With tens of thousands of tree surgeons and arborists in the UK, there’s certainly quite a bit of choice for when you need tree care service. As with all trade work, however, there is quite a bit of fluctuation in terms of cost and quality, so it really does pay to shop around a little before deciding on a tree surgeon to come over to your property.
This blog post aims to give you a few quick tips on how to choose the right tree surgeon for your needs. If you need a tree surgeon or arborist, start your search with TreeMend and keep these tips in mind.
Top things to look for in a tree surgeon or arborist
Licenses and qualifications
Tree surgery is not a career that requires a specific license in the UK, but most of the common tasks that a tree surgeon performs do require certificates of competence and some form of vocational training is generally preferred. Most qualified tree surgeons in the UK have NPTC and/or Lantra Awards qualifications; others may have T-Levels (rather than A-Levels) or training at colleges in the UK blended with hands-on experience.
Unlicensed work could put you, your property, or anyone else passing underneath your tree(s) at great risk, endanger the lives of the tree surgeons, or lead to work that ends up harming the tree. At a minimum, your tree surgeon should have First Aid training, certificates of competence for chainsaw use, working at heights, and any other potentially hazardous tasks that require certification.
For arboricultural professionals who perform more in-depth tree care services, a university education is often required. Most arborists will also have membership in good standing with organisations such as the Arboricultural Association, e.g. AA Registered Consultants, ARB Approved Contractors, Utility Approved Contractors, and/or with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
Insurance
Tree work is very dangerous and the source of an unfortunately high number of serious injuries and fatalities in the UK. Even when adhering to industry best practices, tree felling and working at heights are still hazardous; those risks, however, are greatly mitigated by prioritising safety and adhering to standards such as British Standard 3998:2010 for tree work.
Some hazards will always be present, no matter how well the tree surgeon tries to mitigate them. Falling branches, sharp debris, and the immense force of a felled tree can all cause harm or damage property. For these reasons, insurance is an absolute must for added peace of mind should anything go wrong.
In the UK, the current recommendation for tree surgeons and arborists is to have no less than £5m in public liability and employers liability insurance. This means that in most cases, unintentional damage to your property, your neighbour’s property, or to vehicles parked on public roads, for example, will be covered.
Experience and services offered
As with many other trades in the UK, tree surgery quality often tightly coincides with years of experience. It isn’t too uncommon to find tree surgeons with over a decade of experience who know all of the professional techniques needed to care for your tree. Keep in mind that most tree care services are performed in teams for safety reasons, so it’s perfectly fine to have an apprentice on the job so long as he’s supervised by a skilled professional.
Tree care also happens to be a quite varied profession, so it’s important to choose a tree surgeon that is competent in – or even specialised in – the service you require. For example, most tree surgeons provide tree pruning and crown reduction for private residential and commercial gardens, 24/7 emergency tree care, and hedge trimming, but very few provide comprehensive land clearance, assistance with consent dealings, tree relocation for mature trees, or pest & disease control. These latter services are often provided by specialist arboricultural consultants only.
Check reviews online and ask for references
A good rule of thumb for tree surgeons (and many other services, for that matter) is to follow the rule of three. Try to build a shortlist of three tree care companies, get three quotes, and get three references from each (even if you don’t plan to actually call them).
Good, honest tree care companies won’t mind at all, and should be willing to provide you with quotes and references who can vouch for the quality of their work. If any tree surgeon is unwilling to, it’s usually a red flag and perhaps a sign that they haven’t got the best track record when it comes to quality.
Furthermore, don’t hesitate to do a quick Google search and read reviews about the company. Generally, reputable tree care companies should have reasonably good ratings from real customers.
Get free, accurate quotes with no obligation to pay
Before agreeing to let any tree surgeon or arborist work on your property, it’s always essential to get a free quote beforehand. Any reputable tree surgeon will be willing to provide you with a quote, but they may need to ask you some questions about your tree, see photographs of the tree and site access, or even carry out a visit in person first.
There’s no getting around the fact that tree care services in the UK are quite expensive. If you see a bargain that looks to good to be true, it probably is. That doesn’t mean, however, that there still aren’t some reasonable prices to be found. TreeMend works with local tree surgeons located across the UK who tend to provide comprehensive services at competitive prices, and all member partners will gladly provide you with a free no-obligation quote.
Choose the right tree surgeon or arborist
When searching for a tree surgeon or arborist near you, always try to spend a few moments to make sure that they’re reputable, qualified, experienced, insured, they offer the services you need, they have good reviews and are willing to provide you with a free quote.
To get started with your search and to connect with vetted and approved tree surgeons today, get a no-obligation quote via TreeMend.
