Garden Trees

Garden Trees

We can and do undertake all types of garden tree work.

Below are notes aimed at helping you consider the best options for your garden.

Trees can add a lot to the garden and society, they remove water, reduce pollution, store carbon, provide timber, provide fruit, flowers, habitat for wildlife, shade from the sun, wind breaks, colour and texture, screens to hide views and screens for privacy.

At the same time trees can also be hazardous, overshadow, hide views, costly to maintain, drop fruit and leaves where its not wanted and in some cases grow to the extent that there is no room for anything else.

Arboriculture is the art and science of working with trees to ensure the trees fit in with people and people fit in with the trees.

Whilst it is often possible to significantly improve a garden by pruning (discussed below} a good way of thinking about garden trees is to ask the question, Is this the right tree in the right place? When there is no sensible pruning option it may well make sense to remove the tree and replant with something that you will enjoy for years to come.

When pruning is appropriate options include:

• Crown raising: This where lower branches are removed to create space underneath the tree. This allows improved movement for people or traffic and can often enhance a view.

• Crown reduction: This is where the size of the crown is reduced. This can be a good option when the tree is starting to get get to big or in some situations to reduce the likelihood of failure. For the tree to remain in a reasonable condition into the future, there is a limit to the extent the trees crown can be reduced. (Topping and lopping, despite being legal terms in the UK are no longer considered a sensible approach to managing trees).

• Crown thinning: Usually undertaken to improve the light under the trees.This process, on its own should not significantly reduce the size or structure of the tree.

• Formative pruning, with some young trees it is possible to influence their future form by pruning early in their life. This can include encouraging a long stem with space for pedestrians or vehicles underneath or a setting up a pollard which is a form of tree where the size is routinely managed.

• Fruit tree pruning: Fruit trees are first usually pruned much earlier in their development to encourage a shape that has plenty of air circulation to prevent fruit rot and ensure it is either easy to pick or out of the reach of animals. As a general rule fruit trees are better pruned in the winter months.

• Hedge cutting is best undertaken regularly. To some extent rough and neglected hedges can be tamed.

Dangerous trees

Just how dangerous is a dangerous tree? This is something that should be considered before a removal or felling is undertaken. Culturally I think we are often keen to remove trees to early, perhaps this comes from a timber production where decay in the centre of a tree makes it worthless. Many ancient trees are hollow, provide tremendous habitat and interest. However the decision to retain a decaying or broken tree needs to be balanced with the risk of the harm any failure would cause. Once a tree has been identified as hazardous there may be a number of options

Options include:

• Removing dead or broken branches.

• Reducing weight on specific areas or reducing the 'sail' of the canopy to reduce the risk of catastrophic failure to acceptable levels.

• Bracing which when combined with pruning, may reduce the risk to an acceptable level.

Sometimes however, garden trees deteriorate to a point where removal is the only sensible option to ensure the safety of people and property. We pride ourselves on undertaking this work safely and efficiently whilst minimising any disturbance and damage to property.

Dead and Dying Trees

Dead trees can be a real hazard and in a garden setting, removal should be considered. With larger trees as the decaying processes takes hold, the difficulty, danger and cost of removal increases. Dead trees are also considered a significant habitat for wildlife. Where there is no significant risk, a failing tree may be left to provide a great habitat for wildlife.

Currently of particular importance in the UK is dead or dying Ash trees. Please have a look at my specific page about this.

Planting and Replacing trees

There are many many options when it comes to planting trees. Consideration should be given to a number of factors including ultimate size, shape and colour. Trees can be planted of different sizes, bigger trees are available which give a more instant impact when required. We work with garden designers and tree nursery's and are happy to help you consider your choices.

The big walnut above is in serious decline but the customer was really keen to keep the tree and manage the risk. As such we agreed to reduce the crown and install bracing. We anticipate the reduction in sail area and weight combined with the bracing significantly reduces the chance of failure and in the event of failure limit the damage to manageable levels. At the same time we hope that the pruning will promote more new growth inside the crown after which a further reduction may well be reasonable. Work like this allows trees to be enjoyed for for many more years whilst providing tremendous habitat.