Two men, a truck and a chainsaw can be listed in the phone book as tree-care specialists, but choosing someone with a documented level of knowledge and experience should be a homeowner’s priority. How should you go about this?
Avoid tree companies that advertise their topping skills rather than proper tree shaping. Topping is a practice that give trees a “buzz cut” straight across the top.
Topping is so common, especially with crape myrtle trees, people assume it is the correct way to prune. Topping will make a tree more hazardous in the long term. It also makes it more prone to insect and disease injury.
Crews that use spikes to climb trees should be avoided. Reject salespeople who claim your trees are dying and only they can save them.
Do your homework. Take time to interview the landscaper or designer. Actually see the type of work you want done in your yard.
Good planning of new construction projects will reduce the need for tree surgery. It is well worth the cost of hiring a professional landscape designer to draw a plan. Proper species selection and placement keep many problems from occurring.
There are many professions within the green industry. Landscape architects are the best at planning lighting, arbors, paths, walls and related features. Landscape designers usually are the plant choice experts. They know plant color, hardiness, soil and light preferences. Arborists are the tree experts. Landscape maintenance specialists choose the best control tactics for insects, diseases and weeds.
A reputable business will have personal and property damage insurance as well as workers compensation insurance. If the company is spraying pesticides, there should be a pesticide license number on the company truck. The workers should have pesticide certification or be supervised by someone nearby with a pesticide certificate.
The crew should have the required safety equipment. This is especially true for mowing and climbing crews. Professional tree climbers pass a test to attain certification from associations such as the International Society of Arborists.
For general landscape information see http://utextension.utk.edu/publications.
For local landscape professionals, see www.ChattanoogaLandscapers.com.
Contact Tom Stebbins at tstebbins@utk.edu or 855-6113.