Tree service FAQ

Tree work is one of the few home services where getting it wrong can injure someone or destroy a roof in seconds. That changes what "a good deal" means. In most trades the worst outcome of hiring cheap is a bad finish. Here it is an uninsured crew and a claim you have to fund yourself.

Two habits protect you against almost everything on this page. First, always get the certificate of insurance from the insurance agent, not the contractor. Second, never let the person who profits from removal be the only person who assessed the tree.

Everything else — timing, species, treatment programs, stump depth — is negotiable detail. Get it in writing, compare like for like, and take the time the situation allows. The Insurance Information Institute's advice is the right default: "Don't be rushed into signing a contract with any company. Instead, collect business cards and get written estimates."

How to choose

Insurance certificate from the agent

General liability and workers' compensation, current dates. The most important five minutes in hiring a tree service.

Diagnosis separate from the sale

Pay a consulting arborist for an assessment when the decision is expensive or in doubt.

Head height is the DIY limit

Above your head, on a ladder, near a structure, or near a wire — all professional work, at any tree size.

Call the city about permits before you book

Rules are municipal and can protect trees on private land. The call is free; the fine is not.