Is my tree safe?
- Tree inspections: what we check and why
- What's wrong with my tree?: the problem finder
- Deadwood, cracks, leans and fungus at the base
- Ash dieback and when an ash becomes dangerous
Advice centre Straight answers about trees
Plain-English guides from our qualified arborists on tree problems, the law, pruning, safety and costs in Dorset and Hampshire. Pick a topic, check what to do this month, or ask us a question.
Next free quote visits, live from our diary
Free visits Monday to Thursday and Saturdays.
- 5.0 on Google, 50+ reviews
- NPTC, City & Guilds & Lantra
- £5M insured
The advice centre in short
The Clearcut advice centre answers the questions people ask our arborists most: is my tree safe, do I need permission, when should it be pruned, what will it cost, and what should I do after a storm. Every guide is written by qualified tree surgeons working in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire. If your question isn't answered here, ask us directly and a qualified arborist will reply within 24 hours.
- Topics
- Tree health, the law, pruning, safety, hedges, costs and land
- Seasonal
- A month-by-month tree care calendar
- Tools
- The tree problem finder and the glossary
- Ask us
- A qualified arborist replies within 24 hours
- New guides
- Added every week
Find advice by topic
Start with the problem you have. Each topic links to the guides and services that answer it.
Permission and the law
- Tree Preservation Orders: what needs consent
- Do I need permission? TPOs, licences and wildlife
- Conservation areas and the six weeks' notice
- Neighbour's trees and the right to cut to the boundary
- Nesting birds, bats and the rules
Pruning and tree care
- Crown reduction, thinning and lifting explained
- Fruit tree pruning: apples, pears, plums and cherries
- Tree planting: the right tree in the right place
- Ivy on trees: when it matters
Storms and emergencies
- 24-hour emergency tree work
- What to do when a tree comes down
- Insurance claims and storm damage
- Cat rescue and drone retrieval
Removal, stumps and roots
Hedges
- Hedge trimming: when and how often
- Hedge removal and replacing with fencing or planting
- Nesting season and hedge cutting
- High hedges and neighbour disputes
Costs and choosing a tree surgeon
- What affects tree surgery costs
- How to choose a tree surgeon: ten checks
- Tree surgery glossary: terms explained
- Our team and equipment
Land, estates and woodland
- Land management for estates and landowners
- Woodland management and felling licences
- Block and flat grounds management
- Commercial tree surgery
Your tree care month by month
What to do with your trees and hedges, month by month. It opens on this month.
JanuaryThis month
- Dormant season: a good time for crown reductions and removals, with the leaves off and no nesting birds
- Winter-prune apples and pears
- Check trees after storms for split limbs and hangers
- Apply now for TPO consent for spring work, as decisions take up to eight weeks
FebruaryThis month
- Last weeks before nesting season: hedge cutting, hedge removal and clearance should be done now
- Finish winter pruning of apples and pears
- Plant bare-root trees and hedging while the ground is workable
MarchThis month
- Nesting season begins: every tree and hedge must be checked for active nests before work
- Bare-root planting season ends
- Mulch and water newly planted trees as the weather warms
AprilThis month
- Blossom time: start formative pruning of young plums and cherries as the buds break
- New leaves show where branches are dead
- Check bracket fungi from the winter
MayThis month
- Full leaf: dead and dying branches stand out clearly now
- Ash dieback shows as thin, patchy crowns
- Light hedge trims only, after checking for nests
JuneThis month
- Summer pruning of plums, cherries and other stone fruit
- Water young trees in dry spells
- Crown lifting over paths and drives as branches droop in full leaf
JulyThis month
- Summer pruning of trained apples and pears
- Heavy fruit crops can split branches, so prop or thin them
- Check for summer branch drop on hot, still days
AugustThis month
- Ash dieback is easiest to spot now
- Last of the summer pruning
- Plan autumn reductions before the storm season
SeptemberThis month
- Nesting season ends: hedge cutting and flailing season starts
- Fungi appear at the base of trees, so get them identified
- Book autumn crown reductions
OctoberThis month
- Leaves fall: clear paths, gutters and drains
- Storm season begins: check large trees near houses and roads
- Book your winter tree work
NovemberThis month
- Bare-root planting season begins
- Winter pruning of apples and pears starts
- Storm checks after high winds
DecemberThis month
- Dormant season: crown reductions and removals
- Check trees after winter gales
- Order seasoned firewood from our own tree work
Ask an arborist
Can't find your answer? Ask a qualified arborist. We reply within 24 hours.
Tell us what you can see, what kind of tree it is if you know, and roughly where you are. If you have photos, say so and we'll reply by email so you can send them.
- Free advice, no obligation
- From qualified arborists, not a call centre
- If it needs a look, we'll offer a free visit
All our guides
Commercial Tree Services 3
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Emergency Tree Work 3
How Our Rapid Response Team Handles Dangerous Trees
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Why Emergency Tree Work in Dorset is Essential After a Storm
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What to Do When a Tree Falls on Your Property
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Sustainability & Recycling 3
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How Clearcut Turns Tree Waste into Firewood & Biomass Fuel
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Tree Care & Maintenance 52
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Tree advice questions
Anything not covered here? Ask us and we'll give you a straight answer.
Is my tree dangerous?
Signs to look for are large dead branches, fungus at the base or on the trunk, deep cracks or splits, a new or increasing lean, and lifting soil around the base. If you see any of these, get it inspected. The tree problem finder can help you judge how urgent it is.
Do I need permission to cut down a tree?
Only if it has a Tree Preservation Order, is in a conservation area, or is part of a woodland where a felling licence is needed. We check and apply for you.
When is the best time to prune trees?
Most trees are best pruned in late autumn and winter while dormant, outside the nesting season. Stone fruit such as plums and cherries are the exception and are pruned in summer.
Can I cut my neighbour's overhanging branches?
Yes, back to the boundary line only, unless the tree is protected. The cut branches belong to your neighbour, so offer them back.
How do I get advice about my own tree?
Use the Ask an arborist form above, or book a free visit and a qualified arborist will look at it with you.
Five stars, every time
What customers across Dorset and Hampshire say after the job is done.
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Tree down? Call now.
Storm damage, fallen trees and dangerous limbs. Fast response across Dorset and Hampshire, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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- You pick a timeOnline, in about a minute. Visits run Monday to Thursday and Saturdays.
- We visit and look properlyA qualified arborist checks the trees, the access and whether any consent is needed.
- You get a written quoteA clear, fixed price with no hidden costs. The price quoted is the price you pay.
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