hiring a tree service

Whether a tree becomes an asset or a costly liability depends on the amount of maintenance we put on maintaining it. Trees that are well-maintained have the power to improve the appeal and enhance the value of your property. When trees are cared for correctly, they provide us with a lot of benefits that range from environmental to economical.

If you want your trees to work for your benefit, you have to be a smart tree owner. Keep in mind that without proper care, trees can change from an asset to a burden.

What is a Certified Arborist?
Proper caring for trees starts with hiring the right person to do the job. Don't just hire the service of someone who claims to be an arborist. What is an arborist? He is a professional in the field of tree care and maintenance. An arborist is well-versed with pruning, fertilizing, diagnosis of diseases, and consultation on issues related to your tree's health. They can also do planting and tree removal.

There are individuals who can come knocking on your door calling himself an arborist when he is not. Be aware of fly-by-night companies that only care about your money and don't really know anything about tree care. Before you allow anyone in your property, make sure that you did your research and choose a reputable and trustworthy tree company. If you are not careful, you could hire a company that will break your fences and damages your properties. Once they get your money, they will fold up and leave, without a trace.

How do I Look for an Arborist or a Tree Care Company?
Look for a tree service company that is a TCIA-member. By doing this, you are assured that you are hiring a company that knows the most recent techniques used for tree care. You are also assured that this company is insured and bonded and that you and your property are protected.

You can also ask recommendations from your friends, family, or neighbors who recently had their tree maintenance. It would also help if you checked with the Better Business Bureau about the companies in your area. Look for information about the company you are reviewing, including their years in service, licenses, professional affiliations, and certifications.

Further, you may want to use the service of a TCIA Accredited company. This accreditation is given to companies which meet strict criteria in different aspects such as employee training, professionalism, and customer satisfaction. Companies undergo an extensive review of their practices to ensure they only provide the best to their clients. Companies accredited by TCIA have shown documents to prove that their service is high-quality and that they mean to protect their customers. Hiring a company that is TCIA-accredited makes you confident that they have insurance, licenses, and good work ethics because these are just some of the things TCIA check when granting accreditation to a tree company.

What are the Important Things I Should Ask an Arborist?
The first thing you should ask or look for when you meet your arborist is their certificates of liability and workers' compensation insurance.

• Check the quality of their work by looking at their references.
• Don't get too excited when they give you a bargain. Ask for estimates in writing and a written work order. Don't pay until the work is done. Do this only when the work is done, and you are satisfied.
• Ask for a contract. The contract should have details of the cost, dates, and the job to be performed in your property.
• Bring up the ANSI Standards. A certified arborist should be knowledgeable about the latest in fertilizing, pruning and cabling standards.
• Ask if they are going to use spikes. If they are, insist that it should only be utilized for tree removal because it can have detrimental effects on the health of the tree.

 
What If I Don't Want to Hire a Professional
Tree care that is not done by a professional is like being treated by a fake doctor. It is not safe. Tree maintenance should be done by a skilled and experienced professional. This will ensure the beauty and the health of your tree, and your safety as well.

We want to emphasize this important fact: tree work is dangerous work. TCIA publishes reports on homeowners being hurt and injured or even being killed due to performing their own tree work. Before you cut any branch in your tree, it is essential that you know your tools and the proper technique in cutting. If you don't know anything about tree care, it is best to contact a professional tree company to assist you.

Hiring a professional tree company does not only protect you from getting hurt but also from spending more than what you should. Studies have shown that it is cheaper to regularly prune trees than taking care of the damages they caused because of negligence. Hire a company that has insurance because in case anything happens while they work in your property, you will not be liable for the cost of repair.
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When to Hire an Arborist
It is best to get the service of an arborist during the off-season. Pruning trees are best done during winter when trees are dormant. But aside from that, there are other benefits to hiring an arborist in the winter:

• Reputable companies offer discounts when you hire them in winter. Companies do this to improve their income and provide employment for their regular help.
• Some tree companies, especially those that are known for the quality of their work may have a full load during peak season. If you hire them in winter, you can get their service when you need it, and you don't have to wait until they are free.
• During winter, the structure of the tree becomes clearly visible because there are no leaves that would go in the way. Also, clean-up will be much easier because there are only a few leaves for the tree company to handle.

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