Why hire a consulting arborist?
“Seems like an extra step in this process. I just want my damn tree trimmed!”
Hiring a quick and easy tree service is the right fit for some people. But for those in search of a tree’s best interest, you really ought to utilize a consulting arborist.
More often than not, homeowners do not utilize a consultant either because they are unaware of the option, don’t know why they’d talk to a consulting arborist, or simply do not want to over complicate things. A consultation costs money after all, and nearly all tree services offer free estimates. We can all agree that quality isn’t free, and there’s usually a reason free things are free.
Consulting is an extra step, and it’s the most important one that will save you money, will result in a healthier outcome for the tree, or will give you unbiased and professional opinions. Read on to find out why.
A Sad and True Reality
Is this tree hazardous? A client in Oak Park, MI was told she might have to remove this tree. The answer is at the end of this article!
I could write an entire article on my grievances of my industry, but I’ll try to keep that to a minimum here.
Tree trimming companies make their money on trimming trees or removing trees. They offer free estimates because they stand a good chance at making a sale. The companies they work for have large overhead costs of doing business with all of their equipment and machinery. They have sales incentives—its their job. Whether or not trees should be trimmed is ultimately a matter of opinion, but a tree’s physiological responses to trimming is not a matter of opinion.
A lack of Ethics
How will the trees respond to this pruning in five years? Or 10 years? Or 50? The quick and fast production tree trimming doesn’t think about tree longevity. They’re not designed to—they’re designed to make money. A salesperson is more likely to omit important information, present it incompletely, or genuinely not know advanced tree biology or ecology. These things matter—short-sighted tree care can cost you a lot of money in the long-run.
Either intentionally or unintentionally, salespeople know how to up-sell without fatally pruning a tree--they know what they can get away with. To an extent, some homeowners share responsibility for this lack of proper arboriculture as well. There are times when a person wants what they want, and they’ll find someone to do it no matter what, even against professional guidance. Unfortunately, tree companies are willing to accept that notion, figuring “well, I may as well do it or someone else will.''
The issue lies with that lazy acceptance being the norm. Not all money is good money, especially when it is destructive to nature. The fact that even some of the most skilled arborists accept this idea keeps our industry stuck in the past. Tree science isn’t completely in the weeds anymore; we know what proper practice looks like. There are dutiful arborists, they’re just rare.
Why a Consulting Arborist?
This tree is safe! Frost cracks close on their own in time. If a decision was made too hastily, our client in Oak Park could have lost her beautiful london plane tree.
Consulting is an extra step that ultimately saves you money by separating what is actually necessary and what is predatory selling. Asking a salesperson if a tree is safe might be avoided because he or she may be inclined to give an answer without doing the proper tests. They may be inclined to give an answer that makes them the most money.
Is a tree removal or trimming service the most fitting to determine if your tree is safe? Risk assessments are a critical service that consultants provide that are especially credible when done by a third party because they don’t stand to gain either way if the tree is safe or condemned.
An Arbiter for the Trees
There are arborists and tree care companies that mean well and are very skilled and smart and thoughtful. In our industry though, for every good company or arborist, there are 10 tree cutters. You know what I mean?
There are no sales incentive for an independent consultant. He or she isn’t trying to sell you pruning or simply agree with what you’re requesting. The hiring of a consultant is an extra step that is absolutely necessary if you’re to avoid the sad and true faults in the tree care industry. Consulting is a buffer between the homeowner and the tree service, and we exist to protect both you and the trees.
Where to find Consulting Arborists?
A good measure of an arborist is their ability to articulately explain themselves or explain trees. A simple Google search may suffice, or you can utilize the Department of Natural Resources list of Urban Forestry Consultants. Click here to see the list of Michigan Urban Forestry Consultants.
Tree First also offers consultations, and are on the list mentioned above too.