When it comes to maintaining trees’ health, shape, and safety on residential properties, homeowners encounter two types of tree professionals: tree companies and arbor service firms. Most people use these terms interchangeably, but they offer different areas of expertise and service offerings. Understanding their differences helps homeowners decide how best to care for their trees.
What is a Residential Arbor Service?
An arbor service is usually run by arborists who possess expertise in arboriculture by passing a rigorous exam administered by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Certified arborists meet the following criteria:
- At least 3 years of full-time work experience in tree services
- Passes a rigorous exam for certification
- Participates in continuing education to maintain their certification in arboriculture
Arborist-lead tree care is based on a solid understanding of tree biology, including:
Tree Risk Assessments: An experienced ISA-certified arborist can provide tree risk assessments for problem trees to prevent injuries and property damage. They approach the task by assessing the potential for harm from tree failure, not assuming that every tree defect is a hazard.
Tree Fertilization Programs: Since trees are not native to the Denver area, it makes sense that they might need some extra care to thrive here.
Pest and Disease Management: Sometimes, identifying tree insect infestations or diseases requires understanding tree pest entomology. Treating before eggs hatch or adult emergence wastes money and unnecessarily introduces controlled substances into the environment.
Control Product Applications: Most insect insecticides are controlled substances. Arborists understand how to apply control products in an environmentally responsible way.
What is a Residential Tree Service Company?
A tree company primarily focuses on tree care’s pragmatic and physical aspects. Tree companies range from a guy in a truck with a ladder to a professional company with the trucks and equipment to support several work crews daily. Our core services include:
Tree Removal: Cutting down and removing dead, diseased, or hazardous trees.
Tree Pruning: Pruning out overgrown or dead branches to promote healthy growth and remedy tree problems. We prune to form a dominant leader to encourage a better crown structure.
Stump Grinding and Removal: After a tree is cut down, we recommend removing the stump to eliminate tripping hazards and improve the yard’s appearance.
Emergency Services: Most tree companies offer emergency tree pruning and removal services. Customers with emergencies pay a premium to jump ahead in the service queue.
The Best of Both Worlds
By hiring Ross Tree, homeowners gain access to a tree company that can handle the largest trees found in Denver and a company that offers arbor services. We have provided plant health care since the 1990s. Our owner could have been called his company Ross Arbor Services or Ross Tree Company. He chose the latter. Ross Tree is the go-to company for large and complex tree service jobs next to roads. We are known to accomplish technical tree pruning and removal jobs in tight places that require road closures. Ross Tree has good relations with Denver and surrounding suburbs permitting offices and can obtain necessary authorizations on a timely basis at a reasonable cost.
Ross Tree has three ISA-certified arborists and three Qualified Supervisors licensed by the Colorado Department of Agriculture on staff. In the late 1990s, Ross Tree was the first tree company to offer systemic insecticide treatments for tree borers, beetles, aphids, and scales. Trunk injections ensure that only the tree gets the product, not the surrounding areas. However, spraying is sometimes warranted for insect infestations that need immediate treatment.
Heads Up: Denver Licensed Tree Companies Do Not Have to Have a Certified Arborist On Staff
In Denver, any business engaged in tree pruning and removal must obtain a Tree Service License from the Department of Excise and Licenses. To acquire this license, the company must have at least one employee who has passed a written exam and a field practical administered by Denver’s Office of the City Forester. Some companies choose to employ ISA-certified arborists to enhance their qualifications, but this is not a requirement for licensing in Denver.
Why Hire A Professional Tree Company That Offers Arbor Services?
Proper tree pruning saves money in the long term because healthy trees need less maintenance. Rather than merely sawing off limbs, proper pruning is a mix of art and plant physiology. Homeowners should hire a professional tree service company with certified arborists on staff for three reasons:
Tree Value
A mature tree landscape accounts for about 5-10 percent of the value of a Denver home. Do the math since the average home price in Denver is $585,000. Since trees are valuable, hiring a tree service company that knows how to keep them healthy is smart.
Tree Work is Risky
Servicing trees using sharp tools and powerful machinery at heights makes tree work hazardous. It is best to hire a professional company that takes job safety seriously and adheres to pruning standards that focus on safety.
Lowering Risk
Homeowners should always ask a tree service company if it is insured before allowing it on their property.
Ross Tree simplifies the tree care decision by homeowners deciding to hire a tree company or arbor service firm since we do both well. Homeowners, get your trees ready for the next growing season. Please call Ross Tree at 303-871-9121 or fill out a service request form to set up a watering appointment.