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Tree Surgery Waste & Its Use for Biomass Fuel

Tree Surgery Waste & Its Use for Biomass Fuel

 

We are living in an ever-changing environment – even if the change is slow. There are various reasons behind the changes – both man-made and natural – and these are making changes that are hard for the environment to deal with.

The major issues are pollution and climate change. While many (including scientists) cannot agree with the reasons behind climate change, it is evident that we are facing a huge global challenge.

 

What Is Tree Surgery Waste?

Tree work waste generally belongs to one of three categories:

  • Timber
  • Wood chip
  • Non-chippable waste (e.g., minor pruning, hedge trimmings, sweepings from the ground).

 

How Can Tree Surgeons Help?

Tree surgeons can adjust their practices to adopt which are more environmentally friendly. One of the ways they can do this is by turning the ‘green waste’ they produce into fuel.

 

How Can Green Waste Be Fuel?

For trees to grow, they use carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon gets used in the tree’s structure during growth. It is locked up into the molecules that build the tissues of the plant, for example in cellulose. When the tree reaches felling age and becomes fuel, it re-releases its CO2 collected over the years into the atmosphere. This is then re-used again by other growing trees.

When fuel is from a sustainable source like wood, it is great for the production of something called biomass. This means that branches and logs are reduced to chippings, which are then used by power stations to generate electricity. Biomass is both clean and sustainable.

Of course, the whole process needs to have a low carbon footprint, otherwise, the whole process will be a waste of time. This means that the processes of felling, extracting, chipping, and transporting to end-users need to have low carbon footprints.

 

How Is Green Waste Turned into Chips?

This is a really simple process. Wood chips for power stations and small boilers must be a consistent size. The sizes can vary between 30 mm and 50 mm per chip. When burning wood chips in boilers, we also need to be mindful of the chips’ moisture content. For the boilers to be as efficient as possible, the wood chips must have a moisture content below 30%. To ‘dry out’ the wood, it is stacked up so that there is sufficient aeration.

 

How Does Chipping Happen?

A woodchipper or tree chipper reduces the wood to small chips. Chippers are usually portable and are mounted on frames with wheels that can be towed. Generally speaking, the power is provided by an internal-combustion engine. Usually these are between 3 and 1000 horsepower or 2.2 kW to 750 kW. Higher power chippers can be mounted on a truck with a separate engine. These usually have hydraulic cranes too.

A wood chipper usually consists of a collared hopper, a chipper mechanism and sometimes a chip collection bin. The collar helps keep unwanted items (like body parts!) away from the blades of the chipper. A tree branch is put into the hopper, goes through the chipping mechanism and the chips come out of a chute. The chips can be directed onto the floor or into a container or truck.

 

How Else Can Woodchips Be Used?

Aside from fuelling boilers and power stations, woodchips can be used to produce mulch for paths or gardens. For woodchips to be converted into mulch, they will be stored for a few months so that they compost. If you spread fresh mulch on gardens, it could have adverse effects on any plants growing there. This is because the bacteria that break the wood down uses nitrogen, which means this will be stripped from the soil. Allowing the wood chippings to compost before they are used to avoid this happening.

 

What About the Non-chippable Waste That Tree Surgery Produces?

Trimming hedges creates a huge amount of material that cannot be processed by chippers. Also, any materials that are swept up or raked can’t be chipped either because it will be contaminated with grit and soil, which can cause damage to the chipper blades. It is possible to shred non-chippable waste and this can also be used at some power stations as a biomass fuel.

 

What Further Work Can Tree Surgeons Do to Have a Positive Impact on The Environment?

As mentioned above, it is as important to have a low carbon footprint. Tree surgeons can process things in bulk to save energy and journeys. They can also look to sell the waste products like woodchip and mulch locally so that the carbon footprint is reduced in this way too.

 

What Does the Law Say with Regards to Tree Waste?

The law is quite strict regarding tree waste. In England and Wales, tree surgeons must register as a waste carrier (different rules apply to Northern Ireland and Scotland).

This rule applies if tree surgeons do any of the following:

  • transport their waste.
  • dispose of or transport waste for another person.
  • sell or buy waste.
  • act as a broker for waste (arranging someone else to handle a person’s waste).

 

People who do not register can be fined up to £5000.

There are also different tiers of registration too. For example, a garden landscaper or tree surgeon who is carrying green shrubs or waste they have removed is classed as being in the lower tier while carrying away construction materials would be classed as being in the upper tier.

There are exceptions, however, with mulch for example. You are allowed to store and use up to 100 tons of mulch each month. You can also store or treat up to 500 tons of waste plant matter or wood every 7 days and can keep it for 3 months. There are other exemptions too.

 

Tree Surgery Waste – Final Thoughts

It is great to see that so many solutions are now available for tree surgery waste. Whether chipped for biomass fuel or used as mulch, tree surgery these days can help the environment. As long as tree surgeons abide by the laws and try to keep the whole process as carbon neutral as possible, there is no reason to worry about the environmental impact of the wastes they produce.

 


Article was written by Conner D.

Article Source: https://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/tree-surgery-waste/

What Is a Tree Surgeon and Why You Should Hire One

What Is a Tree Surgeon and Why You Should Hire One?

 

Trees can live from anywhere between fifty to more than three thousand years. However, the death of a tree is inevitable.

Some owe their deaths to infestations, others owe them to diseases, and others to climate change. Now while you may think of infestations and tree diseases in the context of a forest, know that your backyard trees are not immune to disease-induced death either.

It is for this reason (among others), that timely visits from a tree surgeon are not only recommended but essential to ensure the vitality of your trees and the safety of your home.

This article takes an in-depth look into what a tree surgeon does while exploring the many benefits of hiring one.

 

What Does a Tree Surgeon Do?

A tree surgeon is someone who specializes in the all-round care and maintenance of trees. They are dedicated experts who plant, prune, fell, and treat trees that require special care. Additionally, they are also skilled at landscaping when larger trees are involved.

They are qualified to give you advice on how to care for and meet the daily needs of your trees. In a nutshell, they serve as your go-to expert for everything that has to do with the care of large trees.

 

The Benefits of Hiring a Tree Surgeon

The average person, with a fair amount of research, might be able to perform the daily care required to maintain a large tree, however, over time things can get a little more complicated.

That is where hiring a tree surgeon can help.

 

Eliminating Safety Hazards

Tree surgeons have the experience and the knowledge it takes to identify potential hazards. They will be able to sport the early warning signs that a tree is likely to fall during a heavy storm, or that it poses a fire hazard to your home. Furthermore, they will then be able to carry out the entire tree removal process to ensure that you and your home are protected from any preventable tree-related accidents.

 

Tree Care Done Right

A tree surgeon will be able to accurately assess the health of your trees and give them the care they need to thrive in their surroundings. They will give you valuable insights and advice on what you can do to improve the appearance of your trees and ensure that they lead a healthy, long, and vibrant life in your yard.

This can be especially helpful if you have a variety of trees that require different types of care. A tree surgeon will be able to give you specialized recommendations for each tree type based on the climate you live in, the type of soil you have and the nearby environment.

 

Spotting the Early Signs of Disease

Your trees are prone to all kinds of diseases and infestations. However, the earlier you spot the signs of tree diseases, the easier they are to treat. Ensuring frequent visits by a tree surgeon will not only allow you to take preventative measures but will also be a great way to give any infected trees the best possible treatment at the earliest signs of infection.

This will allow your trees the opportunity to make a quick recovery and will also prevent the spread of these diseases to other trees within your garden.

 

Trimming and Organizing

In the initial stages of growing and planting trees, it can be difficult to gauge how these saplings will eventually affect the aesthetic and landscape of your garden. However, a tree surgeon can help you plan your yard, or garden to ensure that you get the most out of your space.

Additionally, a tree surgeon is also equipped for performing various tree grooming functions like trimming, pruning, branch removal, and more. These are all essential practices required for the proper maintenance of any yard.

 

Advanced Tools and Other Equipment

Large trees require complicated machinery and equipment. The wrong tools can cause irreparable damage to the tree. Improper usage of equipment is a safety hazard for the person using it as well as the people around them.

While the average person does not possess the tools nor the expertise to use these tools efficiently, a tree surgeon certainly does.

 

Save on Future Costs

Hiring a tree surgeon will only help you save money in the long run. Proper maintenance will result in fewer instances of disease and lower the likelihood of tree-induced injuries or accidents. Due to the variety of services, they offer, they serve as an all-in-one solution to a variety of tree-related problems.

This saves you from spending on a variety of specialists. Instead, you can simply hire a tree surgeon to conduct a complete inspection of your trees and follow it up by performing the necessary maintenance procedures required. Most tree surgeons offer a variety of packages which further allow you to cut down on your costs.

 

Hire a Qualified Tree Surgeon for the Job

There are a host of benefits for you and your trees to gain from hiring a tree surgeon. Not only does it prolong the lives of your trees, but it ensures that you and your family are safe from any preventable tree hazards.

At Grafting Gardeners, we have the knowledge, skill, and experience to care for your trees and give them the care they need to maintain their strength and vitality through the years. Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment with our qualified tree experts!

 


Article was written by Conner D.

Article Source: https://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/what-is-a-tree-surgeon/

Stump Grinding: The Process and Benefits

Stump Grinding: The Process and Benefits

 

Trees, along with hedges, ornamentals, and flowerbeds, make up about 18% of an average American yard. However, despite their beauty, trees do eventually naturally need to be removed every once in a while, for the safety of your home and family. This process leaves stumps around your yard that you think may not be removable, but this is not the case at all.

Tree stump grinding is a simple process that can make your yard a much more up-to-date space and remove the eyesores that are old stumps. Here, we are going to talk about what grinding is and what the process entails, so read on to learn why this process is essential for every homeowner.

 

What Is Tree Stump Grinding?

Tree stump grinding is the process of sanding down the stump of a tree until it no longer protrudes from the ground. This leaves a sawdust-like residue in its place but does not remove the root of the tree belowground. Its purpose is to eliminate the visual part of the stump rather than digging up the roots of the tree altogether.

The residue left behind from grinding eventually simply becomes one with the soil. This is environmentally efficient because it provides nutrition to other plants in the area. It also levels the ground out in the area where the tree once was. When you plant grass or flowers on top of this location, it will seamlessly blend in with the rest of the yard as though a tree never was there.

This process is an alternative to a full tree stump removal, which necessitates the use of extreme force to pull out the stump’s roots up from underground. Grinding is a much neater and cleaner process and uses more efficient tools and processes to eliminate the stump. This makes it less expensive for the homeowner and therefore superior in many different ways.

 

How Does the Process Work?

We have touched on the efficiency of the tree stump grinding process, but what exactly does stump grinding entail?

Professionals have a tool that is aptly named a ‘stump grinder.’ This tool chews away at the wood of your stump with a rotating blade. This blade is incredibly powerful and rips into the wood as it turns at top speed. The result is that tiny pieces of sawdust and mulch take the place of where the stump once was.

These stump grinders usually are handheld and therefore grinding is a precise process. The person operating it will move the blade in layers over the stump until it is ground down to below the level of the dirt. This process necessitates many safety precautions such as the wearing of goggles and other safety equipment.

In addition to handheld stump grinders, larger stumps may use those that can be attached to a truck or trailer. Rear-hitch grinders will generally not be used on residential property, nor will riding grinders that work like tractors. These are generally saved for larger applications where there are many stumps to be ground in woods or forests. You do not need to worry about these tools.

 

Can You DIY the Grinding Process?

While this may sound simple, it is unlikely that you have the appropriate tools to complete the process properly. You will have a terrible time getting expensively rented tools onto the site of the stump. Additionally, unless you are a trained expert in tree stump grinding, you are likely to injure yourself trying to sand it down.

Therefore, professional grinding is essential to those who need this process to be completed in their yard. This is significantly less expensive and infinitely safer than trying to do it yourself. Tree stump grinding is a serious DIY do not, so be sure that you invest in services that can get the job done appropriately.

 

What Are the Benefits?

There is a multitude of benefits to stump grinding, primarily that it removes an eyesore from your property. While trees make a beautiful addition to yards and gardens, stumps are ugly and take up space that can be used for other things. Eliminating these stumps through the process of grinding makes your yard look pleasing again and raises your property value.

You can also use the space created by eliminating your stump to make your yard your own. It frees up room so that you can plant a flower bed or a vegetable garden. Maintaining a garden is a fun hobby that comes with a plethora of health benefits, and eliminating your stump is the first step towards being able to garden more often.

Finally, grinding down tree stumps makes your yard a safer space for yourself and your family. Children and pets may hurt themselves by tripping over stumps in the yard while playing. They also may get splinters if they decide to play with the stump and run their fingers over it.

You may also injure yourself with the stump if you are not careful. They are a hazard when mowing your lawn and tripping over it could cause a trip to the hospital with a mower-related injury. Even if things do not go this far, they make mowing and other outdoor chores harder and more frustrating.

 

Get Started

Now that you know how tree stump grinding works and why it is important, it is time to begin making your property safer and more aesthetically pleasing. Contact us with any remaining questions that you may have about professional tree surgery services and how you can get our experts to your home.

We are excited to help your yard flourish and thrive in every possible way, so do not hesitate to reach out at any time.

 


Article was written by Conner D.

Article Source: https://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/stump-grinding/

Killing Your Trees: 6 Things You Don’t Even Realize You’re Doing to Kill Your Trees

Killing Your Trees.

 

Did you know that most trees live up 50-100 years on average? The famous red cedar from Alaska can live up to 3,500 years under the right environmental circumstances.

But how to care for trees in your backyard? What can you do and what you should not do to protect your beloved trees? This article discusses a few things that you should avoid when it comes to caring for your trees, so keep reading.

 

Killing Your Trees: 1. Putting Mulch Too Close to the Tree

Adding mulch to the base of the tree is the right thing to do, whether you have a young or mature tree. However, make sure that the mulch is not too close to the tree trunk because this might cause suffocation.

Expert gardeners recommend adding mulch approximately 6 inches away from the tree trunk. At the same time, you should keep the mulch about one foot away from the trunk of a mature tree. This ensures proper ventilation and prevents the tree trunk from suffocating during hot summer days.

 

Killing Your Trees: 2. Tying the Dog to Your Tree

Many homeowners have dogs in their yard. Most of these dogs live in dog houses, but sometimes you might see a dog owner tying his pet to a tree. This is done for various reasons and it might appear to be a harmless thing to do.

However, dogs will rarely just sit there and do nothing for hours on end. A dog will eventually pull and tug at the tree. In this case, the dog can cause significant damage to the tree bark. Remember that the tree bark is one of the most important defence mechanisms of a tree.

Even minor damage to the tree bark can predispose your shrub to attacks from pests. Therefore, make sure that you do not tie your dog to a tree and your dog will probably be happier too. This piece of advice is true regardless of the type or age of your tree.

 

Killing Your Trees: 3. Putting Concrete in Tree Cavities

This is another bad habit that could damage the health and wellbeing of your tree. In some cases, trees might develop cavities, and this can predispose them to diseases and pests. Some homeowners think that it is a good idea to pour concrete in tree cavities to fill them up and protect the tree.

This is bad because most trees will heal themselves if you give them enough time. Adding concrete is like introducing a foreign substance into your body. It can cause problems and there is no easy way to ever remove the concrete from the tree cavities in the future.

If your tree develops cavities, just make sure that you protect it against pests or wildlife animals that might cause it harm. Young trees especially will heal themselves and fill up these cavities in a few weeks under the right conditions.

 

4. Hammering Nails or Screws to the Tree

Homeowners might do this for various reasons. For example, some of them might try to hang bird feeders from a tree. Others pick a large tree and attempt to build a large treehouse to entertain their kids.

Although these are not bad things to do, adding nails or screws to a tree can seriously damage its health. It is like having a metal piece in your body. The nails might cut through vital areas of your tree, disrupting the flow of nutrients, slowing down the growth of a tree, and predisposing it to diseases.

Even if you try to go for smaller nails, the situation is the same. Any foreign object or substance forced inside a tree will affect its health. If you want to hang bird feeders, hang them on a sturdy branch without using nails or screws.

 

5. Planting Trees Around Power Lines

Electricity companies never liked the combination of power lines and trees. You never know when a storm can push the branches of a tree into the power lines and cause serious damage. On top of that, an entire street might remain without electricity and this can cause a lot of frustration and anger.

Ideally, you should keep power lines in mind when planting trees. Avoid putting a tree under an important electricity hub and try to guess how tall a tree might grow when it is fully matured. If you already have trees that are dangerously close to power lines, consider trimming their branches.

Not only branches can get entangled on power lines, but wildlife animals residing in trees can also cause problems. Adventurous squirrels can easily jump from a tree on a power line and get fried. They might cause a blackout at the same time as well.

 

6. Adding Salt Near the Tree

It is a common practice to add salt on the streets in winter times. This prevents skidding and slipping, especially when it snows too much, and the temperatures drop suddenly. However, salt close to your trees can be a real problem in the spring.

Keep in mind that salty soil does not allow the growth of plants, grass, and trees. A soil that has absorbed salt is virtually toxic for every organic matter. If you plan to add salt to your driveways and walkways, make sure that you avoid adding it too close to the roots of your trees.

If your local authorities are adding salt to the streets as a preventative measure, try to cover the areas surrounding your trees with a piece of cloth. This should prevent most of the salt from getting into the soil and jeopardize the wellbeing of your beloved trees.

 

Taking Care of Your Trees Can Raise Property Value

Yes, you read it right. Your trees are unbelievably valuable for your property and well-maintained ones can increase the value of your house. That is because they provide shade on hot summer days, improve air quality, and also add to your home’s curb appeal.

These are just a few tips on how to properly care for your trees and avoid significant damage in the long run. Make sure that you check out the other articles on our blog to learn more about different types of trees, how to care for them, and how to prolong their lifespan.

 


Article was written by Conner D.

Article Source: https://www.graftingardeners.co.uk/killing-your-trees/