There are many reasons why people hire a tree service business. A tree service can remove trees that are dead, infected, or dangerously close to your property. An arborist's job is to protect you, your property, and any other objects you may have while he does his work. Whether he's pruning, felling, or otherwise touching a tree, there's always danger -- an arborist's job is minimizing the danger.
Trimming & Pruning
One service offered by an arborist is pruning, which is the process of removing branches that are encroaching, damaged and threatening property, or otherwise impinging on or threatening something. Pruning is not as dangerous as removing the entire tree. However, it requires a lot of technical and physical skills, especially when pruning at high altitudes. That's when a tree service is necessary.
Inspections
In many cases, it's wise to call in an arborist just to have them inspect your trees every two or three years. It's not something that your family can do, but it is important to know which trees are dangerous for your property. Generally trees don't change that quickly, so it's not like you need an inspection every few months, but having one at least every third year, especially if you have trees growing close to your home or other structures, is very wise.
Stumping
A stump almost always remains after a tree has been felled, regardless of who did it or how. The most difficult part about tree removal is usually the getting rid of the stump. Grinding can create a mess, and digging it up can make it even more difficult. A tree service can put together a well-thought-out plan to eliminate the stump and provide the specialized equipment or in some cases chemicals to remove the stump without negatively impacting the surrounding property.
Replacement
In some areas, local law mandates that a tree that has been uprooted to accommodate a residential or commercial development must be replaced. An arborist can help you to understand the local laws. In many cases, the arborist will also be able to do the tree planting for a minimal charge.
As you can see, a skilled arborist is capable of providing many tree services. Tree removal may be the primary focus on most such companies, but they're hardly limited to just taking away dangerous trees. Contact a tree'removal company' if you have any problems with a tree on your property.
I have been in this business 8 years now and so have gained an insider's perspective on the tree care industry. In addition to my own tree business, I have worked as a climber for around 20 companies. Some people say I was "on the bounce." I was a tree guy who did mercenary work. My climbing experience was mostly in Arizona, California, and Hawaii. It's been a great way for me to travel! While California and Hawaii have large trees, Arizona also has some. So, in no particular order here are some thoughts on how to choose a tree company.
Let's first dispel the myth of Certified Arborist.
I am a Certified Arborist, and I take a lot of pride in that. If it is a codeword for "salesman", "Certified Arborist” means little. A person who isn't a Certified Arborist or has no Certified Arborists on hand does the majority of tree work. One could argue that the man with the clipboard, "the Arborist", has had some training with "non-arborists" and therefore has a better product. This is difficult to verify, and I have found that it is not often the case. They probably haven't been training at all. Having a Certified Arborist available while the job is being done is very important to the end result. It doesn't really matter if a company has Certified Arborists if they are not available to the customer.
A key point is whether the salesman/arborist speaks the same language as the non-arborists. The language barrier between English and Spanish speakers is a pretty high wall in some cases. I speak Spanish yet I have a hard time communicating technical details critical to safe tree work. I side with the Spanish speaking worker here because they are the ones who can be hurt if training is lacking. Make sure there will be someone on your job who speaks English in addition to any Spanish speaking workers.
There is much risk involved in picking up the phone book and calling the tree service with the biggest, most colorful ad. Companies with strong ethics and customer satisfaction rarely advertise. While you don't have to eliminate big ads, it is important to consider other criteria when choosing a tree service. The Better Business Bureau has always been a great resource for consumers. However, I know of one tree service member that has received 39 complaints over the past 36 months. Wow, that's service. Arboreal has had 0 complaints over the past six years.
There are a lot of other companies with the same good track record. As of this writing the best resource available to any consumer looking to hire a tree service is angieslist.com. Right now I believe it is temporarily free to join and it provides a wealth of information on local service providers from roofers to tree services to computer repair. If you lack ethics, you can't outwit Angie's lists. She will catch you and make sure you pay. Arboreal takes care of clients and angieslist.com keeps track of how well. The one and only drawback to Angieslist.com is that at some point Tree Service Warren she will also make the consumer pay. You could save thousands by paying the $50 annual she may soon demand.
The last point I would like to go over is that of the hard sell. You think used car salesmen can be pushy? If someone invites you to your home and tries to get you to sign or decide now, then you have a moral responsibility to send them away. Don't support businesses that aren't in your best interests. Take your time in choosing an arborist and hang on to him if he takes care of you.
Let me recap this essay by listing these steps:
1. Get estimates from Arborists certified by the International Society of Arboriculture.
2. Ensure that the Certified Arborist is present at the job site during the work.
3. Make sure that the Certified Arborist is able to communicate with his workers.
4. Spend some time looking through angieslist.com and arizonabbb.org.
This research shouldn't be done too often. Find the company you like and hang on to them.