Frequently Asked Questions

While it might be tempting to trim your own tree to save money, the risk of injury and damage to your home and property greatly exceeds any potential savings.

Tree trimming is an extremely dangerous activity. It is vitally important to have the proper equipment, training, and experience to safely prune a tree. We continually train to ensure the safety of our crews and your property. 

Tree trimming and pruning costs vary greatly depending on your tree and property.  In order to give you an accurate estimate, we  absolutely need to visit the tree in question and your property. Be very wary of any company willing to give you a quote over the phone or any type of verbal agreement.

Here are a few things we consider when determining the price for a tree trimming and pruning:

• Size of tree (height and diameter).
• Ease of access to the property.
• Dangerous conditions (proximity to power lines, busy roads, etc.).
• Stability of the tree.

There are some misconceptions about pricing, too. A larger tree doesn’t necessarily mean higher costs. However, the opposite can be true with small trees in challenging situations.

Although every company has their own ways of pricing, our goal is to be fair to both you and our organization.

Our experienced, Certified Arborists have years of training to enable them to safely prune your tree- while ensuring its health and longevity. We follow the pruning standards established by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and ANSI A300 and Z133.

Ideally, pruning begins with structure pruning  when a tree is young. This helps the tree grow stronger and healthier than it would on its own. Over time, a skilled professional can work through the canopy and prune out problematic branches. Trained professionals also control the fall of pruned branches to prevent damage to the tree’s surroundings.

Pruning by improperly trained personnel can result in damage and  decay for your tree, and creates safety hazards. Be wary of any company that does  tree topping, over prunes a tree, or uses climbing spikes or gaffs.  Be sure the firm you use has experienced, Certified Arborists on staff to preserve your investment, enhance the beauty of your trees, and maintain their safety and health.

Trees need regular care to keep them healthy, safe, and beautiful. When not maintained, trees can become dangerous. Uncorrected area of trees become weaker and eventually fail. Over time, branches that die start to fall. Branches may grow into siding and roofs and cause damage. Branches can also grow into power lines or fall on them, causing outages. Tree canopies can become so dense that they catch wind like a sail, blowing over or breaking off in heavy winds. 

Our Certified Arborists are skilled at evaluating your trees. We target problematic areas, including dead limbs, cracked or broken limbs, and poorly attached unions. Areas of decay are identified and addressed. We thin trees canopies so that the wind and snow can pass through more easily. 

Routine pruning results in safer, stronger, and healthier trees.

In general, trees can be pruned any time of the year.

There are a few exceptions, however, based upon the species of tree. Oaks, for example, can only be pruned while dormant – during the months of November through March. 

Additionally, trees areas with sensitive flowers and landscapes are best pruned when yards are frozen and flowers are not in bloom. 

Our Arborists will evaluate your trees, and make a recommendation on the best time to prune your trees – based upon the species of trees and the unique characteristics or your property. 

Generally, we recommend professional pruning of your trees every 3-5 years. 

Ideally, tree pruning begins when a tree is very young. This is called training or structure pruning, and involves removing poorly spaced or problematic branches. As a tree becomes mid to large in size, pruning focuses on dead, dying and crossed branches. We also identify any area of the tree that may become dangerous. 

Trees that are routinely pruned will be far healthier and safer than those that are not. Routine pruning also gives a trained professional an opportunity to look at the tree’s overall health, diagnose insect and disease issues and provide recommendations for treatment at an early stage.

Good tree care is an ongoing process, and at Expert Tree Service, we want to build a professional relationship with you to ensure your trees are getting the best care possible.