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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Original poster

Who and how much to cut down trees?

41 replies

RandomMess · 28/12/2021 23:33

2 large trees in our rear garden that need to come down for safety reasons.

Do I need a tree surgeon or someone that does ground works?

What insurance should they have and is it checkable on line?

Live in NW (not Manchester itself) any vague idea of costs - I'm expecting it to be £ but happy to pay for someone to do it properly and safely!

OP posts:
Unreasonabubble · 28/12/2021 23:36

First things first. Check with your local Council that there is no preservation order on either of the trees before you cut them down.

The rest I can't help you with.

Lineofconcepcion · 28/12/2021 23:40

Use a tree surgeon or a garden contractor. Cost somewhere between 200 to 400 each depending upon size (sth east). Ask for a copy of their certificate of insurance.

Original poster
RandomMess · 28/12/2021 23:47

No TPO on them Grin one is only about 8 years old.

Do you know if they need specific insurance?

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Shedmistress · 28/12/2021 23:51

what type of trees, how tall, and where are they positioned?

Original poster
RandomMess · 28/12/2021 23:54

One is An ex Xmas tree that the previous neighbour planted at the bottom and one is a self seeded deciduous fast growing native tree with Ivy choking it and both by a retaining wall.

Positive news is that they aren't too far from the end of the drive, not so good is that they are down a tiered bank.

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Shedmistress · 29/12/2021 10:47

What is the self seeded decidious tree? How tall? How steep is this tiered bank? How close to the wall? How much ivy? Can either be accessed on foot? Are there other buildings nearby?

It is hard to say whether you need a tree surgeon if you don't give enough details, so on that note I'm going to say, get a tree surgeon in.

HeronLanyon · 29/12/2021 10:52

Can I add ‘when’ to your list. Not permitted during nesting season.

Shedmistress · 29/12/2021 10:57

Yes they would have to do it soon, or wait until late summer. Also if it is wet on the bank, it makes it much harder to take down in bad weather.

Original poster
RandomMess · 29/12/2021 11:22

Ok I will just go for tree surgeon I'm aware of nesting season issues tbf it's not been nested in yet they prefer the mature trees in the wood nearby and sadly not many songbirds too many hunting birds and cats Sad

Do they have a specialist insurance company? I'm concerned that they wave any old insurance certificate at me and I wouldn't know it wasn't appropriate.

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wonkylegs · 29/12/2021 12:03

I'm sure you're not but just a heads up if you are in a conservation area you need planning permission to do any work to trees even those without a TPO. It's free to apply for but does take a bit of time.
Questions to ask arborists - qualifications, insurance and also how they would take them down and dispose of it.
They should be taking it down in segments to minimise damage and risk (you really don't want a large tree falling on your lawn it can do lots of damage)
Are the going to grind out or pull out the root? They shouldn't leave it as it will just start growing again.

Original poster
RandomMess · 29/12/2021 12:14

Definitely not a conservation area.

Thank you for those questions! Must get ringing around.

I just don't like wasting professionals time if they aren't the right people for the job.

No lawn here and thankfully wouldn't hit the house but equally don't want the shed taken out by accident or damage to the retaining walls!!

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Mellowyellow222 · 29/12/2021 22:11

I was about to start another thread but will steal this!

I too need two trees removed. They are awful ever greens . About 10 ft tall and really bushy.

Stupids question - but what happened to the trunks and roots? Does the tree surgeon remove them too?

Shedmistress · 29/12/2021 23:08

@Mellowyellow222

I was about to start another thread but will steal this!

I too need two trees removed. They are awful ever greens . About 10 ft tall and really bushy.

Stupids question - but what happened to the trunks and roots? Does the tree surgeon remove them too?

No, that requires either digging out or a stump grinder. They will usually leave a fair amount of trunk in.
MereDintofPandiculation · 30/12/2021 08:37

If one is only 8 years old, I’m assuming it can’t be that big. In which case it could be handled by a gardener of the sort that comes round and cuts lawns and hedges. But if you need an arboriculturalist for the other, then easier to get him to do both.

Shedmistress · 30/12/2021 09:16

@MereDintofPandiculation

If one is only 8 years old, I’m assuming it can’t be that big. In which case it could be handled by a gardener of the sort that comes round and cuts lawns and hedges. But if you need an arboriculturalist for the other, then easier to get him to do both.
Him, or her.

We are allowed to own and use chainsaws these days. And insurance. And to own a company. Even in possession of a vagina. I know, who knew?

wonkylegs · 30/12/2021 09:32

We have a tree lady (arboriculturalist) who is fab and has a female assistant but they are definitely in a minority round here.
It does mean everyone knows who they are.

kirinm · 30/12/2021 09:36

You need a tree surgeon who has an arborist background particularly as you're close to a retaining wall.

You'll also need him / her to have public liability insurance.

kirinm · 30/12/2021 09:36

@Mellowyellow222

I was about to start another thread but will steal this!

I too need two trees removed. They are awful ever greens . About 10 ft tall and really bushy.

Stupids question - but what happened to the trunks and roots? Does the tree surgeon remove them too?

We had a 40ft tree cut down. They left the stump but inserted something into it to help it die.
Harrysmummy246 · 31/12/2021 15:52

Agree @Shedmistress I was just ranting about exactly that this afternoon. I was using the chainsaw (and axe) to sort out the remnants of the last tree we had felled (by a tree surgeon, who ground the stumps @RandomMess) and honestly passers by seemed to be looking at me like I had 2 flipping heads.

Having that tree felled that was £600 for one tree, but with TPO (I applied for permission myself) and I used to do tree stuff as part of my job so I won't let just any Tom DIck or Harry come in and do them.

Original poster
RandomMess · 31/12/2021 16:17

Exactly I wanted to ensure I was getting the right person to do the job. Also what insurance they have, hmmm issues their qualifications??

What's the difference between a arborist and tree surgeon 🤷🏽‍♀️

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Original poster
RandomMess · 31/12/2021 16:22

Name the fastest growing deciduous trees common in the UK and I reckon it's one of them, it was a large sapling 8 years ago but happy days the neighbours have said we can remove it.

May need to leave the stump due to retaining wall tbh. Argh don't mind paying just don't want to be over charged by some cowboy (girl) or pay for a service above and beyond what I need.

I know of a friend of a friend Arborist who is female!! Have her in mind to come and cut back the rest of the trees/bushes etc. not sure if her business includes large tree removal and disposal.

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Harrysmummy246 · 31/12/2021 16:26

@RandomMess depending on where you are in NW, I'd recommend who I use. They are not cheap, and you usually have to wait til they have a slot free (if someone says they can do it next week, they're probably not the best)
I actually honestly didn't check their papers as I know enough via their website and talking to the owner when he was quoting to be sure that I wasn't being ripped off.

Bigfathairyones · 31/12/2021 16:27

In case this helps, we've had tree surgeons in 3 times to our garden:

  1. For 2 huge (50 metres, fully mature) beech, topping another mature beech and removing 2 other deciduous trees..£3.5 k. Took 3 days, 3 guys. No root grinding as v expensive plus if you leave them with a bit of length, you can get stag beetles.
  2. Removal of apple tree plus one other small one - £480.
  3. Removal of 1 v large dead conifer with stump grinding, plus 2 more conifers and a lop of another - £1k all in.
simonisnotme · 31/12/2021 16:28

we have recently had 3 trees took down 2 cost £650
and one which was dead and leaning was £350
kept the wood for the log burner

Original poster
RandomMess · 31/12/2021 16:40

@Harrysmummy246 if you would pm me that would be great. May be too far away but worth trying for sure.

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