| Make the right choice when hiring a tree service. | | | | Licensing Board for additional protection. |
| Trees are the most valuable part of your home | | | | Before getting an estimate it is a good idea to |
| landscape. Trees provide several benefits including | | | | know what to look for and what to avoid when |
| cooling our homes, providing beauty and privacy. | | | | hiring a tree service. Check with the Better |
| It's important to make the right choice when | | | | Business Bureau to obtain a rating on companies |
| hiring a tree company to care for your trees. | | | | and find out if there are any complaints. Getting |
| Most of us have heard stories of improper care | | | | references from previous clients is also important. |
| damaging trees in our neighborhoods. | | | | I recommend getting the names of clients |
| One way to provide your trees with the best | | | | worked for in the past few days so references |
| care is to hire a Certified Arborist. Arborists are | | | | aren't cherry picked. |
| certified by the International Society of | | | | The more you know about proper pruning and |
| Arboriculture. Certified Arborists must meet | | | | tree care practices the better choice you can |
| several requirements in order to obtain | | | | make when hiring a tree service. The I.S.A. and |
| certification. These include adequate experience, | | | | T.C.I.A. websites are a great place to learn more |
| passing a rigorous test of arboricultural knowledge, | | | | about proper tree care practices. These two |
| agreeing to a code of ethics and maintaining | | | | organizations have worked together to establish |
| certification through continuing education. To find a | | | | the ANSI A-300 Standards for tree care. These |
| Certified Arborist in your area check the web | | | | standards provide the guidelines for arborists to |
| sites for the International Society of Arboriculture | | | | follow in tree maintenance ranging from pruning to |
| or the Tree Care Industry Association. For quality | | | | fertilization to cabling or lightning protection. Make |
| tree service Raleigh , contact Leaf & Limb Tree | | | | sure the company you hire is knowledgable in |
| Service today! | | | | these standards and estimate their work |
| If a tree company advertises that a certified | | | | accordingly. |
| arborist manages or is employed by the company | | | | Finally, beware of companies that recommend the |
| the arborist certification number must be inlcuded | | | | wrong practices for tree pruning. Some things to |
| in the advertisement. Beware of companies that | | | | avoid include topping or overpruning trees. Pruning |
| do not display these numbers which can be | | | | should be limited to 25% of live branches in a |
| checked on line for credibility. | | | | pruning season. Tree climbers should not use |
| It is also important to find a company that will | | | | climbing gaffs or "spurs" to climb trees unless the |
| have a Certified Arborist on your property while | | | | tree is to be removed. The only exception to this |
| the work is performed. It is one thing to have a | | | | practice would be in an emergency situation that |
| qualified individual make an estimate but if there is | | | | puts the tree climber in harm's way. |
| inadequate supervision when the acutal job is | | | | Another incorrect practice is the removal of large |
| done the results may not match your | | | | branches. Large cuts take years for the wounds |
| expectations. | | | | to close. These large wounds make the tree |
| In addition, doing a little homework goes a long | | | | more susceptible to decay or insect problems. |
| way. Ask for certificates of insurance whenever | | | | Making more smaller cuts is preferable to making |
| you hire a contractor. These should be mailed to | | | | a few large cuts. Another practice to avoid is |
| you by the insurance company not a copy that is | | | | overthinning the interior of a tree and leaving the |
| provided by the tree service. The only way to | | | | majority of the remaining foliage at the ends of |
| ensure a company is currently insured is to get | | | | the branches. This increases the likelihood of |
| the certificate directly from the insurance | | | | branch failures because of excessive end weight. |
| carrier..Make sure you receive proof of liability and | | | | A better pruning practice is to maintain interior |
| worker's compensation coverage. | | | | branching that promotes better branch strength |
| Also, check with the State Contractor's Licensing | | | | while reducing end weight which reduces the |
| Board. Any estimate or advertisement should | | | | likelihood of branch failures. |
| have the license number printed on the form. | | | | In conclusion, the better informed you are about |
| Check that the license is current and that there | | | | proper tree care and about tree services in your |
| are not complaints against the company. In | | | | area the more likely you are to make the right |
| addition, there may be surety bond held by the | | | | choice when hiring a tree service. |