Your trees are an important part of your landscape. Not only do they provide benefits like reduced energy bills and increased home value, but they also provide environmental benefits like helping reduce air temperature, reducing stormwater runoff, blocking noise, and removing pollutants from the air we breathe.
Up Next: What Is Eco-Friendly Tree Grinding?
With that in mind, when it comes to the care of your trees you should pick a professional tree care service like Hansen’s that takes your tree care and safety seriously. So before you choose a tree service, ask yourself these questions:
Are They Insured?
Hiring an insured firm is critical! Fully insured tree services will have liability insurance and workers compensation insurance policies to protect you and their workers. Insurance provides peace of mind and limits liability for property owners when an accident occurs.
Using a fully insured tree service to do the job will also reduce your liability if any damage occurs to neighboring property. When researching companies, ask to see a certificate of insurance and be sure to inquire about the specific services they will provide.
Do They Have Professional Certifications?
Tree service companies have many opportunities to provide and encourage continuing education for their staff. Verify that the company you select has arborists that are certified through organizations like the International Society of Arborists (ISA) and the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA).
An ISA certified arborist has proven skills related to tree health and maintenance and a company that displays TCIA Accreditation has met standards related to safe practices and company operations.
Hansen’s is a TCIA Accredited firm and was the first in Missouri to receive this recognition. They employ several ISA Certified Arborists and have two ISA Board Certified Master Arborists.
Do They Use The Right Equipment?
Tree care can be a dangerous job. Climbing trees and operating chain saws and other equipment requires a high level of expertise and a strong safety mindset. Select a tree care company that exhibits dedication to the safety of its employees and clients.
Ask the company if they utilize any national standards as they perform their work and check to see if this dedication is expressed in their specific proposal for tree work. Hansen’s utilizes all applicable standards, in particular the ANSI Z133 for safety and the ANSI A300 for tree care operations.
Will They Consult With You?
Ultimately, tree care decisions are up to you. Before you make a decision to select a particular company or which tree service to have performed, consult with the sales person or estimator that visits your property.
It is best if this person is an ISA Certified Arborist and communicates clearly to educate you about treatments that may improve the health and safety of your trees.