Day: October 28, 2021

7 Signs You Need to Call a Tree Surgeon

Steven Kelley Tree Blogs
7 Signs You Need to Call a Tree Surgeon

7 Signs You Need to Call a Tree Surgeon!

 

What if it was already too late for your favourite tree?

A good tree surgeon can help you take care of your trees and make sure that your garden looks amazing. Unfortunately, many homeowners do not know they need to call a professional until it is way too late.

To protect your trees, you need to properly understand the warning signs. Keep reading to discover the seven signs that it is time to call a tree surgeon!

 

1. Dead Branches

If you are wondering whether you need to call a tree surgeon or not, then you are probably driven by a simple question. How, exactly, can you tell if one of your trees is dying?

One of the biggest warning signs of a dying tree is dead branches. A dead or dying branch will typically have a different colour than a healthy tree or branch. And it may have difficulty holding its shape.

If you are still not sure, there is a quick way to check. Pluck a small stick from the tree or a branch and then break it in two. Healthy branches will be hard to break and will have green on the inside.

 

2. Damage to the Roots

Another major warning sign that a tree is in danger is when there is damage to the roots. While it is true that you cannot see most of a tree’s roots, there are still a few tell-tale surface signs that let you know whether the roots are damaged.

By far, the biggest sign of root damage is when you see wilting on the tree. This is evidence that the tree is not getting enough nutrients to keep it healthy. It means that for some reason, the roots are no longer able to get what they need from the ground.

When you see wilting, it is worth calling a reliable tree surgeon. They can help to inspect for root damage and, if needed, assist with safely removing the tree.

 

3. Leaning Tree

A leaning tree can be another sign that the tree is dying. However, some degree of lean is perfectly natural. But if a tree is leaning much more than usual, or seems to be leaning more than 15 degrees, then you might have a problem.

Leaning trees are typically another sign of damage to your roots. And, more importantly, a leaning tree may be in danger of falling over and causing serious damage to your home or other property.

At some point, the tree may be damaged beyond repair. Be sure to call a reliable tree surgeon to see if the tree can be salvaged or needs to be removed.

 

4. Overgrown Branches

Earlier, we discussed how dead branches are a tell-tale sign of a dead or dying tree. Another major sign to watch out for is overgrown branches.

This usually occurs when trees are planted too close to one another. Over time, the branches grow over each other. This can cause friction that leads to rot, and then the rot may place both trees in danger.

Even if the rot does not get these trees, the overgrown branches may start to affect how much water and sunlight the trees get. You are best off at this point calling a tree surgeon and seeing if they can save the trees with professional pruning or take other measures as needed.

 

5. Few Leaves

Some of the warning signs on this list are milder than others. For example, a tree that seems to be lacking leaves is a major sign that you should take seriously. At the same time, you can usually fix this problem easily enough without losing the entire tree.

At times, a lack of leaves may simply be due to the weather. Changes in temperature or abundant rain may affect how many leaves you see on the tree. Other times, this could be a sign that hidden pests or even diseases are causing damage to your tree.

The season also matters. A lack of leaves is expected around Fall or Winter. But if you are seeing this in Spring or Summer, then the tree is likely experiencing problems and will need to be inspected by a professional tree surgeon.

 

6. Large Crown

It seems like common sense that you may need to cut a tree down if it gets too big. But do you know how to recognize when the tree has reached such a state?

The most reliable indicator is the size of the tree crown. If you do not already know, the crown is the top part of the tree (counting things like trunk, branches, and leaves).

How can you know if the crown is getting too big? If the tree is starting to block sunlight in areas that it previously had not (such as your garden), then it may be getting a bit too big for your yard. At this point, it is time to call a tree surgeon about pruning options or removal.

 

7. Roots Affecting Pipes or Home

We previously discussed how damaged roots are a good indicator that you need to call a tree surgeon. But another root issue is more obvious: when roots are digging into your pipes or even into your home!

This is quite natural. In its quest to seek out nutrients, the tree has sent its roots into your pipes and your home.

The good news is that you can deal with these roots without killing the tree. But it is going to take a skilled tree surgeon to preserve the tree and also keep your home safe.

 

Calling a Tree Surgeon: What’s Next?

Now you know the different warning signs to call a tree surgeon. But do you know which surgeon you can rely on?

We specialize in tree surgery as well as pruning, felling, planting, and so much more. To see what we can do for you and your trees, contact us today!

 

Article was written by Conner D.

Article Source: https://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/call-a-tree-surgeon/

The Best Tree for Your Garden and Climate

Steven Kelley Tree Blogs
The Best Tree for Your Garden and Climate

The Best Tree for Your Garden and Climate!

 

Did you know there are around 70 different species of trees found in the UK?

Trees are not only beautiful, but they provide height, shade, and structure to any garden or garden. They also offer shelter to wildlife and contribute to healthier, cleaner air.

Still, this does not mean that every tree is automatically suitable for your property. Before you can choose the best tree for your garden, there are a few practical considerations to review first.

How much space do you have for your tree? How can you choose a tree that is visually interesting throughout the year? And how can you select trees that will be helpful to the local environment?

In this post, we will consider some of the best small trees for gardens, as well as some of the best fast-growing trees. Let us get started!

 

The Best Trees for Your Garden: 7 Ideas to Consider

The UK’s record-setting 44-meter beech tree may look splendid in Newtimber Hill, but it is unlikely to fit in your backyard. To help you find a more appropriately sized tree, consider one of the following species.

 

1. Dogwood (Cornus Florida)

If you want a compact tree that displays dazzling seasonal colours, look no further than the dogwood. These beauties put out pink or white bracts each spring, followed by bright orange and red during the autumn.

Dogwoods are perfect for small gardens or gardens since many species max out around 3m in height. Set up a few patio chairs beneath the branches to enjoy semi-shade during the summer months.

 

2. Weeping Willow (Salix Babylonica)

It is hard to beat the natural beauty of the delicate weeping willow tree. Their signature low branches create lovely canopies that offer lots of shade year-round.

Weeping willows do well in wet locales, which is why you will often see them beside lakes or riverbanks. They grow quickly — anywhere from 1-2.5m per year — and max out around 15m tall.

There are other varieties to consider too, including the twisted willow, goat willow, or cricket bat willow.

 

3. Alder (Alnus Glutinosa

Would you like to plant a native, eco-friendly tree that will attract plenty of birds and insects? Alders are among the most popular tree species for gardens and gardens, and for a good reason.

The Alder tree features clusters of cone-like fruits during the winter and yellow catkins in the springtime. These offer an early source of nectar and pollen for bees, while many species of birds feed on the seeds.

Alders grow fairly quickly and reach a height between 18-25m when mature. They favour moist conditions, making them ideal for London gardens and gardens.

 

4. Blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa)

If you have ever sipped on sloe gin, you are drinking the fruits of the blackthorn tree. This thorny tree provides visual interest throughout the year and is ideal for informal hedging.

In the early spring, you will enjoy the blackthorn’s white flowers. Later in the summer, the purplish “sloes” (fruit) begin to appear. Wait until after the first frost to pick them and then make your own sloe gin at home.

Blackthorn thrives in direct sunlight and will reach a height of 6-7m. Expect to see plenty of bees, caterpillars, magpies, and other animals feeding and nesting amongst the branches.

 

5. Crab Apple (Malus Sylvestris)

Crab apple trees have an interesting history that experts still cannot pinpoint. It is the wild ancestor of cultivated apple trees and has long been associated with fertility and love.

One thing everyone can agree on, however, is their beauty — especially during the springtime. Crab apple trees put out stunning pink and white blossoms each spring. Birds and small mammals (such as badgers) love the fruit, while bees are drawn to the nectar and pollen.

Crab apples usually grow to a height of 7-9m, although they can be kept smaller with proper pruning.

6. Silver Birch (Betula Pendula)

There is a seemingly endless variety of birch trees to choose from, but the silver birch may be the best tree for your garden. Their distinctive silver-white bark is impossible to miss, as are its dainty, triangular-shaped leaves.

The silver birch is especially beautiful in the autumn months when the leaves turn a bright gold colour. Small birds love the birch tree for its seed and the various insects it hosts.

Expect your silver birch tree to reach a height of 15-20m when fully mature. It thrives in acidic or sandy soils, although it can tolerate moist conditions as well.

 

7. Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

Although not native to the UK, it is hard to argue the striking beauty of the Japanese maple tree. They are slow-growing and graceful, with translucent leaves that shimmer in the sunlight.

Most varieties feature a spectacular array of colours during the year, with rich reds, oranges, and purples common during the autumn. They thrive in the shade and grow well with ferns and other moisture-loving plants.

Japanese maples vary greatly in size, depending on the exact species. Dwarf maples are smaller than 1m in height, while larger varieties may reach 10m or more. If you have your heart set on a Japanese maple, you can find a varietal that will fit nicely in your garden.

 

Which Is the Best Tree for Your Garden?

The type of tree you plant in your garden is a big decision. After all, with proper maintenance and care, the tree will be there for many decades to come!

So then, which of the species listed above is the best tree for your garden? Use these suggestions to help you choose a tree that will complement your home and help the environment at the same time.

Now that you know the best trees for your front garden, the only thing left to do is plant them. You might be tempted to DIY, but this is a job best left to the pros.

Grafting Gardeners provides tree planting services for properties across London and Surrey. Find out more here or give us a call at 0208 123 7653 to ask us a question.

 

Article was written by Conner D.

Article Source: https://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/the-best-tree/

When Is the Right Time to Remove A Tree?

Steven Kelley Tree Care
When Is the Right Time to Remove A Tree?

When Is the Right Time to Remove A Tree?

 

What if you had a ticking time bomb in your garden?

That is what it can feel like when deciding to remove a tree. Few homeowners know the right time to remove potentially dangerous or unwanted trees. if you wait too long, or go about removing it the wrong way, you can cause some serious damage.

So, when is the right time to remove a tree, and what is the safest way to do so?

Continue reading to discover the answers!

 

Threats: When to Remove a Tree Right Away

Many different factors determine when you should remove a tree. But it is arguably most important to know when you must remove unwanted trees ASAP.

Generally speaking, you should have trees removed right away if you can see that it has any upheaving roots. It is always important to remove trees that are leaning because if they should fall, this may pose a significant risk to your home.

And even if it does not look like it could hit your home, beware of trees that might pose a risk to other structures (like storage sheds or even your neighbour’s home). If the tree looks like a threat, it must be removed right away.

 

Remove a Tree That is Infected

We have established that you need to remove trees right away that pose a real threat. But that threat is not always as obvious as a leaning tree. Sometimes, the threat comes in the form of infection.

If you notice that a tree has some kind of infection or disease, it is important to remove it right away. Why? Because left unchecked, the afflicted tree might spread infection or disease to other trees.

The trick is to recognize these infections and diseases before it is too late. If you cannot spot something like oak wilt or emerald ash borer, then the damage may be done before you realize the tree needs to be removed.

 

The Best Season to Remove a Tree

We have covered the situations where you need to have a tree removed ASAP. But if the tree you want to remove isn’t diseased, infected, or posing a risk to a building, then when do you need to take it down?

If you do not mind waiting, it is generally best to remove trees during a dormant season. This is the period between late winter and early spring, and it is easier to remove trees during this time.

Why? At this point, the tree will have shed its leaves and will be much lighter and easier to move. We still recommend that you hire a professional (more on this in a bit) but removing trees during the dormant season makes the whole process easier and more efficient.

 

Busting a Seasonal Myth

Some homeowners are shy about hiring tree surgeons or other professionals because they want to save a bit of money. And that brings us to another major question: is there a time of year that it is always cheaper to have trees removed?

Despite popular belief, the honest answer to this question is “not really.” Typically, professionals charge you based on many factors that have little to do with the season or time of year. This includes things like the type of tree, the size of the tree, and the tree’s location.

If I wait until the dormant season will it speed up the process? Probably. But it is not necessarily going to be much (if at all) cheaper to remove a tree during winter than during summer.

 

lternatives to Removing a Tree

If you are reading this, then you have got removing a tree on your mind. But it is important to figure out whether you need to remove the entire tree or simply prune it.

For example, you may want to remove a tree because unwanted branches are now hanging down and scraping your car in the driveway. But professional pruning can take care of the tree branch while still leaving the tree standing.

It is possible to do some light pruning work on your own. However, aggressive pruning can cause damage to the tree. For best results, we recommend hiring a professional tree surgeon.

You can have a tree pruned most times during the year. But you should try to avoid any pruning of a tree right after its spring growth period because this causes stress and damage to the tree.

 

Truly Delicate Work

When we talk about pruning a tree, you might think that this is easy and simple work. However, the entire process is more complex and more delicate than you might have previously imagined.

First, you need to have the right tools. Many homeowners do not already own proper tree-pruning tools. And if you use the wrong tools, you might end up damaging the tree.

Second, you need to understand the important differences between the trees. Some types of trees (like conifers) will need almost no pruning while others will need constant care throughout the year.

Finally, you need to understand the way different trees react to pruning and the risks this may pose. Some trees bleed sap during pruning, and this poses a potential risk of infection to the pruner as well as the tree.

 

Why Hire a Tree Surgeon?

We have mentioned the need to hire tree surgeons for things like pruning and tree removal. But what is it that makes hiring a tree surgeon worth it?

Such surgeons already have all of the tools and equipment they will need. By hiring their services, you save money on buying many tools of your own. And you do not have to worry about storing those tools all year round.

Tree surgeons also have the experience to do the job quickly and efficiently. And they know enough about local laws and ordinances to remove your tree in a way that does not put anyone in legal danger.

Finally, tree surgeons understand tree health. They know how to prune trees without harming them and how to remove diseased trees without endangering other trees.

 

Your Next Move

Now you know when to remove a tree. But do you know who can help you do it?

We specialize in tree pruning, tree removal, tree lighting, and so much more. To see what we can do about your trees, come request a free quote today!

 

Article was written by Conner D.

Article Source: https://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/remove-a-tree/

Tree Surgery Waste & Its Use for Biomass Fuel

Steven Kelley Tree Care
Tree Surgery Waste & Its Use for Biomass Fuel

Tree Surgery Waste & Its Use for Biomass Fuel

 

We are living in an ever-changing environment – even if the change is slow. There are various reasons behind the changes – both man-made and natural – and these are making changes that are hard for the environment to deal with.

The major issues are pollution and climate change. While many (including scientists) cannot agree with the reasons behind climate change, it is evident that we are facing a huge global challenge.

 

What Is Tree Surgery Waste?

Tree work waste generally belongs to one of three categories:

TimberWood chipNon-chippable waste (e.g., minor pruning, hedge trimmings, sweepings from the ground).

 

How Can Tree Surgeons Help?

Tree surgeons can adjust their practices to adopt which are more environmentally friendly. One of the ways they can do this is by turning the ‘green waste’ they produce into fuel.

 

How Can Green Waste Be Fuel?

For trees to grow, they use carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon gets used in the tree’s structure during growth. It is locked up into the molecules that build the tissues of the plant, for example in cellulose. When the tree reaches felling age and becomes fuel, it re-releases its CO2 collected over the years into the atmosphere. This is then re-used again by other growing trees.

When fuel is from a sustainable source like wood, it is great for the production of something called biomass. This means that branches and logs are reduced to chippings, which are then used by power stations to generate electricity. Biomass is both clean and sustainable.

Of course, the whole process needs to have a low carbon footprint, otherwise, the whole process will be a waste of time. This means that the processes of felling, extracting, chipping, and transporting to end-users need to have low carbon footprints.

 

How Is Green Waste Turned into Chips?

This is a really simple process. Wood chips for power stations and small boilers must be a consistent size. The sizes can vary between 30 mm and 50 mm per chip. When burning wood chips in boilers, we also need to be mindful of the chips’ moisture content. For the boilers to be as efficient as possible, the wood chips must have a moisture content below 30%. To ‘dry out’ the wood, it is stacked up so that there is sufficient aeration.

 

How Does Chipping Happen?

A woodchipper or tree chipper reduces the wood to small chips. Chippers are usually portable and are mounted on frames with wheels that can be towed. Generally speaking, the power is provided by an internal-combustion engine. Usually these are between 3 and 1000 horsepower or 2.2 kW to 750 kW. Higher power chippers can be mounted on a truck with a separate engine. These usually have hydraulic cranes too.

A wood chipper usually consists of a collared hopper, a chipper mechanism and sometimes a chip collection bin. The collar helps keep unwanted items (like body parts!) away from the blades of the chipper. A tree branch is put into the hopper, goes through the chipping mechanism and the chips come out of a chute. The chips can be directed onto the floor or into a container or truck.

 

How Else Can Woodchips Be Used?

Aside from fuelling boilers and power stations, woodchips can be used to produce mulch for paths or gardens. For woodchips to be converted into mulch, they will be stored for a few months so that they compost. If you spread fresh mulch on gardens, it could have adverse effects on any plants growing there. This is because the bacteria that break the wood down uses nitrogen, which means this will be stripped from the soil. Allowing the wood chippings to compost before they are used to avoid this happening.

 

What About the Non-chippable Waste That Tree Surgery Produces?

Trimming hedges creates a huge amount of material that cannot be processed by chippers. Also, any materials that are swept up or raked can’t be chipped either because it will be contaminated with grit and soil, which can cause damage to the chipper blades. It is possible to shred non-chippable waste and this can also be used at some power stations as a biomass fuel.

 

What Further Work Can Tree Surgeons Do to Have a Positive Impact on The Environment?

As mentioned above, it is as important to have a low carbon footprint. Tree surgeons can process things in bulk to save energy and journeys. They can also look to sell the waste products like woodchip and mulch locally so that the carbon footprint is reduced in this way too.

 

What Does the Law Say with Regards to Tree Waste?

The law is quite strict regarding tree waste. In England and Wales, tree surgeons must register as a waste carrier (different rules apply to Northern Ireland and Scotland).

This rule applies if tree surgeons do any of the following:

transport their waste.dispose of or transport waste for another person.sell or buy waste.act as a broker for waste (arranging someone else to handle a person’s waste).

 

People who do not register can be fined up to £5000.

There are also different tiers of registration too. For example, a garden landscaper or tree surgeon who is carrying green shrubs or waste they have removed is classed as being in the lower tier while carrying away construction materials would be classed as being in the upper tier.

There are exceptions, however, with mulch for example. You are allowed to store and use up to 100 tons of mulch each month. You can also store or treat up to 500 tons of waste plant matter or wood every 7 days and can keep it for 3 months. There are other exemptions too.

 

Tree Surgery Waste – Final Thoughts

It is great to see that so many solutions are now available for tree surgery waste. Whether chipped for biomass fuel or used as mulch, tree surgery these days can help the environment. As long as tree surgeons abide by the laws and try to keep the whole process as carbon neutral as possible, there is no reason to worry about the environmental impact of the wastes they produce.

 

Article was written by Conner D.

Article Source: https://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/tree-surgery-waste/