Tree Surgery Shenfield

The last week of November was National Tree Week 2011, organised by The Tree Council, and supported wholeheartedly by Prince Tree Surgery, Essex’s leading tree surgery specialist.

The council urged everyone who cares for their environment to plant one tree – or more. The value of trees can not be underestimated. They are an invaluable consumer of carbon dioxide, as well as helping reduce wind speeds on blustery days and giving shade on hot days.

Thousands of communities, schools and businesses around the country all took part, which as the director general of the Tree Council, Pauline Buchanan-Black, said will help to boost the health of the nation.

“A tree planted close to where you live, work or study is good for you and for the nation’s condition; trees have been proven to have positive effects on mental health and as an antidote to stressful lifestyles, even aiding recuperation from illness,” said Mrs Buchanan-Black.

“However, to be able to look out on a tree simply lifts my soul and gladdens my heart. That, at bottom, seems to me to be one of the most compelling reasons to argue that everyone should be able to see a tree from their window – and if you can’t, then now is the time to set about changing the view. Every tree matters as much for the beauty, growth and renewal, whether in urban or rural settings, that it demonstrates year on year as for the very practical benefits it brings.”

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman also added her backing to the scheme. She said: “Trees are an important part of every community and necessary to our very existence. The Tree Council’s National Tree Week is the perfect time to inspire more people to plant trees in their local communities. It has seen thousands more planted right across the country, helping to create neighbourhoods that everyone can be proud of.”

Here at Prince Tree surgery we endorse any project or initiative that prompts growing for our trees and protecting our environment for years to come. Our native trees, individually or in woodlands, provide great habitats for wildlife and the sustainable cultivation of trees for renewable low-energy construction materials, charcoal, food and as an alternative energy source are significant ways in which every tree will matter in years to come.

Please call us at Prince Tree Surgery for any of your tree surgery needs on 01277 229709. All of our tree surgeons are fully qualified professionals dedicated to providing you with a top quality tree surgery service.

Many green-eyed observers, like our team here at Prince Tree Surgery, will have noticed evidence of spring arriving. Just after the turn of the New Year, we spotted flowers blooming and native trees bursting their buds weeks ahead of schedule.

According to the Woodland Trust, our milder winter weather is having an unprecedented effect on our trees and flowers. There have been ample sightings across the UK of snowdrops and daffodils blooming, as well as silver birch, oak and hazel trees’ buds bursting. Apparently the last three months of 2011 only experienced four air frosts, compared to 35 in 2010. 

Here at Prince Tree Surgery, Brentwood’s leading tree surgery specialists, we are highly knowledgeable about the effect changing seasons have on our native trees. These milder temperatures will undoubtedly have an impact on how we care for our trees. We are very interested to hear the findings of the Woodland Trust, which is calling on the public to report their observations of the effects of the milder weather.

Dr Kate Lewthwaite, from the Woodland Trust, said: “Our native plants and trees are great indicators of wider changes in the natural world.

“By recording budburst and flowers blooming the public can help us determine whether these changes are having a major effect on how Mother Nature functions. Despite what people may think, in recent years it has become commonplace to see daffodils and snowdrops in late December and early
January as the climate warms.” 

Prince Tree Surgery offers a range of tree-planting services including planting of any size or scale, tree moving, maintenance plans and after care programmes and planting schemes.

If you would like any information about the service we offer please contact us on 01277 229709. 

With winter in full force, it is easy to forget about your garden, especially when the thought of braving the cold chills you to the bone. However, it is important to spare a little thought for your trees, which are facing the full onslaught of this country’s harshest season.

The winter is hard on trees, even those that are accustomed to cold climates. Stress caused by cold, drought, pests and branch breakage can take its toll. While you can’t do much about the weather and icy temperatures, you can take steps to lessen their impact.

Here at Prince Tree Surgery, Brentwood’s number one tree surgeons, we offer a comprehensive tree surgery service so homeowners needn’t panic if they haven’t the slightest clue about what they can do to protect their trees. It is always worth calling in the experts if you have any particular concerns about a tree or need specific advice on winter tree care.

Here are a few of our basic tips:

1) Keep trees clear of snow.  After a heavy snow, brave the cold and do your best to remove as much snow as possible from your trees’ branches. Excess snow can cause branches to bend as well as break. If tree limbs break or sag under the weight of ice or snow, it is best to have them removed as soon as weather permits. Hanging branches can be a danger to passing pedestrians. Also, the tree will be able to heal the wound better in spring if the wound has clean edges instead of ragged tears. Our experts at Prince Tree Surgery will be able to help with any tree pruning needed.

2) Fight winter drought. Wind and a lack of liquid can cause drought in the winter months. Once the ground freezes, tree roots can’t absorb any more water. While it might seem strange to water trees in cold weather, it should be done if you didn’t do it earlier in autumn.

3) Bundle them up. Your garden trees are unlike their counterparts in a forest or other wooded area in that they are probably unprotected and isolated in comparison. Trees in this situation should be sheltered and protected from the wind and cold by wrapping their trunks of covering them completely for a short time with tree blankets or other types of covering.

4) Prune in late winter. Winter is a great time to prune trees because it is easier to see a tree more clearly without its leaves. Pruning helps to maintain tree health and protect against disease. Pruning should focus on removing deadwood and improving shape and structure. Check for shoots growing at unusual angles or extra shoots growing from the top of the main trunk or from the base, which deprive it of nutrients. Again, our team at Prince Tree Surgery will always be happy to help.

For more information about the services we offer at Prince Tree Surgery contact us on 01277 229709. 

Here at Prince Tree Surgery, Brentwood’s leading tree surgery service, we believe there is nothing nicer than a real Christmas tree in your home.

But there are a number of key tips to ensure you get the very best from your beautiful tree and that it survives the festive period.

It is also important to ensure that you buy your Christmas tree from a seller which guarantees that the tree has been grown sustainably in Britain and with environmental considerations in mind. 

1) Firstly you need to decide on a spot for your Christmas tree. Ideally this would be away from heat sources such as TVs, fireplaces, radiators and air ducts. It is probably worth measuring your chosen space so you can check the height and spread of your tree.

2) Next you need to find a reputable and trusted retailer to buy the tree. If in doubt you can visit the British Christmas Tree Growers’ Association (BCTGA) website and find your nearest seller. The association promises that any tree bought from an association member will have been grown sustainably in Britain. You can also contact the Forestry Commission to find an approved seller.

3) Once you have found a retailer here are our tips for picking the best tree. Ask the seller whether the trees are delivered once at the beginning of the selling season, or at different times during the season – the latter means trees will be fresher. A fresh Christmas tree will have few browning needles. Needles should be flexible and not fall off. For the longest-lasting trees, choose a cut tree or one that has been grown in a pot rather than placed in the pot having been grown in the ground. Once home, it is also worth using a saw to make a fresh one-inch cut on the butt end of your tree.

4) Watering and keeping the tree from getting too hot is the key to ensuring you get the very best from your Christmas tree. Treat your tree as you would a freshly cut flower. Make sure the water level covers the base of the tree – if the base dries out, the tree won’t be able to absorb water and will dry out quickly.

5) And finally remember to recycle your Christmas tree when the New Year comes. Most local authorities will provide tree recycling servicing, or if you bought it from a BCTGA retailer you can take it back and the seller will recycle it for you. 

Please call us at Prince Tree Surgery for all your tree surgery needs on 01277 229709. All of our tree surgeons are fully qualified professionals dedicated to providing you with a top quality tree surgery service.

 
It’s that time of year again when our thoughts inevitably turn festive.
In the UK we spend millions of pounds decking out our homes in Christmas
finery – and this trend seems to be expanding into our gardens.

The popularity of outdoor lights and decorations has grown considerably in the last decade, with more and more of us choosing not only to deck the halls, but our gardens too.

Here at Prince Tree Surgery, Basildon’s leading tree surgery service, we wholeheartedly embrace the Christmas spirit. However, without wishing to introduce a Scrooge-like note, we offer a few words of safety if you are considering decorating your outside trees with fairy lights. When it comes to installing outdoor lighting, safety should be taken very seriously indeed.
Working on ladders or working at height is something most people are not used to.

There are important safety rules to abide by when using a ladder to reach the highest tops of your tree. These include keeping your body centre within the ladder, and always keeping three points of contact with the ladder. You should also wear non-slip footwear and keep the rungs clean and in good condition.

Finally, position the ladder on a firm, level surface and if possible get someone else to hold the base and supervise. Remember don’t over lean when you’re struggling to reach that difficult tree branch – it’s simply not worth it.

Always use lights that are suitable for outdoor use. Winter weather invariably means snow and rain – and that means water. And water and electricity are a potentially dangerous mix. Outdoor lights will be more heavily insulated and water-proofed than those lights intended for inside. Even if they are outdoor only lights, we advise that you check them carefully to ensure the insulation is intact.

As tree surgery specialists, Prince Tree Surgery offers a range of tree-planting services including planting of any size or scale, tree moving, maintenance plans and after care programmes and planting schemes. If you would like any information about the service we offer please contact us on 01277 229709.

Here at Prince Tree Surgery, Brentwood’s leading tree surgery service we are highly skilled and knowledgeable about diseases that affect our trees.

Like all living things, trees are susceptible to disease. A tree needs a good supply of light, water, carbon dioxide and nutrients from the environment for optimum growth. A lack of one or more of these may lead to reduced growth and put the tree under stress, which means it could become vulnerable to disease.

If you suspect your tree may be diseased, it is important that you seek the advice of professionals before it spreads and destroys more than one tree.

Experts here at Prince Tree Surgery were interested to hear this week about the discovery of a deadly plant disease which is previously unknown to England.

Scientists from the Forestry Commission have confirmed that Phytophthora lateralis, a fungus-like pathogen that kills trees’ roots, has infected several trees in a shelter hedge on an industrial estate in Devon.

The disease is very infectious to Lawson Cypress and some other trees, but harmless to people, animals and most other plants. The trees will be felled and disposed of safely and the site is subject to bio security measures to prevent spreading the disease particularly in contaminated soil, felling equipment and other tools.

John Morgan, Head of Plant Health for the Forestry Commission, said: “It is very worrying. Its main victim is Lawson cypress, not a very significant forestry tree, but very popular in parks, gardens, churchyards and crematoria. We are asking people working around trees, particularly arboriculturalists and those who manage parks and gardens to be particularly vigilant for signs of the disease.” 

Gardeners who spot signs of the disease are urged to report it immediately so the tree can be removed, as the infection can spread through soil and on tools such as felling equipment. In diseased trees, the leaves turn a lighter shade of olive-grey than healthy trees, then they wither and turn reddish-brown as the foliage dies. The infection extends from the roots and up the stem, killing the inner bark so the entire tree dies.

For all aspect of tree care and advice on dealing with diseases, please contact us at Prince Tree Surgery 01277 229709.

THE issue of tree protection orders can often be a tricky minefield when it comes to your rights as a homeowner. Whether it’s in your own garden or on public land, cutting down a tree can sometimes involve the same restrictions as if you were applying to build an extension.

Here at Prince Tree Surgery, Brentwood’s leading tree surgeons, we can offer advice on any aspect of tree protection orders, whether it’s applying to your local authority on your behalf to carry out works or liaise with them when the work is being done. We can also carry out replacement planting if trees need to be replaced by the local authority’s requirements.

The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and associated laws protects certain trees by making them subject of a Tree Protection Order (TPO). Such an order makes it illegal to cut down, top, lop, uproot, wilfully damage or wilfully destroy a tree without permission of your local authority. If you break the order you could face fines of up to £20,000.  Orders are made by local authorities to protect certain trees and woodlands which if cut down would have a significant impact on the local environment and its enjoyment by the public. The orders can also protect woodland, trees and groups of trees which add character to an area and the wildlife it supports. Extensions and new buildings can sometimes threaten trees and woodland habitats as well as blight the landscapes.

Homeowners should contact their local authority to find out whether a tree has a preservation order on it. Many councils place this information on their website. You can also check before you purchase a property whether any trees are subject to an existing TPO. 

It is also possible for residents to contact local authorities with concerns about certain trees being under threat and requiring protection.

Please call us at Prince Tree Surgery for any further information on 01277 229709. All of our tree surgeons are fully qualified professionals dedicated to providing you with a top quality tree surgery service.

With the UK taking a battering from strong winds over the past few weeks, sadly it is evitable that trees will have been damaged.

But before you begin your clean-up, it is important you understand the risks involved. Fallen or damaged trees are not only a safety issue but can also cause significant disruption, especially if the incident happens in a public place or the tree has fallen onto a building.

As Brentwood’s leading tree surgery service, here at Prince Tree Surgery, we can offer support on any aspect of damaged or fallen trees – from removing the fallen tree or broken branches to offering advice on whose responsibility the fallen tree is.

If a tree falls down on private land, it is the property owners who are responsible for the maintenance of that particular tree. In these circumstances we here at Prince Tree Surgery advise that you should contact us to assess the damage and carry out the removal work safely and efficiently for an agreed price. Do not be tempted to use a chainsaw to fell or cut up damaged tree unless you are experienced and have the appropriate protective clothing.

Every year 500 people are seriously injured using chainsaws in their gardens.

Even cutting up fallen branches with a chainsaw is hazardous and we would advise you to call our team at Prince Tree Surgery in all cases.

Remember, however, that if the fallen tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or is in a conservation area, written consent needs to be obtained from the local authority and you should report this to them before undertaking any works. The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and associated laws protects certain trees in the interests of amenity by making them subject of a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). Such an order makes it illegal to cut down, top, lop, uproot wilfully damage or wilfully destroy a tree without the local authority’s permission.  Details on how to contact the relevant department should be found on the local authority’s website.

If a tree falls down on public land, such as a road, footpath or park, the authority needs to be notified of the situation. They will most likely need to know the exact location of the tree, its size and type if known, whether it is obstructing a road or footpath and the contact details of the person reporting the incident.

If you requite any further information please contact us at Prince Tree Surgery on 01277 229709.

Many experts will tell you that late autumn or early winter is the best time to prune any deciduous trees in your garden. This time of year is ideal because it’s easier to see a tree more clearly without its leaves.

As Brentwood’s leading tree surgery service, here at Prince Tree Surgery our tree surgeons are highly knowledgeable about all aspects of tree pruning and can answer any query – big or small.

Pruning helps to maintain tree health and protect against disease. Pruning should focus on removing deadwood and improving shape and structure.

Check for shoots growing at unusual angles or extra shoots growing from the top of the main trunk or from the base, which deprive it of nutrients.

There are three main reasons why you need to prune your trees – safety, health and aesthetics. In addition, pruning can also stimulate fruit production and increase the value of timber.

Pruning for safety involves removing branches that could fall and cause injury or damage to your property, trimming branches that interfere with lines of sight on streets or driveways, and removing branches that grow into utility lines.

If you are pruning for health, you remove diseased or insect-infested wood, thinning the crown to increase airflow or reducing a pest problem. Pruning can best be used to encourage trees to develop a strong structure and reduce the likelihood of damage during severe weather. Also removing broken or damaged limbs will encourage wound closure.

Pruning for aesthetics involves enhancing the natural form and character of trees or stimulating flower production.

If the pruning work requires a chainsaw, is inaccessible or at significant height you should contact a specialist tree surgery business such as us here at Prince Tree Surgery for your safety.

For more information about us here at Prince Tree Surgery’s tree pruning services, call 01277 229709.

We all know there is nothing nicer than snuggling down in front of a roaring fire when the weather turns chilly.

And if current trends are anything to go by, it seems we can’t get enough of open fires and log burners. The market for wood burning stoves has absolutely soared in the last few years, with many homes opting for traditional methods of keeping warm.

At this time of year, Brentwood Logs - the other arm of our tree surgery business Prince Tree Surgery – gets inundated with calls from customers seeking information and advice about supplying their new log burner or traditional fire.

Soaring energy prices have undoubtedly led more people to supplement – or in some cases replace – conventional heating systems to save money on their utility bills. On a typical single-room installation a wood-burner or multi fuel stove could be 10% – 30% cheaper to run than gas or oil, and considerably less than electricity. And it could save up to 100% if you go the whole hog and use it for full central heating.

However, there are pitfalls to watch when ordering your log supply. It is most important that your logs are dry and well seasoned, otherwise they won’t burn well and produce the heat you deserve. It is also important to remember that if you are burning wood your chimney will need to be swept twice a year.

Experts at Brentwood Logs would advise that most wood will burn well, but must be well seasoned for at least a year. As a general guide, before being used in a stove, wood should be cut to length, split and then stacked under cover, with the sides open to the air. It is then good practice to have it in the log basket, inside the house, for a few days before it is actually used.

All of the logs supplied by Brentwood Logs have been recycled from the trees we have cut down and stored on site as part of our tree surgery work in Essex.

Last year we delivered 200 loads, and this season has started well so we are predicting a bumper Winter. The logs are delivered in truck loads and will normally last for the entire Season.

For more information about our log supply services, click here  www.brentwoodlogs.co.uk or call 01277 229709.