To get the most from any timber, it is recommended to cut to length and to be split as soon as possible and left to thoroughly dry in an airy but dry location.
The drier the wood is when it’s burnt the better the burn will be and the more heat it will give out.
When wet wood is burnt, the combustion is inefficient, smokey and most of the heat will be used to boil off the water contained in the wood.
Most types of wood can be burnt to provide a good heat source once dried, however some are less ideal than others.
For example conifers produce less heat for a given size log and may produce more tar build up needing flues to be swept more often.
The best woods for firewood are generally considered to be, Ash, Oak, Beech, Birch and Yew.
There are a few woods to be avoided, including Poplar, Willow & Laburnum.
Do something to help someone else, just ask the question “Do you need Free Firewood ?”
Devon Arborists are tree surgeons providing tree surgery, hedge care and stump grinding across East Devon, West Dorset and Exeter Areas.
07485 411618
www.devonarborists.co.uk

Do you have trees or hedges that obstruct the road or pavement?

Home and landowners have a responsibility to ensure that their trees and hedges do not obstruct the highway.

Overgrown vegetation can cause serious dangers to both vehicles and pedestrians, especially the elderly, those with mobility, sight and hearing problems, or people with children.

Overhanging trees can cause vehicles to serve to avoid them and into the path of oncoming traffic, causing accidents.

Roads and pavements are classed as part of the highway and are covered by the Highways Act 1980. 

Although the Highways Act 1980 doesn’t specify any actual measurements for overhanging vegetation, the requirement should be met by:

For pedestrian areas, minimum headroom of 2.3m (7ft 6 inches).

For carriageway and an area immediately adjacent to it (for a distance of 0.45m (1ft 6 inches)) minimum headroom of 5.2m (17ft).

Whether it be a small section of hedge over a footpath, trees or hedges running along a roadside we can help.

We cover all East Devon, Exeter and West Dorset areas.

Call our team on 07485 411618 for a Free No Obligation Quote

Personal Protection Equipment PPE

Personal protection equipment is the very first item on the check list in any business involved with tree surgery or hedge maintenance.

Every single job will involve tools and machinery that can injure and possibly cause a much worse outcome.

If a tree surgeon or hedge contractor arrives wearing jeans, tracksuit bottoms or trainers you should be instantly alarmed, this is absolutely not what should be worn and highly unprofessional.

Personal Protection Equipment is not always comfy to wear, it can be bulky and in the summer very hot, but it is worn for a reason, protection.

Wearing it shows shows your commitment to under taking a job in a professional and safe manner.

For tree surgery the basic PPE items are chainsaw boots and chainsaw trousers which provide cut protection from a moving chainsaw chain, a chainsaw helmet providing protection for the head, face and ears.

Of course there are many other items of PPE that can be chosen to be used or worn when working, often varying on the type of job you are undertaking, some of which may be obvious others not so.

Gloves are an obvious one, both chainsaw or simple work gloves. These are found in varying thickness to protect from simple wear and tear on your hands through to thick gauntlets providing protection from the very dangerous thorns found on Blackthorn and the like.

Some tree surgeons choose to wear chainsaw gloves, however many choose not to as they find on balance using a chainsaw without is safer due to better grip and dexterity, it is very much personal choice.

There are less obvious ones too, suitable waterproof clothing for example, keeping workers dry and able to work safely and efficiently.

A less obvious one being sunscreen, the long term effects of working outdoors all year long can be life changing.

So when choosing a contractor for your tree or hedge care, ensure that they will be working with the correct personal protection equipment.

Why Use Devon Arborists ?

We pride ourselves on our totally professional attitude and customer service, we are focussed on all aspects of our business from the initial enquiry to clearing the last leaf away.

Not only do we have skilled and polite arborists but we have an effective and efficient behind the scene team.

Our phone will always be answered, your enquiry dealt with quickly, normally in minutes.

We will arrange a visit normally within a couple of days (often sooner) to provide a “No Obligation Quote”

When we visit we will tell you the cost of proposed works.
This fixed price quote will then be emailed to you, this is normally within minutes of the visit, not days or weeks later.

On acceptance of our quote we will email you offering the first possible date and if suitable schedule your works.

At all times your calls or emails will be answered swiftly and efficiently.

• Our phones are always answered.
• Quote visits normally within a couple of days.
• Appointments always kept.
• No obligation quotes given on site.
• Quotes then emailed within minutes.
• Works scheduled on set dates.
• Polite, punctual, professional.

If we can help you in any way speak to the Devon Arborists team on 07485 411618

Ash Dieback Removal East Devon

Ash dieback removal East Devon by Devon Arborists. A fungal disease causing rapid decline in Ash trees.

Ash dieback is affecting trees right across the UK and will result in the large majority being removed over the next few years, changing the whole look of the countryside, especially East Devon due to the large number of Ash trees.

The chronic fungal disease swiftly causes leaf loss and dieback of the crown, typically spotted by looking at the ends of branches which become bare.

The disease was first recognised in 2006 coming from Asia, its full name is Hymenoscyphus Fraxineus also known as Chalara.

Symptons start with leaves developing dark areas which gradually wilt and turn black, they may also fall off prematurely. Lesions develop where braches join the main trunk, very often lots of new small growth at lower levels, this epicormic growth is a sure sign of tree stress.

Ash dieback causes trees to become very brittle, with limb failure likely, it is a devastating disease that leads to very quick tree decline and often failure.

Due to the nature of ash dieback, once spotted swift removal is recommended as the condition will only get worse and as the tree’s condition deteriorates the removal process can be made much harder.

Due to the trees rapidly becoming brittle, where possible machine access is recommended on safety grounds, we at Devon Arborists use our own MEWP [cherry picker] for this job.

Devon Arborists are able to help you with all Ash dieback removal in East Devon, our team can be contacted on 07485 411618

For more information on Ash Dieback you can visit the Woodland Trust Ash Die Back page on their website.

What Shape Is Your Hedge ?
This post was inspired after visit to a prospective new client this week, the hedge in question was on a long private drive, a mix of Laurel and old Privet, the hedge had been professionally maintained, however the top had been allowed to expand and in places was now falling out over the drive.
So, the shapes, V, H, A.
It is vital that hedges are maintained and trimmed correctly for long term hedge health and good form, sub standard cutting will lead to long term problems.
The letters refer to the shape of the hedge if you were looking along its length.
V, without doubt poor shape, the top being wider than its bottom, this will get worse over the years, leading to expansion over drives, paths, and gardens.
This shape is often associated with tall hedges where the tops are difficult to reach, as the hedge gets higher and leans out more, the problem gets harder to deal with, so an ever increasing problem.

This shape needs dealing with before the expansion is too extreme to resolve.
H, a good shape, the sides being vertical, however you must make sure that the hedge is not allowed to become too wide, this again may lead to expansion over drives, gardens and paths etc.

When hedges are allowed to become too wide, and far worse when also tall, it can be very difficult to trim the top properly which leads to the hedge not being maintained correctly and the likely result is that the hedge height increases.
A, the ideal shape, the sides of this hedge gradually and lightly lean in towards the top, this has a number of benefits.

Firstly, ease of maintenance, this shape normally contains the expansion of hedges which always expand the most at the top, a well maintained hedge looks better, is cheaper for the homeowner to have maintained and is healthier.

This shape leaves the vertical faces open too as much sunlight as possible by not having areas in shade caused by over hanging foliage, the sunlight promoting good hedge health and new growth.

By the fact that the hedge is not allowed to expand at the top, the hedge top will be easier to trim, meaning the hedge height is less likely to increase, and a big bonus for the homeowner is that this shape will be easier to maintain leading to lower overall costs.

To sum up, regular maintenance is without doubt the best for hedges, they retain better shape and density and the trimming cost will be less.

However, it is vital that your hedge is trimmed correctly by skilled professionals, otherwise you will be left with a V shaped hedge.

Devon Arborists can help with all hedge shapes and sizes, give us a call 07485 411618
www.devonarborists.co.uk