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Edited by Ali Lijee Edited by Ali LijeeIf you’re looking for expert tree planting or transplanting services in the UK, TreeMend is your go-to platform. We connect property owners, managers, and developers nationwide with skilled tree surgeons and arborists who deliver professional, reliable care for your trees.
Table of contents
- What is tree planting?
- Why are tree planting services needed?
- Types of tree planting services
- The tree planting process explained
- Professional tree planting vs DIY: how to decide
- How to get tree planting services near you
- Tree planting services in the UK: frequently asked questions
- Book tree planting services today
What is tree planting?
Tree planting is, quite simply, the act of planting one or more saplings or trees in the ground. This can either be in private gardens (arboriculture) or in woodlands (silviculture). We will only be addressing the former, but this does include both trees planted in home gardens as well as large-scale planting for domestic and commercial properties.
Planting a tree is a great way to add shade and comfort on your property, and it’s also great for the environment as trees give us oxygen, regulate soil erosion, and act as habitats for insects and wildlife, including many of the UK’s loveliest protected species.
You probably already know that trees are a vital part of British history and heritage, but did you know that the UK has much less tree cover than it did in the past and much less than in the EU? According to Friends of the Earth, only 12.8% of England, around 20% of Scotland and Wales, and less than 10% of Northern Ireland have tree cover compared to around 40% in the EU? Planting trees, even just one or a couple on your property, are a great way to restore tree cover and to enjoy their many benefits.
Why are tree planting services needed?
Tree planting services may be desired or needed by property owners and developers for various reasons. Some of the most common include:
- Professional planting and landscaping: naturally, many property owners require tree planting services when they lack the expertise or machinery to plant trees themselves. Landscape architects and arboricultural professionals can assist with selecting the best species for your property and retain labour to plant them properly.
- Replacement of felled trees: whenever a tree is felled, it’s generally recommended to replace it with a new tree or at a 3:1 ratio if possible. Some protected trees (e.g. subject to Tree Preservation Orders) may require that the tree owner replant a new tree if a protected tree is felled.
- Beautification for new developments: land developers and landscape architects often plant new trees to add appeal for homebuyers whilst also giving them lovely trees that can add to home property values.
- Improve air quality and enhance general health and well-being: as a more altruistic reason, trees greatly assist in reducing pollutants from the air, reduce flood risks and soil erosion, and improve mental health and wellbeing by up to 50%.
- Source trees from all over Europe: tree planting consultants can often source native British tree species and species from across Europe. Diverse species can add great visual appeal to your property and neighbourhood.
Benefits of tree planting services
What are the benefits of tree planting services from tree surgeons and arborists in the UK? Here are a few:
- Save time and effort: planting a tree could be more complex than anticipated, so leaving the job to an arboricultural professional can save you lots of headaches and precious time.
- Expert tree planting advice: arborists in the UK can give you valuable insights about the best species for your property’s soil conditions, help you to manage the growth of the sapling for the first few years, and many other tips.
- All the benefits of having healthy trees: naturally, having trees on your property gives you all of the commensurate benefits, like better shade, reduced soil erosion, fruits or lovely leaves to add colour and character, and the mental health benefits of trees.
- Improved aesthetics: trees simply look good, and they’re a core part of biophilia and a reprieve from the concrete jungle. Having trees on your property can simply make the property look more appealing to you and to any future buyers, whilst also benefitting the neighbourhood and general public.
Tree planting services are often needed for trees that are too big or complex to plant yourself, and they’re commonly used by developers and architects
Types of tree planting services
Tree planting can be as simple as helping a homeowner plant a tree they’ve already bought or doing all of the planning and labour required to plant numerous trees on one or more properties for developers. We can categorise tree planting services as follows:
Domestic tree planting
For homeowners looking to plant one or more trees on their property, domestic tree planting is a helpful service. Arboricultural professionals can help you select the most ideal species to grow and the best location on your property to avoid root subsidence, crown canopies from being a danger, and they can also provide you with management plans for the early years of the tree’s life to encourage strong vitality and consistent planned growth.
Typically, homeowners will retain these services after they’ve bought a tree themselves but perhaps lack the tools and/or expertise required to plant it properly. No bother, arboricultural professionals often help homeowners plant pre-purchased trees. Since the tree has already been paid for, the costs associated are for labour.
Some homeowners may also have pre-dug holes and simply need the arborist to transport and plant the tree in the hole. This cuts out a lot of time and labour, so all you end up paying for is the tree, hauling costs, and the cost of planting.
If you haven’t bought a tree yet, it’s also no bother. Many arborists in the UK can source trees from all over the UK and Europe and plant them for you. Some will even sell you pre-pleached trees or can pleach them on-site, whilst also being able to source trees of various heights (if you want a head start and don’t want to nurture a sapling from day one).
Commercial tree planting
Commercial property owners and property managers often request tree planting services to beautify properties such as shops, offices, industrial parks, and more. Trees can be a great way to welcome in customers and clients, improve the experience of passersby, and to improve the mental health and productivity of employees.
As with domestic tree planting, some commercial property owners may already have acquired the trees they want to plant or even have dug out holes beforehand. Arborists can assist with full tree planting or with planting trees you’ve already purchased.
For commercial properties with multiple trees, arborists can provide full planting services as well as tree surveys and assessments to evaluate the health and condition of these trees. Then can also provide comprehensive management plans for desired or necessary works such as tree pruning and crown reduction. Facilities management teams and property management can use these plans to nurture and nourish saplings and young trees to ensure healthy growth or to upkeep trees for the additional safety of people and property.
Tree relocation
While many amenity trees are planted on-site or in nurseries as saplings, it is sometimes possible and preferable to plant a mature tree. Planting a mature tree requires tree relocation, a service which can be quite costly but worth it as an alternative to tree felling as it preserves the tree.
Tree relocation may be necessary if a tree must be removed from a location but is still in reasonably good health. It may require substantial labour, however, especially if the tree is veteran and has a wide root system and/or a large canopy. Specialised transport for large trees can likewise be very expensive and often requires extensive planning.
It’s best to consult with a qualified arborist near you to evaluate the feasibility of relocating one or more trees from one property to another.
Arboricultural consulting
As with other tree care services, tree planting is commonly requested by property owners themselves. Unlike many tree surgery services, however, tree planting (especially young saplings) is often something that is simply easier to DIY and no professionals are needed.
Arboricultural professionals therefore often serve clients such as land developers, landscape architects, gardeners and other subcontractors, as well as local planning authorities rather than the general public when it comes to tree planting services.
Arboricultural consulting can be invaluable during the planning phases of a development, firstly by identifying any existing trees and evaluating their status (i.e. protected via TPO or Conservation Area), draughting site plans with proposed tree locations, selecting viable species for the soil conditions and local climate, and much more.
Tree planting services are often retained by private domestic and commercial property owners, the public sector, and land developers
The tree planting process explained
Tree planting is more or less what you’d probably expect. A sapling or young tree is put into a hole dug out in the ground, and with a little nourishment, sunlight, and time (lots of time!) it will grow and grow until it’s fully mature.
Here’s an outline of the tree planting process that an arborist would likely follow for a typical tree planting job:
- Ensure the land is suitable: the tree(s) should be planted on land you own or have the authority to manage. Moreover, trees should not be planted on protected archaeological sites, wetlands, or other types of terrain unsuitable for tree planting.
- Select an ideal species: many common native tree species will grow and flourish in various climates, but some will not or will have difficulty growing in confined spaces or with soil that’s too damp, for example. Arborists can help you determine the best species for your land.
- Determine the ideal location and spacing: selecting the best space to plant a tree is perhaps the single most important decision that will affect the tree’s vitality as it grows. Trees should ideally be spaced at least 2m apart, but small species for hedgerows can be placed around 30cm apart.
- Plant in the right season: you should refrain from planting throughout most of the year. Most species should be planted in October through to around March, which is generally when trees go dormant and right before spring rolls around.
- Dig a hole: the tree’s roots, like its canopy, will grow after being planted. Since they support the tree and its trunk, the hole must be adequate to fit the root ball and sustain growth. Generally, make the hole as deep as the root ball but 1.5x its width. Note that underground utility lines could be affected so property owners must ensure that it’s safe to dig. Many arborists cannot claim liability for damage to utility lines so always consult with your local council if in doubt.
- Plant the tree: either with manual labour or with machinery, the tree can now be planted in the hole. The tree may benefit greatly from adequate mulch cover to prevent diseases, and watering three times a week (more or less) can help keep it nourished in its first season and perhaps beyond.
- Maintain the tree in its early years: every tree could show signs of weakness as a young sapling, so cabling & bracing may be necessary to support weak stems, whilst coppicing and pollarding may be necessary to direct growth and to encourage vitality and managed growth.
Planting a tree may or may not be complex, but it is essential to select the right species and the right location on your property
Professional tree planting vs DIY: how to decide
Unlike many common tree surgery services, tree planting is one service that may be perfectly doable (and even preferable) as a DIY project. Small saplings like fruit trees generally don’t require you to have any specialised equipment or machinery, and there are hardly any hazards involved with little saplings.
Planting large trees or relocating them from elsewhere, however, is a completely different story. These types of jobs certainly require professionals to remove, haul, and plant the tree in its new location.
Where DIY tree planting isn’t so ideal is when you’re completely unsure of whether or not the soil is adequate or where is the best location to plant to avoid root or canopy damage to your home, business, or other vegetation. Likewise, planting multiple trees on a property can be time-consuming and laborious and it’s often best to leave this task to a qualified arborist.
Tree planting is usually a great DIY project, but there are many cases where it’s preferable or ideal to hire a professional instead
How to get tree planting services near you
Many tree surgeons and arborists in the UK provide tree planting services for residential and commercial property owners, whilst specialised arboricultural professionals often exclusively provide tree planting for their clients.
Whether you want a nice little fruit tree for some healthy snacks and vibrant colours in your garden, a proud English Oak that will grow into a mighty behemoth and provide shade for the generations to come, or you require large-scale tree planting for a new development project, the best way to find tree planting services near you is to use TreeMend.
We’ve partnered with hundreds of tree surgeons and arborists across the UK who provide tree planting and many other tree care services. Get a no-obligation quote by using TreeMend today.
Get no-obligation quotes for tree planting services near you by using TreeMend
Tree planting services in the UK: frequently asked questions
How much do tree planting services cost?
As outlined in our tree surgeon pricing guide, the typical cost for tree planting services in the UK ranges from approximately £250 to £460, factoring in daily labour charges. For straightforward tree planting tasks that take half a day or less, labour expenses may be significantly lower. Please note that this estimate excludes the cost of the tree itself, which can vary from around £20 to £50 or more.
What is the best month to plant a tree?
The best months to plant a tree in the UK are generally between October and March. Coniferous evergreens can typically be planted late in the summer, but deciduous broadleaf species tend to do best when planted during the dormant winter months. This allows their roots to thrive once spring comes around.
Can I get free trees to plant UK?
Yes, there are many ways to get free trees to plant in the UK. Many schools, community organisations, and tree advocacy groups in the UK can happily provide trees to homeowners for free. The UK wants to increase tree cover and meet carbon-zero goals in the coming decades, so there are many great incentives for tree planting.
How close to my neighbour's property can I plant a tree?
You are permitted to legally plant a tree anywhere you want on your property in the UK, including right up to the boundary line. Having said that, it is generally not advised to plant too close as this may trigger neighbour disputes, and in some cases you may have to make accommodations for your neighbour. Try to be aware of the rough spread of the root system and tree canopy before planting a tree near a boundary line.
Do you get paid for planting trees?
The Forestry Commission does provide multiple types of grant funding for woodland creation and tree planting on your land. The amount of funding may vary and restrictions apply, but bear in mind that there are many excellent incentives to tree planting (with or without grant funding) and the government is making efforts to stimulate and reward tree planting initiatives.
Do trees increase property value UK?
Yes, trees can increase property value as they may be seen as an attractive amenity and simply due to how long it takes many beautiful trees to mature on a property. Estimates vary, but a well-maintained tree could add up to around 20% to a property’s value.
Do you need permission to plant trees UK?
No, you have a legal right to plant any type of tree on any part of the property you own (or have the authority to manage). While you do not necessarily need permission to plant a tree wherever you like, there are still some practical considerations you should consider such as root and canopy growth, as well as the suitability of the species to the soil and local climate.
Which tree grows fastest?
The fastest growing tree species in the UK tends to be willow (Salix viminalis), which can grow by around 100cm every year and to a full height of around 7 metres in just a few years. Other fast-growing species include alder (Alnus glutinosa, 60cm growth/year to 20m height), hazel (Corylus avellana, 60cm/year to 10m+), and beech (Fagus sylvatica, 60cm/year to 40m).
Which trees should not be planted near houses?
Trees which should not be planted too close to a house include oak, willow, poplar, eucalyptus, and many coniferous species. These species tend to drink a lot of water and can easily lead to subsistence and/or roots damaging the foundation walls.
What trees are good for house foundation?
Trees which tend to be good for house foundations - or at least pose little interference through subsistence or roots damaging the foundation walls - include species like dogwood and crabapple. Many fruit trees are quite small and their roots typically don’t grow too wide, so they tend to be fairly safe picks for homeowners.
Book tree planting services today
Planting a tree is a great way to add greenery to your property and to enjoy all of the myriad benefits that trees have to offer. When you need assistance with tree planting for one or more trees, look no further than TreeMend.