As more and more of us see the value in caring for our beloved trees, that means more of us are often in need of tree surgeons in the UK to carry out various tasks. Whereas a gardener or landscape contractor can help with maintaining your lawn and many elements of your garden, a qualified tree surgeon or arborist near you is often needed when working on trees.
What is a tree surgeon, what do they do, what skills do they need, and why do you need one? We endeavour to answer all of these questions in this comprehensive guide to tree surgery in the UK.
What is a tree surgeon?
A tree surgeon is a skilled professional who cares for trees both in towns and in the countryside. They are sometimes called tree climbers or arborists and may offer specific or varied services such as tree pruning, tree felling and removal, stump grinding, emergency tree care, branch removal, crown reduction and thinning, and much more.
The primary goal of a tree surgeon should always be to preserve or improve the health of trees (whenever possible), whilst also improving safety for people and property and preserving biodiversity and landscapes.
The role of tree surgeons in the UK
A tree surgeon will naturally be found working on or near trees or hedgerows. Their job frequently requires them to climb up and down trees with ladders, ropes, or mobile elevated work platforms, and they often need to be trained on how to properly use chainsaws as well as tools such as loppers and secateurs.
Tree surgeons may be apprentices, licensed and qualified employees of tree care companies, consultants and contractors, self-employed individuals, or work for government agencies. They typically hold vocational training, on-the-job experience, or in some cases, higher education training such as university courses on arboriculture.
Their work may take them to private homes, commercial spaces, public parks, woodlands, schools and universities, golf courses, or anywhere else that professional tree care services are in demand.
Their job is extremely dangerous, and hundreds of serious injuries and several fatalities have been reported by the HSE. Moreover, the typical tree surgeon in the UK earns much less than on the continent, somewhere around £25,000 to £35,000 p.a., according to the National Careers Service. While difficult to estimate, there may be somewhere around 20,000-40,000 tree surgeons in the UK. The demand for tree care in the UK is much higher than the supply of labourers, however.
In brief, a tree surgeon earns relatively little and must often work long hours performing dangerous tasks at heights and with power tools and machinery that can lead to injury or death. It is an in-demand role and there are opportunities for career advancement and the potential to earn a reasonable salary, and it is highly likely that the high demand and low supply will drive up costs for tree surgery services.
What services do tree surgeons & arborists provide?
Tree surgeons may offer specialised services or they may offer a wider, more comprehensive range of services for their clients. Some of the most common tree surgery services include:
- Tree pruning: removal of branches to improve safety, appearance, and to improve tree vitality.
- Crown reduction: a type of pruning of a tree’s crown to either control height, lateral spread, to thin out the crown, or to lift/raise it for ground clearance.
- Stump grinding: grinding and removal of tree stumps.
- Tree felling & removal: partial dismantling or full removal of a tree from a location.
- Tree surveys & assessments: assessments of tree health, risks and hazards, or other specific criteria.
- Emergency tree care: 24/7 emergency removal of branches or trees that have fallen or become damaged during strong winds, storms, etc.
- Tree planting: professional planting services of new or pre-grown trees on a property or woodland.
- Cabling & bracing: supplementary structural support for trees with cables, braces, or stakes to hold newly planted trees in place.
- Hedge trimming: pruning of hedgerows for aesthetics, vitality, or topiary for beautiful gardens.
- Deadwood removal: pruning of dead, diseased, or damaged branches to allow for healthy regrowth.
Some tree surgeons may provide other specialised services and some companies may employ arboricultural professionals with university education and the requisite qualifications to carry out more in-depth work such as pest and disease control and prevention.
Which skills does a tree surgeon possess?
A tree surgeon requires many skills, most of which are physical in nature. Here are a few of the key skills a tree surgeon needs to carry out routine duties:
- Fitness: flexibility, dexterity, and coordination are essential when climbing trees and using tools such as chainsaws.
- Teamwork: for safety reasons, tree surgeons often need to work in pairs or groups and they must be able to communicate effectively with one another and work well as a team.
- Understanding of safety: due to the nature of tree surgery, all tree surgeons must have a strong understanding of safety measures such as identifying escape routes when tree felling.
- Arithmetic and mathematics: simple maths and arithmetic are needed for many routine tasks such as estimating the tree felling direction and depth of cuts.
- Willingness to work long hours: tree surgery is not an ordinary 9-5 job. Many tree surgeons work up to (or more than) 43 hours per week and commonly get called out on weekends or bank holidays.
- Technical skills: tree surgeons often need to maintain and repair hand tools, power tools, and heavy machinery.
There may be other skills that a tree surgeon may need beyond these. Tree surgeons in the UK often require numerous licenses and qualifications for tasks they carry out, such as first aid, certificates of competence, or university education.
When is the right time to call a tree surgeon?
Caring for trees is often desired or needed and there are many tasks you can do yourself, provided you’ve got a little know-how, the right tools, and some spare time to get the job done. Trimming a hedge or light pruning of a fruit tree might be fairly easy and even enjoyable ways to pass your weekend, but there are many tasks that require an experienced tree surgeon.
The right time to call a tree surgeon is whenever you need to ensure that the job is done right, in compliance with regulations (e.g. Tree Preservation Orders), and you lack the machinery needed to carry out the job. Jobs like tree stump grinding or pruning large trees, and especially jobs like tree felling, are certainly best left to the experts.
Whether you’re a private homeowner who needs a little assistance caring for one or more trees or you manage agricultural land or woodlands with many trees that need care, a tree surgeon is up to the task to assist you.
Find a reputable tree surgeon near you with TreeMend
Although there are tens of thousands of tree surgeons operating across the UK, all of which should be qualified and hold the requisite certifications to carry out their dangerous work, finding one that gets the job done well at competitive prices can be a little challenging. That’s why we encourage you to use TreeMend to find a tree surgeon or arborist near you.
We’ve partnered with tree surgeons across the UK who provide a wide range of services to keep your trees healthy, your property clean and tidy, and importantly, keep you and your property safe.
