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Cooperative Extension Service |
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Agricultural
Experiment Station |
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Dale Bumpers College
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Crawford County Home & Garden
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Figure 1. A “topped” tree. This is what you want to avoid! Sometimes trees get butchered much worse than this. This clearly was not a homeowner who did this himself. |
| Figure 1. A “topped” tree. This is what you want to avoid! Sometimes trees get butchered much worse than this. This clearly was not a homeowner who did this himself. |
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| Figure 2. This is what happens after a tree is topped. All that new growth is weak and too dense. This tree will never have a beautiful form again. It will probably break in the next ice storm, too. Like Figure 1, this was done by someone who was paid. |
With ice storms, tornadoes, hail, bugs and drought it’s a miracle a tree can grow at all in Arkansas! But by some miracle, they do grow, and everyone is happy until something bad happens to a prized tree. When that unfortunate event occurs, you may need to hire a tree service professional to take care of the problem.
Tree service professionals are called arborists and can perform a wide range of services including removal, thinning, cabling, and tree assessment. To find an arborist, start by looking in the phone book. Avoid those who advertise “topping.” Recommendations from friends can also be a good place to start. Professional tree care is not usually an inexpensive service. People who knock on your door (especially after an ice storm) and offer their services are often not professionals, especially if their prices are much lower than everyone else. They may not be insured and, even worse, not know what they’re doing.
In order to hire a good, competent service, you will need to ask a few questions.
First, you need to make sure if they are bonded and insured. You wouldn’t want to pay for their mistake or accident.
Second, ask if they are familiar with “ANSI Standard A300.” This is a set of industry-approved practices that they should follow. If that sounds complicated, ask instead if they top trees. A reputable tree care professional will not top trees! Topping trees is a terrible horticultural practice and will cause you headaches (and more expense) in the future. See figures 1 and 2. Drive around town and observe some trees that have been topped—there’s plenty—and ask yourself if that is what you want in your own yard. Proper pruning dictates thinning out entire branches.
Third, ask for references. Tree service isn’t cheap so don’t be afraid to check out their work.
Finally, get everything in a written contract. All reputable firms will do this anyway. Don’t be afraid to get everything you want done written down. Insist that ANSI Standards are followed and that climbing spikes will not be used unless the entire tree is to be removed.
You should not pay for services beforehand, especially in cash. Always get everything in writing. I would further recommend you get a second opinion or bid prior to beginning any work.
The Tree Care Industry Association and International Society of Arboriculture are good places to look for more information on arborists and their services.
The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers two useful on-line publications for those interested in planting a new tree: Planting Trees and Shrubs in Arkansas Landscapes and Common Landscape Plants.
By: Dustin Blakey
Crawford County Extension Agent – Agriculture
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