Thoughts for part-time tree surgeons and private gardeners when trying to repair your tree

At the current time, hiring a tree surgeon is an expensive luxury because their craft and skill is in huge demand. On top of this is a dearth of tree surgeons and excessive time demands does drive up the price.

Plenty of people will take an interest in repairing their own trees in order to look at making savings, but then how do they start?

Well, we've asked staff at the Tree Contractors Directory and their experts have given us a few pointers:

Animals use trees for shelter and for food, so if the tree has not got birds or squirrels in it then that can prove that there is a problem. You can deduce this because if animals desert it then it is not providing them with enough food or shelter for them, which could cause difficulties in the ecosystem. Summer is the perfect time to take note of any alterations in the trees as it is then that animals start to wake up from hibernation and would be seen in the tree. So if your tree is looking a little bare of animal life, it is time to investigate.

Flaking dried out branches and bark may be caused by a number of factors, some of them are insignificant but a few are quite important to be aware of. A heat wave involving little or no rainfall can be responsible for dry branches. If this occurs, keep watering the tree on separate occasions throughout the day until the bark becomes smooth. The dry texture could also be a result of a deficiency in the correct nutrition, meaning that you will therefore need to check the soil PH levels and may need to add fertilizer. You should then monitor the tree's condition for several weeks and see if you can spot any betterment.

If you have fruit bearing trees such as plum trees or apple tree in your back garden then if they fail to grow any fruit then this can show there is a problem. This is because trees often flower and then begin to bear fruit once annually, so if they don't it indicates a change. It could be a simple thing such as the PH levels in the soils or if the roots aren't taking up enough nutrients. Alternatively it could be due to a lack of water, which is easily alleviated with a couple of regular splashes of water from the can. This is an important factor when considering the health of your fruit tree.

Nutritionally poor soil that looks white or sand-like will not be able to provide the right conditions for a tree to survive in. You may then need to replace the soil, add fertilizer or just add water. Adding worms to the grass is another option because they can aid the betterment of the soil quality. Still, in this situation it is suggested that you deal with am expert with more experience. On the other hand, a tree surgery expert from the Tree Contractors Directory may be able to advise you on the correct way to move forward.

If your tree looks to be sparse of foliage then it will not be able to make energy from the sun via photosynthesis as the chlorophyll in the leaves allows this to occur. As a result, this very easy to notice symptom can be a real problem to your tree and if not addressed will make the tree even worse, as it will not be taking in any energy. This in turn will make the tree branches weak, brittle and dry. If you notice this symptom and any of the other ones in this article then it can be clear that you need to take measures to bring the tree back to life. The longer you leave your sick tree without treatment, the harder it may be to treat it.

Theoretically, by taking on these suggestions you will know whether you can repair the tree yourself or whether you will require the judgment of a knowledgeable tree surgeon.