If you live in Bothell, Kirkland, Lynnwood, Woodinville, or Everett, odds are you have one or more trees on your property. If you want or need to hire an arborist to care for these trees, here are a few useful tips to help you find an expert.
How to Select an Arborist
Locate a few companies who work in your area and have a solid reputation.
Start by asking family and friends for their recommendations. After you have a list of companies, you can look up their websites and check to see if they have net positive or negative reviews on Yelp or a similar site. Aggregator websites like BuildZoom or Angi are also great resources for finding reputable local tree services.
Determine what services they offer.
Some companies limit themselves to one or two services. Others—like Elite Tree Care—offer a full spectrum of tree care service to residents in the Puget Sound area. A full-service arborist will be able to do most or all of these:
- Structural pruning
- Deadwood removal
- Disease treatment
- Deep root fertilization
- Emergency tree removal
- Stump grinding
- Tree risk assessment
Ask for references.
Request references from previous clients of the company. This is kind of like the review function in online retail websites: it helps you determine the quality of the service that the company provides. You can even ask the arborist for the locations of some of their previous work and go check it out in person.
Make sure the company is insured.
All reputable tree care companies will be licensed, bonded, and insured. Ask the company for proof of liability insurance before you choose to move forward with your project.
Check to see if the company is professionally certified.
Tree care companies who are affiliated with a professional organization are trained in the most current science and strategies in tree care, and their arborists have access to continuing education and trainings.
The gold standard of certification for arborists is through the International Society of Arboriculture, or ISA. Other professional certification bodies include the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) and the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA).
You can check to see if a tree service is licensed through one or more of these bodies using the free search tool at TreesAreGood.org.
Don’t go for the lowest estimate.
Like most things in life, when it comes to tree care, you get what you pay for. Avoid low estimates that seem too good to be true.
Professional tree care companies charge professional rates because they have invested in high-quality equipment, rigorous training, and expensive insurance. And remember that although it can be expensive to maintain trees, it is far more affordable than to lose them entirely—or have them fail suddenly and cause damage to the structures around it.
As a corollary, never be rushed into a bargain. A well-run company will set fair prices, and never try to rush you or upsell you.
When Do You Need An Arborist?
All trees are going to need maintenance during their lifetime—especially those growing in an urban setting like Kirkwood or Bothell. It is important to regular inspect urban trees and make sure that they aren’t in danger of falling over or dropping large branches, and to keep their limbs from growing into buildings or over walkways.
It doesn’t have to be an emergency to justify bringing in an arborist! Regular inspection and pruning by a certified arborist will keep tress on small urban or suburban lots healthy, well-shaped, and clear of structures and walkways. Arborists can also proactively identify diseases or structural issues with the trees that they work on. With trees, it’s much easier and cost-effective to prevent problems before they have a chance to develop into dangerous hazards.
If you have doubts about whether your trees are healthy, then a tree risk assessment can put your mind at ease. These assessments are carried out by accredited arborists who will be able to evaluate the health, growth pattern, structure, and canopy of your tree.
If, however, you do have an emergency, finding a capable and experienced arborist is even more critical. Although tree removal is a last resort in tree care, it is still sometimes necessary in circumstances where the tree:
- Impedes structures
- Crowds other trees
- Is located in the path of new construction
- Dead or dying
- At risk of toppling
If you have a tree that needs to be removed before it can fail and fall down on top of something important, having a good arborist who work and qualifications you can trust takes a lot of the stress out of the situation. Tree removal is hazardous and involves the use of special equipment, including rigging and cranes, and can only be done by specifically trained arborists.
Several townships in the Seattle Metropolitan Area, such as Lynnwood, Kirkland, and Woodinville require a permit for removing trees based on the size and location of a tree. A tree company that is experienced in tree removal will be able to help you navigate this process.
Why Choose Elite Tree Care?
For homeowners in Bothell and Kirkland, as well as towns in the surrounding area, Elite Tree Care has provided excellent tree services for over 36 years. We offer free estimates and have a 24-hour hotline for tree emergencies. If you need us, we’ll be there to investigate the tree and take quick action to mitigate the existing damage and prevent any more from occurring.
The arborists at Elite Tree Care have extensive experience in some of the most hazardous aspects of tree care, including tree removal and cabling and bracing, as well as in tree assessment and pruning. You can check out our hundreds of five-star reviews from happy clients on BuildZoom, Angi Yelp, Angi, and Alignable.
If you want more help and expert advice from ISA-certified local arborists, give us a call at (425) 350-6909 to schedule your free consultation! We provide services throughout the Puget Sound area, including Kirkland, Woodinville, Bothell, Lynnwood, and Everett.