trees.
- The number of trees (those of over 75mm diameter 1.5m from the ground).
- Tree management guidelines.
If you are carrying out work on an existing home in Portishead, but aren't shifting the service lines or access points, or increasing the building's footprint, you will most likely not need to carry out a tree survey.
Protecting Shrubs and Trees in the Wintertime
Protecting your trees and shrubs in winter is possibly a measure that you have not thought too much about, perhaps presuming that the winter weather conditions in the UK are not harsh enough to justify this. Winter can actually be a tough time for shrubs, plants and trees and even those that we think of as hardy will benefit from some additional protection during times of severe cold.
Of course where trees are involved it's strong winds that can be the biggest problem and although many trees will already have shed their leaves come winter, they could still suffer damage in windy conditions. If you're worried about a tree's condition, or it looks like it may fall to the ground, you should get in touch with a local tree surgeon to examine it and carry out a risk assessment. Damaged trees can also be caused by heavy snow, therefore when this kind of weather is on the cards, be on the lookout for trouble. In the depth of winter, your shrubs and trees may need a bit of protection from frost and ice. Laying a blanket of mulch round the stem bases will allow them to absorb moisture and prevent the surrounding soil from freezing.
Dead-Wooding Portishead
All experienced Portishead tree surgeons will undertake the procedure known as dead-wooding, which is a necessary element of tree care and management. Dead-wooding calls for the careful removal of dead and rotting branches which may pose a hazard to pedestrians, vehicles or buildings. Some of a tree's branches can die for a variety of reasons, the most commonplace being pest attacks, damaged roots, heavy shading or disease.
Whilst the usual rationale for removing dead branches is one of safety, it's also sometimes done to benefit the tree, or for aesthetic reasons. An excess of dying, dead and damaged branches can attract the spread of disease and insect infestations, so removing these compromised branches can radically improve the health of a tree. You can also improve a tree's appearance through this procedure, as a tree with a lot of dead wood can also look rather ugly.
Only larger dead branches will be cut and removed in most situations, because a minimal risk is posed by the smaller ones. Nevertheless, where a garden, a park, a public area, a property or a highway in Portishead is overhung by trees, any dead limbs of over 50mm diameter may have to be removed. (Tags: Dead-Wooding Trees Portishead, Deadwooding Portishead, Deadwooding Surgery Portishead, Dead-Wooding Portishead).
Coming Soon: Tree pruning Portishead.
Tree Surgery Tasks Portishead
Portishead tree surgeons can generally help with hedge reduction Portishead, retrenchment pruning, forestry management in Portishead, damage restoration, tree planning, hazard assessments in Portishead, stump treatment, tree transplanting in Portishead, the protection of trees from grazing animals, tree waste removal Portishead, coppicing, damaged tree removal Portishead, tree surveys, tree removal in Portishead, cut sealing, site clearance, root grinding, conrolling pests, crown thinning, tree lightening protection, tree cutting, emergency tree removal Portishead, crown reduction Portishead, vegetation management Portishead, tree shaping, stump removal Portishead, brush cutting in Portishead, repair of storm damaged trees, crown lifting, commercial tree care Portishead, hedge lowering, tree lopping, arboriculture, tree management, tree maintenance and other tree surgeon services in Portishead, Somerset. Listed are just a few of the tasks that are performed by a local tree surgeon. Portishead providers will keep you informed about their whole range of services.
Leave a Review for a Job Well Done
For any business in Portishead, reviews are their lifeblood, and the difference between a potential client choosing a specific company, or moving on to a competitor, can be whether or not they have good online reviews. It's helpful for them if you could leave them a review when they've done a fantastic job or offered a great service, and it is useful for other folks too. This has benefits for both the company itself and for potential clients who might be considering hiring them. Think back to when you were searching for somebody to do your tree surgery work and how reviews helped you choose. Even when you looked at a company with a professional looking website, you might well have looked at other providers if these promising signs weren't corroborated by some meaningful reviews.
But, when you're on a business's own website, precisely how much faith can be put on so called customer reviews that you see? Are such reviews provided by "real" clients who were pleased with the services they were given, or were they composed by a member of the company?
There is help at hand, because the reviews on Google My Business listings are the best way to look for sincere and genuine reviews. Millions of folks look at the reviews on this website daily, so as to discover the reputation of companies throughout the world. Bing Places for Business is another review site that you could try when leaving reviews for local businesses in Portishead, and is the major competitor of Google My Business, holding 2nd place in the reviews sector. In order to raise the profile of a company that successfully worked on your tree surgery project, you could leave a positive review on either these sites, which will additionally build a rundown of their trustworthiness and working standards, which can be useful for other local people hunting for the same services. Other great spots to leave testimonials for a business include Facebook and Twitter pages. A leading part of any small business's marketing and promotional advertising will include the use of these social media giants. If you add your reviews, this will help to reinforce their sales message.
Even in these modern, high-tech times, an 'old school' hand-written thankyou letter is still appropriate. Letters like this are still useful, even in an internet crazy world, and can be scanned in for use on websites. Whatever technique you choose to provide your review, it's wonderful to feel that you have perhaps helped a small local business gain credibility in the marketplace.
Obtaining Help and Information
To be sure you find an arborist or tree surgeon who is both competent and who will not inflict irreparable damage on your trees, there are some questions you need to ask when trying to find a tree surgeon in Portishead. Pertinent questions ought to be along the lines of: Will you provide me with a written quotation? Do you have public liability and employment insurance? Are you a registered member of a professional body (such as The International Society of Arboriculture or the Arboricultural Association)? Do your working practices match the BS3998 British Standard? Do your workers and you have the appropriate qualifications and certifications (for tree care and the use of chainsaws)? Can you provide me with references from satisfied customers? You need to look elsewhere for a tree surgeon if you do not get acceptable replies to any or all of these basic questions.
You can visit the Arboricultural Association website to find lots of helpful advice regarding how to choose a good tree surgeon, as well as a searchable directory of certified tree surgeons in the British Isles. An additional terrific source of information is the International Society of Arboriculture website which boasts a "verify credentials" tool and a "find a tree surgeon (arborist)" tool. You might also like to check out the trusty Wikipedia "Arborist" article here, to get more details on tree surgery as an occupation. You could also try one of the much publicised trade portals like Checkatrade or Rated People, where reviews are available to study and credentials have previously been verified, to save yourself a bit of time. A Government supported organisation where you can also uncover dependable trades-people including tree surgeons, comes in the form of Trustmark. Trustmark looks at customer service, good trading practices and technical competency providing a level playing field of confidence and quality.
Tree Surgeons Near Portishead: Also find: Nailsea tree surgeons, Tickenham tree surgeons, Wraxall tree surgeons, Portbury tree surgeons, Clapton-in-Gordano tree surgeons, Shirehampton tree surgeons, Easton-in-Gordano tree surgeons, Redcliff Bay tree surgeons, Walton Bay tree surgeons, West Hill tree surgeons, Sheepway tree surgeons, Avonmouth tree surgeons, Clifton tree surgeons, Weston-in-Gordano tree surgeons, Clevedon here. All these areas are covered by a professional tree surgeon. Portishead homeowners can get tree surgery estimates by going here.
Somerset Tree Surgeons
In the Somerset area you'll also obtain: Long Sutton tree management, Dunster tree management, Old Cleeve tree surgeon, Stoke Sub Hamdon tree surgery, Bruton tree surgeon, Porlock tree management, Bathampton tree management, Henstridge tree surgeon, Easton in Gordano tree care services, Comeytrowe tree surgeons, Milverton tree care, Cleeve tree care services, Chew Stoke tree care services, Barwick tree care, Otterhampton tree surgery, Kingston St Mary tree surgeon, Portbury tree management, East Brent tree care services, Nailsea tree surgery, Blagdon tree care services, Brent Knoll tree surgeon, Stogursey tree surgeons, Chilcompton tree care services, Rodney Stoke tree surgery, Ashcott tree surgeons, Minehead tree surgeons, South Petherton tree management, South Petherton tree surgeons, Nailsea tree care services, South Horrington tree care services. In every area of Somerset it should be possible to locate tree surgeons who will provide quality services for your tree care needs. If you can't identify the perfect tree surgeon in Portishead itself you will surely be able to uncover a good one near at hand.
Tree Care Services Portishead
- Portishead Stump Treatment
- Portishead Crown Thinning
- Portishead Tree Surveys
- Portishead Hedge Planting
- Portishead Tree Bracing
- Portishead Hedge Cutting
- Portishead Tree Lopping
- Portishead Cable Bracing
- Portishead Soil Terraventing
- Portishead Woodland Management
- Portishead Tree Removal
- Portishead Root Grinding
- Portishead Crown Removal
- Portishead Tree Maintenance
More Portishead Trades: Naturally, whenever you're having tree care carried out in Portishead, Somerset, you will probably be in need of other garden related services, and along with a tree surgeon in Portishead, Somerset, you might additionally need artificial grass installation in Portishead, garden planning and design in Portishead, fencing contractors in Portishead, garden rubbish removal in Portishead, landscaping in Portishead, hedge clipping in Portishead, pond maintenance in Portishead, garden clearance in Portishead, grass cutting services in Portishead, patio layers in Portishead, garden shed builders in Portishead, local SKIP HIRE in Portishead, garden digging services in Portishead, block pavers in Portishead, soil drainage services in Portishead, decking fitters in Portishead, and other different Portishead tradespeople.
Tree Surgeons Around Portishead: Tree surgery estimates were recently asked for by property owners living in the following Portishead streets: Wood Hill Park, Richmond Close, Lake Road, Quantock Road, Finisterre Parade, Springfield Road, Old Mill Road, Brackenwood Gardens, Hill Gay Close, Wyndham Way, Holly Ridge, Pier Close, Highfield Drive, Burlington Road, Eastcliff, Albert Road, Bristol Road, Halliwell Road, Haven View, Merlin Park, Downleaze, Channel View Road, Forester Road, Somerset Road, Aelfric Meadow, South Road, Cabstand, Victoria Close, Lower Burlington Road, Riverleaze, and in these postcodes: BS20 6JJ, BS20 6PL, BS20 6LX, BS20 6HA, BS20 6AS, BS20 6LU, BS20 6RQ, BS20 1AX, BS20 6EG, BS20 6JS. Work was achieved in these areas by a certified tree surgeon. Portishead home and property owners enjoyed high quality and reliable tree surgery services in all cases.
For local Portishead info go here
More Somerset Tree Surgeons: Somerset tree surgeons: Langport, Midsomer Norton, Bridgwater, Bristol, Minehead, Martock, Burnham-on-Sea, Weston-super-Mare, Wiveliscombe, Crewkerne, Axbridge, Portishead, Shepton Mallet, North Petherton, Bruton, Taunton, Keynsham, Paulton, Wincanton, Yatton, Highbridge, Street, Cheddar, Peasedown St John, Bath, South Petherton, Watchet, Clevedon, Glastonbury, Somerton, Wells, Frome, Radstock, Nailsea, Chard, Yeovil, Dulverton, Ilminster and Long Ashton.
Tree Surgery BS20 area, telephone code 01275.
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