Arboricultural Frequently Asked Questions
Do you take everything away?
Most customers these days require removal of arisings from site and this will normally be specified in the quotation. However woodchips make a useful garden mulch and we are increasingly finding clients requesting that the chips are left for their own use. Logs can be used to create invaluable wildlife habitat, if stacked in a damp corner of the garden or half buried in the ground. We can also carve seats into stumps or leave large logs to make garden benches.
What happens to the stump chippings?
When a stump is removed using a grinder, the resultant chips will not be removed unless specified. This is because they become incorporated with the soil and begin to decompose quite rapidly adding organic matter that improves soil structure.
Will my neighbours be affected?
Sometimes it is necessary to have access to a neighbouring property particularly when branches overhang. Please inform them of your intention to carry out work and the date on which it will take place. Our arborists are always polite and courteous. However, a neighbour returning from shopping or work will not be amused to find people on their property if not informed.
Do I need to protect my walls or lawns?
Whilst our arborists will operate with care and diligence often our work entails the carrying of large amount of material (brushwood/logs) over lawns and past the house. Please make sure that vulnerable surfaces (such as white walls) are adequately protected (builders polythene is a good method) also that fragile objects are moved (such as pots etc.) Our staff will be more than happy to move heavier objects for elderly or disabled clients. Lawns tend to recover rapidly but very wet weather can give rise to very muddy conditions. We are able to provide boards to protect the lawn and use a roll up rope and board pathway when conditions are particularly wet or boggy. However, this is not a standard procedure and may incur additional cost. If in doubt please discuss this with our office.
When do I pay?
When the job is completed, the team leader will check that you are satisfied with the work completed and may ask you to sign a job sheet. Please only sign this when you are satisfied that all items are completed. Please raise any queries with the team leader before signing the job off. The office will then post an invoice within 14 days.
What does 30% mean?
Tree pruning is usually described in terms of a percentage amount. Therefore 30% reduction means approximately one third of the branch length. The climber will aim to prune to the most appropriate point, cutting back to a smaller secondary branch. Thinning is different from reducing. Thinning involves removing a percentage of material from the tree without actually reducing its size.
What time will the team arrive?
If your work has been booked in for the morning, then our team will arrive between 8.30-9.30am depending on distance and traffic conditions. Most jobs are completed efficiently and on time. However, occasionally a job will over-run or the weather will prevent us from working to time. Therefore if your work has been booked in for the afternoon it is not always possible to provide you with an arrival time, although we would normally aim to arrive between 12-1pm.
Do I need permission?
In almost all circumstances it is wise to establish whether permission is required. If you are living in a conservation area it will be necessary to notify the Local Planning Authority (LPA) of your intention to carry out work. The LPA may then take 6 weeks to comment on the proposals. If your trees are covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), then permission is required from the LPA before work can start. We will discuss the necessary procedures with you and where necessary notify the LPA of our treework proposals or make a formal application to complete work on TPO trees.
Note: We hope these FAQ's will provide you with some of the answers you require. If however, you would like further help or advice please do not hesitate to contact us. Also if there are other questions which you think should appear in the list above please let us know, so we can continue to provide a comprehensive and professional service to our clients.
