We might take them for granted most of the time, but the trees around our homes and neighborhoods are an integral feature of the landscape. Usually, trees don’t require much special attention or treatment to look healthy and live a long life. But sometimes a tree will fall victim to a disease or insect infestation that can ravage whole forests and cause real damage to property, not to mention detract from the aesthetic appeal of the area. Other times, trees may simply grow in a direction that puts power lines, chimneys, roofs, or sidewalks at risk in the event a branch or limb falls.
Homeowners frequently turn to tree service companies with on-staff arborists for maintaining the health and size of trees, especially during this time of year, with winter storms just around the corner. Let’s say you’re looking for a tree service company. What should you look for? Exactly what services can they offer, and how can you make sure you’re hiring true professionals?
First of all, the tree service company you hire should always be licensed by the state and carry insurance worth at least the state minimum (more is better, in this case). This relieves homeowners or businesses of being held liable for injuries and damages incurred during or as a result of the project. Ask any tree service company in Baltimore to provide written copies of its license and a certificate of insurance; don’t hire any tree service “companies” which aren’t able to produce both documents.
Secondly, the best tree service companies will undoubtedly employee one or more specialists in tree care and maintenance, known as arborists. These professionals are trained in and skilled at assessing trees for disease, infestation, or potential damage from high winds or ice storms.
Arborists know how to prune the branches of a tree in such a way that removes any risk of damage while maintaining the health of the tree. This can include trimming or removing branches which have already been damaged by adverse weather; preemptive pruning to prevent the spread of disease or infection; and improving the overall structure of the tree to reduce wind resistance and safety. Don’t be afraid to inquire about the qualifications of the arborists at the various tree service companies you contact as you’re shopping around; if they’re worth your money, they’ll be more than eager to tell you.
Lastly, know what you’re getting yourself (and your trees) into before moving forward. Quality tree service companies should be able to give you a free initial quote based on what you require and what tree care strategies they intend to pursue. Also, don’t automatically hire the lowest bidder – make sure to check references and do some research before making a decision. You may be better off paying a little extra in return for a much better experience.
Fall will be here in just a few weeks, and in no time we’ll see trees drooping under the weight of ice after a winter storm. Make sure your family and your property is safe by finding a professional, well-regarded tree service company.
If you know some reputable and trusthworthy tree service companies, please feel free to list their contact information (website, phone number, service area) in the comment section below. No spam comments, please – links within spam comments will be removed. I’m looking for real recommendations.
This article doesn’t provide any options, why would you direct this to “Baltimore” and not list potential arborists? Useless.
The article did actually initially link to a company, but then the link was removed due to some underlying issues. If any other Baltimore arborist company would like to be linked to, leave a comment explaining why we should recommend your Baltimore Tree Service company over others that are available. Thanks!
These are some great tips, and I appreciate your advice to find a tree service that will provide an initial quote. One of my trees has several dead branches, and I’m worried that they’ll fall and injure someone or damage something. I’d like to have a professional come and take care of it, so I’ll definitely find someone who can provide an initial quote so I know exactly what services will be done and what I’ll be charged. Thanks for the great post!
There are so many trees in my backyard it’s like a forest. This upcoming spring, I’d like to hire a tree service to help trim and take care of all of them. So I appreciate your tip about not automatically hiring the lowest bidder. I’ll be sure to check all the references of a potential service before I hire them. Thanks!
I am so glad that I came across this article! My husband and I just moved into an older home with a lot of trees. One of them was damaged in a storm a few days ago so we are thinking about getting it removed. We will have to keep these tips in mind for the future, thanks for sharing!
We are currently looking for a tree removal service to help us with some falling trees on our property. Of course, we want someone reliable that will provide quality service. Licensure, as you said, is a great way to ensure this. Thanks for sharing!
I agree that you need to find an arborist that is licensed. It would seem important to check these qualifications before you actually hire them. I’m looking for a tree service to help me take down a few trees so I’ll have to find one that is licensed.
In the past, I’ve always done my own type of tree service, but after a bad experience last year, I want to hire a professional this spring. I like that you pointed out that an arborist knows how to prune and cut trees to remove damage and maintain the health of the tree. Choosing a tree service who can help our trees stay healthy is really important, because I almost killed my wife’s favorite tree last year! Thanks for the help!
Thanks for letting me know that any arborist you hire should have at least, if not more, than the state minimum insurance. There’s a really big tree in my yard, and I think it might be dead. I’m worried that if it fell it would damage my property or my neighbor’s. Your tips should really help me find an arborist so that I can get it safely removed.
Thanks for the useful info! I’ve just moved into a house with a garden which I need to bring in order, so I’m looking for a tree service company. My favourite part is about checking state licence and insurance in order to be sure of the quality of the work. Now I know what I ask the specialist at first order to get rid of these pests.
I appreciate that you would want to make sure to find a tree service that employs an arborist. It would seem that an arborist would be good because they would probably know how to trim your trees. My sister needs a few tree limbs taken down, so she’ll have to find a service with a licensed arborist.
I’ve been wanting to find a good tree service. I’m glad you talked about how arborists know how to prune a tree. I’m going to have to look at some different tree services and see what I can find!
It’s great to know how to find an arborist. We want to hire someone to come and trim our maple trees because they are getting out of hand. I’ll be sure to hire someone who is licensed by the state, like you said! That seems important.
I’ve never heard about an arborist until now. So it appears that these specialists are the experts in assessing diseases, infestations, and other damages that happen in a tree. The tree in my grandmother’s backyard seems to be unhealthy since the last time that I’ve visited until now. Knowing about this information, I’ll make sure to look for a tree service company that has an arborist.
Thanks for the advice about considering what kind of specialization a tree service has. Finding someone who is experienced with the problems you need to address would be really helpful. My husband and I are looking for a tree service, so we’ll have to consider their specialization first.
Thanks for the tip about considering if a tree service is licensed by the state. It would be good to consider this because it would show that they are qualified. My husband and I are looking for a tree removal service, so we’ll have to check their license first.
Thanks for bringing to my attention that trimming damaged branches could help to keep a tree healthy. My area had a really crazy windstorm last week, and one of my trees had several branches break off. I think there are a few more that were damaged but didn’t fall off. Maybe I should have a professional come and trim those down so the tree can focus on growing strong limbs and can be healthier.
I agree that the tree service you choose should always be licensed by the state. You should double check to make sure they have the right licensing according to state requirements. I’ll have to make sure that’s the first thing I look for when I find someone to trim my trees this spring.
My husband and I moved into a home with a few sickly trees in the yard, and we’re looking to remove them so they don’t fall on our home. Your article had some great tips for choosing a good tree removal service, and I really liked your point to choose a company that is licensed by the state and has at least the state minimum of insurance. Thanks for the helpful post; we’ll keep this advice in mind when choosing the tree service best for us.
My wife and I have been wanting to get a tree service, and I think that being able to get some tips would be nice. I like that you talked about how you want to be able to get someone who will be able to give you and your trees a good experience. I’m going to have to look for a good tree removal service and see what we can find!