Timberrrrrr!

August 9, 2009 11:29 AM

What should I look for in a tree trimming company? Anyone have good / bad experiences with specific Seattle-area companies?

I've got some very large trees, 100ft fir trees, 40ft maples, etc, that need to be trimmed to reduce the amount of debris that falls into the yard and onto the roof, as well as some dead or dying Madronas that need to go. I've gotten two quotes from two different companies, both around the same price.

My father-in-law put himself through college as a lumberjack up in the cascades doing some pretty serious logging, and he'll be on-site while the work is being done, and he knows more about trees than your average person has any business knowing. But I'd like to pick the right company in advance, rather than tell them how to do it right once they show up.

What questions should I be asking? What red flags should I watch out for?

posted by jeffamaphone to home & garden (7 comments total)

I can't tell you a good tree trimmer in Seattle, but I sure could tell you about some bad ones in St. Louis :-)

You could make a short list by checking the International Society of Arboriculture's list for your area. I'd then strongly recommend checking their references, both by calling the past customers they list for you and also by checking the Better Business Bureau and local online forums to see what others say about them.

In any event, make sure they have adequate liability insurance and that they're willing to give you a copy of it before they start the job.
posted by tomwheeler at 12:40 PM on August 9

I've used two in Seattle.

http://www.washingtontreeexperts.com/

Out on a Limb is run by someone who certainly seems to love trees. Look at her site, and then google the owner). They were a little slow in responding initially, but did tell me up front that they were busy. I didn't have any specific requests (save removing one tree), but they came out and looked things over, made suggestions, and then did the work exactly as discussed, and really well.

Washington Tree Experts seemed more like a business (than a passion), but they did good work as well, and even pointed out a few things that I said I wanted that I didn't really need done (saving me money). I had some specific aggressive requests (mostly removal).

I'm new to this, so I'm not sure exactly what to tell you to look for, apart from what has already been suggested (certified arborist, etc). If I were doing work as you're looking for (thinning for coverage), I'd suggest Out on a Limb.

You can email me if you'd like more info about my experiences.
posted by Gorgik at 1:43 PM on August 9

Insurance - in case a workman gets injured on your property, or they damage your property .

Also, make certain they take away the logs and branches (if that is what you want) and don't pay them until they do.
posted by 14580 at 1:48 PM on August 9

Ask to have a copy of their insurance faxed to you. Call the insurance company and verify the policy is current. Check to see if they are Certified Arborists. A sizeable established company will have a chipper and a boom truck. Referrals as per above. A written estimate with a description of the work to be done including whether the estimate includes hauling the debris away. Ask if they will employ a sub-contractor on your project. Project specific questions like what happens if the neighbors fence is damaged. All asked in a friendly manner mind you.
posted by Muirwylde at 1:01 AM on August 10

I don't have specific recommendations for your area, but on Long Island (NY) I needed someone to trim a bunch of trees (oaks, cherries), and also inspect a couple more that had squirrels living in them. After checking with one guy (recommended by a friend) who gave an estimate of ~$2700 (for trimming only - no cutting down any trees), I decided to shop around. I got estimates from $500 to $1500. Just for trimming & "inspecting". In the end, I went with the $500 guy. He did a good job.

So, shop arround.
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 10:40 AM on August 10

Definitely work with a certified arborist. They should be able to tell you when it is the proper season to prune your trees- generally speaking, late summer and fall are bad times because the tree is trying to conserve energy for the winter and wounds don't heal as quickly. They should be able to tell you when seasonal beetle infestations are most likely to occur, and avoid pruning at that time. If you're in a place that requires permits for tree removal, they should also be able to handle or advise you on dealing with that. Make sure your bid includes removal if you don't want the wood. An arboriculturist should also be able to tell you how much photosynthetic material may be safely removed without stressing the trees to the point where pathogens and pests are likely to attack, as well as evaluate the health of the trees you'd like to keep. I wouldn't work with anyone that is unable to answer these questions (or at least find the information).
posted by oneirodynia at 12:04 PM on August 10

I ended up using A&M based on several factors. They did a great job, and the guy really loved trees (he talked me out of removing a bunch of them, which would have made him more money).

Anyway, thanks everyone!
posted by jeffamaphone at 11:04 AM on September 3