Back to Blog
Probably the most influential ways in which you can ensure that your garden plants, shrubs and trees develop and grow well in your landscape garden is protection and possibly the most important type of protection that is required is protection against wind damage. Virtually all of the trees and shrubs which grow in your garden can be seriously damaged, even fatally, by heavy winds in any number of different ways. One of the incredibly effective ways in which you can vastly decrease wind damage is by installing windbreak netting around the boundaries and using tree shelters on all of your younger trees. The use of tree shelters can dramatically reduce, or even halt completely, any wind damage to fresh leaves, buds and shoots. These amazingly useful gadgets can create a complete or partial barrier to the wind. Netting reduces the speed and ferocity of wind but not it's direction whereas tree shelters, especially circular/round types will deflect the flow. As the wind blows the trees backwards and forwards it can cause damage to the roots especially the important, very fine, fibrous roots. Together with the fact that wind can also increase osmosis, trees left exposed to such weather can, very quickly become severely dehydrated. Sadly, protecting any species of tree in severely exposed locations can be extremely difficult and you will, most likely, discover that the only effective protection would be the use of both tree shelters and windbreak netting. Inside the tree shelter is a wonderful environment which encourages quick, and high quality, growth, with the trees often growing at six times the rate of those without shelter. The twin walled tree shelters offer the perfect level of insulation to ensure a more stable temperature and, with sufficient light getting through to further warm the air, trees grow with stronger stems and trunks with few side shoots. Nearly all tree shelters, either light weight or heavy weight, are manufactured from an amazingly strong and long lasting type of opaque or clear polyethylene this results in products which are considerably lighter than those made from an alternative substance. Because they are mass produced items and the material used is plentiful and not very expensive it costs very little to purchase a large number of shelters, another factor in keeping down the price is that they are really easy to flat pack resulting in transportation which is easy and cheap with even the heavy weight models are light weight. If you have chosen to live in a coastal location, you will soon discover that tree shelters are also a great solution to the annoying problem of salt damage. Protecting against salt damage is, more than likely the only way to make sure that some species of tree flourish in your vicinity. Windbreak netting is also a cool, easy way in which to increase protection against salt damage. Windbreak netting is also good for reducing sunlight in very bright positions as it restricts sunlight by forty to fifty percent. Windbreak netting and tree shelters are also required if you reside in a neighborhood where animals are a problem. Tree shelters will stop any damage caused by browsing animals such as rabbits, dear and the likes. The spiral types have been designed for this reason and are most probably the best choice. Windbreak netting is unlikely to stop rabbits because it is commonly made from a mesh of polyethylene but it will most likely stop other creatures. If your trees are located in a vulnerable position that leaves you feeling worried about their vulnerability, then book an appointment with us by calling 01245 527 053. We can inspect your trees and assess how they would fare in the event of high winds and storms. Don't leave it until after a storm, when you'll need our emergency tree service, call us for an inspection today.
0 Comments
Read More
Back to Blog
Covid-19: how we are operating15/4/2020 During these unprecedented times, we have had to take stock of how our business is delivering our tree cutting services. The safety of our staff and customers is paramount and we are fortunate enough to be in a trade that allows us to make the necessary adjustments and carrying on working. For domestic clients, with side access, we can minimise physical contact and still enter the property to work on trees and hedges. Tree and hedge waste can also be walked out via the side access and not through the living quarters of the house. For clients that have booked us in for a quote, prior to our visit, we will call them again to make sure that they are happy with this arrangement. We are able to provide quotes for trees and hedges located in a rear garden if we can view them via a side gate. For trees and hedges situated in the front of a property we can avoid contact with our clients altogether. In line with government guidelines, we have also made the following adjustments: 1. Our vehicles are cleaned at the beginning and end of each day. 2. Our crews carry hand sanitisers and regularly use it during the working day. 3. Our vehicles carry a maximum of two members of staff. The middle seat is left vacant and provides a suitable distance to reduce the risk of cross contamination. 4. The Contract Manager is working independently, quoting, setting up work, checking completed work etc. 5. We are being selective about what work we are able to carry out that will allow our crew to work at a distance from the general public. 6. The only housing work being carried out are the sites where we have already vetted as appropriate for work to be carried out during the present situation. 7. There is only one member of staff at each office. 8. Sanitisers are supplied for both offices. We listen to government updates on a daily basis and we’re ready to respond and implement new working structures as and when is necessary. During this lockdown period, if you would like any tree services or hedge trimming work undertaken, please call 01708 578 017. Chelmsford Tree Surgeon remains committed in providing you with the safest tree care service possible.
Back to Blog
Spring is in the air19/2/2020 How do trees know that it is spring and time to start growing again? Surely they can't tell the time and they don't have little calendars in their trunks, but each spring they seem to know that it's time once again to bloom, to grow buds and to grow the leaves back that fell the previous autumn. But how?
Trees are living things and as such have molecules and enzymes in them that signal the changes in season. The big thing about spring is that we have more sunlight and as sunlight is a very important thing to a tree, they begin to grow and bloom once again when they are getting more hours of sunlight each day. But it was warm and sunny that day in February you may say, that may be true, but it wasn't enough sunlight on a daily basis so not enough to tell the trees it was spring once again. We can see the changes on the trees quite easily, they bud and new leaves start to grow, this is the main growing time for trees, as they look to reproduce. Experts say that this season is like a tree's adolescence as it is the main growing time. Trunk growth is something that happens throughout the summer months and root growth occurs in the fall and winter, but the prettiest part of all is in the spring. Trees typically have two kinds of buds, the large ones that will one day become flowers and the smaller thinner ones that will one day will be the vegetation (the leaves). This all occurs quite fast in the grand scheme of things and during the summer we can reap the rewards of the fruit (if its a fruit tree) or look forward to picking up all the leaves once again come fall. For trees to be lovely in the spring means that they have had a winter on them with temperatures between -5 and 10 C, this triggers a physiological reaction within the tree itself with the hormones and enzymes to allow the tree to be radiant once winter has ended. Trees are beautiful things and are very adaptable. They give us shade, they give us privacy and they beautify our gardens and parks. While we may not give them a second look, trees have a lot going on just beneath the surface and, like humans have their time to grow and develop. If you would like a local tree surgeon in Chelmsford to help you out. Please call on 01245 527 053.
Back to Blog
All You Need to Know About Tree Pruning15/1/2020 You have undoubtedly seen a lot of trees, perhaps you have even grown some on your own property. But how much do you know about trees and their pruning needs? There are some aspects of this you need to consider.
First, you have to understand how a tree works, to find out the importance of tree pruning. In essence, the tree is a complex living organism with a self-supporting system. Trees convert carbon from our atmosphere into sugars, which are used to create blocks of cellulose and lignin to sustain themselves. Trees absorb water, along with other essential nutrients through the roots. These nutrients are transported to the leaves via a tubular system of vessels, known as the xylem. Minerals and sugars are then used by the tree to flower and produce fruit. You may wonder why you need to prune trees. The main purpose of pruning is to improve the structure of the tree. In essence, pruning consists of controlled removal of branches, so there is also the benefit of clearing broken branches. If the tree is planted close to a structure, you may need to prune it just to provide some clearance. You should only prune trees that need it because removing a big branch creates an opportunity for disease entering via the wound or simply weaken the tree through the removal of a large part of leaf material. Removing branches is not a safe process, as it requires special gear and training. In many cases, you need to leave this job to expert arborists, who can easily handle the task. To prune a tree correctly, you need to understand how branches work. They grow from buds, which in time become twigs. During the process of incremental growth, in which the tree produces a ring of growth, the branches grow as well. The point where the branch attaches itself to the tree is known as the branch bark ridge. To keep the wound of pruning as small as possible, you need the final cut to be no larger than a third of the stem/branch. If you are removing a branch, you must do the final cut from the bark ridge to the collar in such a way as to minimise the final wound. If you remove a large branch, you up the risk of disease. Fungi and bacteria can enter the tree via the wound and cause all sort of trouble. Pruning should not take place at random periods. Generally, you should do it after the leaves have had a chance to harden, i.e. late spring and early summer. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as with Walnut, Maples and Birch, all of which bleed sap if pruned in spring. For these trees, you should wait for mid-summer or mid-winter pruning. If you are in the Chelmsford area of Essex, or nearby and need your trees pruned, call Chelmsford Tree Surgeon on 01245 527 053.
Back to Blog
Can a tree affect a TV signal?20/11/2019 You may not know that trees can have an effect on the reception of television and satellite broadcasts.
A TV signal is similar to light waves. As with light, objects such as hills, buildings, or tall trees can obstruct or deflect the UHF signals, creating deep shadow patterns, which makes reception difficult. The screening effect of trees has a further disadvantage in that it can vary greatly with the season and weather conditions, and is especially important in areas where television signals are weak. Tree can be responsible for blocking signals. What’s interesting is that it’s actually the leaves that block the signal – not the trunk. As leaves grow, they act as bigger and bigger aerials themselves and block the signals from getting to the aerial within your property. When leaves get wet, the problem can worsen and make things so bad that you will find that your picture breaks up or occasionally disappears altogether. If the trees around your home are below the height of your roof, you should be OK, as long as your TV aerial is above the roofline. If you live in an area with lots of trees, it is possible to mount your aerial to a pole, which is attached to your chimney – this will give you the best possible clearance from the trees. When deciding the height of an aerial, allowance should be made for growth of the tree. If the aerial cannot be mounted above the tops of the trees, the signal will inevitably be weakened in passing through the trees. This is not necessarily the end of your TV watching as there are other gadgets out there to help boost the signal. If you find that you are constantly getting a bad signal, your only other solution may be to fell or pollard the tree(s) to below your aerial height. You will need to be sure that you have permission to cut the tree. Make sure you hire a professional tree-surgeon to undertake the safe cutting down of your tree. What is the difference between felling a tree and pollarding a tree? Tree felling is cutting down a tree completely, whereas pollarding a tree is a form of pruning it. If you don’t want to cut down the tree completely you could opt for crown thinning. This keeps the overall size of the tree, but the density of the branches is removed. The main branches of the tree are kept intact, however the unneeded secondary branches are then removed, so that light (and your tv signal) can pass through more easily. Give us a call on 01245 527 053 to book an appointment for your property. Tree Services we offer: Emergency Tree Services | Tree Pruning | Tree Removal | Stump Removal | Stump Grinding | Crown Lifting | Crown Thinning | Hedge Trimming
Back to Blog
Hiring the right tree surgeon18/9/2019 If you have trees on your property that need pruning or cutting down, you want to be sure that you hire the right tree surgeon for the job. Choosing an unqualified arborist could cost you your tree’s life.
Here are some things to think about when you need a tree cut or pruned and you’re ready to hire a professional tree surgeon.
Estimates or quotations are normally free of charge. However, a fee may be charged if advisory work is involved. It is recommended that customers obtain more than one estimate or quotation for the purpose of comparison and should not make their choice on price alone. Depending on the location and type of work being carried, remember to let your neighbours know, particularly if any tree felling work is to take place. If you would like Chelmsford Tree Surgeons to come to your property and provide you with an estimate, please give us a call today on 01245 527 053. Tree Services we offer: Emergency Tree Services | Tree Pruning | Tree Removal | Stump Removal | Stump Grinding | Crown Lifting | Crown Thinning | Hedge Trimming |