Okay, now you've defined your tree care particular needs. But how do you find the certified arborist or reputable tree service that can fill those needs adequately? You will save yourself a lot of time, money and trouble in the long run by conducting a bit of research at this point. If you need tree pruning or tree care work done, consult the information below on the National Arborist Association, which pertains to hiring certified arborists. For tree service needs, such as limbing trees near a house, refer instead to Hiring a Tree Service.
Note: The National Arborist Association has recently changed its name to the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA).
In shopping for a certified arborist, take full advantage of professional standards for arborists that have been instituted for the consumer’s benefit. The NAA (National Arborist Association) preaches to its members the importance of voluntarily adhering to standards as a way for them to distinguish themselves from charlatans in the eyes of consumers. The standards derive from American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Tree care ANSI standards fall into two categories. The ANSI A300 standard states accepted practices for pruning, cabling/bracing and fertilization. The ANSI Z133 pertains to safe work practices. The Web will be your best research tool here. Visit the NAA’s Web site and conduct a zip code search for NAA members in your area. Another membership that adds credibility to an arborist’s claims is the International Society of Arboriculture. Visit the ISA Web site to learn how its members become certified.
The yellow pages will probably be less effective than the Web to search for certified arborists. The yellow pages for my area does not have a listing for "Arborists." Instead, there is only a heading for “Tree Service.” The contents of the ads under this heading, however, do provide a helpful hint as to the particular expertise of the advertisers. Some ads place emphasis on “tree care,” “fertilizing,” “pest/disease control” and “fine pruning.” In other ads “brush chipping,” “lot clearing,” “fire wood,” “stump grinding,” etc. are predominant. Although both types of ads fall under the heading “Tree Service,” they seem indicative of two very different types of services.
If you need to have a tree pruned expertly, then you want to hire someone who is a wizard with pruning shears. For your needs, a chain saw wizard may not cut the mustard. Make sure you’ve made a well-informed decision before the cutting begins!
