As we move into the spring months, your perennial plants will be blooming, and trees are no exception. It’s important to keep an eye on your tree throughout the year and ensure its transition into the warmer months is happy and healthy.
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If you own a tree or a tree is on your ground, it is your responsibility to ensure it does not pose any danger or threat therefore regular checks should be carried out for any potential hazards. Ask us about our tree assessments.

At Tree Surgeon Essex, we have identified signs your tree could pose a danger:

​Leaning
Trees lean for various reasons; some are part of their natural growth and others indicate an underlying problem. If you find that your tree is leaning more than usual or if it is leaning towards a property, walkway or utility line, this could be a clear sign of issues with stability and therefore poses risk of injury. This can often happen after high winds and storms and prompt action should be taken.
 
Branches
Dead branches which have fallen on the ground indicate that the tree is in poor condition. The tree is not getting enough nourishment so is shedding dead branches, self-pruning and making itself smaller to remain healthy. It can also indicate that it is getting attacked on the inside by burrowing insects and weakening to the point that it could fall.

Branches which grow too close together often form a V-shape. The best time to spot this on deciduous trees is during late August or winter when the leaves have fallen off naturally. This is called a co-dominant stem and is likely to split or fall. 
 
Cankers
A canker is a destructive fungal disease that eats into the tree tissue resulting in dead sections of the branch or trunk. They appear as deep cracks, missing bark, patches and growths weakening the structure of the tree and making them prone to further damage. It is often a sign that the tree is dying, and professional assessment is needed urgently.   

Regular pruning can ensure branches do not overlap or rub against each other which is often where the wound starts for cankers. Our arborists can carefully plan around your tree to minimise any wounds allowing it to heal before disease can infect the area. An open wound from a broken branch could lead to decay inside the tree and a cavity forming inside the trunk.

Some holes are a result of woodpecker activity as they prefer dead trees. If they cannot find this, they will find weak or rotting areas on the tree that are infested with insects. Healthy trees can usually withstand woodpecker activity but if your tree has excessive holes, this could indicate a pest problem. 

Tree Roots
It can be harder to tell if roots have become weak and rotten but it’s an indication that the tree is rotting on the inside. Mushrooms or other fungi growing around the base of the tree or on the trunk is a sign of this. Soil that is cracked or raised is also a sign of uprooting and that the tree is losing grip on the soil increasing the risk of falling. 
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The overall form and structure of your tree will provide the biggest indication of any issues. A tree with multiple trunks is also likely to split. A strong reliable tree should have one primary trunk growing straight up with all other branches extending from it. Younger trees, if not pruned properly, can grow two or more trunks which can grow in different directions and may need cabling. 
 
Scratch Test
Decays cannot be reversed and a good way of testing if your tree is decaying is through the scratch test. Scratch the bark about halfway up the tree with your thumbnail or a small knife. Green underneath will indicate it is still alive while brown is dead. Do not cut a large wound into the tree as this will require more effort to heal and do not perform the scratch test on a branch or limb as it may be dead, but the rest of the tree is alive.
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If you have a tree that needs inspecting for potential hazards, please seek professional help by giving us a call on 01708 578 017.

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The quick answer is no! Do not undertake to do this job unless you are a tree surgeon.
 
The process of removing a stump isn’t as easy as you might think. There are certain things you need to know when removing it properly and it's best to know exactly what you’re getting yourself into, so let us explain.
 
Why should I remove the tree stump? Can’t it stay there?
Yes, of course it can stay there, but here are some reasons why some people choose to have tree stumps removed:

• Tree stumps are unsightly. Stumps can make a beautiful garden look messy. Tree stump removal is an easy way to improve the look of your garden.
•  Many people decide to remove tree stumps when looking to sell their homes, as it can be a factor that puts potential buyers off.
• Stumps take up space. Could its location be an area that could be put to better use?
• Protect your home from your tree roots.  Tree roots have been known to damage pipes or sewage lines. If you are planning on removing your tree stump, it is important to have a professional tree surgeon remove the roots of your tree stump so that there is no risk of root growth.
• Protect your lawn from decay and pests. Tree stumps can spread decay and invite unwanted species into your garden. For instance, termites, beetles and other wood-boring insects. Once your stump has been infected it can spread to healthy trees or shrubs nearby.
• A tree stump can also grow fungi, which is dangerous for pets and small children. It is best to get the entire stump removed to prevent decay, mould, or infected wood from spreading.
• Tree stumps can be hazardous. Young children may trip over a stump or tree roots.

 
How to get rid of stumps and roots? 
If you’ve decided that stump removal is what you want, hiring a tree removal expert really is the best way to go. Removing a stump needs proper equipment, to ensure that the job goes ahead without any hitches.

​They will know the best way to remove the stump, whether that be burn or grind the stump down. By having the proper equipment there will be little damage to the rest of your garden.
 
Using a stump grinder is the easiest way to rid your lawn of your stump and only takes a couple of hours.
 
Burning the stump is cheaper than stump grinding, but takes much longer time to be effective, up to a couple of days. Once the chemical mixture has spread within the stump, it will be set alight. The tree will smoulder. Once it has burned and cooled down, the stump will be easy to break apart and remove.
 
As you can see, either route requires specialist knowledge, which is why we recommend that you call the professionals in.
 
At Tree Surgeon Essex, we offer the following tree services across Havering, Brentwood, Basildon and Chelmsford:
 
Tree pruning
Tree removal or felling trees
Pollarding
Crown lifting or Crown raising
Crown thinning
Stump grinding
Hedge trimming
Emergency tree care
 
Call us today on: 01708 578 017.

Knowing when to trim trees is important, as doing it at the right time keeps your trees healthy in the long-term. Pruning at the correct time will ensure a season of healthy growth.
 
When should I prune my trees?
We recommend that trees can be pruned anytime between late autumn and early spring.
 
Why should I prune my tree in the autumn/winter months?
In autumn and winter, trees enter a dormant phase, halting their growth. This inactivity along with the cooler weather makes it ideal for pruning. In addition, for trees that shed their leaves in autumn, the bare branches make it easier to access and cut back.
 
How often should a tree be pruned?
Usually trees need pruning every 3 - 5 years, but this depends on the type of tree it is, its size and where it is located.
 
What happens if I prune in the spring?
If you prune after new growth has started, you can limit the plant’s bloom potential for the year.
 
Talk to your local tree surgeon about dormant pruning and why it’s important to do before spring blooms emerge.
 
At Tree Surgeon Essex, we offer the following tree services across Havering, Brentwood, Basildon and Chelmsford:
 
Tree pruning
Tree removal or felling trees
Pollarding
Crown lifting or Crown raising
Crown thinning
Stump grinding
Hedge trimming
Emergency tree care
 
Call us today on: 01708 578 017

If you are wanting to prune your tree, your tree surgeon may recommend that they do ‘crown thinning’ for your tree. This is the removal of select branches to thin out the fullness of the tree.
 
Why would you do crown thinning to a tree?

Shaping your tree
Crown thinning is an excellent way to re-shape a tree. An arborist can remove branches which are too close to others or branches that are weak. Sometimes you will have branches that cross over and rub against each other – these would be pruned.
 
Let in the light in
A tree can get bushy over time. But it can get too dense too. When leaves and branches are not getting enough light and nutrients, it is recommended to thin the tree out. Your tree will be stronger and healthier for it in the long run.

Stronger in stormier conditions
In periods of high winds, when a tree is too dense the tree is likely to be uprooted. As the wind cannot easily pass through, the tree topples over. If it is a large tree can do a lot of damage to the grounds and nearby buildings, fences etc. It may also fall and obstruct a road; causing a great deal of inconvenience.
 
Remove damage
An overgrown tree can become a fabulous place for insects and disease to thrive. In the crown thinning process branches which have evidence of insect or disease/damage will be cut off.
 
Better growth for the tree
When trees have been thinned out, it gives it a better chance of producing flowers and fruit. Why? Because there will be fewer branches competing for sunlight and they have a better chance of receiving the nutrients that they need.

Crown thinning is more expensive than tree pruning, but it will reap rewards going forward.
 
By hiring a professional tree surgeon to undertake crown thinning, you can expect to enjoy many years of benefit to the tree.

At Tree Surgeon Essex, we offer the following tree services across Havering, Brentwood, Basildon and Chelmsford: 
Tree pruning
Tree removal or felling trees
Pollarding
Crown lifting or Crown raising
Crown thinning
Stump grinding
Hedge trimming
Emergency tree care
 
Call us today on: 01708 578 017

There are different ways in which trees can be protected. To know if a tree is protected means understanding the mechanism that protects it.
 
Tree Preservation Orders
Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) only affect a small minority of trees in the UK, which are made and managed by local authorities. Other trees are protected if they are within a conservation area. Many local authorities now have online maps to help you investigate if a tree is protected by a TPO or is in a conservation area.
 
Trees may become protected due to their presence on an important site, for example a historic building and its gardens.
 
All planning applications must detail the trees on the land
On any planning application the trees that belong on that land must be specified and details of any trees that may be affected must be mentioned. This would include their crown spread and appropriate, calculated root protection area.

​The Local Planning Authority has a duty to ensure that planning conditions are used to provide for tree preservation and planting. All the relevant development documents, including any tree surveys, will usually be available to view on the local authority website.
 
One of the policies for trees states that:
'Planning permission should be refused for development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodland and the loss of aged or veteran trees found outside ancient woodland, unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss.'
 
Protection of a collective of trees
Trees may also be protected with important habitats or heritage sites, such as historic parks and gardens or another place of special interest.
 
How you can help
Many important ancient, veteran, notable or special interest trees are not properly protected and are susceptible to loss. We encourage all local communities to assess their trees, so as to be able to help safeguard the most important trees if they are threatened.

The arborists at Tree Surgeon Essex are qualified to help customers with trees that have TPOs. For tree pruning, tree removal, stump removal or hedge trimming, call us on 01708 578 017.

Some unexpected parts of a tree grow and some parts become dormant and still require nutrients to survive in the winter just as with the rest of the year. Trees don't become ready for winter all at once but do it incrementally and the process begins in the autumn. It's a course of action that has repeated itself for countless years and is one of the primary reasons why trees have not gone extinct. 

A Tree’s Metabolic Rate Decreases in the Winter
Trees have to be able to survive freezing temperatures which means that they have to adjust in the winter. Unless a tree is from a tropical or subtropical region, it will survive the winter. But how? Basically, trees "winterize" themselves. Having too much water in their trunks can result in cracking and splitting. To prevent this from happening, trees keep water in their roots and allow the trunk to "dry out" so to speak. In fact, trees roots expand during the winter looking for new sources of water and nutrients. 

It's Cellular
No, we don't mean mobile phones! Cellular is this context refers to the tree's cells. In winter, trees react on a cellular level to deal with freezing temperatures. The cells become more pliable during the winter months allowing them to expand and contract with the temperature changes. 

To Freeze or Not to Freeze?
Regardless of how cold it actually gets during the winter; trees are prepared for freezing temperatures. They convert starch into sugar which will help prevent cells freezing much in the same way adding anti-freeze to your car will keep it from freezing. It is a gradual process that begins in the autumn. 

Trees are almost completely dormant for the winter months and only use what they need to survive and keep vital systems protected. Most trees shed their leaves in the autumn by releasing abscisic acid in preparation for the winter, with the notable exception of evergreens. When spring arrives, the whole process begins to reverse, and new growth soon appears on trees along with blooms. 
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Tree Surgeon Essex Can Tend to Your Trees All Year Long
Do you have a tree/s on your property that you would like us to cast our expert eyes over? Unsure if they are dead, diseased or simply in need of a good prune? Then call us today for a free visual quote to get them sorted out and off of your to do list.