Tree Root Damage Survey

What is a Tree Root Damage Survey?

A tree root damage survey is designed to look at whether a tree has caused physical damage to either a property or other hard landscaped areas. This may include; foundations, underground pipes, walls, fences, tarmac, concrete or paved areas etc. A tree root damage investigation is particularly relevant if you are trying to identify if your tree or a neighbour’s tree has caused the damage.

We can also look at the potential damage a tree may cause in the future. This is a particularly useful survey for property management companies.

Who has a Tree Root Damage Survey?

The Tree Damage Assessment takes two different avenues, firstly the actual physical damage caused and secondly the potential damage a tree could cause in the future. As such we often have two different groups of people looking for a Tree Root Damage Survey – those who are sure a tree has already caused damage and those who are concerned a tree may cause damage in the future, (this maybe their own tree or a neighbours tree).

Our ‘Potential Tree Root Damage Survey’ is typically useful for the following three types of client:

Homeowners who want to plant trees near a property.
Property Management companies where they are responsible for the ongoing maintenance of a site.
Landlords or homeowners that are concerned about a tree planted by a neighbour and its potential to cause damage.

For Property Management companies this type of survey can help tick your H&S box for trees especially if it is in connection to a ‘Tree Health Survey’.

What if my Neighbour Accepts No Liability?

Our reports are perfect if a neighbour’s tree has caused damage to your property fences and boundary walls. They are factual, simple to understand and clearly show where the liability is. We can also include accurate estimates for many types of remedial work.

If the neighbour fails to compensate you for the damage caused by their tree, we can write a Part 35 compliant report. This type of report is written in a way that is acceptable to the courts and will be needed by your solicitors if you decide to take the adjacent land owner to court.

Contact Us

For further advise or to book a Tree Root Damage Survey please ring us on 01782 479479 or contact us by email.

We are here to help so please do give us a ring any time as the phone will usually be answered between 7am and 9pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm Saturday and Sunday.

What is Phytophthora?

The name Phytophthora originates from the Greek for “plant destroyer” and it is one of the world’s most destructive plant pathogens. But what is Phytophthora? With around 120 species of Phytophthora being identified around the world, the pathogen causes a range of different symptoms, some more severe than others.

The most commonly known species of Phytophthora is Phytophthora infestans which attacks the stems and leaves of potato plants and causes Potato Blight. Infact, this was the disease that contributed to the potato famine in the 1800s.

Another two commonly known species of Phytophthora are:

Phytophthora Ramorum

Phytophthora Ramorum (P. Ramorum) is considered one of the more destructive species and is reportable to the Forestry Commission when identified within England. P.Ramorum has been identified as originally spread from Rhodedenfrom ponticum which is highly susceptible to the pathogen and produces large numbers of spores, spreading the infection to other plants.

Larch trees are also very susceptible to P.Ramorum’s algae like organisms and, similar to the Rhodedendrom, produce high amounts of spores when infected. P.Ramorum is now most commonly found in Larch trees, but can also be found affecting European Sweet Chestnut trees or Oak trees as well as others.

Phytophthora Sojae

Phytophthora Sojae (P. Sojae) is the cause of Phytophthora Root and Stem Rot. This is a soil borne disease that causes seed and stem rot of plants at various growth stages. Primarily found in heavy or waterlogged soils, P. Sojae can survive in the soil for many years without requiring a host plant.

Phytophthora Root and Stem Rot can be identified by dark discolouration of the plant stem, which extends up from the soil. As the disease progresses, the plant typically dies.

Contact Us:

At ProHort Ltd, we can carry out Phytophthora testing that identifies whether your plants are infected by Phytophthora, providing you with the option to carry out the test yourself or for one of our professional horticulturists to visit the site and complete the test for you.

For more information, get in touch with us on 01782 479 479 or email [email protected].

Articles Similar to What is Phytophthora:

The Importance of a Tree Safety Survey

Tree Health Survey

What is the main purpose of a Tree Safety Survey?

There are many reasons for having a tree safety survey carried out, but generally they are required to access the safety of a tree as well as monitoring the general health of a tree. This is to protect both people and property. They examine the tree closely for defects and disease. It is recommended that commercial property owners and homeowners undertake a tree health survey to ensure that any potential hazards can be identified and mitigated before any damage or harm is caused.

Whatever the size of your site or the number of trees, we can offer you the guidance and tree safety advice you need. We work to British Standard BS 5837:2012 and our tree safety survey documents include information such as:

tree species
measurements
tree age
overall health of the tree
life expectancy
management recommendations

Your Legal Obligations

As a property owner, landlord, landowner or a commercial tenant, you have a legal obligation and a duty of care, to all those who may be affected by trees under your management. If you’re unsure which obligations these are, they are laid out in the Occupiers Liability Act (1984) and the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974). Guidance issued by the Government, the Forestry Commission and the Arboricultural Association advises that a tree survey is regularly undertaken by a professional tree surveyor. Failure to do so may leave those responsible liable to prosecution. Monitoring the condition of a tree will help you proactively take appropriate action to reduce risks.

What kind of Tree Safety Survey do I need?

Option 1 – Hazard, Walkover or Preliminary Tree Condition Survey

This is a cost-effective way to survey a high volume of trees for potential hazards. This type of tree safety survey identifies any trees that may pose a risk to property or people. The report will also ensure you have enough guidance and information to be able to successfully instruct a contractor who will be able to complete any arboricultural works that have been recommended. If you are restricted by budget or need the tree risk to be identified quickly e.g. after extreme weather, then a walkover tree safety survey is the ideal option. This kind of survey is ideally suited to schools, universities, academies, hotels, leisure groups and parks which have a high level of public access.

Option 2 – Tree Condition Survey or Tree Risk Assessment

This survey involves examining the tree closely for defects and disease and will provide recommendations to help reduce risks. In some areas, for example near to schools or the public highway, a Tree Condition Survey needs to be carried out on a regular basis, usually annually, but preferably at different times of the year, because trees change through the seasons and different issues can become apparent at different times of the year. Monitoring the condition of a tree will help you proactively take appropriate action to reduce risks. In addition, there is an option to conduct wider analysis of soil and plant material to look for chemical imbalances or poisoning.

Book your Tree Safety Survey Today!

At ProHort Ltd, we have a wealth of experience in horticultural, arboricultural, ecological and landscape development. We provide landscape plans, arboricultural surveys, ecological surveys and soil testing and analysis. We also provide a range of other reports detailed on our Services.

ProHort Ltd recommends that you should carry out a tree health survey at least once every two years. If any damages were to occur (for example, a tree branch falling on your car) as well as possible injured individuals, claims against property may occur.

If you require a tree health survey, then get in contact with us today to find out more information.

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Bat Surveys – What They Are & Why You Need Them

Bats – The Facts:

There are 18 species of bat that live and breed in the UK, and each of these species if fully protected by law. This means that anybody that is completing development on land or a property that houses bats will need to acquire a European Protected Species Licence. Without this licence you are liable to prosecution if you kill, capture, harm or disperse the bats.

Bats can be found in a range of different places depending upon the species of bat. These can include trees, buildings, mines, caves and other structures. Again, depending upon the species, they can either be found in easily identifiable locations, such as the apex of a roof, or can be more difficult to locate due to roosting in cracks and crevices. Most species of bats roost in groups, and therefore anything that impacts the land or property they are roosting in can affect the entire colony.

Between November and February, bats go into hibernation to conserve energy, due to the reduction in the number of insects during these months. Bats are therefore very vulnerable to disturbance at this time of year.

In addition to the roosts, bats also choose a foraging habitat, which is where they find food resources, and routes they use to travel between the roost and the foraging habitat. The distance of the routes varies depending upon the species of bat, with the range varying from 1km to 22km. The routes to the foraging habitats tend to follow linear features, such as hedgerows. Therefore, it is important that any gaps or lighting is minimized within these routes to avoid disrupting any commuting bats.

What Are Bat Surveys?

Bat surveys are often requested by the local planning authority and are designed to determine whether bats are present or not on a development site. Although there are a number of different types of bat survey, the two most common are:

An Initial Assessment (Phase One Survey):

Also called a Bat Roost Potential Assessment or a Preliminary Roost Assessment, this survey is used to identify and collect physical evidence of bat activity. If no evidence is found, then the ecologist will make an assessment based on any roosting features that present high potential. The Initial Assessment can be conducted throughout the year.

A Nocturnal/Bat Activity Survey:

This survey is also commonly called a Bat Emergence and Re-Entry Survey and can be conducted once it has been confirmed that bats are occupying the site. The survey is designed to identify the types of bat roosting in the area, the size of the population and the entry and exit points of the bats. Conducted outside of daylight hours, this survey usually involves two or more surveyors and can only be undertaken between May and September, due to these months being outside of the bat hibernation period.

Contact Us Today!

ProHort Ltd can provide you with the bat survey that you need to help you satisfy planning conditions and move forward with your development plans. For more information, give us a call on 01782 479 479 or get in touch.

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