FAQs

Below we’ve listed some of our frequently asked questions, but if there’s anything we haven’t covered, feel free to get in touch and we’ll happily advise you.

Do I need permission to have work carried out?

When planning to have work carried out, you’ll need to first consider if any of the trees or shrubs currently have Tree Protection Orders (TPOs) on them or if they fall within a Conservation Area. You can usually check this online with the relevant authorities or our tree surgeons can help you with this when they come to quote.

Why do I need to employ a tree surgeon? 

It’s important to hire a tree surgeon to complete work on your trees and shrubs, as it can be quite dangerous work that requires a highly-skilled and qualified individual. Tree Surgeons will have participated in extensive training to understand the care and work required for your tree, along with the necessary training to use the specialist and often expensive equipment.

Poorly cut trees can also cause further problems down the line, such as additional expenses and could lead the trees to be dangerous to cut down. For these reasons, it’s important you hire a qualified professional first and foremost rather than attempting it yourself.

How much does tree surgery cost?

At Tree Fellas, we don’t have a minimum charge or bill at an hourly rate, instead all quotes are completed on a case by case basis and will be priced up front, with no hidden costs.

Do mature trees need special care?

To help ensure mature trees keep growing healthily and happily, it’s important you plan in regular maintenance of them. Ignoring or neglecting any tree but especially mature trees can lead to more costly problems further down the line. We can provide Tree Surveys to help you understand what needs to be done and can of course carry out the work too.

What’s the best time to have work done on trees and hedges?

Ideally you want to have work completed on your trees after the leaves have fallen and before the buds start to form. This is the case for most trees and hedges but not all, so this is something we can confirm for you either via email or when we complete the site visit.

How do I know if I have a dangerous tree?

As a home owner, it’s your responsibility to look after and keep an eye on the health and safety of the trees and hedges within your grounds. If you have a large amount of green space, it’s worth scheduling in regular assessments with a qualified Arborist like us to help ensure your trees are safe and not in danger of falling or causing damage. If a tree is deemed dangerous, we can let you know what work we need to carry out to make it safe.

Common causes of dangerous and unsafe trees include decaying or rotting wood, fungus or cracks in the trunk.

What if the tree has a birds nest within it?

If you find that a bird is nesting in your tree or hedge, then by default it is legally protected whilst the nest remains in use. This will often delay work until after the nesting season is over. This rule applies to Bats too, who are also legally protected.

As a guide, birds typically nest between March and end of July.

What if I carry out work on a protected tree without permission?

If you carry out work on a protected tree without permission and are convicted in the magistrate’s court, you could be fined up to £20,000 for destroying or damaging a tree. For other offences, you could also be fined up to £2,500 and you will also be required to plant a replacement tree.

Can I request to have the wood for logging? How will it be left?

Yes you can. We are able to leave the remaining wood for logging if requested, and these will be in the form of large chunks that you can then cut up. If you’d like our team to turn the wood into logs and stack then, then we can do this for you at an additional cost.

Do you need access to my home, such as electricity/water? 

If there is through access to the garden from the front to transport machinery in and dispose of logs, branches and other debris, then we do not need access to your home or any amenities.

Do I need to be in?

As long as there is easy access to where we’ll be working, you don’t need to be in. If there isn’t, then we’ll require that you’re present until the end of the job.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We take cash, cheque and bank transfer payments.