subject: What Is Tree Surgery? [print this page] Tree surgery can be classified in two ways: either all the tasks that a tree surgeon carries out, or only the task related specifically to tree surgery - in other words not those that involve general advice on things such as planning applications or tree removal. This article is concerned with the latter definition.
Crown Work
The crown of the tree is the main body of the tree - where the foliage starts and is usually not directly at ground level. For some it is only a matter of inches from the ground while for other trees it can be several feet up.
Crown work is generally split into three areas, and they typically have the same goal in mind - increasing the amount of light that transcends through the tree to ground level. Crown raising concerns a tree surgeon with the removal of lower branches and so on to ensure that the crown starts a little higher than previously. Crown thinning is about removing inner branches and leaves from the crown so that more light goes through the tree. The idea is that the tree's shape stays the same. Crown reduction looks at decreasing the general size of the crown - often at the top or round the sides so that once more there is more light at ground level.
Branch and Limb Removal
The removal of branches and limbs is fairly self-explanatory as to what the purpose is, however, with many of the branches often high above the ground and large in size a professional is often the only one who can do the job safely and effectively. Branches and limbs are generally removed because either there is some crown work being done or for some reason or other they are diseased but the disease has yet to spread to the rest of the tree, meaning that if the disease is contained then the tree has a good chance of surviving.
Hedge Cutting
Most amateur gardeners cut their own hedges and take great enjoyment in doing so, however, for higher or longer hedges it can often make sense to hire a tree surgeon to do the job for you. Furthermore, a tree surgeon will often know when the best time of year is to cut a hedge and therefore not only does your hedge become better looking, but it becomes healthier too.
Clearly there is much to pure tree surgery, and that's without going into the finer details of skills such as pruning and pollarding.
