Tree surgery involves the maintenance, care, and removal of trees to ensure safety, health, and aesthetics. Services include pruning, felling, stump grinding, and disease management.
If the tree is in a conservation area or has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), you need permission from the local council before any work can be carried out.
The ideal time depends on the species and work required, but most tree surgery is best done in late autumn or winter when trees are dormant.
Signs include dead or hanging branches, large cracks, fungal growth, leaning, or visible root damage. A tree survey can assess its condition.
Pruning involves selective removal of branches to maintain shape and health, while pollarding is a more drastic cutback to encourage regrowth from a fixed height.
The tree owner is responsible for maintenance, but neighbours have the right to trim overhanging branches back to the boundary.
Yes, regular inspections and treatments can prevent or manage common UK tree diseases like ash dieback, Dutch elm disease, and honey fungus.
What happens to the waste after tree surgery? – Most tree surgeons offer waste removal, with options for chipping, composting, or log-cutting for firewood. Some councils also provide green waste collection services.
A tree survey assesses the health, condition, and safety of trees on a property, often required for planning, risk management, or legal compliance and forms part of any best practice estate management program.
A survey is needed for planning applications, risk assessments, property purchases, construction projects, or when trees show signs of disease or instability.
Common types include BS5837 tree surveys for planning, tree risk assessments, decay detection surveys, and ecological impact assessments.
A qualified arboriculturist or tree consultant with professional accreditation, such as Arboricultural Association membership or LANTRA certification.
A British Standard (BS5837) tree survey is required for developments near trees, assessing their impact on buildings and infrastructure.
It depends on the number of trees. A small site with a few trees may take a few hours, while large-scale surveys can take several days.
The surveyor may recommend pruning, bracing, felling, or monitoring. Urgent risks should be addressed immediately to prevent accidents.
Yes, most surveys provide management advice, including pruning, removal, protection measures, or replanting requirements.
They are mandatory for planning applications and may be required for tree preservation orders (TPOs), conservation areas, or insurance purposes.
A scheduled service that includes grass cutting, hedge trimming, litter picking, strimming, blowing, and weed management to keep outdoor spaces well-maintained year-round.
Frequency depends on the specific needs of a site, but visits are typically fortnightly during the summer, and monthly during the winter.
It ensures a well-presented, safe, and compliant outdoor space, reduces long-term costs, prevents overgrowth, and enhances biodiversity.
Hedges should be cut outside of bird nesting season (March–August), typically in late winter or early autumn, depending on species.
Weed control includes manual removal, herbicide application, and preventative treatments tailored to paths, lawns, and hard surfaces.
No, but this can be added as an extra as and when required.
Yes, summer focuses on grass cutting and weed control, while winter includes leaf clearance, moss treatment, and hard surface maintenance.
Grounds maintenance contracts usually include litter picking and disposal, keeping outdoor areas tidy and compliant with environmental standards.
Services are carried out using ride-on mowers, strimmers, blowers, hedge trimmers, and weed sprayers for efficiency and quality results.
Costs vary based on site size, frequency, and services required, with contracts typically ranging from a few hundred to several thousand pounds per year.
Services can include hedge cutting, grass cutting, weed spraying, moss removal, litter picking, leaf clearance, and general site tidying.
The best time is late winter or early autumn to avoid bird nesting season (March–August) and encourage healthy regrowth.
During the growing season (March–October), grass should be cut every 1–2 weeks, but a one-off cut may be needed for overgrown areas.
Professional weed spraying uses approved herbicides that are safe when applied correctly. Areas should be avoided until dry, usually within a few hours.
Moss can be treated with herbicides, jet washing, or mechanical brushing, depending on the severity of growth and surface type.
If in a conservation area or the hedge/tree is subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), council approval may be required.
Most contractors remove green waste, but some offer options for on-site composting or mulching if preferred.
Small jobs take a few hours, while larger sites or extensive work can take a full day or more.
Yes, most contractors offer ongoing maintenance plans tailored to your site’s needs.
Autumn and early spring are ideal for most planting, as cooler temperatures and rainfall help establish strong roots.
Regular watering is essential, typically 2–3 times per week for the first few months, depending on weather conditions.
Mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, improve soil quality, and protect plant roots from temperature fluctuations.
Turf takes around 2–4 weeks to root properly, during which it needs frequent watering and minimal foot traffic.
Turf provides an instant lawn but is more expensive, while seeding is more cost-effective but takes longer to establish.
Flower beds should be refreshed seasonally, with spring and autumn being the best times for replanting and soil enrichment.
Hardy perennials, evergreen shrubs, and ground cover plants such as lavender, heather, or ornamental grasses require minimal upkeep.
A soil test helps determine pH and nutrient levels, guiding plant selection based on whether the soil is clay, sandy, loamy, or chalky.
Small projects like flower bed restoration take a day or two, while larger works such as tree planting or turfing may take several days to weeks.
Yes, regular maintenance such as watering, pruning, weeding, and feeding is essential to keep new plantings healthy and thriving.
It involves the removal of overgrown or unwanted plants, shrubs, trees, and weeds to improve safety, access, or prepare land for development or maintenance.
It helps prevent hazards, improves visibility, reduces fire risk, controls pests, maintains site accessibility, and prepares areas for landscaping or construction.
If trees or hedges are in a conservation area or protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), council approval may be required.
Techniques include manual cutting, mechanical flailing, tree felling, herbicide treatment, and stump grinding, depending on the site and requirements.
Small sites may take a few hours to a day, while larger or heavily overgrown areas may require several days or weeks.
Most contractors offer green waste removal, chipping, mulching, or composting, with options for site re-use or disposal.
Yes, ivy and climbing plants can be cut back, removed, or treated with herbicide to prevent regrowth and potential structural damage.
It depends on site conditions, but annual or seasonal clearance is recommended for boundaries, pathways, and high-growth areas.
Responsible clearance considers wildlife protection, nesting season regulations (March–August), and eco-friendly disposal methods.
Yes, removing overgrown vegetation can reduce habitats for rodents, insects, and invasive species, improving site hygiene and safety.
It provides expert guidance on managing and enhancing a site’s ecological value while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and sustainability goals.
A consultant is required for planning applications, biodiversity net gain (BNG) assessments, habitat management, ecological compliance, and sustainable development projects.
A BNG assessment measures how a development impacts biodiversity and outlines ways to increase habitat value to meet UK planning policy requirements.
Surveys may include habitat assessments, protected species surveys, ecological impact assessments (EcIA), and biodiversity monitoring.
Many new developments, infrastructure projects, and land-use changes require biodiversity assessments to meet UK planning and environmental laws.
Through native planting, green roofs, wetland creation, wildlife corridors, pollinator-friendly landscaping, and sustainable land management practices.
Key legislation includes the Environment Act 2021, Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
A BAP outlines specific actions to protect and enhance habitats and species on a site, often tailored to meet local or national conservation targets.
Through regular site surveys, habitat condition assessments, species monitoring, and compliance reporting to track improvements and ensure targets are met.
By integrating green infrastructure, ecological mitigation strategies, sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), and habitat creation projects.
The identification, management, and removal of non-native, fast-spreading plant species to protect ecosystems, infrastructure, and comply with UK regulations.
They outcompete native plants, damage buildings and infrastructure, reduce biodiversity, and can be toxic to humans and animals.
Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam, Giant Hogweed, Rhododendron Ponticum, New Zealand Pigmyweed, Common Ragwort, Cotoneaster, and Buddleia.
Methods include herbicide treatment, excavation, root barriers, and biological control, with long-term monitoring required.
It is not illegal to have them, but under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, allowing them to spread beyond your land is an offence.
Most treatments are most effective in late spring to autumn, when weeds are actively growing and can absorb herbicides.
Some species, like Giant Hogweed, can be hazardous, and Japanese Knotweed requires licensed disposal. Professional treatment is often necessary.
Treatment can take several months to years, depending on the species, infestation size, and control method used.
They can spread rapidly, cause structural damage, harm wildlife, and lead to legal action if they encroach onto neighbouring properties.
Yes, accredited professionals (such as PCA-certified specialists) provide the safest, most effective, and legally compliant removal solutions.