Not all tree cutting is the same. There's a world of difference between professional tree surgery carried out to BS3998 standards and the kind of amateur lopping that leaves trees damaged, disfigured and dangerous for years to come.
Tree surgery is a skilled profession. Qualified arborists understand tree biology - how a tree heals, where to make cuts so they seal properly, and which branches can be removed without destabilising the tree. Every cut is made at the correct point (just outside the branch collar) so the tree can compartmentalise the wound and continue growing healthily.
Lopping, on the other hand, is what happens when someone without training cuts branches at random points - often leaving stubs that won't heal. Lopped trees respond by producing a mass of weakly-attached regrowth (epicormic shoots) that are more likely to break in a storm than the original branches. Over time, the stubs rot and the decay spreads into the main trunk.
The BS3998 standard is the recognised specification for tree work in the UK and Ireland. It covers everything from pruning cuts to safety distances and aftercare. When you hire a tree surgeon who works to BS3998 - as we do at Connaught Landscaping - you're getting work that follows best practice and protects the long-term health of your tree.
So before you let anyone cut your trees, ask: do you follow BS3998 standards? If the answer is anything other than a clear yes, call someone who does.
