Emergency Tree Work: When Is It Actually Needed?
"Emergency" gets used loosely when it comes to tree work, but there's a real difference between something that needs dealing with today and something that simply needs dealing with soon. Here's how we tell the two apart.
What Counts as a Genuine Emergency
A large cracked branch hanging over a driveway or footpath, or a tree that has fallen onto a house, road, or power lines, is a genuine emergency. These are situations where there's an immediate, ongoing risk to people or property, and action can't wait.
The common thread is that the situation is unstable. Something is already in a position it shouldn't be in, and it could move again without warning.
What's a Priority, Not an Emergency
A tree with an old cavity that's been present for years, or a tree that's diseased but still structurally stable, isn't a genuine emergency — even though it can feel urgent if you've just noticed it. These are priorities: worth getting looked at and dealt with, but not something that needs a same-day response.
It's a distinction worth making, because work that can be planned properly tends to get done better than work squeezed in at short notice.
What to Do in the First Few Minutes
If a tree has come down or a large limb is hanging, the first job is distance. Keep people and pets well clear, and don't park underneath it. A hung-up branch can drop at any point, and a partially uprooted tree can move suddenly as the root plate settles.
Don't attempt to cut anything that is under tension. Storm-damaged wood holds enormous stored energy, and a limb that is bent or trapped can spring violently when it's released. This is the single most common way people are seriously hurt after a storm.
If it's safe to do so, take photographs before anything is moved. It's far easier to record what actually happened while everything is still as you found it.
Trees on Power Lines and Roads
If a tree is touching or has brought down power lines, treat the cable as live and stay well away — including anything the cable is in contact with, such as fencing or a vehicle. Report it to the electricity network operator by calling 105, the free UK-wide number that routes you to the right network for your area. That's a job for the network operator, not a tree surgeon.
Where a fallen tree is blocking a public highway, the local highways authority has an interest too. In practice, for anything blocking a road in Leicestershire, reporting it alongside arranging clearance is the sensible order of events.
Our Emergency Service
We offer a 24-hour emergency service for genuine emergencies, subject to availability. If you're not sure whether your situation qualifies, get in touch and describe what you're seeing — we'd rather have that conversation than have you wait unnecessarily on something that can't hold.
A Real Example: Clearing a Blocked Road in High Winds
We've cleared a fallen tree blocking a 60mph road during high winds — we were among the first vehicles stopped by it, needed to get through ourselves, and cut and cleared it there and then. It's the kind of job that shows what a genuine emergency actually looks like in practice, rather than something that simply looks alarming at first glance.
What Happens Once the Danger Is Cleared
Emergency work is about making a situation safe, which isn't always the same as finishing the job. The usual sequence is to remove the immediate hazard, stabilise what's left, and then come back to complete the work properly once there's no longer any urgency.
That second visit is also the point to think about why it happened. A tree that has failed in a storm often had something going on beforehand — root damage, decay at the base, or a weak union that finally gave way. If there are similar trees on the same site, it's worth having them looked at while the question is fresh.
One thing worth knowing: a protected tree is still protected in an emergency. Work to remove an immediate risk of serious harm can go ahead, but written notice to the local authority is required as soon as practicable afterwards, so keep a record of what you found and why the work couldn't wait.
Need Urgent Tree Work?
Rogers & Cork Tree Care provides emergency tree work across Leicester, Hinckley, Loughborough, Oadby, and the wider Leicestershire area. If you've got a tree you're not sure about, get in touch and we'll take a look. Free quotes, no obligation.