Tree Surgeons West Sussex

Our NPTC-certified tree surgeons have numerous years of industry experience and undertake various arboricultural services. From tree felling to hedge cutting and stump grinding to tree pruning, we have the right tree surgeon tools and arboreal know-how to complete jobs of any size, large or small.

We pride ourselves in delivering the highest standard of work, following British Standard BS3998:2010 guidelines for tree work, and our goal is to provide the most dependable and affordable solutions for all our clients.

Tree Felling And Tree Removal West Sussex

Do you require a safe and skilled tree felling and or tree removal service in West Sussex? At Foremans Tree Specialists Ltd, our trained arborists use the latest sectional and straight-felling techniques to remove undesired trees with little disruption and in a safe, tidy manner.

Tree Pruning West Sussex

Our knowledgeable tree surgeons can utilise many tree pruning techniques to achieve your desired goal. They are not, by any means, exclusive, and we often use a combination together. Take the following, for example; a tree can be crown-reduced (volume as a whole), crown-thinned (reducing the density) and crown-raised (lifting the crown from the ground).

The generic rule for all pruning works is to avoid removing more than 30% of the crown. More than 30% will generally harm the tree’s health and jeopardise its safety. Incorrect or over-pruning, for example, topping, upsets the primary form of the tree and usually results in accelerated re-growth. 

Below we list and explain the most common pruning techniques adopted by Foremans Tree Specialists Ltd and point out some poor operations to avoid.

Crown Reduction West Sussex

This process involves reducing the crown’s volume while retaining the species’ natural shape. The crucial criteria for a correct crown reduction are as follows:

• While making pruning cuts, the concept of maintaining a naturally flowing branch line must always be in mind.

• Apply pruning cuts to natural growth points; this reduces the amount of resulting decay from the wound. It will also minimise sprouting re-growth from dormant buds around the cut.

• The retained lateral branch should be at least a third of the size of the branch removed; this keeps sufficient foliage to maintain the energy requirements of the rest of the tree. As a result, the surviving branch will grow regularly, meaning there will be no acceleration in re-growth.

Pollarding West Sussex

Pollarding is the most severe tree pruning operation and should ideally be administered when a tree is in its infancy. The key to a successful pollard is to remove the re-growth regularly, for example, every 1, 2 or 3 years, dependent on the species of the tree. Regular maintenance on a pollarded tree is critical since the re-growth will have weak unions (attachment points), meaning if it’s left to grow too big, this will increase the risk of failure.

 There are a few reasons for choosing to pollard trees. 

Pollarding is primarily undertaken to maintain trees at a consistent size, but there are also numerous other benefits, some of which we have outlined below:

• It prevents trees from contacting or damaging street furniture, power or telephone lines
• Reduces the amount of shade cast by trees
• Increases air circulation and reduces the possibility of the sail effect
• It can shape a tree for aesthetic purposes
  

Crown Raising/Crown Lifting West Sussex

The process of crown raising or crown lifting involves removing the lower branches to a given height, usually measured from ground level. We commonly use crown lifting to allow more light into a garden/property or to enable pedestrians/vehicles to pass underneath more freely.

Crown Thinning West Sussex

Crown thinning decreases the density of the crown without reducing its overall size. Crown thinning involves removing secondary growth to promote a more healthy, uniform spread of foliage across the crown. We primarily crown thin broadleaved trees, not evergreens such as conifer, and the benefits include:

• Increase in the amount of light able to pass through the crown 
• Reduction in the wind resistance, sail and weight of the crown 
• Improved visual appeal and general structure of the tree 

Crown Cleaning & Deadwooding West Sussex

Crown cleaning commonly involves the removal of dying, dead, diseased, dangerous or crossing branches but can also include removing climbing plants, foreign objects and epicormic growth. We carry out crown cleaning and dead wooding for safety and aesthetic purposes. 

“Lopping & Topping West Sussex” – Poor Pruning Practice

Often confused with ‘reductions’ or ‘pollarding’, ‘lopping & topping’ is a lousy pruning technique a is detrimental to the health and safety of the tree. Topping encourages decay and disease while disrupting the tree’s delicate energy system.

If the shock of topping doesn’t kill the tree entirely, it will, no doubt, cause it to produce a multitude of shoots from the location of the cuts. These shoots will grow prolifically to reinstate the lost foliage and may quickly develop into branches that could potentially reach out as far as the original crown. The accelerated re-growth will negate the original goal of reducing the size or span of the crown. In addition, the topping will have encouraged pockets of decay to develop in proximity to the cuts, and these will continue to deepen and decay.

Foremans Tree Specialists Ltd offer our professional tree pruning and crown reduction services to British Standard BS3998 stipulations. Correct tree pruning is a skilful process and should only be tackled by a trained professional to help ensure balanced and healthy regrowth.

Tree Pollarding West Sussex

Pollarding is the most rigorous type of pruning and must only be used in certain circumstances and on specific trees. Our experienced arborists will study your trees individually and tell you whether pollarding is suitable. Call us today so we can arrange a site visit, and a member of the team will gladly give you their advice and a tree pollarding cost.

Tree Stump Removal Sussex

Do tree surgeons remove stumps? Why yes, we certainly do!! Tree Stumps can be very ugly to look at and pose a potential trip hazard and, therefore, a health and safety liability. We offer an insured stump grinding service, where we utilise modern, heavy-duty stump grinders, which easily remove the stump while minimising damage to its surroundings. Manual stump removal can prove very labour-intensive and often results in unwanted disturbance to surrounding ground, walls or property.

Emergency Tree Surgeon West Sussex

The most frequent reasons for tree failure are lack of tree maintenance, poor pruning, storms and adverse weather. Even the largest, most well-established trees can fail, resulting in damage to property and or obstructing essential access. If you have a fallen or dangerous tree, contact Foremans Tree Specialists immediately, and we’ll do everything we can to make the situation safe and remove the tree ASAP. Our emergency tree response team is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 01403 333142

Ivy Removal West Sussex

When well-manicured, creeper and ivy are a majestic feature of your home, but if left unmanaged, they can cause damage to your property. Soffits, renderings, woodwork, and brickwork can all be compromised; if not addressed, you could end up with a costly bill for repair. We provide comprehensive creeper, climber and ivy removal/maintenance services for clients throughout West Sussex and all local surrounding areas.

Hedge Trimming West Sussex

Are your hedges or shrubs becoming unruly? We’re equipped with the latest tree surgeon tools and have the experience to tackle any hedge or bush, large or small. Our qualified tree surgeons can prune, cut and shape them to your exact specifications, so whether you have box hedges, conifers or topiary, contact us today, and we’ll have your outdoor space looking great in no time at all.

Tree Planting in West Sussex

Are you contemplating planting a new tree or relocating an existing one? We’ve planted countless trees in properties throughout West Sussex and have an in-depth understanding of the best aftercare methods. Foremans Tree Specialists Ltd can source the most suitable specimens and suggest appropriate planting locations; if required, we can even plant them for you. The relocation of an existing tree may be possible, but the roots should still be young and unestablished.

Garden, Land & Site Clearance West Sussex

Do you have a small outdoor space or a large commercial site you require clearing? Foremans Tree Specialists Ltd provides quick, safe, efficient vegetation, tree and land clearance solutions to private and public sectors. We have the latest equipment and a highly trained workforce, allowing us to deliver even the largest tree clearance projects on budget and, most importantly, on time.

If you’d like to discuss any of the West Sussex tree surgery services mentioned above or would like us to give you an idea of the tree surgeon costs that may be involved in your next project, call us today on 01403 333142, and we’ll gladly assist you in any way we can.

Surrey Tree Surgeon Services

For local, fully insured and professional tree surgeons in Surrey, we suggest you contact our Surrey-based subsidiary Guildford Tree Surgeons. Call them on 01483 910361 or via their contact page.

Landscape Gardener Services

For experienced and fully insured Landscape Gardeners In Surrey, West Sussex, Hampshire, and the South East, we recommend contacting our friendly landscaping specialists at Surrey Landscape Gardeners.

This skilled team of professional landscapers have the knowledge required to deliver a comprehensive range of services, such as patio laying, concrete bases, tarmacking, driveway landscaping, decking, brickwork, block paving, concreting, garden pond construction, paths, turfing, garden walls, artificial grass installation, fencing, garden steps and driveway landscaping.

Contact a Surrey Landscape Gardeners team member today to discuss your project requirements and arrange a free-of-charge, no-obligation quotation.

Foremans Tree Specialists Ltd: How To Choose A Tree Surgeon & Avoid The Cowboys

You will likely have noticed an ever-increasing number of tree surgeons popping up across West Sussex and throughout the southeast. Consequently, you may find it a lot more tricky separating the real professionals from the rogue traders and the “have a go” heroes.

Fortunately for you, Foremans Tree Specialists Ltd have put together this handy article to help you find the right trustworthy tree surgeon and avoid the stress and financial impact of hiring a cowboy contractor.

Location of the Tree Surgeon and Areas Covered

It may seem pretty obvious to most, but there is no point in wasting time researching a company or arranging a quotation if the tree contractor doesn’t service the area where you need the work carried out.

If you are using a search engine such as Google or Yahoo, the easiest way to find a contractor who services your area is to search “tree surgeon” followed by the location, i.e. “Sussex”, so “tree surgeon west Sussex”. Alternatively, if you have location services enabled, you could also search “local tree surgeons near me”.

Sometimes you may find that searching a larger area may display contractors who are quite far away from your location, which may, in turn, increase the price, or they may not service your exact location. You may want to be more specific; for example, you could search tree surgeon Horsham or tree surgeon Crawley. Another stumbling block you may run into is that when searching for a tree surgeon followed by a location, the search engine may bring up results of local tree surgeons who service your area but may not provide the required service. 

To save time, you should instead search using the service you need and the location you require it in, so you would search for “tree removal Horsham“, “tree pruning Crawley“, “hedge cutting Petworth“, or “site clearance in Chichester“.

Suppose you already have a contractor in mind. In that case, we suggest heading straight to the company’s website. If the relevant information isn’t available on the home page, look for an “areas covered” or “services” page; alternatively, you could contact them using the contact form. 

Tree Surgery Training & Qualifications 

For some, it may seem awkward to ask the person if they can prove they’re qualified to carry out the work they’ve just told you they can do. But rest assured that any genuine tree surgeon will be more than happy to prove their qualifications if asked to do so. If the person you’re dealing with is hesitant or fails to provide the evidence you require, you should probably decline their services and seek another contractor. 

It’s vital to check that staff have undergone adequate training and holds qualifications to carry out the task. Hiring untrained or unqualified contractors may lead to severe damage to your trees, property or risk injury to the contractors or the public. 

The two most recognised training providers are NPTC and LANTRA, and as a minimum, your chosen tree surgeon should have certificates in the following:

• Chainsaw Maintenance & Crosscutting / Felling Small Trees (formerly CS30 & CS31 now NPTC units 201/202/203 )
• Aerial Rescue Operations and Tree-climbing course (Formerly CS38, now NPTC units 206/306 )
• Aerial Cutting of Trees with a Chainsaw using Free-fall Techniques (formerly CS39, now NPTC unit 308)
• Emergency First Aid At Work (EFAW)

There are, of course, many more qualifications for tree surgeons to obtain, and generally speaking, the more certificates they hold, the more dedicated they will be to developing and maintaining a high standard of work. As a test of knowledge, you should also inquire if your contractor will carry out the work following British Standard guidelines for tree work (BS3998:2010). Any upstanding tree surgeon should work within these guidelines to help ensure the trees, hedges, and or shrubs’ ongoing health.

Tree Surgeon Insurance

Due to tree work’s inherently dangerous nature, having the correct insurance and level of cover is crucial. As a minimum, we suggest your chosen arboricultural contractor should have £10 million public and £10 employers liability insurance. 

Ensure they provide you with proof of insurance by sending you a certificate, or if in doubt, get their insurer’s details and give them a call to check its validity. Some more unscrupulous characters use fake documents or cancel their policies once they obtain a certificate. 

If you fail to make sure your chosen contractor has the correct insurance, you risk footing the bill for any repairs or damages should an accident occur.

References, Reviews & Accrediting Bodies

Pretty much every contractor you speak to will claim to be the best at what they do, which goes for real professionals and cowboys alike. The best way to divide the best from the worst is to ask for some references or look online for validated reviews. 

Nowadays, plenty of accrediting bodies and review aggregation websites online make it easier than ever to check any company’s track record. In today’s age, if a business claims to have no online presence, there is probably a reason for this, and you should proceed cautiously. At a minimum, you should do a Google search for the company and look to see if any reviews pop up in the search results. Usually, companies will have a Google Business profile with at least a handful of testimonials for you to study. 

In addition to a Google profile, most tree specialists will have profiles on websites such as Yell.com, Rated People and MyBuilder or be active across social media, including Facebook and Instagram.

For more peace of mind, select a contractor who is a member of Checkatrade, Which? Trusted Traders or Buy With Confidence. These companies check for a registered business address, qualifications, and insurance and act as a review aggregation platform. They also have a review verification process to confirm whether they are from real customers. With that said, there are still some claims of fake reviews, so you should always look at the reviews and decide for yourself if they are genuine. Generally speaking, if the company is highly rated and the testimonials read well, you should be safe to proceed to the quotation stage. 

Getting Tree Surgery Quotes

Once you’ve compiled a list of suitable tree surgeons, it’s time to get some quotations together. Most contractors will offer a free site visit and consultation to discuss your project requirements, followed up by itemised written quote. 

Different contractors may recommend that you achieve your project goals in different ways, using alternative tree surgery techniques, so this is something to be aware of when you’re comparing quotations, as they might not be like for like. 

You may feel inclined to accept the first quotation you receive, but it’s important to get at least a couple for comparison. 

Overview Of Finding A Tree Surgeon

This process may take a little longer than picking a tree surgeon and going on gut instinct alone. Still, you’ll at least have the peace of mind your chosen tree surgery company is insured, qualified and will carry out the work to a suitable standard.