Tree Surgery Services

At Redwood Tree Services® Ltd we assess a tree holistically to determine what work is appropriate. That means looking at the location of the tree as well as the roots, canopy and trunk, any mechanical defects in the tree structure or fungal bodies present and assessing the overall tree vitality.

British Standard 3998 2010 encourages a holistic understanding of a tree as a dynamic organism that informs all of our tree assessments and work.

“Trees are dynamic, continually self-optimizing organisms, i.e. each year, by producing new shoots, roots and radial increments of wood and bark, they maintain both their physiological functions and their structural integrity. Thus, the often massive structure of a mature tree above ground, consisting of the stem, branches, twigs and the attached foliage, is highly efficient in intercepting, using and storing solar energy, while also bearing its own weight and dissipating the potentially damaging forces of the wind. Below ground, although far less obvious, the extensive root system is equally efficient both in providing anchorage and in pervading the soil in order to absorb the water and mineral nutrients that are essential for survival, growth, flowering and fruiting.”

Crown Reduction

A reduction in the height and width of the canopy of a tree can sometimes be necessary to prevent damage to property or to the tree itself. Managing the size of a tree allows the tree to thrive in its location without causing damage or neighbour disputes. It can also reduce the load on a bifurcated trunk to reduce the risk of failure. Most mature trees will need to be managed on a 5 – 10 year cycle depending on the species.

A crown reduction needs to be assessed carefully in order avoid removing too much of the leaf canopy and causing stress to the tree. The maximum reduction is normally a maximum of 3 metres but every tree is different and needs to be assessed by a qualified arborist.

Our team of experienced and qualified tree surgeons can complete this work safely and efficiently and will remove all branches and other material from site.

We will assess the tree holistically to ensure that any work undertaken will not damage the health of the tree. All work will be completed in line with British Standard 3998 (2010) where possible.

British Standards 3998 (2010) states: “The general principle [of Crown Reduction] is that, following reduction, there should still be a strong framework of healthy small-diameter branches and twigs (leaf-bearing structure), capable of producing dense leaf cover during the following growing season.”

Crown Cleaning

The crown of a tree may sometimes need attention to remove crossing branches, rubbing or damaged branches, deadwood or diseased limbs.

Branches that could fail can become a danger and rubbing branches can allow decay pathogens to enter the tree. Crown thinning to lessen tree volume and reduce congestion is also available. This can allow more dappled light to come through the tree and avoid branch shedding.

Both crown cleaning and crown thinning require a very skilled assessment of the structure of the tree. We will assess the tree holistically to ensure that any work undertaken will not damage the health of the tree.

Our team of experienced and qualified tree surgeons can complete this work safely and efficiently and will remove all branches and other material from site. All work will be completed in line with British Standard 3998 (2010).

Crown Lifting

Redwood Tree Services® Ltd have a wealth of experience of crown lifting mature trees. We remove lower branches to provide clearance of structures, other trees and telephone lines. Trees should have 6 metres clearance from a road and 2.5 metres clearance from a footpath. Our skilled team can do this work very sensitively to maintain the shape and appearance of a mature tree.

We will assess the tree holistically to ensure that any work undertaken will not damage the health of the tree. Our team of experienced and qualified tree surgeons can complete this work safely and efficiently and will remove all branches and other material from site. All work will be completed in line with British Standard 3998 (2010).

Deadwooding

All species of tree will naturally shed deadwood, which can create a hazard for people, pets and property. The assessment and removal of dead branches from the tree canopy is essential for safety reasons. This also prevents decay pathogens from entering the tree and causing more significant problems in the future.

We will assess the tree holistically to ensure that any work undertaken will not damage the health of the tree. Our team of experienced and qualified tree surgeons can complete this work safely and efficiently and will remove all branches and other material from site. All work will be completed in line with British Standard 3998 (2010).

Example Case Study

This mature lime tree in Guildford was interfering with telephone lines and causing damage to neighbouring trees, as well as shedding dangerous amounts of deadwood. A crown reduction, crown lifting and deadwooding was completed. All branches were removed from site and chipped.

Pollarding

Pollarding is a useful technique for managing certain species, particularly along roads. This reduces a tree to a knuckle to allow for managed maintenance on a 5 – 10 year cycle. It is essential to maintain a pollarded tree properly to avoid structural failure or decay in the regrowth. If you have a tree that you suspect has been pollarded in the past it is worth asking an arborist to assess the condition of the pollard and advise you on the most appropriate management plan.

We will assess the tree holistically to ensure that any work undertaken will not damage the health of the tree. Our team of experienced and qualified tree surgeons can complete this work safely and efficiently and will remove all branches and other material from site. All work will be completed in line with British Standard 3998 (2010).

Tree Removal

In certain circumstances complete tree removal is the only safe option. This can be because the tree is dead or heavily diseased, or in cases of significant bifurcation where the structural integrity of the tree is compromised.

Our team of experienced and qualified tree surgeons can complete this work safely and efficiently, and will remove all branches and other material from site. All work will be completed in line with British Standard 3998 (2010).

Where necessary we can work using a crane to safely lift a dead tree around buildings or obstacles as necessary.

Case study

Another case of Ash dieback in the Woking area had led to this dangerously decayed tree very close to a road. The tree was too dangerous to be cut in sections so we safely removed it using our forestry crane and a winch.

Our customer Mrs H said “Thank you Redwood Tree Services® for coming out so quickly to assess the tree and remove it when it was identified as dangerous. We had only recently moved into the house and Nick’s expert help was invaluable in identifying and prioritising the tree work we needed to get done. The team were all professional and efficient and left no mess behind on site at all”.

Stump Grinding

We offer a quick and convenient stump grinding service using a specialised machine to grind out tree roots.

Our team of experienced and qualified tree surgeons can complete this work safely and efficiently and will remove all branches and other material from site. All work will be completed in line with British Standard 3998 (2010).

Hedge Management

Redwood Tree Services® Ltd offer a full range of hedge management services, including: