Residential tree services play an important role in the health and safety of trees on your property. From risk and hazard assessments, arborist reports, tree trimming, and the removal of trees as all tasks residential tree services do on a daily basis.
Finding great local residential tree services can be tricky at times so here is some great info to steer you in the right direction.
Doing a quick internet search will reveal hundreds of local cutting services claiming to be experts. But who can you trust? Who is qualified and who is well-priced?
The search
The first thing to remember with doing an internet search for residential tree services is that the top results on Google tend to be the most expensive companies. Why, because it is no accident they are on top of the pile. They have paid to be there in one way or another and will generally charge more per job to recoup that money.
TIP #1: Go to page two of the search results. This will give you a list of services more reasonably priced.
When to hire
Leading up to Christmas or just after the summer holidays are the busiest times of the year for residential tree services. Because there is so much work on, they will generally raise their prices. It’s not a scam, but rather a supply and demand equation.
TIP #2: Hire in winter when possible. There is traditionally a lot less work in winter for residential tree services, so you will have an oversupply of service, and little supply, tipping the scales in your favor for a cheaper price.
Reasons for residential tree trimming
There are several reasons why tree trimming is a good idea, for the most part, they will all help in the health, vigor, and longevity of the tree on your property.
Let’s take a look at some of the key reasons for residential tree trimming.
Tree Safety
Dead branches or weak branch unions can lead to the failure of branches which can ultimately cause damage to your property or persons. By removing dead branches every 2 years from large trees as well as having an arborist inspect branch unions and remove branches with a high probability of failure, you are going to have a safer living environment.
Boost your tree’s health
Trimming 10% of your tree’s foliage on an annual basis is a great way to give your tree a boost. Removing just 10% of branches means your tree has more resources in reserve to focus on growing new healthy foliage and healing old wounds.
Aesthetics
Curb appeal is a big thing with trees. A recent study found that trees on a property can increase the value by up to 7%. Balancing the tree and giving it a canopy lift to let more light in, will help your grass grow and also lower heating costs in winter.
Reasons for residential tree removal
One of the main reasons for tree removal is the deteriorating health of the tree or the safety of the residential homeowner. Sometimes the tree will already be dead, and other times it may have come down in a storm, but the important thing to remember is that is it lawful to remove your tree.
Be sure to check local tree removal laws before contracting a local residential tree service for the job.
Other reasons for tree removal:
- Dead tree
- Dangerous tree
- In way of fence or building
- Fallen in a storm
- Fire hazard
- Pest species
Benefits of hiring a certified arborist
I highly recommend you hire a qualified and insured local arborist. There are lots of residential landscapers and lawn care companies who are not necessarily qualified for tree trimming and removal.
Residential tree services require a very specialized set of skills, equipment, and training to be carried out in a safe and efficient manner.
Make sure you ask your local tree service for the following credentials at the time they give you an estimate.
- Arboriculture certificate
- Insurance papers
- References
Hiring Residential tree services
When you engage a tree service to trim or remove a tree on your property there are a couple more steps you need to take to cover yourself.
Check if the insurance is valid – There are a lot of companies who pay the first month of insurance and then cancel. They do this to get the paperwork to show customers but don’t have to keep paying. Give the insurer a quick call to make sure they are paid up to date.
Be clear on what the estimate entails – so many times tree services will write vague estimates like “tree removal” and not stipulate whether that includes the stump or removal of all waste. If you want the stump removed, make sure it’s on paper. If it’s a trim, make sure they stipulate how many branches.
Use this free service
GoTreeQuotes takes the guesswork out of hiring residential tree services near you. Simply fill in the form at the top of the page, answer a few questions about your job and we will match you will top-vote local experts.
Best of luck with your tree job.
