How Much Does a Tree Surgeon Cost in the UK?

In most cases, having a sick or overgrown tree is a hindrance in your otherwise beautiful garden. Unfortunately, it can cause problems, and the best way to deal with it would be to get in touch with your local tree surgeon.

Usually, before people pick up the phone, they often think to themselves how much is it going to cost to hire a tree surgeon? It’s a fair question. After all, there’s a massive tree on your property, and it’s going to take a tree specialist to deal with the situation safely.

Whether it’s a general maintenance job such as lopping and pruning or whether you want the tree removed completely (tree felling) it might not cost as much as you think. I have written a detailed tree removal cost guide so you can get an idea of how much it will cost.

A certified tree arborist will bring all the necessary equipment such as shredders, chainsaws, and stump grinders. A professional will go out of their way to ensure the safety of themselves and others.

What is Tree Surgery?

Tree surgery is the art of felling or reshaping a tree. If you have an outdoor space that you would like to stay visually stimulating and safe, you would need to hire a skilled tree surgeon to maintain the trees. It’s not a profession for the fainthearted. It is a dangerous profession, which relies on the use of power tools and sturdy climbing equipment. Tree surgeons have to be in peak physical condition. Their strength and fitness are required to be able to shape, prune or lope overgrown or dead branches off a tree, reduce the height of a tree or remove a tree altogether to eliminate any risk of harm or damage to your property.

When is the best time to call a tree surgeon to perform tree surgery?

If you have a tree in your garden that doesn’t seem to be faring very well and are not sure whether you need professional help have a look at this small list of tree symptoms. Reading about the symptoms of sick trees will help you to decide whether to contact a tree specialist.

IBefore going forward with any plans to felling or pruning a tree, you will need to be certain that the law doesn’t protect the plant you want to modify. If you want to avoid receiving a large fine, you will need to read about the key tree legislation listed below.

Conservation areas – you will have to notify the LPA (local planning authority) if you would like to fell or modify a tree that is located in a conservation area. You’ll need to notify the local planning authority six weeks prior to modifying or felling a tree. A written notice containing all of the details of your tree surgery project is the best course of action.

All of the details of your tree surgery project.

Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) – these regulations protect any tree that is thought to add to the appeal of a given area. These regulations also protect tree species on the brink of extinction.

Felling licences – you don’t need to apply for a felling licence for a tree that is grown in a garden, but if a tree lies beyond your garden space, you will have to make an application to the Forestry Commission for a license.

Planning conditions – new build properties with trees and trees near building sites may be protected by the LPA. You will want to get permission from them first.

Examples of real-life tree surgery action.

I am proud to have reshaped many gardens into stunning works of art by utilising my professional tree surgery services throughout the Wirral. Below you can see some of the completed projects that have been done in the past;

How Much do Tree Surgeons Charge?

The majority of tree surgery companies provide a variety of tree surgery services instead of trying to sell service packages. This gives you the freedom to choose as many tree surgery services as you require without paying for full-service packages that you do not need. Below we will access all of the factors that need to be taken into account for your tree surgery project so we can get a rough idea of how much it will end up costing.

  • Tree size
    A survey will be conducted, which will consist of details about the height of the tree along with the measurements of the crown and trunk width. Depending upon how large the plant is will depend on how much trimming work will need to be done. If the tree is of a considerable size, then heavy-duty equipment may be needed, which will increase the costs of tree surgery.

    Accessibility
    Does the tree have sufficient access? If the tree is hard to reach, it will require heavier and more expensive equipment. As you can see, accessibility has a huge part to play, and it can have a significant impact on your final quote.

    Location
    If the tree is located next to a fence or by a road, it’s not very difficult to have it removed. If a tree is located next to power lines or buildings, then this will need more effort because every branch that is cut from the tree will need to be lowered to the ground carefully using ropes.

    Job type
    Pollarding, crown shaping, height reduction, and tree pruning might look like easy tasks that don’t take much time to complete. Don’t be fooled as these tasks are carried out by experts with many years of experience and can end up costing more than you thought. A tree that has been saved will pay back the investment in time.

    Tree count and type
    The cost of having trees trimmed will depend on how many trees you have that need trimming. Bear in mind, some species of plant are more difficult to handle than others.

    Job length
    The time it takes to complete a job can vary from as little as two hours or up to two or three days. Some jobs may need several tree specialists to work together depending upon where the tree is
    located. The parking situation will have to be taken into account as the travelling distance from where the company is located from where you are.

    Tree health and diseases
    If a tree has weather inflicted damage, pests or fungi, it can become very unstable. Treatment for a tree in this type of condition can be quite expensive because it is a significant safety risk.

    Waste removal
    The removal and disposal of a trees remains such as leaves, tree trunks, and branches may come at a further cost depending upon which company you choose. Some companies charge for the service, and others do not.
    Considering all these factors, you may think tree felling and pruning costs in the UK are a lot more expensive than you first imagined. I offer all of these tree services, and you only have to pay for what you need. Pricing is very competitive, all tasks will be completed safely and quickly, and all safety regulations will be adhered to.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q: What is the best time to remove a tree?

    A: The answer to this question depends upon the type of tree species. Felling a tree is usually carried out during the winter after the leaves have fallen and its a few months away before the new buds start to grow.

  • Q: Is it safe to use the leftover wood chippings for my garden?

    A: not only is it safe, but it is beneficial for your garden! You can use the leftover wood chippings to spread out in part of your garden, which will help suppress weeds, conserve water, and fight soil erosion.

  • Q: Do you need any qualifications to be a tree surgeon?

    A: At the very least, you need to have some sort of formal health and safety training, but apart from that, there aren’t any specified qualifications required to be a tree surgeon. You will need a professional tree arborist to teach you the basics. There are qualifications available such as the LANTRA standards or the NPTC CS309.

  • Q: What is the average salary of a tree surgeon in the UK?

    A: tree surgeons in the UK earn, on average about £21,000 per year. That number can go up to £28,000 per year depending upon experience and undertaking specialised training.

If you have no idea what tree services you need, you can always contact your local tree surgeon to arrange a survey. Professional tree arborists have the qualifications and skills needed to carry out all tree surgery tasks. Tree services such as lopping, pruning to stump grinding, and tree removal will be carried out to a high standard. Below you will find five more reasons to leave the tree cutting work to me:

If you happen to have found this tree surgery cost article helpful, please leave a comment below. If you would like to stay up-to-date with the number 1 tree surgeon in Wirral please follow me on my social media accounts.

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