• Getting Permission
• When to Fell?
• Safety
• Cutting Down the Tree
• Removing the Stump

You must make sure that the tree is not subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or located within a conservation area as you then will need to seek permission from the council before undertaking any type of work to living parts of the tree.

If you want to cut down or prune a tree in your garden you need permission if:

• The tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order (permission to be granted from the Council).
• The tree is within a designated Conservation Area (permission to be granted from the Council).
• The property is rented (permission to be granted from the landlord).

If the tree is situated on a boundary, you must check that it legally belongs to you.

If you destroy or damage a tree without permission you could be fined up to £20,000 if convicted in the magistrates court. For other offences you could be fined up to £2,500.

Tree felling may be carried out at any time of the year; however, it is a potentially dangerous operation and should be left in the expert hands of a qualified tree surgeon if the tree is taller than 5 m (15 ft).

Make sure that there is space for the tree to fall and that you have left yourself an escape route at right angles to the proposed fall line.

First remove any large branches. Then make a downward angled cut in the trunk on the side where you want the tree to fall. This cut should be about 1m (3 ft) from the ground, and just over one third of the trunk diameter.

Make a cut horizontally to meet the base of the angled cut. Remove this wedge of wood.

Saw the tree horizontally on the other side of the trunk, just above the base of the wedge cut. You may need to push the tree so that it falls in the right direction. Large trees should have ropes tied around their trunks to guide their fall.

It is always a good idea to remove the stump, as if left to rot, it could attract honey fungus, which may then spread.

Dig a wide trench around the stump loosening the roots with a spade or fork. Cut roots with the spade, or tough roots may be severed using an axe. Continue until you can remove the stump; however, if the stump is very large, you may need to hire a contractor to winch it out.

Alternatively, if you cannot remove the stump, you may treat it with chemical to prevent it from rotting. Cut the stump flush with the ground and then treat the cut surface with a proprietary solution of ammonium sulphamate. Do not plant anywhere near the treated stump for at least three months.