Advice on Maintenance  

Tree maintenance should be taken seriously and carried out expertly for the sake of the trees and to reduce the possibility of accident or injury. It should not be equated with other gardening work.

Employ a specialist contractor for all tree work unless you are completely confident in your abilities. Chain saws should be treated with the utmost respect for safety. The highly specialised equipment and machinery used by tree surgeons can also make light work of tasks that would be very difficult, potentially dangerous and untidy for the amateur.

Ensure that any contractors you engage are fully aware of current good arboricultural practice (as, for example, set out in British Standard 3998) and with the law relating to trees (e.g. as in the Town and Country Planning Acts). If unsure, ask for the qualifications and relevant certificates of the operators doing the work and seek references.

Ask about the contractor's Health and Safety Policy and practice. Ensure that your contractor has adequate insurance cover for damage and public liability. Tree work is dangerous. Accidents can happen even with competent contractors.

Obtain more than one estimate and, ideally at least three. Most reputable contractors will give a free estimate.

How should I choose a tree contractor?

From the Council’s current list (this is not exhaustive).

From the Arboricultural Association’s directory .

From Yellow Pages, other directories or personal recommendations, but note especially the comments above when making a selection.

The Arboricultural Association is a professional body concerned with raising the standards of tree care in the country. Competent qualified tree contractors on the Council’s or Arboricultural Association’s lists are not necessarily more expensive, even for minor work, than those obtained from other sources.

Beware of:

Casual callers offering to carry out tree work, especially if they say they work for the Council. – they may not be adequately skilled, equipped nor insured, despite a low quotation and verbal reassurances. This may prove costly in the long run. Hart Council only employs competent independent contractors for work on its own trees. The Council's experience is that most illegal and unskilled tree work in the area is carried out by casual workers with no registered address or clear company identity. Ask for proof of insurance and references and check them.

The contractor who tells you that you do not need the Council’s consent for "lopping", minor pruning or works to certain species of tree. Any specie of tree may be protected and virtually all works are covered.

Well-meaning but misguided recommendations from acquaintances or neighbours, particularly where extensive pruning is proposed. The document "British Standard Recommendations for Tree Work" (known as BS3998:1990) sets out standards that apply to most operations on trees and ensures that safety and long-term health, as well as appearance, are properly dealt with. Contact a reputable specialist or the Council for further information

Guidelines for tree maintenance

Don’t have a tree pruned unnecessarily.

Don’t attempt to prune trees yourself unless you are confident that you can do it safely and to a good standard.

Don’t have trees pollarded or severely lopped to obtain more light. The cut stumps will regrow with a dense wall of shoots, resulting in even less light and a spoilt appearance (such work would not normally be approved if the tree is protected). Thinning of foliage, or selective removal of branches or limbs may be more effective in alleviating the problem, and far better for the health, safety and appearance of the tree.

Do employ an expert, especially for major work. It is not only better for the health of the tree, but also for its appearance. Remember – It is both skilled and dangerous work.

Don’t assume that a tall or large tree is dangerous. Seek advice from an expert before taking any drastic action.

Don’t raise the soil level under the canopy of a tree. This can kill the tree by restricting water and air supplies to the roots.

Do remember that trees which have been disfigured by poor work or storm damage can sometimes be brought back into good shape and health by an expert.

Don’t light a bonfire under the canopy of or near a tree; the heat can seriously affect both leaves and trunk, even if damage is not immediately apparent. The life expectancy of the tree may be drastically reduced.

Do plant a new tree if you have room, particularly if you have just had one felled.

Do choose the species carefully and consider the space available for it to grow in. What appears to be a small tree now may fill your garden eventually and overhang the house. Some trees have denser foliage than others, leading to light obstruction. In some situations, tree roots may cause damage to drains or nearby structures and branches may interfere with overhead cables. Reputable suppliers and books are useful sources of information.

Do water newly planted trees thoroughly and often. Keep weeds and grass away from the base, particularly for the first few summers.