Why it is wise to hire a fully qualified tree surgeon

Hiring a tree surgeon is a type of move that needs to be looked at as an investment. Not only does it prolong the lives of your trees, but it ensures that you and your family are safe from any preventable tree hazards. Trees are never as innocent as they look. When rotten or when and if they may carry weak branches, this can pose a serious risk to anyone who may live nearby and within close distance. This is why it is best get your tree looked at and attended to sooner rather than later. With this in mind, this is where and how it is best to hire a fully professional tree surgeon for the job in hand.

Typical tree surgeon qualifications

Competent tree surgeons will at the very minimum have certificates (National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC)) which show that they have been trained and assessed. They will often have other academic qualifications in arboriculture and will use safety equipment to protect you, your property and themselves.

Just a few of the key points to look out for in choosing the right tree surgeon

• Check they have these essential qualifications.
• Ask about other accreditations and membership.
• Get a detailed quote from each tradesperson you’re considering.
• For a top quality job – hire a specialist.
• Ask these key questions.
• Listen to the language they use.

In high demand at present

Tree surgeons are in high demand for urban tree care as they have the right knowledge and skills to maintain, trim, or remove trees in suburbia when needed. They add to the value of your property as well as the aesthetics. From just paying a few hundred pounds, you can really make the tree a great deal safer in close proximity to your property. After all, a tree falling on your roof can cost thousands of pounds in repair works. This too is why it is best to call in a tree surgeon as soon as you feel a problem could soon arise.

No tree is the same – they will understand different trees in great depth

Assessing a tree, shrub or hedges quality isn’t always as easy as you might think. A tree surgeon will be able to assess the quality of the greenery and be able to give tailored advice on the best way to treat / care for it. For example, they will know how much of the tree to cut away. They will also know which areas of the tree may pose the greatest risk factors in time to come also.

The responsibilities of a typical property owner

All homeowners are responsible for ensuring any trees and shrubs lying within the boundaries of their property. This is to make sure they are safe and unlikely to cause injury to people or property. Hiring the services of a qualified tree surgeon to tackle any felling or to assess the health of your tree not only protects your family and those who visit or pass by your property from injury. It will also help protect your liability. This means that if you’ve made every effort to make a tree safe. If you have used an experienced and qualified tree surgeon, then you should not be held responsible financially for any accidents or injuries or damage to public highways or property, all of which could run into millions of pounds.

The added dangers to consider

Tree surgery is extremely dangerous due to the heights involved and the machinery used. This is another reason why homeowners with little or no experience should leave it to the experts. Tree surgeons undergo thorough training in a wide range of fields. These include chainsaw maintenance, chainsaw use, specialist climbing, aerial rescue, equipment maintenance and arboriculture. The danger to people and property is very high if tree surgeons do not have the appropriate training, experience and equipment. Aside from the health and safety issues, hiring a tree surgeon is the best option for the health of your trees. Poor tree care can have serious consequences to long-term tree health and it’s much better to invest in the experience and knowledge of a qualified tree surgeon.

Where the liabilities lie

A good tree surgeon will have public and employers liability insurance (recommended minimum £5 million). it will cover themselves, any employees and any 3rd parties affected by an unlikely accident. Rogue traders very often keep their prices down by bypassing overheads such as insurance premiums. In the event of an accident, you may find yourself liable for injury to people and/or property. This is a 3rd party is involved and with no means of contacting or finding the rogue trader.

Do not hire a “jack of all trades” company

Tree surgery, like most professional trades, requires a lot of dedicated equipment, staff and knowledge. Professional Tree Surgeons will have spent years (and a lot of money) on professional qualifications. They will know nothing at all about laying a patio or putting up fencing. You are very unlikely to come across a “tree surgery, fencing, patio cleaning etc” company that works to good standards, safely and efficiently. Many of them sub-contract professional tree surgeons and charge you a premium for the professional’s work. Others just hack their way through the work. They then try to convince you that the work has been carried to the required standard.

Overall – what you need to bear in mind

Tree surgeons specialize in all the areas of cultivation and tree care. So, hiring them will help you to increase your knowledge and also improve your skills. He or she can give clear and direct answers to your queries. They can provide useful suggestions to take better care of your trees. A good tree surgeon will also be able to advise of anything you can also do. To add to this, a tree surgeon will also have all of the correct equipment. This is to make sure your tree is discarded in the correct way. They will be able to work and enable a clean and tidy finish too. No project is the same however they will typically know how to carry out all aspects of tree surgery work.