If you have called in an expert tree service to assist you in taking care of your trees, then there are certain things that you can expect to happen.
An arborist, sometimes referred to as a tree surgeon, is a highly skilled individual that you are hiring to perform a service. Therefore, just as if you are hiring any other service provider – whether a plumber to fix your toilet or a mechanic to work on your car – it is extremely important to understand the services that they will provide.
There is thankfully a wealth of guides available online that explain not only the services an arborist can perform for you, but also can even explain some of the terminology of tree care – so it is well worth checking out an online guide before your appointment with the tree service company.
Dan Robertson, the man behind Tree Service & Removal of Alexandria, a company that specializes in various tree work in the state of Virginia advises that when you, as a homeowner, need quality tree work done, there’s one of 2 ways you can go about it. You can either hire an arborist or go with a regular tree service. My recommendation is always to consult with a specialist for all larger and potentially dangerous projects and go the less expensive route for all simple work like like bushes and small trees. Read more about Dan at https://www.robertsontreeservice.com and give him a special thanks for the tip.
The first step of engaging the services of a professional tree service will be a site visit – preferably from the arborist themselves. Depending on the type and size of the company you employ however, this may not always be he case. A small, locally based tree service may well very be just a one person company – therefore the arborist themselves will almost certainly be the person you meet first. A larger company may send an evaluator to you first however, to assess the job before the commit the time of their arbor care pro.
Either way, the representative of the company should take time to listen to why you request their services, and they should also take the time to explain how they intend to meet your needs.
If for example you have called in a professional tree service to provide a general pruning, trimming and upkeep service, they should explain how they will perform this – and check with you how much they intend to trim of the tree crown. Rather like with a haircut, you need to clearly explain how much you want taking off before they set to work!
If on the other hand you have called in a company because you are concerned about your trees, again take the time to explain exactly what your concerns are. Whether you have noticed any of the symptoms of diseases or tree rot, or if your tree has been damaged by weather extremes like drought or high winds a good arborist will be able to explain how the damage occurred and, more importantly, the long term prognosis for the tree.
A tree service, after their assessment of the damage or disease will advise if saving the tree is economical – or even a possibility.
If they feel it is, they will explain to you how the tree can be saved. Whether this is by thorough pruning and trimming of damaged areas or by attempting to cure the disease. They should give you a comprehensive pricing for these attempts, along with the chances of success – and if you may incur further costs at a later date.
The opposite end of this is that the tree service feel it is not possible to save the tree. In this instance they will advise if it is likely to become a hazard, and offer their advice of how the tree may be felled and removed. Again, this should include a comprehensive estimate of price.
A good tree service company will always take the time to explain what they are doing – and why they propose to do it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions however, and always bear in mind that they are providing you with a service.
