Tree Care Tips
A little education goes a long way before you hire anyone to work on your trees. Here are three guides to help you make an informed decision:
Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Tree Service
Here's a short list of questions to ask before hiring anyone to work on your trees. In addition to these, take a look at why you should never top a tree.
Is the company licensed and insured?
Always hire a company that's properly licensed and insured, and ask to see proof — not just hear the words "licensed and insured." Without it, you could be putting your home and property at risk with no recourse if something goes wrong. A cheaper quote from an uninsured company can end up costing far more in the long run.
​
Big Bear Tree Works is fully licensed and insured — happy to show proof on request.
Does the company have a Certified Arborist on staff?
A Certified Arborist has been trained to properly care for your trees — not just cut branches, but know where and how to cut them. Improper trimming can weaken, deform, or even kill a tree. Learn more about what certification means.
Tree work is dangerous, even with the right tools — and far more dangerous without them. A ladder and a chainsaw usually aren't enough. Ask specifically what equipment they'll use and how they plan to do the job safely.
Does the company have the proper equipment?
Does the company have references or photos of completed work?
Any company can promise a great job. Ask for photos of past work and talk to previous customers. Read my testimonials or contact me with any questions.
Why Hire a Certified Arborist?
An arborist is trained in the art and science of planting, caring for, and maintaining trees. Hiring one is a decision worth taking seriously — proper tree care protects an investment that adds real value to your property, while poor tree care can become a real liability.
What does "Certified" actually mean?
An ISA Certified Arborist has demonstrated a level of knowledge in tree care by passing a comprehensive exam and must continue their education to maintain that certification, along with following a professional code of ethics. That means they're more likely to be current on the latest, safest techniques in arboriculture.
ISA certification isn't government-issued — it's administered by the International Society of Arboriculture as a way for tree care professionals to demonstrate real commitment to the trade.
​
(Source: International Society of Arboriculture)
Eight Reasons Not to Top Trees
A lot of tree services top trees instead of properly pruning them because it's cheaper and faster. Here's why that shortcut usually costs more in the end. The ISA takes this seriously enough that an arborist can lose their certification for topping trees instead of pruning them properly.
Starvation
Good pruning rarely removes more than a quarter to a third of a tree's crown, so it can keep making food normally. Topping removes so much that it disrupts the tree's crown-to-root balance and cuts off its food supply.
Shock
A tree's crown shields it from direct sun. Removing it suddenly can scald the newly exposed bark, and can also harm neighboring shade-loving plants.
Insects and Disease
The large stubs left by topping are difficult for the tree to seal. These open wounds are prime targets for wood-rotting fungi and invasion by boring insects.
Weak Limbs
New growth after topping attaches more weakly than normal limb growth. If rot is present, the added weight of new growth makes the situation worse.
Rapid, Risky Regrowth
Topping is usually meant to control a tree's height. It backfires — the tree often returns to its original height quickly, with denser, weaker, more dangerous growth than before.
Tree Death
Some species, like beeches, don't sprout well after severe pruning. Reduced foliage can lead directly to the tree's death.
Ugliness
A topped tree never fully regains its natural shape or character, even after regrowth.
Topping looks cheaper up front, but the real costs show up later: lower property value, removal and replacement if the tree dies, loss of nearby trees if light conditions change, liability from weakened limbs, and more maintenance down the road.
Cost
Topping looks cheaper up front, but the real costs show up later: lower property value, removal and replacement if the tree dies, loss of nearby trees if light conditions change, liability from weakened limbs, and more maintenance down the road.