Arbsystem Essential Guide to Tree Surgery

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Welcome to Arbsystem’s Essential Guide to Tree Surgery!

In this guide, we’ll take you through key techniques, tools, and practical tips to help you care for your trees. Whether you’re a professional arborist or a homeowner looking to maintain your garden, this post offers useful insights into tree surgery.

What is Tree Surgery?

Tree surgery, also known as arboriculture, involves the care and upkeep of trees to ensure their health, safety, and appearance. It covers a range of techniques like pruning, dismantling, and bracing, all aimed at keeping trees in good shape and reducing potential risks.

Common Tree Surgery Techniques

1. Pruning

Pruning helps improve a tree’s structure, encourages healthy growth, and enhances its appearance. It can also promote flowering and lower the risk of disease.

Types of Pruning:

  • Crown Thinning: Removing select branches to improve light and air flow.
  • Crown Reduction: Shortening branches to manage the tree’s size.
  • Deadwooding: Removing dead or dying branches to prevent decay and improve tree health.

Pruning Tips:

  • Always use clean, sharp tools for neat cuts.
  • Prune most trees in their dormant season (late autumn to early spring).
  • Avoid over-pruning; no more than 25% of the canopy should be cut in one go.

2. Dismantling

Dismantling is the safe removal of a tree, especially in tricky spaces or when a tree is dead, diseased, or poses a hazard.

Steps for Dismantling:

  • Assessment: Check the tree’s condition and surroundings.
  • Planning: Plan the dismantling process, including rigging and removal.
  • Cutting: Use sectional felling, cutting branches off one by one.

Safety Tips:

  • Always wear personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • Make sure the area is clear of bystanders.
  • Use proper rigging to control falling branches.

3. Bracing

Bracing supports weak or damaged branches, stopping them from breaking and further damaging the tree.

Types of Bracing:

  • Dynamic Bracing: Flexible support that allows branches to move naturally while strengthening them.
  • Cable Bracing: Static cables to hold tree sections securely.
  • Rod Bracing: Steel rods to stabilise vulnerable branches.

When to Brace:

  • If a branch shows signs of weakness.
  • After a storm when branches are damaged but still salvageable.

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Essential Tools for Tree Surgery

Having the right tools makes all the difference. Here are some essentials:

  • Secateurs: Perfect for small, precise cuts.
  • Loppers: Handy for reaching and cutting thicker branches.
  • Handsaw: Great for smaller branches, providing neat cuts without the bulk of a chainsaw.
  • Chainsaw: Essential for larger trees and branches but requires training and caution.
  • Rope and Rigging Equipment: Important for safe tree dismantling.
  • Safety Gear: Helmets, eye and ear protection, gloves, and appropriate clothing, including chainsaw boots and trousers.

Practical Tree Care Tips

  1. Regular Inspections: Keep an eye on your trees for signs of disease, pests, or structural issues. Spotting problems early can prevent bigger issues down the line.
  2. Watering and Mulching: Young trees need plenty of water, especially in dry periods. Mulching helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and release nutrients gradually.
  3. Don’t Over-Prune: Trees rely on their leaves for photosynthesis. Over-pruning can stress them and harm their health.

Tree surgery is essential for keeping trees healthy and safe. Whether it’s simple pruning or more complex tasks like dismantling and bracing, knowing the right techniques and tools is key. By following these tips, you can help your trees thrive for years to come.

For more advice or information on becoming an arborist, feel free to get in touch with the Arbsystem team.

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