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Tree surgery services
What tree surgeons do, what each job involves, and which local firms offer it. Not every firm offers every specialist service, so check with them before you book.
Urgent
Everyday tree work
Tree felling & dismantling
29 listed firms offer this
Whether a tree can come down in one piece or has to be taken apart in sections depends on the space around it. These firms do both.
Stump grinding
23 listed firms offer this
A stump left in the ground can rot, sprout or get in the way of new planting. Grinding it out is usually quicker and cleaner than digging.
Crown reduction
24 listed firms offer this
Crown reduction makes a tree smaller in height and spread without taking it down. Done well, the tree still looks natural afterwards.
Tree pruning & crown work
29 listed firms offer this
Most trees don't need felling, just the right kind of pruning. These are the main types of work, and the firms that offer them.
Hedge trimming & reduction
29 listed firms offer this
From a yearly trim to taking a 6-metre leylandii hedge down to a manageable height, these firms do hedge work of every size.
Site & land clearance
18 listed firms offer this
Clearing overgrown land, scrub and unwanted trees before building work, a new garden or bringing a field back into use. Most of the risk is in the legal checks, not the cutting.
Emergency & safety
Cable bracing & tree support
4 listed firms offer this
Cable bracing supports a weak union or heavy limb so a valued tree can stay standing instead of being felled. It is a stopgap that needs regular inspection, not a one-off fix.
Difficult access & crane work
7 listed firms offer this
When a tree is too large, too close to buildings or too hard to reach by climbing, firms bring in a platform, a tracked lift or a crane. This equipment adds to the cost but can make the job safer.
Trees near power lines
2 listed firms offer this
Never cut or climb a tree near overhead power lines yourself. Contact the network operator first: the Health and Safety Executive says work within 10 metres of lines needs specialist advice from the operator before it starts.
Tree disease & health
6 listed firms offer this
Most tree disease can't be cured, so the practical questions are how to recognise it, whether the tree is a safety risk, and what to report. Here are the main problems to know about.
Specialist care
Veteran & ancient tree care
2 listed firms offer this
A veteran tree is valued for its decay features and wildlife as well as its age, and it needs different care from an ordinary garden tree. Often the best approach is to do as little as possible.
Root pruning & root problems
Ask a local firm
Most tree roots cause no trouble, and cutting the wrong one can make a tree unstable. Here is what root work involves and when to leave the roots alone.
Ivy removal
1 listed firm offers this
Ivy does not directly harm a healthy tree, so removal is a judgement call rather than a default. It makes sense when you need to inspect a tree, when the tree is already weak, or when ivy is damaging a wall or roof.
Topiary & formal shaping
2 listed firms offer this
Topiary is the clipping of shrubs into set shapes, and it depends on the right plant, the right timing and regular repeat visits. Large or tall pieces usually need access equipment.
Mistletoe removal
1 listed firm offers this
A little mistletoe does no harm, but a heavy infestation can seriously weaken branches and old apple trees. Cutting it out in late autumn and winter keeps it in check.
Orchard restoration
4 listed firms offer this
An old, overgrown orchard can usually be saved. Renovation pruning spread over two or three winters brings back light, health and fruit without shocking the trees.
Property & planning
Tree surveys & reports
8 listed firms offer this
A tree survey tells you what condition your trees are in and what, if anything, needs doing. Some are needed for planning applications or house sales.
TPO & conservation area applications
Ask a local firm
Check with your council before any work: a TPO tree needs consent (usually decided within 8 weeks), and a tree in a conservation area needs 6 weeks' notice. Many tree surgeons will make the application for you.
Mortgage & insurance tree reports
Ask a local firm
If a surveyor flags a tree near a house you are buying or selling, the lender or insurer may ask for an arboricultural report before going ahead. Here is what that involves.
Tree protection on construction sites
1 listed firm offers this
If a planning permission mentions trees, the usual condition is that they are fenced off and their roots left undisturbed while building goes on. Here is what that involves and who does it.
Neighbour tree disputes
Ask a local firm
Most tree disagreements can be settled with a conversation and a tree surgeon. This guide sets out who owns what, what you may cut yourself, and when to involve the council.
Estate & land
Woodland management
11 listed firms offer this
A neglected wood gets darker, denser and less valuable to wildlife. A modest management plan and the right permissions keep it healthy.
Hedge laying
2 listed firms offer this
Hedge laying is a traditional craft that rejuvenates a thinning hedge into a dense, stock-proof barrier. It is done in winter, and countryside hedges have legal protection.
Tree planting & relocation
11 listed firms offer this
A tree planted in the right place, at the right time of year, needs little care for decades. A tree planted in the wrong place can be a problem for your neighbours, your drains and your building insurance.
Commercial & contract tree work
26 listed firms offer this
If you manage trees for a council, school, housing association, estate or business, you need a contractor who can show competence, insurance and a safe way of working, not just a price per tree.
Extras
Logs & firewood
9 listed firms offer this
Many tree surgeons season and sell logs from their own tree work. Dry wood burns hotter and cleaner, and in England the law sets a 20% moisture limit for small loads.
Green waste & woodchip
8 listed firms offer this
Tree work produces a lot of waste. A good quote says whether the branches will be chipped and left, chipped and removed, or taken away whole, and who is responsible for it.
Bird & bat checks
4 listed firms offer this
Nesting birds and bat roosts are protected by law. A check before tree work starts protects wildlife, and protects you from a criminal offence.
