Emergency Call-Outs in Horsham and Surrounding Areas

Do you have an urgent problem that needs taking care of? Don’t worry! Here at Bronzeleaf Tree Surgery, we know that these situations are unpredictable, so we offer emergency call outs when damage is caused by storms or high winds. During these times, our Horsham-based team is on hand and ready to respond to your tree care needs at a moment’s notice. With this service, we aim to take the extra stress out of your already busy life.

For emergencies, please call Max on 07845 369097.

Why might you need an emergency call out?

The main reason that you may require an emergency call-out is for damage to trees during extreme weather. Fortunately, in the UK we don’t experience natural disasters such as hurricanes, but we do get storms that can be highly destructive. Here in the south of England, we do sometimes experience wind speeds of up to 70mph, a speed which can cause damage to your tree and possibly your property if it is not well maintained. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to check their trees’ safety and ensure that it is not endangering them or their neighbours. If you are found to be neglecting your tree and it then causes damage, you may be personally liable for any damage which may not be covered by your home insurance. You may remember the famous storm in October 1987, in which a huge amount of damage was caused by falling trees and branches. This only highlighted the importance of proper tree maintenance to prevent any disasters.

What damage can I expect in an emergency situation?

The health of your tree plays a large part in how much damage it may cause during extreme weather. If your tree is at all structurally unsound, then it is more likely to have branches snap off or even fall altogether. The other factor that plays a large part in how much damage a tree can cause is the speed of the wind. If the wind speed is between 39mph-46mph (Beaufort force 8) then you would see twigs snapping off the trees. If the wind speed is 47mph-54mph (Beaufort scale 9) you would see larger branches snapping. You would most likely see trees uprooting when there are wind speeds of 55mph-63mph (Beaufort scale 10). With this information, you should check the wind speeds on the weather forecast and plan your safety precautions accordingly.

Extreme weather is not the only emergency that we will come out in. Other situations that we would come out in would be in cases of fire damage, impact damage or otherwise dangerous trees. If there your tree is an immediate danger to your property or the people in the area then you can give us a call to receive our services

How to prevent your trees from being affected by extreme weather

It is not always easy to predict when extreme weather will occur, so the best way to prevent damage during these times is through regular tree maintenance. It is particularly important to maintain trees that are very large or near structures that could be damaged. The best way to prepare your tree in case of extreme weather is to reduce the height, size, and density of the canopy. We would do this using our tree pruning and crown reduction services. By using these techniques, we would reduce the surface area of the crown, which would take a lot of the storm's pressure away from the canopy.

If our friendly and qualified team were to come and prune your tree, they could also find any weaknesses or diseases that could be causing your tree to be dangerous. It is best to be aware of and keep an eye out for indicators that your tree is a safety risk. If there are any broken or damaged branches, they may be structurally weak and at risk of blowing off the tree during high winds. This is also the case for hanging branches as strong winds could cause them to fall. Furthermore, cavities could cause structural weaknesses in your tree. They are not always easy to spot, so it is especially important to look out for these pockets of rot and decay. If there is excessive deadwood or dieback it may suggest that the health of your tree is declining, meaning that it may be structurally weak and therefore at risk of falling during extreme weather.

One of the biggest reasons that a tree may be a risk to you or your family’s safety is due to fungus and diseases. If not taken care of, they can spread across your garden and affect other wildlife. Fortunately, there are many signs that you can keep an eye out for. One of the symptoms of many tree diseases is leaf loss and crown dieback. If a tree is losing leaves out of season or the upper and outer parts of the crown are dying, then that could be a sign that your tree is now a risk. Furthermore, a tree may develop bleeding cankers which are obvious on the trunk. There could be several reasons for this, such as pollution, drought, or waterlogging, but if none of these has happened to your trees then it may be a sign that your tree has a disease and may be structurally unsound. You may also see yellow and wilting leaves as a sign of disease, but it could also be a sign of stress, waterlogging or drought. To confirm that a tree is infected you would need one of our experienced and fully insured tree surgeons to come out and do an assessment. From there, we can advise you on the best course of action to prevent your trees from causing any major damage.

These tips for spotting diseases in your trees are by no means exhaustive- for a more detailed guide, click here. This could help reduce the chances of an emergency call out from our team?

Will my home insurance cover any damage made by my trees?

There are many benefits to having trees on your property- they provide homes for the natural wildlife in your garden, they have been shown to improve mental health and full established trees can even improve the value of your property by 10-20%. Healthy trees can also help reduce air pollution and improve air quality because they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, reducing the greenhouse effect. However, it is important to be aware of the damage that they could have to your home and the impact they cause on your home insurance. It is particularly important to be aware of any possibility for damage if the tree is near your or your neighbours’ houses.

You need to be aware of exactly what your home insurance covers in the event of an emergcny call out caused by damage to, or by your tree. Most of the time, home insurance policies only cover damage done to the house and not to the tree itself. This is something to carefully consider if the tree is particularly valuable. Factors that can make a tree especially valuable are the size, age, and the type of tree- for example, a well-established oak tree could be worth several thousand pounds. It is unlikely to be covered by your home insurance, but it is worth checking the ‘storm damage’ section of your home insurance policy. If you are still unsure it may be worth giving your policy provider a call to see what arrangements can be made. Having said this, if the damage is caused to your property by your trees, then you would require our professional services to safely remove them, the cost of which should be covered by your insurance company.

What if a neighbour’s tree damages my property?

If a tree belonging to your neighbour damages your property it can be a more complicated issue. Every insurance policy is different so it is best to check your provider so that you are completely aware of what would be covered. However, even if the tree that damages your property is not yours it is unlikely your neighbour’s insurance would cover that damage. This is because a home insurance policy would most likely just cover their property. However, if you can prove that there has been neglect on your neighbour’s part you may be able to get a pay-out. You should also consider if your trees could potentially damage your neighbours garden, and if so, make sure that you take extra care that those trees are healthy. Most of the time, you will find that the responsibility of removing any fallen trees and replacing damaged items in your garden will belong to you.

Here at Bronzeleaf Tree Surgery, we understand that these situations are unexpected and can be very distressing, which is why we are here when you need us most, we cover all emergency call out evenutualities when it comes to tree damage. We are available week in week out to offer clear and professional advice and to make your life as easy as possible. If you need an emergency call out, then call Max on 07845 369097. If you want to view our other services, then click here.