If you have never hired a tree surgeon before, it can be difficult to know what to expect. Tree work is often something people only need occasionally, and it can be hard to judge the difference between a Professional Tree Surgeon and someone simply offering tree cutting services.
Understanding the process can help you choose the right contractor, ask the right questions, and ensure your trees are managed safely, legally, and professionally.
This guide explains what should happen from your initial enquiry through to the completion of the work, helping you understand what good service looks like when booking a professional tree surgeon in Devon.
Step 1: Making the Initial Enquiry
Most projects begin with a phone call, email, or website enquiry. You may be concerned about a tree’s condition, looking to improve light levels in your garden, dealing with storm damage, planning construction work, or simply seeking professional advice.
At this stage, a professional tree surgeon will usually ask several practical questions, including:
- Where the tree is located
- Whether access is straightforward or restricted
- If the tree is close to buildings, roads, power lines, or neighbouring properties
- Whether you know of any Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or Conservation Area restrictions
- Whether there are any immediate safety concerns
These questions help establish the likely scope of the work and identify any obvious constraints before a site visit is arranged.
Checking Planning Constraints Early
One of the most important parts of the early process is establishing whether trees are protected.
Many homeowners are unsure whether a tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order or located within a Conservation Area. A professional contractor should not rely solely on the client’s understanding of the situation.
Instead, planning constraints should be verified with the relevant Local Planning Authority before any recommendations are made. This ensures that advice is based on the actual legal position rather than assumptions, helping to avoid delays, enforcement action, or unnecessary applications later in the process.
Step 2: Site Visit and Professional Assessment
For most tree work, a site visit is essential.
Photographs can be useful initially, but they rarely tell the whole story. A proper assessment allows the contractor to inspect the tree’s condition, evaluate access arrangements, identify hazards, and understand how the tree interacts with the surrounding environment.
During the visit, a professional tree surgeon should:
- Listen carefully to your objectives
- Assess the tree’s health and structural condition
- Explain available options in plain English
- Highlight any legal or practical constraints
- Recommend the most appropriate solution
Importantly, a reputable contractor will recommend what is best for the tree and the site—not necessarily the most expensive option.
Sometimes a modest crown reduction, deadwood removal, or ongoing monitoring may be more appropriate than extensive pruning or removal. A professional arborist should be able to explain why.
Receiving a Written Quotation
Following the site visit, you should receive a clear written quotation.
This should typically include:
- A description of the proposed works
- The pruning objectives (where applicable)
- Details of waste removal or retention
- Any access requirements
- Confirmation of who will obtain permissions if required
A written quotation helps ensure everyone understands exactly what is included before work begins.
Step 3: Permissions, Applications and Notices
Before any work can take place, legal requirements must be addressed.
Depending on the site, this may involve:
- Tree Preservation Order applications
- Conservation Area notifications
- Felling licence considerations
- Highway permits
- Traffic management permissions
These requirements can become particularly complex where multiple constraints overlap.
For example, a protected tree beside a public road may require planning consent, traffic management approval, and detailed safety planning before work can proceed.
A professional contractor should be capable of managing these processes on your behalf, reducing stress and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.
Why Professional Management Matters
Applications, notifications, and permits often involve different authorities and varying timescales.
Handling these correctly ensures:
- Work is carried out legally
- Planning requirements are satisfied
- Delays are minimised
- Public safety obligations are met
This is particularly valuable for larger or more technically challenging projects.
Step 4: The Day of the Work
When work begins, you should expect a professional team to arrive with the appropriate vehicles, equipment, and a clear understanding of the task.
Before any cutting starts, the site should be reviewed and prepared safely.
Typical preparations include:
- Site-specific risk assessments
- Equipment inspections
- Establishment of safe working areas
- Traffic or pedestrian management where required
- Identification of nearby hazards
- Wildlife and environmental checks
Where tree work involves climbing operations, there should also be documented rescue arrangements and safe systems of work in place.
Professional Standards During the Work
Professional tree work should appear calm, organised, and methodical.
You should expect:
- Clear communication between team members
- Safe use of climbing and rigging equipment
- Care around buildings, fences, lawns, and neighbouring property
- Appropriate protection of access routes and gardens
- Compliance with BS3998:2010 Tree Work – Recommendations
Tree work often involves significant technical expertise, particularly when dismantling large trees or carrying out pruning in confined spaces.
A well-managed site reflects careful planning and professional competence.
Step 5: Site Clearance and Aftercare
Once the work has been completed, the site should be left clean, tidy, and safe.
The handling of arisings should reflect what was agreed in the quotation.
Clients may choose to:
- Have all waste removed
- Retain logs for firewood
- Keep woodchip for garden use
- Create habitat piles for wildlife
Professional contractors will discuss these options in advance.
Future Management Advice
Good service does not necessarily end when the last branch is removed.
A professional tree surgeon should explain:
- How the tree is likely to respond to pruning
- Whether future inspections are recommended
- If additional phased work may be beneficial
- Whether replacement planting should be considered following removal
Where tree work forms part of a wider management strategy, written records can also be valuable for future reference.
How to Tell You’re Hiring a Professional Tree Surgeon
There are several clear indicators that you are dealing with a reputable contractor rather than simply someone offering tree cutting services.
Look for:
- Detailed written quotations
- Evidence of qualifications and training
- Appropriate insurance cover
- Knowledge of planning and legal requirements
- Clear explanations of options and recommendations
- Safe and organised working practices
- Professional documentation and record keeping
One of the strongest indicators is independent industry accreditation.
Arboricultural Association Approved Contractors
The Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor scheme is one of the UK’s most respected standards for professional tree work.
Approved Contractors are independently assessed against criteria including:
- Quality of tree work
- Health and safety procedures
- Legal compliance
- Staff competence
- Customer care
- Business management systems
Choosing an Approved Contractor provides reassurance that the company has been independently evaluated and operates to recognised industry standards.
Why the Process Matters
Good tree work is about far more than cutting branches.
A professional tree surgeon must understand:
- Tree biology
- Structural condition
- Planning legislation
- Site safety
- Environmental considerations
- Client objectives
Managing all of these elements properly helps ensure that work is carried out safely, legally, and in a way that supports the long-term health and value of the trees being managed.
When the process is handled professionally from start to finish, clients benefit from clear communication, reduced stress, and confidence that the work has been completed to the highest standards.
At Devon Tree Services, we guide clients through every stage of the process—from initial advice and permissions through to safe completion and ongoing tree management recommendations—ensuring every project is delivered professionally, responsibly, and in line with BS3998:2010 Tree Work – Recommendations.
