Tree Surgeon FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

The amount a tree surgeon costs will vary depending on their skills, experience and operating costs. 

The more important question you should ask is, “How much will my tree surgery project cost?”

Each tree surgery task/project will have different demands and, as such, require varying levels of labour and equipment for safe completion.

Other factors which will impact the cost of your tree surgery project include:

The size of the tree

As you would expect, the larger your tree, the more it will cost.

The condition of the tree

Trees in poor condition are more risky to work on, increasing the price.

The positioning of the tree

Trees near utilities or property, which may get damaged, will be more costly. 

In addition, trees in challenging locations will also be more expensive.

Your geographic location

Economic differences and different operating costs mean tree surgery prices will vary depending on your location within the UK.

For example, in most cases, removing a large tree in Surrey is likely to be more expensive than removing the same tree in the North East. 

Contact us today for a free consultation and no-obligation quotation.

Due to the job and industry demands, a professional tree surgery company will generally have very high operating costs.

That said, the cost of the tree surgery job will depend on the specific project and its requirements.

For further details, please see the FAQ “How much does a tree surgeon cost UK?”, which you can find above.

In some cases, yes, you will require permission to have work done on your trees or hedges. 

Tree preservation orders and conservation areas protect specific trees and locations, so checking for these before any work begins is essential.

If you fail to seek the correct permissions, you and your chosen tree contractor will potentially face hefty fines and criminal prosecution. 

Details regarding conservation areas and TPOs are available online, and you can contact your local council or planning authority for further clarification.

It’s also worth noting that some other factors may constrain work to trees:

You may require a felling licence, provided by the Forestry Commission, for tree felling, which involves more than 5m³ of timber or 2m³ if you intend to sell it.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects wildlife habits, including bat roosts and the nests of wild birds.

Should the tree contain a protected wildlife habitat, you may need a special permit from Natural England or have to delay the work. 

Occasionally, covenants attached to deeds and additional conditions attached to planning permissions may restrict the scope of permitted tree work.

Dead, dying, diseased, dangerous trees are exempt from TPOs, but you may still need to apply for 5 Day’s notice from your local planning authority. 

At Guildford Tree Surgeons, we always check for protection orders and, if required, can apply and obtain permits for work on your behalf.

We have an excellent understanding of the application process and a great track record for getting work approved. 

If you’d like assistance with a protected tree or are wondering if your tree is protected, contact us today.

If you destroy, damage or carry out any work on a protected tree in Surrey without permission, you could be fined up to £20,000.

You will also have to replace the tree if it has been cut down or destroyed.

If you are unsure if your tree is protected or require tree surgery on a protected tree, contact Guildford Tree Surgeons today.

Essentially, a tree surgeon and an arborist do the same work.

In our opinion, the difference between arborists and tree surgeons is how they plan, approach and carry out the work.

An arborist generally has higher qualifications and a deeper understanding of how the work may impact the tree and the environment.

In contrast, a tree surgeon may have the relevant qualifications to complete the work but lack the knowledge of a certified arborist.

For example, a tree surgeon may have tickets to use a chainsaw, fell, climb and prune trees but lack an Arb level 3 certification, which requires time at college.

At Guildford Tree Surgeons, our workforce consists of qualified arborists and tree surgeons. Most are arborists, and the team leaders all hold a minimum level 3 certification in arboriculture.

We approach all our jobs by first identifying your needs, but then we’ll assess, consider and explain how the work may impact the tree and surrounding environment.

As a responsible tree company, we’ll offer eco-friendly solutions to balance your requirements with what’s best for the trees and the environment.

Contact us to discuss your project and to arrange a free quotation.

Although no law prevents you from picking up a chainsaw, DIY tree surgery is not something we’d ever recommend.

Tree surgery is inherently dangerous, and without suitable training, you risk damaging property or, worse, injuring/killing yourself or someone else.

In addition to adequate training, safe tree surgery requires the correct equipment, PPE and insurance in case something goes wrong.

Our advice is always to leave any tree work to the professionals. Contact us for a free site visit and a no-obligation quotation.

Any qualified tree surgeon or arborist should happily provide proof of their certifications.

There are two primary qualification providers, NPTC and Lantra, that offer various arboricultural qualifications. Proof of certification will likely be a photo ID card or a hardcopy/pdf certificate.

If a tree surgeon is reluctant or cannot provide proof of their qualifications, it would be safest to seek an alternative tree contractor.

For a free, no obligation quotation from a professional, qualified, insured tree contractor, contact us today.

Insurance For Tree Surgeons And Arborists

Tree surgeons and arborists can take out many of specialist tree surgery insurance policies to cover parties in a variety of situations.

Public and Employer Liability Insurance For Tree Surgeons

For domestic tree surgery, as a minimum, a tree surgeon should have £5 million in public and employer liability insurance.

We recommend a minimum of £10 million in public and employer liability insurance for commercial tree surgery or any tree operations near roads or footpaths.

While insurance is not a legal requirement, if a tree surgeon isn’t insured and something goes wrong, you may be liable to pay for any damage caused.

All genuinely insured tree surgeons should willingly provide you with proof of insurance.

Professional Indemnity Insurance For Tree Surgeons

Tree surgeons or consultants providing arboricultural advice and reports should have professional indemnity insurance. Professional indemnity policies compensate parties for financial losses or physical damage resulting from negligent or incorrect advice.

Plant & Machinery Insurance For Tree Surgeons

Tree surgeon businesses often have plant and machinery insurance to protect valuable equipment, such as chainsaws, arb diggers and wood chippers. Tree surgery equipment is expensive and, as such, is frequently targeted and stolen by thieves.

Hired In Plant Insurance For Tree Surgeons

Some tree contractors may need to hire in plant and machinery, so they often require “hired in” plant insurance. Hired-in plant policies protect businesses if they are damaged or stolen. Most hire companies demand proof of “hired in” plant insurance as part of the rental agreement.

Personal Injury Insurance For Tree Surgeons

Personal injury insurance policies offer compensation to cover income if an individual can’t work due to injury. Tree surgery is a high-risk profession, so personal injury coverage is a great way to protect tree surgeons financially should an accident occur.

Vehicle Insurance For Tree Surgeons

Tree surgeon vehicles require a separate insurance policy to cover them for damage, theft and injury. Tree surgeon trucks and other motor vehicles are often modified from their factory specification, requiring specialist motor insurance.

Tree Surgeon Qualifications and Insurance

Tree surgeons must hold the correct qualifications to ensure the insurance is valid. Insurance providers reserve the right to reject claims if an unqualified tree surgeon carries out work they aren’t qualified to perform.

Upstanding tree surgeons require a variety of insurance policies to protect them when things go wrong. Generally, the more insurance coverage a tree surgeon or company has, the more protection you will have if damage or injury occurs.  

As one of the leading tree surgeons in Surrey, Guildford Tree Surgeons has a comprehensive range of tree surgery insurance policies to protect all parties from the most eventualities.

Visit our tree surgeon insurance page for proof of insurance, or contact us for more information.

If left unmanaged, trees, especially those close to houses, have the potential to cause damage to your property.

There are a few ways trees may cause damage, the most common of which we will discuss below. 

Physical Damage

Falling or overgrown and outreaching branches can cause physical damage to your property. 

Structural Damage (Subsidence)

Root systems can cause structural damage to your property through subsidence. 

Generally, subsidence is only problematic if your property is on shrinkable clay soil or shallow foundations.

Drain Damage

Roots can enter drains, blocking them or causing unnoticeable damage. 

Old drains with poor seals are more susceptible because roots are attracted to the water source. 

If a drain leaks, it may cause further issues, such as forming cavities in the ground.

If you’re concerned a tree may cause damage to your property, don’t delay; contact us for a free, no-obligation quotation. 

Responsible, law-abiding tree surgeons will always re-purpose or dispose of waste at an approved green waste recycling site.

Furthermore, tree companies transporting such waste should have a green waste carriers license issued by the Environment Agency.

We have an up-to-date green waste carriers license and re-purpose logs as firewood and woodchips for horticultural purposes or biomass.

If a neighbours’ tree or hedge is causing you problems, we suggest conversing with your neighbour and voicing your concerns. 

It’s best to resolve things informally to avoid complicated and expensive legal disputes that may lead to unnecessary conflict.

The most common problems include high hedges blocking light and tree branches or roots encroaching on property boundaries.

If you can’t find common ground with your neighbour and agree on a solution, you have certain legal rights allowing you to take action.

If your neighbour refuses to prune branches that overhang your property, you can legally prune them back to your boundary. 

However, you must be sure to check the trees’ protection status. If the tree is protected, you must obtain the necessary permission. 

You must also ensure the cutting back of the branches does not threaten the trees’ health or stability. 

Furthermore, as the tree owner legally owns any branches or debris, you must offer to return them. 

If your neighbour has a tree you think may be dangerous, for example, about to fall over, you can report it to your local council.

They will assess the situation and the tree’s condition and, if necessary, order the owner to make it safe. 

Search trees on your local council website to find the council department responsible for trees. 

You may also want to gather evidence to support your claim the tree is dangerous. 

If roots penetrate your boundary, you can legally prune them, but remember you must not endanger the trees’ stability or health.

In this case, we suggest consulting a qualified arborist, who will better understand how pruning the roots may impact the tree.

If a neighbours’ hedge adversely affects your property, you must first try to resolve the problem by communicating with your neighbour.

When you and your neighbour cannot agree on a suitable solution, you can formally complain to your local council.

If a neighbour’s tree has caused damage to your property, you should inform them immediately and ask them to pay for the repair cost.

Gathering as much evidence as possible to support your claim is also sensible.

If you cannot agree on a suitable figure, or they refuse to pay, you will have to seek legal assistance.

A professional tree surgeon will do everything possible to find a suitable solution to save a tree.

Unfortunately, there will be certain circumstances and situations where tree removal is unavoidable, but it should only be a last resort.

We’re experts in the conservation and preservation of trees, so if you have a tree that needs saving, contact us today; we’ll be happy to help.

With the ability to work at height, tree surgeons can access and cut hedges, which would prove too large for most gardeners to handle.

Our skilled tree surgeons and arborists can cut, trim and shape even the largest hedges.

Visit our hedge-cutting page for more information.

Some tree surgeons will give away free logs; however, they will likely be in longer lengths, unprocessed and unseasoned.

Free logs may also be a mixture of hard and soft woods, so question this before agreeing on delivery.

A tree surgeon will only deliver free logs if convenient to them, which is understandable due to the associated cost of transportation.

Yes, a qualified tree surgeon can remove roots. The root removal method will depend on the situation, but using a stump grinder is most likely.

When removing a tree, the process is more straightforward; however, if the tree is to remain, a skilled tree surgeon may carefully prune back specific roots to maintain the tree’s health.

For more information about stump grinding, visit our stump grinding and stump removal page.

Alternatively, contact us today if you have tree roots you would like removed.