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Informative articles on
caring for your trees
What is an arborist?
Why should I hire one?
How do you become
an arborist?
Frequently asked questions
about tree care
is dedicated to helping consumers learn more about proper tree care and hiring reputable tree care companies who use proper tree care techniques. Learning more about caring for trees will help you select a professional tree care company in your area.
You can contact TCIA's U.S. office directly by calling (603) 314-5380, faxing (603) 314-5386, e-mailing TCIA@treecareindustry.org or via mail at 136 Harvey Road, Suite B101-110, Londonderry, NH 03053.
Caring for trees regularly is more cost effective than neglecting them.
Studies published in the Journal of Arboriculture have demonstrated that it is actually cheaper to regularly prune trees rather than neglecting them, and cleaning up the resulting damage! That is why many cities have tree care crews, or they contract with tree companies, to regularly prune and care for trees.
Trees can increase the value of your property up to 25% percent.
A tree's value is based on its location, species, and condition. One of our sister organizations, the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers (CTLA), produces a guide to tree and plant appraisal, teaching real estate and other appraisers how to assess the value of trees and landscaping.
Trees also have environmental and social benefits.
Various studies have shown that trees reduce pollution in many ways, as well as help social behavior improve by raising the self-esteem of residents who live in tree-rich neighborhoods.
Don't let this happen to you!
Neglecting trees can be costly:
Trees add value!
The property with well cared for trees on the lot will be worth up to 25% more than the property without trees.
Illustrations courtesy of USFS booklet AIB-387.
What is arboriculture? Who can be called an arborist?
Arboriculture is the care of trees and shrubs, particularly in urban settings.
An arborist is a professional who cares for trees and other woody plants by pruning, fertilizing, monitoring for insects and diseases, consulting on tree related issues, and occasionally planting, transplanting and removing trees.
How Do I Hire an Arborist?
An easy way to find a commercial arborist or tree care service provider in your area is to use TCIA’s Arborist Finder: Locate your local TCIA member companies. When you hire a TCIA-member tree care company, you are assured that the company you are hiring has access to the most recent information on tree care practices, and that they are insured and/or bonded to protect you and your valuable property.
You should be aware that the credentials of someone calling himself an arborist can vary widely. Don't just hire someone with a chain saw who knocks on your door! Look for the company displaying the credentials of a professional. Talk to the people who will be doing the work, and ask how the job will be done. If they mention topping or climbing spikes, they are not professionals.
Start with the arborists that are listed in the phone book. Don’t place much emphasis on the size of the yellow pages ad - some of the most reputable firms rely almost entirely on word-of-mouth advertising and use relatively small Yellow Pages ads. Look instead for what the ad tells you about the company: number of years in business, professional affiliations, licenses, certification, etc. Avoid companies that advertise topping, an injurious and unacceptable practice.
Seek recommendations from neighbors, friends or business associates who you know have had professional tree care work done in the past.
Check with your City Hall and see if the municipality requires licensing for arborists; many communities do.
Check for certification by the International Society of Arboriculture, or by a local certifying body such as a state arborist association. Certification is voluntary, and is an indicator of professional practice, but not a guarantee.
Pay attention to your instinctive feelings when you contact companies by phone as well as when they send a representative to look at your trees. Try to arrange a face-to-face meeting with the arborist when they first come to your property.
You can also check the Better Business Bureau to find information about companies in your area.
You can find a TCIA-member arborist close to you by calling Tree Care Industry Association, 1-800-733-2622, or by using our Arborist Finder feature Locate your local TCIA member companies.
When you meet with the arborist:
- Ask to see current certificates of liability and workers' compensation insurance, if applicable. Ask for references, and check on the quality of their work. Don't be rushed by a bargain, don't pay in advance, and do get another estimate or opinion of the needed work. Get estimates in writing. Agree to written work order. Insist on a signed contract as to cost, dates when work is to be performed, and exactly what is to be done. Ask about ANSI Standards. A professional arborist will be aware of the current safety, pruning, fertilizing, and cabling standards.
- Insist that climbing spikes are used only if the tree is to be cut down; spikes damage the tree.
Other TCIA Press Releases ANSI A300 Standards for Tree Care Maintenance
Break with Tradition and Shop in the Off-season Spring and Summer are typically when our thoughts turn to the yard and the trees, but shopping for tree care in the Winter offers several potential benefits:
- Many reputable companies offer modest price discounts on winter work. They do this to provide employment to their loyal help and to improve their cash flow.
- You can get the service when you need it. The best service providers typically have huge backlogs of work in the Summer, but can respond to your needs more quickly in the off season.
- Winter is a good time to look at and work on most trees. The tree architecture is highly visible, and there are no leaves to add to the cleanup time.
Shop carefully for the professional tree care service provider that meets your needs. Even though a lot of tree care companies offer great discounts during this time of the year, cheap rates do not guarantee good tree work. Here are some tips on how to hire good professional help:Start with the arborists that are listed in the phonebook. Don’t place much emphasis on the size of the yellow pages ad - some of the most reputable firms rely almost entirely on word-of-mouth advertising and use relatively small Yellow Pages ads. Look instead for what the ad that tells you about the company: number of years in business, professional affiliations, licenses, certification, etc. Avoid companies that advertise topping, an injurious an unacceptable practice.
Seek recommendations from neighbors, friends or business associates who you know have had professional tree care work done in the past.
You should be aware that the credentials of someone calling himself an arborist can vary widely. Don't just hire someone with a chain saw who knocks on your door! Look for the company displaying the credentials of a professional.When you meet with the arborist:
- Ask to see current certificates of liability and workers compensation insurance, if applicable.
- Ask for references, and check on the quality of their work and level of service.
- Don't be lured by a bargain, don't pay in advance, and do get another estimate or opinion of the needed work.
- Insist on a signed contract as to cost, dates when it is to be performed, and exactly what is to be done.
- Insist that climbing spikes are used only if the tree is to be cut down; they damage the tree.
Other TCIA Press Releases
Hiring a company that says it does tree work has never been a problem for homeowners. Simply look through the yellow pages, make a few calls, and you have a company who says they can do the job at a low price. For the time being, you are happy. They send a crew to do the job and while removing a limb from the tree, they drop it on your car. Who should pay for the damage? Ideally, the tree care company. But they do not carry insurance, nor can they be reached by phone. You are upset and do not know what to do. You call your auto insurance agent. They instruct you to pay your deductible and the car will be fixed. Then you go to the small claims court to get your deductible back, and if you are very lucky, you succeed.
The scene would be different if you had just asked for proof of insurance from the company you hired. Beware of the fly-by-night "individuals" who call themselves arborists. "With hundreds and possibly thousands of dollars at stake, not to mention the integrity and appearance of your property and your personal safety, make sure that you take your time in deciding which company you should hire," warns Peter Gerstenberger, director of safety and education for Tree Care Industry Association. "Disreputable companies are renowned for ripping gutters off, breaking fences and bird baths, and even dropping trees on houses. Then they typically fold up and leave, never to be seen again," adds Gerstenberger.
Disreputable companies tend to:
- Solicit work door-to-door.
- Demand payment in advance.
- Advertise topping and low prices in yellow pages.
- Sell jobs without producing a written estimate or work order.
Check for the following before you hire a company, advises Gerstenberger:
- Ask for copies of current, valid certificates of insurance.
- Local references allow you to measure the company’s abilities and professionalism.
- Get a detailed written estimate of the work needed and the cost.
- Verify professional affiliations the company might have, such as membership in Tree Care Industry Association (1-800-733-2622) or International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
- Get a second opinion if it will add to your comfort level.
- Make sure that a complete diagnosis of the potential for tree failure is performed before a tree is removed.
If you are unsure about your tree’s health, consult a professional arborist who will identify the causes of tree health problems and make recommendations for treatment. You can find a TCIA-member arborist close to you by calling Tree Care Industry Association, 1-800-733-2622, or by a ZIP code search by clicking:
Locate your local TCIA Member companies by State or Zip Code.
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