Arboriculture is a highly skilled job requiring exstensive knowledge and training.
Trees provide benefits we take for granted and managing them in the correct way is essential we have this for generations to come in both our urban and rural areas!
Arboricultural work is at the heart of PLS Group UK’s expertise, be that through pruning or removing hazerdous/ problem trees in parks, gardens or other difficult to access locations.
All our work is carried out to current industry standard, (click the link for a full explanation from the Arboricultural Association website) BS3998:2010 Tree work recommendations.
While some jobs can be simple and straight forward, a site visit is essential to evaluate access and other important site related factors to ensure we can offer the safest and most efficient method for whatever arboricultural service you require
There are two methods utilised to get a tree onto the ground
Felling - where a directional felling cut is applied to the base of the tree allowing it to fall onto the ground in the desired direction.
Dismantling - the removal of the tree in small sections from within the crown. This is carried out either using a MEWP (mobile elevated work platform), by ropes access - a climber working from a rope and harness or mechanical means such as a crane fitted with a grab and saw.
Probably an obvious question! Dismantling is for when access or space is limited and the risk of damage to surrounding property is high!!
There are lots of different tree work techniques to suit the given tree position, but the two most common methods used the majority of the time, especially where access is limited:
In an ideal world, trees would be left alone to naturally ‘prune’ themselves. In reality, human intervention is required where trees and people co-exist to keep people safe and property free from damage.
When a branch is removed the final pruning cut looking like the one in the image. This type of cut is known as target pruning and every self respecting Arborist should be fully conversant with this method!
Finished cuts like this gives the tree the best chance of recovery and helps to limit the ingress of decay through the wound!
The number of branches to be removed is also critical. Removing too many can actually lead to crown die back, putting the tree under severe physiological stress.
There can be many reasons for pruning the most common ones are:
There are many examples of poor pruning out there!! When trees are not pruned correctly it can lead to future issues such as weakend crown structure, branch decay and even whole tree death!!
All pruning work, which includes work carried out by PLS Group UK, should be carried out with reference to the British Standard BS3998: 2010 Tree Work Recommendations
Please scroll down for a more detailed explanation of the different methods of pruning to industry best practice
When is crown reduction needed?
Reducing the size of a trees crown by shortening the branches:
Please also be aware that not all tree species react well when pruned excessivley. Some trees can have more branches removed, others less. This is the kind of advice you will recieve at the quotation phase.
Crown lifting is the removal of selected lower branches of the crown to a given height. This might be to allow clearance from the road or a footpath or any other situation where the tree has begun to interfere with it's surroundings!
Crown lifting can be particularley effective for letting in light where a large tree is situated next to a property. It can be much more effective than crown reduction would ever be and therefore a more cost effective solution!
The other asthetic benifit is that it doesn't interfere with upper crown shape and eliminates the need for unecessarey crown reduction!
The removal of dead branches is one of the most important maintenance tasks for trees located near people and property!
Dying branches are a natural part of tree growth, the issue is when a large branch dies and persist on the tree. Dead branches are brittle and more liable to breaking off, particularley in high winds!
It's easy for them to go unoticed and it is advisable that you check your tree(s) every year to see if branches are in the process of dying off or are actually dead (Please note, multiple branches dying back could be a sign of something more significant in relation to the trees health. This requires further analysis by a qualified arborist!).
Removal eliminates the risk of them causing harm and damage to anyone or anything in the vicinity of the tree.
Following the removal of a tree, the stump remains and in most cases is cut as low to the ground as possible, leaving it to decay naturally. However, there may be a situation where the stump needs to be removed usually for construction purposes or simply to remove the trip hazard!
Other reasons for removal maybe to avoid unwanted shoots growing from the cut stump, or just the need to be able to replant in the same spot.
A stump grinding machine will quickly grind away the main body of any size stump to leave you with a mulched area to re-use. Please be aware, this does not completel remove ALL roots from the ground (Removing branching roots other than the main stump would need to be assessed at the site visit at extra cost) It gets rid of the main, central woody part of the stem to below the surface allowing most operations such as turfing, flagging and replanting to be undertaken.
Storms and very windy conditions are usually the main factor in causing trees to become an immediate danger.
Extreme weather can lead to unstable crowns and potentially whole tree failure. Hazards include....
Fungi and decay and other issues
Tree structure can also be compromised by decay fungi and pests/diseases. These pathogens often lead to decay causing the trees structure to become weak and an increased risk of limb or whole tree failure.
Carrying out work on damaged or dangerous trees requires an extra level of expertise and experience.
Safety is our number one priority and at PLS that begins with carrying out a thorough risk assessment first as part of that process to allow us to utilise the safest method
Tree preservation orders and conservation areas are put in place by local authorities to protect high value trees from removal or indiscriminate pruning. It is essential to check for any protection in place prior to starting work. We can provide advice on the process or prepare and submit any applications on your behalf.
Annually, working at height is responsible for more injuries and fatalities in industry than any other hazard! As arborists, a large part of our work involves working at height. We take a risk based approach to all our climbing operations applying industry best practice to every job. As part of our commitment to a safer working environment.
While accessing trees using a rope and harness has been the norm in the Arboricultural industry for many years and still will be for years to come, the use of MEWP’S (mobile elevated work platform) has now become the preferance wherever access will allowing a much safer mode of working.
By thoroughly assessing the risk of working at height on every job, PLS strive to create the safest working environment possible for it's team!
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