Is winter a good time to cut down a tree?
For most garden trees, yes. Late autumn to late winter is often the best time to cut down a tree. Deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, so they're lighter and easier to take down in sections, and birds aren't nesting. A dead, dying or dangerous tree should be dealt with whenever it needs to be, though, and some trees need the council's permission at any time of year.
This post explains why winter suits most tree felling, what can still get in the way, the permission checks to make first, and what happens on the day. Cutting down a tree is never a DIY job: it involves chainsaws, falling timber and often work at height, so it should be done by a trained, insured tree surgeon.
Why winter suits most tree felling
There are no leaves. Without its leaves, a deciduous tree carries much less weight, and branches come down in smaller, lighter sections. That makes dismantling a tree in sections near a house, fence or greenhouse safer and more controlled.
The structure is easy to see. With the canopy bare, a tree surgeon can see every branch union, crack and dead limb, which helps plan exactly how the tree will come down.
Birds aren't nesting. Wild birds, their nests and eggs are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and the main nesting season runs from about March to August. Felling outside those months avoids having to delay work because an active nest is found.
The garden is dormant. Lawns, borders and shrubs are mostly resting, so trampling, ground protection mats and dropped brash do far less lasting harm than they would in spring or summer.
What can still get in the way in winter
Winter isn't perfect for every job:
Wet or frozen ground. Waterlogged lawns can rut under machinery and barrows. Ground protection mats help, and sometimes the work is better planned for a drier or firmly frozen spell.
Storms and high winds. Climbing and lowering timber in strong winds isn't safe, so a job may be moved to another day.
Short days. Less daylight means fewer working hours, so a large tree may take an extra day.
Bats. Bats can hibernate in tree cavities, under loose bark or in thick ivy over winter, and they're protected all year round. If there's a chance of a roost, the tree needs checking before work starts.
Evergreens such as conifers and laurels don't lose their leaves, so they gain less from winter felling, though the nesting season point still applies.
Check permission first, whatever the season
Some trees can't be felled or pruned without the council's agreement, at any time of year:
Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs): a protected tree needs written consent from the council before it's cut down.
Conservation areas: for trees above a certain size, you usually have to give the council six weeks' notice before felling.
Both apply to trees in private gardens too. Your council's planning or tree team can tell you whether either applies. Our guide to Tree Preservation Orders in Hertfordshire explains how they work and how to check.
When not to wait for winter
If a tree is dead, splitting, leaning more than it used to, or has dropped large branches, don't hold off until the season suits. Have it looked at straight away, especially if it's near a house, road, footpath or play area. Our post on the signs a tree is unsafe explains what to look for. After a storm, keep people away from a damaged tree and anything hanging from it until it's been made safe.
What happens when a tree is felled
On a typical job, a tree surgeon:
inspects the tree and its surroundings, including buildings, fences, overhead lines and anything underneath
confirms whether permission is needed and checks for nesting birds or bats
either fells the tree in one piece where there's room, or takes it down in sections, lowering each piece on ropes
chips the branches, cuts the trunk into logs or removes it, and clears the site
leaves the stump, or grinds it out if that's part of the job
The stump is a separate decision. Our guide to the stump grinding process explains what's involved if you want it removed.
How we plan tree felling
Hertfordshire Trees is NPTC qualified, a member of the Arboricultural Association, fully insured and licensed to carry waste. We look at the tree and the space around it, check whether permission is needed, and plan the right method, whether that's a straight fell or taking it down in sections, before any work is booked.
If you're thinking about having a tree taken down this winter, Hertfordshire Trees can look at it and talk you through the options. Find out more about our tree felling service across Welwyn and Hertfordshire.
