Do you need an arborist or a tree removal service?

We got a real consumer question from Sylvia, a real consumer. She was worried about a tree that was leaning over her house. The tree seemed healthy, but she was worried it could fall on her house. She wrote to ask us a question that many homeowners in a similar situation may also be asking. Should she hire a tree removal service, or is more prudent to invest in the services of a trained arborist?

The question is a good one. There is a big difference between a tree removal expert and an arborist. Tree removal experts have the skills, experience, and equipment to safely and efficiently remove a tree. Depending on the size and location of the tree, a tree removal expert may use a cherry picker truck or simply climb the tree itself. Typically, using a cherry picker is safer and easier than climbing a tree, so it is the preferred method when possible. But some tight spaces may not allow for a large truck to pull right up to the tree. In that case, trained experts will climb into the tree using ropes, harnesses, and other climbing and safety gear. From there, they can slowly dismantle the tree so that it can be removed without felling the tree in a single large “TIMBER!”

An arborist may know a thing or two about tree removal, but it is not their main area of expertise. An arborist is more like a scientist who specializes in arbiroculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. Arborists may specialize in particular areas of tree care, including pest control, damage assessment, and occasionally, tree removal.

Unlike a tree removal specialist, an arborists will take into account the health of the tree, its growing environment, and any factors that may harm or enhance the tree’s ability to grow strong and healthy. At TrustDALE, 100% of the tree removal companies we recommend have at least one arborist on their staff. The arborist can asses and diagnose a tree, if necessary, before the decision is made to remove it.

In the case of our consumer, Sylvia, an arborist is probably the one to call. She said that the tree is healthy but an arborist can confirm whether her leaning tree is actually a threat to her home. If it is, the arborist can suggest remedies that may include improving the tree’s health or, when absolutely necessary, the removal of the tree. An arborist may also help to identify trees that are protected by local, municipal, or state regulations. If a tree is protected, an arborist may have to sign off on any tree removal project, typically only when the tree is unhealthy and in danger of falling.

If you are worried about a tree on your property, call a TrustDALE certified tree removal service. The arborist on their team can help determine the best course of action, whether it is pest control, environmental upgrades, pruning, or even complete removal. And as with every TrustDALE certified company and service, you are protected by Dale’s trademark $10,000 Make-It-Right Guarantee™.