Trees are a vital part of our landscapes, providing shade, oxygen, and beauty. However, trees require regular care and maintenance to stay healthy. Pruning, removal of dead branches, pest and disease treatments, and fertilization are just some of the services arborists provide to maintain trees. When you need professional tree care, it’s essential to select a qualified, reputable company. The tree service you choose can make the difference between improving the health and appearance of your landscape or damaging your trees. With the right company, your trees will thrive for years to come.
Do Your Research
Don’t wait until you desperately need tree work done before you start researching companies. Take time now to identify reputable firms in your area. Search online for local tree companies and read reviews on sites like Yelp or Angie’s List. Ask your neighbors, friends, or coworkers for recommendations. Look for companies that have been operating for several years and have established a good track record in your community. Stay away from “pop-up” companies that appear after storms offering bargain prices—they often do more harm than good. Take notes on 3-5 potential companies to investigate further.
Check Credentials
Make sure any tree company you consider hiring is properly credentialed, licensed, and insured. Credentials indicate the company’s level of knowledge and professionalism. At minimum, the company should have an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist on staff.ISA Certified Arborists must pass a comprehensive exam demonstrating their knowledge of proper tree care. Some arborists also obtain additional qualifications like ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification or ISA Board Certified Master Arborist. Ask prospective companies about the specific credentials and qualifications their arborists hold.
Licensing is another essential indicator. Tree care companies should be properly licensed with your state. Licensing proves they have the training and experience to provide regulated services like pruning and removal. The company should also carry ample liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance to cover damages or injuries during work on your property. Ask to see proof of licenses and insurance certificates.
Compare Services Offered
Not all tree companies offer the same range of services. As you research potential firms, make a list of the specific services you may need like:
- Tree pruning and trimming
- Tree removal or stump grinding
- Fertilization or pest/disease control
- Cabling or bracing for added support
- Storm damage cleanup
- Tree planting or transplantation
Narrow down your list to companies that provide all the services you may require now or in the coming years. Be wary of companies that offer only a bare minimum of services—their arborists may not be trained for specific types of care your trees need. The most qualified companies offer a full range of tree maintenance and care.
Examine Industry Association Membership
Reputable tree care companies often belong to professional associations that promote safety and education. Here are some of the top associations to look for:
- Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA): Requires members adhere to safety and training standards
- American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA): Focused on scientific research and best practices
- International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): Promotes proper techniques and professional development
- National Arborist Association (NAA): Educates members on regulations and improving skills
- American Horticultural Society (AHS): Provides science-based tree and plant care information
Membership in these associations shows a company’s commitment to staying current with the latest safety protocols, regulations, technology, and arboriculture research. Make sure any company you consider partners with respected industry groups.
Read Reviews and Talk to Past Clients
Reviews from past clients provide transparency into a company’s business practices, quality of work, customer service, and more. Spend time reading online reviews on Google, Yelp, and other sites. Look for patterns—both positive and negative. A few negative reviews are normal, but beware of companies with overwhelmingly negative feedback. Also, contact your local Better Business Bureau to check for excessive complaints lodged against any prospective firms.
If possible, get references and speak directly to past clients. Reputable companies should provide references upon request. Ask references specific questions, such as:
- Were you satisfied with the completed work?
- Did workers behave professionally and safely?
- Did the company finish work on time and on budget?
- Would you hire this company again for future tree work?
Get a sense of each company’s track record with other clients. Quality companies tend to receive glowing reviews and continue working with clients for years.
Compare Pricing and Bids
When comparing potential tree companies, cost should not be the deciding factor. However, you still need an affordable provider. Quality companies price services competitively based on industry averages. Avoid arborists that bid significantly higher or lower than their competitors—pricing that seems way off base is a red flag.
Get bids from 3-5 tree firms for services you need now or may need down the road. Ask each company what’s included and excluded from bid pricing. Obtain bids in writing after arborists inspect your property in-person. Beware of firms unwilling to perform site visits or provide written bids. When comparing bids, consider:
- Does pricing align with competitors for similar services?
- Does the bid cover all labor, equipment, and cleanup/disposal costs?
- Are discounts offered for bundled services or new clients?
- Will pricing remain consistent across future jobs?
A proper bid helps avoid surprise add-on costs after project completion. Review bids carefully to determine the best value for the quality of services offered.
Ask About Process and Practices
A company’s processes and work practices also offer clues into their professionalism and safety record. As you evaluate arborists, inquire about:
- Will they provide advance notice before arriving to perform work?
- Do staff wear standard safety gear like helmets, gloves, eye protection, etc.?
- What equipment and techniques do they use for pruning, removal, etc.? Are they compliant with ANSI standards?
- Do they have a systematic process for cleaning up debris, wood chips, and sawdust from the property after completing a job?
- How do they handle issues like hidden structural defects discovered mid-job?
- For large jobs, how long do they expect the project to take from start to finish?
- Do they offer emergency or after-hours services for storm damage or other urgent problems?
Reputable companies welcome these types of questions and are transparent about their processes. Beware of arborists unwilling to explain their work practices or who take shortcuts that could damage your trees or property.
Check for Safety Protocols
Tree work involves complex, dangerous equipment like chainsaws, lifts, and wood chippers. One minor accident can critically injure workers or bystanders. That’s why a company’s safety protocols should be a top concern. Here are key safety indications to look for:
- Crew leaders certified in first aid, CPR, aerial rescue, and other emergency procedures
- Diligent use of safety gear like hardhats, work zone barriers, and traffic control
- Rigorous training and certification in proper use of technical equipment
- Well-maintained equipment that undergoes regular safety inspections
- Safety meetings and refresher training held regularly for staff
- Clean safety track record with few or no serious accidents
A company that cuts corners on safety puts workers and clients at risk. Only work with arborists who demonstrate consistent, redundant safety protocols reinforced through training, supervision, and equipment maintenance.
Evaluate Tree Health Knowledge
You want arborists who understand how to cultivate healthy trees and resolve issues. As you speak with prospective firms, assess their knowledge by asking questions like:
- How do they diagnose tree diseases and pest infestations?
- When do they recommend fertilizers or soil amendments?
- What techniques and best practices do they follow for pruning trees?
- How do they determine when a tree is hazardous and needs removal?
- What options do they recommend for promoting tree growth and vitality?
Quality companies provide science-based answers that align with research and industry standards. Their arborists should know how to assess soil conditions, identify diseases, perform proper pruning cuts, and more. They don’t rely on guesswork or outdated methods. Strong tree care knowledge ensures your landscape stays vibrant and healthy.
Check for Proper Registration and Tree Protection
Reputable tree companies follow regulations about registering protected trees and avoiding unnecessary damage. Ask firms if they take these important precautions:
- Registering trees on your property that qualify for legal protection, such as heritage trees
- Obtaining permits prior to removing trees in many areas
- Using tree protection strategies like mulch barriers and trunk protection during construction projects
- Following restrictions on pruning or removing trees during nesting season to protect birds
- Adhering to laws regarding working near power lines and public utility easements
Choose companies committed to legal and ethical tree protection—not those looking for loopholes or shortcuts. Responsible professionals safeguard your trees while complying with applicable regulations.
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Hire the Right Arborist for the Job
Once you’ve thoroughly evaluated credentials, practices, safety protocols, and expertise, it’s time to make a hiring decision. Match the right certified arborist to the specific tree work needed.
Pruning and Maintenance Arborists
For routine pruning and maintenance, seek out arborists with:
- ISA Certified Arborist designation or higher ISA qualifications like Certified Tree Worker/Climber Specialist
- Extensive hands-on experience with pruning, cabling, fertilization, pest management, etc.
- Expertise in the growth needs of different tree varieties on your property
- Training in proper pruning techniques like crown cleaning, thinning, elevation, etc.
- Knowledge of optimal pruning schedules for your tree species and climate
- Familiarity with common diseases like oak wilt and preventative treatments
- Ability to safely operate necessary equipment like lifts and chainsaws
Proper pruning improves tree structure, removes deadwood, and enhances health. Maintenance arborists know how to cultivate aesthetically pleasing and vigorous trees specific to your landscape.
Hazardous Tree Removal Specialists
Removing large, hazardous trees adjacent to structures requires arborists with specialized skills like:
- ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) or similar advanced training
- Expertise in complicated rigging, felling, and removal methods
- Knowledge of safety regulations for working near live power lines
- Ability to safely lower large sections of trees using ropes, pulleys, cranes, etc.
- Training in precise felling techniques to drop trees in tight spaces
- Skills operating required equipment like aerial lifts, log loaders, tub grinders, etc.
- Expertise working with cranes, helicopter aerial lifts, and other major equipment for removals near homes or traffic
When declining health or structural defects make trees dangerous, rely on removal experts with proper technical qualifications. They mitigate safety hazards and prevent property damage.
Tree Planting and Transplanting Professionals
Adding new trees or relocating existing trees on your property involves arborists skilled in:
- Selecting tree varieties ideal for your climate, space, and aesthetic goals
- Preparing planting sites with proper drainage, amended soil, and spacing for future growth
- Safely extracting intact root balls and transporting established trees for transplantation
- Proper tree planting techniques like digging wide holes and enhancing backfill soil
- Staking, watering, and post-planting care to nurture tree establishment
- Ongoing maintenance like pruning for structure as young trees mature
Tree planting is an investment, so entrust it to arborists with proven knowledge of how to give new trees healthy starts and encourage vigor.
Emergency Services Arborists
After major storms or other disasters that damage trees, hire emergency crew arborists able to:
- Mobilize rapidly for immediate tree cleanup and removal
- Work efficiently to reopen roads, restore power, and mitigate safety issues
- Safely remove tree trunks and limbs hanging precariously in trees or suspended in utility lines
- Assess tree damage and structure to determine survivability
- Coordinate with first responders like firefighters to manage damage in disaster areas
- Operate necessary equipment like grapples, loaders, and tub grinders to remove debris
- Manage severe injury risks working in chaotic post-storm environments
Choose local arborists prepared to mobilize 24/7 for emergency response. They have the experience, equipment, and training to work in dangerous situations after disasters.
Insect and Disease Control Experts
When trees face infestations or infections, certified arborists can provide treatments including:
- Identifying pests like emerald ash borer or diseases like verticillium wilt
- Selecting and properly applying labeled pesticides and fungicides
- Knowing when treatment may cause more harm than benefit to the tree
- Advising on preventative care like maintaining tree health to resist pests
- Removing severely infected trees to prevent spread when necessary
- Submission of diseased tree samples to diagnostic labs for accurate identification
- Recommending resistant tree species if diseases or pests are recurring issues
Arborists trained in tree pathology limit damage from invasive pests and diseases. They use an integrated approach balancing preventative care, biological controls, responsible pesticide use, and removal as a last resort.
Utility and Power Line Arborists
Arborists performing utility line clearance and power line hazard reduction require:
- Certified Arborist Utility Specialist (CAUS) training to work around electrical hazards
- OSHA 10 certification in electric power generation, transmission, and distribution
- Rigging skills to safely lower branches away from lines rather than careless dropping
- Training in utility vegetation management (UVM) safety protocols
- Knowledge of NERC and FERC regulations for vegetation near transmission systems
- Access to specialized insulated equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), and lifts
- Expertise working around transmission and distribution equipment while managing vegetation
Improper tree work near utilities can cause power outages, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Rely on qualified utility arborists trained to maintain clearances and safety.
Municipal and Government Arborists
Arborists managing trees alongside public roads, in parks, or on other government properties require:
- ISA Certified Arborist certification plus ISA Municipal Specialist credential
- Thorough knowledge of Risk Assessment qualification procedures and protocol
- Safety training for working alongside active roads and traffic zones
- Familiarity with managerial duties like municipal tree inventories, budgets, crew supervision, etc.
- Expertise working with diverse tree species in varied environments like parks, medians, open space, etc.
- Education in municipal legal issues like ordinances, public liability, rights-of-way, etc.
- Skills collaborating with related departments like urban forestry, public works, event planning, etc.
Municipal arborists balance urban forest management, public safety, legalities, and taxpayer resources—a diverse skillset.
Research Experience and Specialty
Beyond regular tree care, certain projects benefit from arborists with advanced research and specialty experience like:
- Conducting experiments on tree biology, new treatments, growing techniques, etc.
- Advising on tree selection, propagation, and cultivation for specific climates
- Providing expert testimony regarding tree issues, health diagnoses, or property values
- Performing complex microinjection fertilizations, pest management, or similar treatments
- Overseeing progressive urban forestry initiatives like silviculture in expanding cities
- Implementing high-tech solutions like urban tree monitoring technology
- Teaching continuing education courses for other arboriculture professionals to stay current
Seek out research-focused and specialty-trained arborists for complex tree projects requiring cutting-edge or highly technical expertise.
Consulting Arborists
For advice on legal issues, tree values, development impacts, land management plans, or long-term urban forest sustainability, consult with:
- Board Certified Master Arborists (BCMAs) recognized for advanced technical expertise
- Registered Consulting Arborists (RCAs) accredited by ASCA or AAAC
- Arborists experienced serving as expert legal witnesses regarding trees
- Professionals trained in evaluating and inventorying groups of trees rather than individual specimens
- Arborists educated in fields like forestry, horticulture, and natural resources able to advise on managing tree populations over time
Consulting arborists guide complex decisions regarding tree populations, land use, development, policy, and forest sustainability.
Build Strong Relationships
Once you select reputable arborists or arboriculture firms, build strong ongoing working relationships with them. Consistency in tree care year after year helps your property benefit from:
- Arborists familiar with the history, growth, and needs of your specific trees
- Shared understanding of your aesthetic goals and vision for your landscape
- More accurate record-keeping of services performed, tree health, and observations over time
- More personalized recommendations tailored to issues your trees face
- Potential cost savings from bundled services or multi-year contracts with the same provider
Work cordially with arborists to ensure they have the information needed to care for your trees properly over the long term. Establish open communication, share observations, ask questions, and discuss concerns. Mutual trust and cooperation creates successful partnerships that keep your trees vibrant and resilient.
Watch for Red Flags
Even after thorough vetting, remain alert for red flags in a tree company’s communication, business practices, or work while on your property:
- Pushy sales tactics urging you to consent to services immediately
- Vague estimates rather than clearly defined scopes of work
- Omission of safety gear, work zone delineation, or other precautions
- Reluctance to answer questions or explain recommendations
- Lack of documentation like service reports or invoices
- Damaging tree limbs and roots due to carelessness
- Leaving extensive debris and failing to clean up the property
- Failure to obtain permits when required for removal or alterations
- Recommendations to remove healthy trees unnecessarily
Document any concerns that arise working with a company. If problems persist, don’t hesitate to terminate the relationship and find a more reliable arborist. Prioritize your trees’ health and your own peace of mind.
Pruning Mature Trees
Pruning is essential arboriculture work, but the process differs greatly depending on the tree’s age and condition. Mature trees cannot be pruned hastily or drastically without consequences. Follow these guidelines when pruning established mature trees:
- Prune minimally and only when truly needed. Never remove more than 25% of the tree’s canopy within a single year.
- Time pruning based on seasonal biology. In general, prune spring-blooming trees immediately after flowering and summer-blooming trees during dormancy.
- Identify and preserve the tree’s structural scaffold branches first. Never remove major limbs without good reason.
- Prune to enhance the tree’s natural form. Don’t force trees into unnatural, overly-manicured shapes.
- Use proper pruning techniques, making clean cuts just outside branch collars at nodes. Avoid injuring stem tissue.
- Disinfect pruning tools between cuts to prevent spreading diseases like fire blight.
- Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased wood, but don’t overprune just because branches seem crowded.
- Leave pruning of large limbs over 4-6 inches diameter to qualified professionals.
- Establish an ongoing pruning cycle specific to the needs of your tree species rather than pruning randomly.
With regular, careful pruning, mature trees can thrive for decades or even centuries.
When to Hire an Arborist
Some common signs it’s time to call a professional arborist include:
- Visible cavities, fungal conks, cracked bark, or other signs of decay
- Recent lean or shift in trunk position, which may indicate new instability
- Observed woodpecker holes or carpenter ant nests, which reveal internal defects
- Yellowing leaves or thinning canopy that suggest disease or pest issues
- Damaged bark or wounds from storms, vehicles, lawn equipment, or other sources
- Branches obstructing walkways, signage, or buildings on the property
- Tree roots buckling concrete pathways or clogging sewer lines
- Dead or broken limbs tangled dangerously high in the tree
- Trees impacted by nearby construction activities
- New saplings needing initial pruning and structural training
- Large legacy tree reach maturity requiring expert care to prolong life
Don’t delay when health concerns arise – prompt arborist intervention can save trees.
What to Expect from a Consultation
When an arborist visits your property for a consultation, expect:
- A visual assessment walking around each tree and observing from all angles
- Looking for indicators of defects like fungus, cavities, cracks, or discoloration
- Examining the tree’s structure, branching pattern, and form
- Checks for weak trunk/branch attachments and potential hazards
- Monitoring for signs of pest infestation or infection
- Assessing trunk and soil conditions
- Diagnostic testing like using a mallet to detect hollow areas
- Possibly using tools like microscopes, increment borers, penetrometers, etc.
- Asking you questions about the tree’s history and observed behaviors
- Providing a written arborist’s report documenting findings and recommendations
- Quoting costs for suggested services and expected timeline
- Discussing priorities for treatment and maintenance
- Answering your questions thoroughly and professionally
An on-site consultation should not feel rushed. Quality arborists take time to thoroughly investigate tree health, safety issues, and necessary remedies. Expect a collaboration aimed at improving the longevity and vitality of your landscape.
Working with Small Local Companies
When selecting a tree company, small local operations are a frequent choice. Benefits of working with small providers include:
- Direct relationships with owner arborists who personally oversee projects
- Ability to develop rapport more easily with crews who regularly work on your property
- Quicker response times for estimates and scheduling work
- Lower overhead costs, which may translate to pricing discounts
- Greater flexibility to negotiate rates or customized care plans
- Staff intimately familiar with challenges in your specific location
- Supporting local small business owners in your community
However, smaller companies have limitations in capabilities. Seek larger firms for complex technical tree work like utility line clearance or handling massive storm damage cleanups across regions. For routine care of residential properties though, local owner-operated arborists often provide responsive service and high-touch care.
Alternatives to Tree Removal
When trees decline, the first impulse may be to remove them. But in some cases, corrective treatments can restore trees to vigor. Consider these alternatives before opting for removal:
- Pruning dead or broken branches to reduce disease spread and wind resistance
- Cabling and bracing branches for added structural stability
- Installation of lightning protection systems to mitigate strike damage
- Fertilization and soil amendments to correct nutrient deficiencies
- Mulching and controlled watering to improve moisture levels
- Pest or disease treatments applied by arborists at proper seasons
- Air spading and radial trenching to decompress compacted roots
- Protective fencing around root zones during construction projects
- Transplanting trees to new locations on your property with better growing conditions
- Preservation pruning of older valuable trees to extend lifespan
While eventually decay, disease, or safety concerns make removal unavoidable, explore corrective care options first. Your arborist can help determine if such treatments may be effective.
Inspecting Work Quality
Before final payment, inspect tree work with a critical eye:
- Are boundaries, fences, structures, and other property undamaged?
- Was debris thoroughly cleaned from the work area? Check for stray branches under shrubs.
- Do stumps sit at proper heights without jagged splinters or torn bark?
- For pruning jobs, are cuts cleanly made just outside branch collars?
- Does pruning maintain the tree’s natural structural form?
- Are newly planted trees upright, plumb, and well-supported?
- Were disturbances to soil, undergrowth, or grass areas minimized?
- Did crews leave the site in a safe condition with all hazards remediated?
- Did the company follow contract specifications and complete all items?
Document imperfections with photos and discuss them with the company owner. Insist on proper corrections, including repairs or cleanup for sloppy work. Don’t pay remaining fees until satisfied.
Pruning Young Trees
Unlike mature trees, establishing young trees require pruning for structure and form. Adhere to these guidelines:
- Start pruning 1-3 years after planting and annually thereafter while saplings are juvenile.
- Focus on developing a resilient central leader shoot and well-spaced scaffold branches.
- Choose wide-angled limbs with robust connections to the trunk. Avoid overly vertical limbs.
- Eliminate inward-facing branches that will rub or compete with structural branches.
- Don’t leave multiple leaders or the canopy will lack central strength as it matures.
- Limit pruning cuts only for correction. Don’t cut leader shoots solely to temporarily reduce height.
- Never remove more than 25% of the crown. Excessive pruning slows growth.
- Time pruning based on biology of the species. Spring-bloomers prune post-flower.
With attentive structural pruning, young trees develop graceful form and stability that persists for decades.
Working with Large Tree Care Companies
Property owners with hundreds of acres of woodlands or managers of public parks and open space turn to large tree care companies for comprehensive services. Benefits of large providers include:
- Ability to handle massive-scale tree inventories, maintenance, removals, etc.
- Crews and equipment positioned regionally for emergency response
- Resources to partner on long-term land stewardship plans
- Capacity to manage ecosystem threats like wildfire, invasive beetles, diseases, etc.
- Specialized divisions focused on utility vegetation management
- Advanced training centers to continually improve staff skills
- Contracts with municipalities, parks departments, golf courses, etc.
While large companies charge substantial rates given their overhead, their scale, expertise, and technology can be indispensable for massive tree populations.
Recordkeeping and Technology
Technology improves tree care plus makes vital recordkeeping easier via:
- Software to map and catalog details on tree inventories including species, size, health, maintenance needs, etc.
- Mobile apps letting field crews upload data on work orders, tree conditions, pest reports, invoices, etc.
- Diagnostic tools like ultrasonic tomography, radar, and resonance to assess hidden trunk/root defects
- GPS mapping to track tree locations and proximity to underground utilities
- Smart sensors relaying real-time data on tree soil moisture, temperature, trunk expansion, etc.
- Optimized routing for service trucks enabling maximum efficiency
- Image recognition technology to identify potential tree diseases based on leaf patterns
- Databases to manage research on treatments, diseases, species, etc. accessible across the company
- Customer portals to view maintenance records, request services, pay invoices, etc.
Embrace arborists using technology to maximize care quality while minimizing administrative workload.
Handling Emergencies
For emergency tree service needs, reputable arborists have systems in place to respond promptly when safety or significant property damage are imminent:
- Provide emergency contact numbers clearly on websites and invoices
- Specify typical guaranteed response time for emergency dispatch
- Maintain readiness of crews and equipment for rapid mobilization
- Coordinate priorities based on emergency level if multiple calls come in simultaneously
- Bring supplies like safety cones, barricades, etc. to immediately secure hazards
- Have protocols to contact local authorities if tree issues
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