While many homeowners own a chainsaw and are capable of cutting small trees, branches, and firewood not every homeowner has the appropriate equipment, experience, or training needed to do every tree related task. Trees can cause a lot of property damage and attempting to climb or remove a tree can lead to serious personal injury and even fatality. Tree care professionals undergo rigorous on the job training and classroom training to receive the experience and knowledge needed to safely perform tree care needs for their clients. A reputable tree company will have license and insurance, but an excellent tree company will also have certified arborists on staff (and often on the crew) and a safety and training program. Rather than do it yourself, consider hiring a tree care company that can explain their training program to you so that you know that your money is being used to hire the safest and most knowledgeable tree care workers. There are many “fly-by-night” companies who will offer reduced prices, but these companies are also the ones who will difficult to get in touch with if they cause property damage or if they don’t complete the job to your expectations. These companies can ultimately cost a property owner thousands of dollars in residual costs and a significant waste of time. A reputable tree care company will be easy to get in touch with and will happily return to a job to provide excellent service in hopes to secure a long time client and receive “word-of-mouth” marketing from satisfied clients.

Some things to look for to be sure that the company you hired is professional:

• Do their trucks have company logos?
  • A professional company that invest in employee training and safety will also invest in good signage and marketing on their company vehicles.
• Are workers engaged in a pre-job meeting?
  • If workers are discussing how to do he job instead of arriving and immediately getting started then that’s a sign that they take safety seriously.
• Are workers wearing their personal protective equipment?
  • Arborists are required to wear hard hats and safety glasses at all times and they are required to wear hearing protection and leg protection (chaps) whenever operating a chainsaw.
• Are they using spikes to climb?
  • If the tree is being removed then spikes are acceptable, but if it’s a pruning job a professional company does not allow the use of spikes because it causes damage to the tree which can lead to pests, diseases, and tree failure.
• Is the jobsite organized?
  • Equipment, trash, and limbs laying randomly throughout the yard is a red flag. Professional workers will have all of their equipment organized in a designated area, limbs will be stacked neatly in the yard or behind the chipper, and trash will either be in a designated area or non existent.
• Are workers presenting themselves in a professional manner?
  • A professional company will only hire workers who communicate and present themselves professionally. This includes matching uniforms, a no smoking policy, and a no profanity policy.
• Do workers generally seem to know what they are doing?
  • A good climber will be able to set their climbing line from the ground and move around the tree effortlessly. A good sawyer will be able to make precise cuts an place trees and limbs exactly where they want them to go.
• Does the property look good after the job is done?
  • Large dents in the lawn, damaged shrubs and flower beds, and significant debris left behind is a sign that the company doesn’t take their time to do a good job. If they aren’t taking their time to respect your property then they may not take the time to respect their safety either.

A reputable tree care company will have good equipment such as:

• Chippers
  • Avoid companies that load limbs onto a tow behind trailer
• Dump trucks/ chipper trucks
  • Use a company that hauls off wood chip debris in a chip truck and log debris in a dump truck
• Lightweight machinery
  • Use a company that utilizes small skid steers and grapple machines to move heavy debris from your yard. They should also be putting out mats or plywood to avoid causing ruts in your lawn.
• Ropes
  • Are ropes, especially climbing lines, worn and dingy or do they have a lot of cuts/ frays? Do the workers seem comfortable in tying knots?
• Aerial Devices
  • When a tree can’t be climbed, or when it’s safer and more efficient to use a lift, a professional company will have a bucket truck or a tracked back yard lift with articulating booms instead of an extendable lift that you might find at your local equipment rental facility.
• Chainsaws
  • A professional company will arrive with multiple chainsaws, of different sizes. They may look worn but they won’t appear broken or significantly dirty (like your grandads old saw sitting in his garage). And they will be sharp, meaning there will not be fine sawdust coming from the saw or smoke coming from the bar when they make cuts.

Professional tree care companies will invest in the following training which may or may not include a company certification:

• Z133 safety regulations for tree care workers
• Climbing safety and skills programs
• Aerial lift safety and skills programs
• Chainsaw felling safety and skills programs
• Rigging courses
• Electrical safety programs
• Knot tying classes
• Tree hazard assessment classes
• Emergency response and aerial rescue training

While tree care workers may not always appear to have specialized training, a professional tree care company will always employ professional workers and provide them with adequate training. These workers will take that training and put it to use on a daily basis to practice their craft. They will be regularly monitored by their supervisors and safety team to ensure that they are following safety guidelines and are not in need of additional training. Workers will show knowledge, not only in how to complete the job, but also in general knowledge of trees; including species names, common pests or diseases, wood strengths, and general plant biology. Next time you are in need of tree care, consider hiring a professional tree care company instead of doing it yourself, and ask them about their safety and training program!