Tree & Shrub Maintenance Companies Near You

Trees can be a tremendous asset for your property, providing a splash of life and shade that can be an essential part of your yard. But if your tree is showing signs of overgrowth or sickness, its presence can bring about a mess of complications that need to be handled appropriately. Unlike many parts of your yard, diagnosing the health of a tree and potentially removing it usually means calling in the professionals, as a wrong move can lead to a very costly (and dangerous) mistake.

Here’s an overview of how to decide what to do if you have a tree that could be on its way out and whether or not you need to bring in a tree surgeon or another expert. When you are ready to hire someone, let us help you find the right pro. Enter your zip code and get connected to prescreened, customer-rated tree surgeons in your area.

What is a Tree Surgeon?

Simply put, a tree surgeon is a professional who can help maintain a healthy tree, or remove a tree that is becoming a nuisance. Regular tasks include hedge trimming, removing a stump, felling a tree and tree pruning. Although their range of experience can vary, a little research into local tree surgeons can go a long way in finding the one who is right for you.

Tree Surgeon or Arborist

While many projects can be handled by a tree surgeon near you, a more ambiguous situation might mean that you need to bring in an arborist. An arborist is an experienced tree specialist with an active certification, which requires passing a wide-ranging exam and proof of relevant professional experience. The advanced certification and experience generally makes an arborist a better fit for a thorough tree inspection on a tricky tree removal that comes with safety challenges. Having said that, if it’s clear that you need to remove a tree or a stump, or simply need someone to prune a tall tree, going with a tree surgeon nearby can be a less expensive yet similarly effective option.

Questions to Ask

Before getting started, a fundamental question to ask is about insurance. Any expert should be able to provide a certificate of appropriate insurance. This is absolutely critical as removing a tree can be both physically dangerous to the workers as well as potentially damaging to the property. Another basic question to ask is whether your tree is sustainable or moribund, which is a question that an experienced tree surgeon should be able to address for basic tree types. A written, detailed estimate is also something that tree experts should be able to provide, allowing you to get a fairly firm reference point.

Costs to Hire

One of the reasons to get a detailed estimate prior to hiring a professional is that there is a wide range in pricing of tree surgery or removal. In terms of getting rid of a tree, smaller ones might be as inexpensive as roughly $75 while a 30-foot tree is likely to be closer to $450 or $500. Meanwhile, larger trees can actually run you closer to $1,500 or more, depending on the size and overall difficulty of the project. Additional costs can include stump disposal through grinding, branch chipping, and branch hauling, which are prices that should be discussed before the project gets started. For pruning, a professionally pruned small tree could be as low as $75, although larger trees will likely be more in the $250-$450 range.