Our Services
Tree Surgery
Full-spectrum tree surgery in Welwyn and across Hertfordshire. Expert pruning, crown reduction, crown lifting and corrective works to improve tree health, appearance and safety.
About This Service
Tree work planned around the tree and your site
Hertfordshire Trees delivers qualified, safety-focused tree surgery for homeowners and businesses across Welwyn and the county. NPTC-certified arborists undertake pruning, crown reductions, crown lifting and corrective surgery with written surveys and risk assessments. Preservation-led solutions balance tree health, site safety and aesthetic outcomes. You get a site survey and clear quotation before any work begins.
We're tree surgeons based in Welwyn, serving Stevenage, Harpenden, St Albans and the surrounding area. Our tree surgery in Welwyn and beyond covers:
Crown reduction: shortening the branches all round to make a tree smaller and lighter while keeping its natural shape. Cuts are made back to a suitable side branch, so the tree can seal the wound. More on crown reduction.
Crown lifting: removing the lowest branches to give clearance over a lawn, path, drive or road, and to let more light into the garden.
Formative and structural pruning: shaping younger trees so they grow with a strong framework, and removing weak, crossing or dead branches from older ones.
Corrective work after storm damage: making torn or split limbs safe with clean cuts. For a tree that's fallen or is dangerous now, see emergency tree work.
Felling and removal: where a tree is dead, dying or unsafe, taking it down whole if there's room, or in sections from the top where there isn't. See tree felling and tree removal.
Stump grinding: grinding the stump below ground level so you can replant, turf or build over it. See stump grinding.
Hedges: cutting back, reducing and shaping. See hedge trimming.
What affects the price of tree work?
Every job is priced after the survey, and the quote sets out exactly what's included. The main things that shape the cost are:
the size, species and condition of the tree
the work needed: a light prune costs less than a crown reduction, and a reduction less than felling in sections
access: whether we can get equipment in, or must carry everything through the house or over a fence
what's nearby: buildings, power lines, roads, greenhouses or other trees can mean more rigging and lowering
whether the tree has a Tree Preservation Order or is in a Conservation Area, which can mean an application first
what happens to the wood: taking it all away, leaving logs for you, or grinding the stump
We can also supply bark mulch for your beds and borders. If you're planning work near trees, or need to know whether a tree is safe, a tree survey gives you a written assessment.
Qualified, insured and preservation-led
Based in Welwyn, the team understands local soils, species and typical Hertfordshire problems, with fast, reliable scheduling for both domestic and commercial sites.
All work is undertaken by NPTC-certified tree surgeons and backed by Membership of the Arboricultural Association and public liability insurance.
Jobs are planned with risk assessments, professional rigging and licensed waste removal to protect people, property and retained trees.
How It Works
1. Survey & Risk Assessment
A site visit by an NPTC-qualified arborist identifies health issues, hazards and preservation needs. You receive a written assessment and recommended scope of work.
2. Detailed Plan & Clear Quote
A preservation-first method explains pruning techniques, access requirements and waste disposal. Quotes are transparent and include any necessary safety measures.
3. Safe Execution & Aftercare
Works are carried out with professional rigging, site protection and licensed waste removal. Final inspection and tidy-up complete the job, with post-work advice provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about our services and process.
It depends. Trees in Conservation Areas or subject to Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) require consent for certain works. Hertfordshire Trees will check planning status as part of the survey and advise whether you need to apply to the local authority before work begins.
The survey identifies the objective, whether safety, access, vigour or form, and the arborist selects a targeted method such as selective crown reduction, crown lifting or structural pruning. The priority is preserving tree health while achieving the required clearance or balance.
Yes. The team removes arisings and chippings from site or can leave wood for the client on request. Hertfordshire Trees is licensed to carry waste and disposes of material responsibly; stump grinding is available where required.
All operatives are NPTC-certified and work under procedures set out by the Arboricultural Association. The business holds public liability insurance and follows risk-assessed methods for safe access and rigging.
Duration depends on tree size, location and access. The written survey includes an estimated programme and any traffic or site-management needs so there are no surprises on the day.
Keep people and pets away from the tree, and don't try to cut hanging or split branches yourself, as they can move without warning. If a power line is involved, stay well away and call 105, the national power cut line. Then get in touch and tell us what's happened, and we'll prioritise work where there's a risk to people or property. More on our emergency tree work.