Tree removal can be quite a big job, and a dangerous one at that. It’s one thing to pluck out a young fruit tree by hand with a spade, but it’s quite another to fell a big old English Oak that towers above your home. Tree removal is naturally hazardous work and, especially for large trees, something that should only be performed by qualified tree surgeons and arborists in the UK.
Large trees have many benefits, and in addition to their amenity value, should be cared for and maintained as best as possible. The Arboriculture Association and Royal Forestry Society both recommend felling and removal as a last resort if a tree can no longer be safely managed, so it’s always a drastic choice for arborists but one that is sometimes necessary.
Why do large trees sometimes need to be removed? It could be because they’re dead, unstable and hazardous, or perhaps because they’re attracting pests and diseases to your garden. Whatever the case may be, if your tree needs to be removed and it’s a big hulk of a tree, it’s essential to seek out professional tree removal services.
Dangers of large trees
There is nothing inherently dangerous about a large tree. Perhaps due to the tree’s species or its age, it may be quite large indeed, towering above your home or office. What can be dangerous, however, is if that large tree is dead or dying, has one or more cracked branches, a damaged or split trunk, or if it’s leaning dangerously.
Tree roots will often naturally adapt to changes in the tree’s crown, giving it stability and keeping it balanced as it ages – but not always. Older trees might have precariously heavy crowns and may begin to lean over, or become susceptible to toppling under strong winds.
Disease and pest infestations can also rot away and decay living wood, turning it into deadwood and leaving the tree with one or more dangerous branches which could fall over and cause serious harm or damage to property.
Why tree removal is (almost) never a DIY job
When you think of tree felling, it may evoke imagery of Canadian lumberjacks dressed in red and black plaid hacking away and yelling “timber!” While it’s lovely romantic imagery, tree felling is almost always hazardous work and shouldn’t be done as a DIY project.
That being said, very small trees which you can remove by hand or with a few hand tools might be safe to remove yourself, so long as you wear protective equipment, keep safety in mind at all times, and know how best to fell the tree so as not to endanger anyone or your own or a neighbour’s property.
For most large trees such as mature trees, you’ll need a lot more than a sharp axe to get the job done. Tree surgeons typically use chainsaws to fell large trees, and it’s normally done in sections and with precision-controlled cuts, using climbing equipment and/or a mobile elevated work platform, and in teams working together.
Why professional tree felling is needed for large trees
There are extreme dangers involved with tree felling and removal, even for highly experienced arborists, but the key difference is that they have to have adequate training, qualifications, and the right equipment to get the job done safely. Importantly, they also need to have sufficient insurance and abide by laws and regulations which may be pertinent to felling the tree.
Large trees may be located on rural properties with plenty of space around, or they may be confined in urban areas with few or no safe places to fell the tree in one cut. When a tree needs to be felled in these latter scenarios, it’s often done in sections.
Qualified and reputable tree surgeons in the UK have the expertise and tools needed to climb and dismantle large trees in sections, methodically and with safety precautions always in mind.
This is essential for maintaining safety for their own teammates below, pedestrian and vehicular traffic that may pass underneath, and for property underneath.
Benefits of professional tree removal
Given the extreme dangers of tree removal, it should be fairly obvious that one of the biggest benefits of getting it done professionally is safety. Tree surgeons can minimise any hazards to people and property, ensuring that safety precautions are always in place and being adhered to.
Furthermore, professional arborists in the UK must have a solid understanding of the various tree felling techniques appropriate for different circumstances. This includes knowing how to make different types of notch cuts with a chainsaw to ensure that the tree falls in the desired direction, knowing which cuts are necessary for safe sectional dismantling, and judging the best escape routes in case of emergency.
Of course, a tree surgeon will also have all the necessary tools and equipment to fell the tree, which normally include a chainsaw but may also involve mobile elevated work platforms or wood chippers to process green waste. When trees need to be completely removed (including the stump), this equipment also includes machinery for stump grinding.
Lastly, a responsible tree surgeon or arborist will work in accordance with laws and regulations which may be in place, perform all works in accordance with standards such as BS 3998, and check for any protections prior to commencing work, e.g. Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).
How to get your large tree removed
Qualified tree surgeons and arborists in the UK should recommend tree felling or removal only when absolutely essential—such as when a tree presents an immediate danger and no viable care options remain. In such cases, it is crucial to hire a skilled tree surgeon who follows safe practices and has the expertise to fell large trees safely.
