Hedge Cutting and Tree Work in Sevenoaks | Our Tree Surgeons Answer Your Questions

One of the things that sets Marchant Tree Care apart from other tree surgery companies in the Sevenoaks area is a customer-focused approach to service. We understand that tree pruning, tree work, tree removals and stump grinding aren’t necessarily familiar topics to most people. To bridge the gap in knowledge, our LANTRA and NPTC-accredited tree surgeons always offer detailed information on our services, including hedge cutting, during their initial consultation, survey and report.

Some prospective customers in the areas we cover come to us with emails or queries over the telephone. This page answers some enquiries and provides valuable insight into our services and company. The questions we cover include:

• Why might I need to consider hedge or tree pruning?

• Which types of tree work do you undertake?

• Is tree felling safe if I live in a nearby property?

• Is stump grinding essential, or can I leave remnants in the ground?

• When should I book in for hedge cutting?

• Can you help me in an emergency?

Why might I need to consider tree pruning or hedge cutting?

Unsurprisingly, many customers come to us for tree work when native species in their gardens, grounds or woodland become unmanageable or unsafe. Qualified tree surgeons perform the required work in a safe and controlled manner. We advise all customers and clients to leave tree and hedge trimming to a professional, not just for their welfare but also for the benefit of the specimen and the environment.

Disease and decay are other good reasons for needing tree pruning or cutting services. Should we need to carry out a professional tree removal for an issue related to disease or decay, we can also perform stump grinding simultaneously.

Which types of tree work do you undertake?

Much of our work on younger trees focuses on formative pruning. It is much better for a tree if we make smaller cuts that heal completely to control growth. This isn’t always easy with mature trees, but our team can still manage the size and shape of older species through tree surgery practices such as pruning, crown reduction, thinning and lifting.

Because Sevenoaks is a leafy area with many trees, we also offer a coppicing service that helps control growth and promote light in densely populated woodland. Hedge cutting features highly in our service range, too, because our arborists have experience in all native hedge species. We also offer tree planting if desired.

Is a tree removal safe if I live in a nearby property?

Yes. Marchant Tree Care uses two different techniques for removing trees. The first is directional felling. This is something you may have seen tree surgeons performing on television. Strategic cuts into the trunk of a damaged or diseased tree create a hinge. The hinge controls the direction in which the tree falls. This particular type of tree surgery works best where there is a clear area for a tree to fall and no nearby properties for it to damage.

The other type of tree work we specialise in is sectional dismantling, where a climber removes limbs from the bottom up and lowers them to a ground crew using a rope and pulley system. The climber finishes the tree removal by cutting the remaining stem from the top to the bottom to leave just a stump..

Is stump grinding essential, or can I leave remnants in the ground?

We recommend stump grinding wherever possible, either immediately after removing a tree or at a later date. The downside of tree felling is a leftover stump that not only poses a tripping hazard but can also harbour harmful diseases (such as honey fungus), insect infestations and rot.

Stump grinding reduces remnants to subfloor level and leaves a fine sawdust that our tree surgeons can use to fill in the remaining hole. For those with landscaping plans for a property, tree removals and stump grinding leave the way clear for future development.

When should I book in for hedge cutting?

Most native bird species nest, hatch and raise their young between April and August, so we undertake a sizeable amount of hedge trimming work late in the current year or early in the next. Because the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) makes it an offence to damage, destroy or remove a nest from mature hedgerows, we can only cut hedges at specific times.

We can still make assessments on hedge trimming at smaller domestic properties, but we advise that you always arrange bookings around bird nesting seasons. We also offer hedge shaping.

Can your tree surgeons help me in an emergency?

Yes. Marchant Tree Care offers a responsive service for emergency tree work, especially after adverse weather and strong winds. We see the preservation of property and woodland as important, but nothing comes before the safety of our valued customers in the Sevenoaks area. Emergency tree surgery covers everything from cutting dangerous or damaged branches to tree pruning and complete removals.

In emergencies, our team works outside of normal hours. For non-emergency work after storms or high winds, please contact us on our usual number to arrange a survey, consultation and quotation, which we always provide on an obligation-free basis and at a fair, competitive price.

Hedge cutting is a service we normally undertake by pre-booked appointment, but we will always consider emergency work as long as it doesn’t impact native bird species.

We offer a full range of services to cover all requirements, including:

• Stump Grinding

• Crown Reduction

• Hedge Shaping

• Professional Tree Removals

• Tree Planting