Many tree services advertise themselves as “certified arborists,” but that’s not necessarily sufficient if the arborist doesn’t actually perform the pruning, says Gary Gilliam of Best Tree Service.
The distinction is important. Mr. Gilliam warns that although a badly pruned tree will usually grow back, there’s always the possibility of irreversible damage. “You never know,” says Mr. Gilliam. “Often, they’re ruined forever.”
Here's some additional advice on trees and the companies that care for them:
• Beware of companies that solicit business door-to door, offer a special deal for fast decisions, or show up unannounced in the aftermath of a storm that downs trees.
• Good tree service professionals will rarely recommend topping a tree. Tree topping is only necessary in extreme circumstances, such as irreversible physical damage.
• Proper pruning should never remove more than 25 percent of a tree’s branches or limbs in a given year. All cuts should avoid leaving stubs or ripping cuts in the bark.
Other harmful or unethical tree care practices include the use of climbing spikes or spurs while working on live trees, and tree removal without clear evidence of its necessity.
