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Branching Out: Tree Surgery in Urban Environments

Trees have an enduring presence in our towns and cities, both here in Lincolnshire and further afield. They can seem to blend seamlessly into the urban fabric. Yet, maintaining these natural treasures on busy streets is no small feat. In this blog, we will explore the delicate balance between nature and urbanisation. We will also discuss the vital role that tree surgery plays in nurturing this relationship.

Tree Surgery: Embracing Nature Amidst Concrete

As our towns and cities continue to grow, green spaces have become increasingly precious. Trees are vital components of a healthy urban ecosystem. They provide oxygen, absorb carbon dioxide, provide shade and cool air temperatures. However, the juxtaposition of towering trees against towering buildings creates a unique set of challenges. Tree roots can disrupt pavements and branches can endanger power lines. Trees that are not regularly maintained can pose the risk of blocking paths, roads and cycleways. This is where tree surgeons come in.

Tree Surgery: Elevating Urban Greenery

Simpson Arboriculture are a dedicated team of fully qualified tree surgeons with many years’ experience. Our team understands the challenges of carrying out tree surgery in urban environments.

Our professional team are well versed in carrying out technically tricky jobs, working in spaces with limited access, near busy public roads and avoiding obstacles. We have the right machinery to carry out tree work in hard-to-reach places and always aim for the safest and most efficient approach. Our team use traffic management, appropriate signage to notify the public and will clearly mark out any work zone to keep members of the public safe.

Our Services: Nurturing Urban Trees

Tree pruning: Trees need regular maintenance to ensure they don’t encroach on buildings, power lines or pedestrian pathways. Simpson Arboriculture’s team of skilled arborists can carry out tree pruning, crown reductions and crown lifting. This always depends on what is best to maintain the health of the tree, whilst ensuring safety and functionality in its environment.

Tree removal: In cases where trees pose a risk, they may require removal. We decide on the best approach to carry out the work with minimal disruption.

Preserving Urban Beauty

Through a holistic approach that combines arboricultural skills and knowledge and a love of nature, our team at Simpson Arboriculture can strike the balance between nurturing greenery and maintaining urban functionality. As our towns and cities continue to evolve, the role of urban tree surgery becomes ever more important. Simpson Arboriculture are committed to preserving and enriching the urban landscape.

Get in touch

If you have a tree you need some advice on, or you have a technically tricky tree surgery job that you need doing, get in touch! You can reach out via our website or give us a call in the office to discuss. We can talk you through the process, from getting a quote to booking in the work.

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Assessing your trees: How to spot signs of decline

Ash tree

Benefits of healthy trees

Trees are an integral part of our environment. They provide natural beauty as well as being essential for providing oxygen, storing carbon dioxide and helping to keep the earth cool. In essence, we cannot live without trees. So how can we make sure that our trees thrive?

Firstly, by giving your trees what they need. In terms of young trees, this may be regular watering and use of supports such as tree guards. For more information on this, please see our blog on caring for new trees. Later on, assessing your trees becomes key!

Assessing your trees

Assessing your trees regularly, particularly more mature trees, is the best way to help ensure that they remain strong, healthy and prosperous. We recommend assessing your trees several times a year. We believe this is the most effective way to notice and monitor any changes. If a tree is healthy, you should see new growth every year. We always advise assessing your trees after severe weather such as storms or strong winds, in case your trees have been damaged.

Spotting signs of decline

Knowing what to look for when assessing your trees is essential if you are to spot the signs of decline early. This can help to avoid more problems in the future.   

There are ample ways in which trees can let you know that their health is compromised, so it’s really important to know what to look out for. Trees can show signs of decline in their trunk, branches or in the canopy so it’s important to assess all parts of the tree to give you a clear picture of its health. 

Some of the common signs to spot are listed below: 

  1. Cracks/ splitting. What does it mean if there are cracks or splitting in the bark? This can be caused by freezing weather or sun scald. However, it can also be a sign of fungal disease. Large cracks or splits in a tree can cause it to become unstable and pose a risk to individuals and property.
  2. Dead or broken branches. It’s advisable to prune any dead branches as these can weaken a tree over time.
  3. Decayed roots. Root rot can be a serious problem for a tree, affecting its stability and its ability to get nutrients from the soil. Other tell-tale signs are stunted growth, small pale, leaves and thinning around the canopy. In this case, we may have to remove the tree to prevent the disease from spreading to other nearby trees and plants.   
  4. Fungus growth. The bark should be free from any fungi or moss. Presence of either could mean that the tree is infected with rot. This can cause the tree to become unstable and needs to be assessed as soon as possible.

What can we do to help?

At Simpson Arboriculture, we are passionate about helping to maintain the health of the trees we work on. Pruning and trimming, if carried out correctly by professional arborists, can improve the appearance of the tree and contribute to its overall health. Our arborists work within the guidance set out in BS3998 (British Standards for tree work). This means they ensure that any work carried out will not compromise a tree’s health and stability. Instead supporting and encouraging new growth. When quoting to carry out tree work, our professional arborists will discuss with you what you want to achieve (e.g. more light in your garden) and balance this with the needs and health of the tree. Keeping our customers happy and trees healthy is always our intention!   

But what about when a tree is showing signs of decline? Our team have years of experience in spotting the signs of decline early on. This means that we can take appropriate action. Our aim is to save and maintain trees wherever possible and carry out the essential work to improve and maintain the health of a tree, thus helping to ensure its longevity. This may involve removing deadwood. It may also involve rebalancing a tree or targeting specific branches or limbs that are failing.

In the event that a tree has become unsafe and poses an immediate risk to the public or surrounding property, we would suggest removing the tree as soon as possible. We have many approaches to this ranging from climbing the tree, sectional dismantle, rigging or use of machinery depending on the job.

We are able to grind remaining stumps and treat stumps and roots using eco-plugs. This will then allow for replanting which we always encourage wherever possible.

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