Here at Tree Images, we were so happy to find this article in the Washington Post — an esteemed journalistic entity — titled “How to Find a Good Tree Service.”
Kevin Brasler’s article is solid. It certainly does a fair job of explaining why you should invest in having professional assessments and regular tree service done on your trees. It’s a really good idea to have a tree service professional inspect your trees at least once a year, preferably while they’re out to trim and prune them, to make sure everything is in optimal condition for the health of your trees and the safety of your home and its inhabitants and visitors.
When the seasons swing back and forth as violently as they can in Cincinnati, the big storms that result can wreak havoc on the trees around your home. Tornadoes, winter storms, or even a really strong wind — with or without accompanying rain — can uproot an aging tree. And a generic thunderstorm can bring down sizable tree limbs if your tree isn’t healthy and properly maintained.
So now you know why you need a tree company. But what should you look for?
What to Look for When Searching for a Great Tree Company
Free estimates
Every tree service company should offer free estimates. We here at Tree Images certainly do. There is no reason a company should not be willing to at least come take a look and offer advice, whether or not you need any work done right away. It is, at the very least, neighborly.
Having an estimate done will give you a chance to meet a representative of the company that would be doing the work. It’s a great way to get a sense of what it would be like to work with this company. Was the estimator on time? Were they respectful of your property? Did they listen to your questions and provide thoughtful answers? Is the estimate detailed and thorough? It’s not an absolute guarantee, of course (it’s possible for an estimator to be punctual and professional and for the actual arborists not to be) but it’s a good first gauge of the way the company does business. You can sometimes sense right away whether this is a person you want working in your yard. If you feel uncomfortable, trust your feelings. Find a contractor that is easy to talk to and approachable, and one that has no problem answering your questions in a satisfactory manner.
Make sure they’re insured
Ask to make sure the company has liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. You do not want an employee of the company injuring themselves in your yard and then suing you. Tree care is challenging, physical, sometimes dangerous work, and there is a possibility of injury. Make sure that you can protect yourself from liability by hiring an insured and licensed tree care service. (Tree Images is, of course, fully insured, both for liability and for workers’ compensation.)
Ask what work they would recommend
Would this company trim back branches that overhang walkways and play areas in your yard? Would they clear away limbs that may be coming dangerously close to your windows and gutters? Are they taking care to make sure branches do not obscure traffic signs or block drivers’ line of vision? Would they recommend regular pruning for your trees’ optimal growth? Hopefully, any tree services company worth its salt would recommend any or all of the above. Ideally, they would offer pruning, not just for tidiness and safety but for the health of the trees.
There is such a thing as recommending too much work, however. In comparing services, if one company is offering to work on every single tree, as well as every bush and shrub, it may an excuse to pad the bill (or it may be a sign that you’ve been neglecting your yard for a while and intense work really is called for). You’ll need to use a balance of your own instincts and asking good questions to try to understand why each part of the work is being recommended.
Talk about tree health
You want an arborist. A tree surgeon. You want someone who understands botany and tree health — not just a groundskeeper who can trim branches. Ask the representative from your potential tree service company to address the health of your trees. What are signs of robust growth? What troubling signs do they see? Which branches are dead or diseased? What do cracks on the trunk indicate? You want a tree service professional who can confidently answer questions like these.
Here at Tree Images, we have been caring for Cincinnati’s forests and yards for many years, and we are happy to offer free estimates. We are here to be your partner in the long-term health of your trees.
