Services

Services   
Below you will find a description for each of the main services we offer. 
If you can’t see the work you need described here, please contact us.

Tree Felling
Felling is the total removal of the tree, to or just above, ground level.  We usually do this by ‘dismantling’ the tree, branch by branch and lowering them to the ground.  This leaves a tree stump a few inches high. Felling trees is potentially a very dangerous activity.  Every year people are seriously injured or even killed trying to cut down trees in their gardens. Call us in and get it done safely.

Stump Grinding  
Old tree stumps left under new drives and patios will rot and may cause the surface to sink.  Rotting tree stumps can also harbor plant disease such as honey fungus which may spread to healthy plants.

Our stump grinding service is fast with the minimum of disruption and minimum mess.  Any size of tree stump can be ground out, even in restricted areas close to fences, walls or between other plants and any quantity from single trees to remnants of conifer hedges.  Restricted access is no problem; all we need is a gate or door into your garden of 30”.

Hedges and Conifers Trimmed
We can cut all hedges for you, reduce their height and trim the faces back to keep them neat and tidy.  Deciduous hedges such as Hawthorn or Beech can be trimmed or renovated to suit your needs.  Evergreen hedges such as Leylandii need trimming twice a year to achieve a neat, formal finish.  While an old Yew or Holly hedge can be renovated, once conifer hedges have got out of hand we find it hard to restore them as they do not re-grow from old branches so it’s better to keep them trimmed regularly.

Since 2005 people can take their complaint about a neighbour’s high evergreen hedge to their local authority under the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003.

Individual conifers may also need regular trimming to keep them under control.

Removal of Dead, Damaged and Diseased branches 
Dead and damaged branches provide entry points for disease which can then spread to healthy growth, weakening and eventually killing the tree.  Large dead or diseased tree limbs may fall causing damage or injury.  We can remove dead, damaged and diseased wood to maintain the tree’s health and long life.

Tree preservation orders (TPO)
These exist to protect certain trees and are administered through Local Planning Departments.  Heavy fines can be levied on the householder and the contractor if a protected tree, or a tree in a Conservation Area, is cut down or pruned without permission. We contact the local authority to check that there are no restrictions in place and if necessary we can handle the planning application from start to finish on your behalf. 

Crown Thinning
We remove some of the secondary branches, allowing more light to pass through the tree, also reducing wind resistance and so lessening the load on the tree canopy.  Thinning does not reduce the overall height or change the tree’s shape.

Crown Lift
We remove the lowest branches, often done to give more light to the surrounding area or to make it possible to walk or drive under the tree.  It may not be possible to carry this out on older trees.  

Crown Reduction 
We reduce the height and/or spread of the tree, retaining its overall shape.

Coppicing
This is a method of promoting strong regrowth in certain trees and shrubs by cutting them to ground level at the appropriate time of year.  Cornus and Salix (Dogwood and Willow) are coppiced to encourage colourful new growth for the winter months.

Pollarding
Strictly speaking this is the regular removal of all branches from the main trunk – often seen on large street trees.  In a garden setting, we can cut branches back to the previous pruning point – resulting in a ‘mop head’.  Not all trees are suitable for pollarding.  Species such as Catalpa are often pruned in this way to encourage the growth of large leaves.

Formative pruning
Correct pruning is vital for young and newly planted trees as it establishes good branch structure for years to come. Many of the problems we encounter in older trees are caused by a lack of formative pruning when the tree was first planted.

Garden Renovation and Garden Clearance
If your garden has become overgrown or you’ve just moved in and inherited a jungle, we can help with renovation or full garden clearance.  We will take all the mess away, giving you the clean space to create the garden you want.  If you want some help, we can put you in touch with a garden designer who can advise on hard landscaping and planting. 

Logs and Woodchip
If you are having work carried out you can choose to have the timber left on site for firewood.  Many customers also choose to keep the resulting woodchip for use as mulch or for paths.