Why does hiring a certified Arborist matter?

When it comes to trees, the upkeep can be daunting. When you’re looking to get tree services done, you can have a variety of different people and companies give you a quote. The price range and the differing terminology can make it difficult to determine which way to go. Trees take years to grow to maturity and can offer a multitude of benefits such as improved value of property, reduction in utility costs, improved mental health, and more. Hiring a certified Arborist may cost a bit more in the short term but will save you money, and improve your return on investment, in the long run.

Many tree services companies operate as an owner and operator with a chainsaw and minimal equipment. While this allows for a reduced overhead cost, and cheap services as a result, the unintended consequences can be very costly and devastating for your trees. The most prominent, and well regulated, certifications are completed through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Below are a few reasons why going with a reputable company, with certified Arborists on site and staff, will pay off for years to come.

Safety and Risk Reduction

As part of achieving certication, Arborists are tested on safe arboriculture practices and ways to reduce risks to themselves and the customer. In order to maintain certification, they are required to complete ongoing education on a variety of topics, including safety best practices. Reputable companies will carry multiple insurance policies to cover anything that can go wrong. Reviews should show a history of safe, high quality work, and a reputable company will be able to provide Certificate of Insurance (COI) upon request.

Quality and Best Practices

Improper pruning practices can have devastating consequences for years to come. Trees canopies provide important functions for the trees health and future growth including structure, water and nutrient absorption and distribution, and weather and disease resistance.

Proper Assessment and Trustworthy Guidance

Arborists study and train on consistent, methodical methods, of assessing trees. While other companies will often recommend removal, as maintenance can be hard for them to articulate, and removal makes more money. A Certified Arborist sees into the future, more than just right now, and will give you a proper assessment both of the value your tree holds if maintained, and the threshold for when removal is the safest or most appropriate action.

Common mistakes we see from budget tree companies:

• Heavy pruning- Too heavy of pruning will render the tree vulnerable to pest and disease invasion and can stunt the tree’s growth, or lead to limb or lead failure.

• Lion Tailing/ Topping- Without knowing the properties and growth patterns of trees, it can be easy to make mistakes. We often see practices such as lion-tailing or topping that make trees extremely vulnerable to weather damage and failure.

• Ruts and property damage- Reputable companies will take extra precautions to avoid damage to yards and property, or to repair when they do occur.

• Overcommitting- We have been called in several times to complete a job that a cheaper company agreed to complete but were unable to safely do so, leaving a mess on the customer’s property that they then need to urgently get another tree service to finish up.

• Wrong Season Pruning- Many trees should be pruned at specific times of year to reduce risk of disease spread or harm to the tree. Fruit trees, in particular, should generally only be pruned while dormant and, if pruning in other times, proper tool sanitation between cuts is crucial.

So how do you find an Arborist?

Certified Arborists can be found on www.treesaregood.org using the “Verify a Credential” tool to verify that someone who will be doing your work is certified! High Plains Tree and Landscape Services always has a certified Arborist on site to guarantee that your work is high quality, and conforms to industry standards and expectations.

Click Here to Find an Arborist

Hiring a Certifiied Arborist may cost a bit more in the short term but will pay off for you in the long run when you have a job that is well done and trees that thrive for decades to come. When it comes to trees, quality matters!