This NebFact offers advice for selecting an arborist or tree service

Fech, John C.

Mooter, David P.

Powell, Myrna L.

English

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Extension at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska- Lincoln. It has been accepted fo

David P. Mooter

John C. Fech

Myrna L. Powell

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NF93-112 Damaged Trees: How to Select an Arborist or Tree Service

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Extension 1993 NF93-112 Damaged Trees: How to Select an Arborist or Tree Service David P. Mooter John C. Fech University of Nebraska--Lincoln, jfech1@unl.edu Myrna L. Powell Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist  Part of the Agriculture Commons, and the Curriculum and Instruction Commons Mooter, David P.; Fech, John C.; and Powell, Myrna L., "NF93-112 Damaged Trees: How to Select an Arborist or Tree Service" (1993). Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. 579. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist/579 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Extension at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Nebraska Cooperative Extension NF93-112Damaged Trees: How to Select an Arborist or Tree Service David P. Mooter, Assistant State Forester, Nebraska Forest Service John C. Fech, Extension Agent, Horticulture Myrna L. Powell, Extension Agent, Communications  Over the past three-to-five years, western, and parts of eastern Nebraska have endured drought conditions resulting in many stressed trees. The drought was partially broken in the fall of 1991 with a snow and ice storm that brought severe early cold on the 30th and 31st of October. This was followed by another, but less severe storm around Thanksgiving. The rest of the winter of 1991-92 was mild and open, producing little or no snowfall after the Thanksgiving storm. However, early spring of 1992 produced a late freeze, bringing an end to an unusual Nebraska winter.  These weather conditions' devastating potential manifested as trees began to leaf out. By mid-June it was apparent many trees were either severely damaged or did not survive the unusual temperature swings that came on the heels of a serious drought. Siberian elms, willows and mulberries were hardest hit, especially in western Nebraska. During the summer of 1992 the Nebraska Forest Service estimated 250,000 trees stood dead on Nebraska public land. Eighty percent of these trees were west of Kearney. Some cities reported 80 to 90 percent mortality of their Siberian elms. At least 500,000 Nebraska trees are in need of pruning to remove dead or damaged limbs.  In eastern Nebraska the problem was much different. Late fall ice storms caused serious damage to countless trees. Damage was widespread from Falls City north to Norfolk and beyond. In this area tree maintenance and repair have become paramount activities.  Communities must now begin to deal with the problem of removing the dead trees and repairing survivors of such devastation. In most cases, the work should be done by professional arborists. This publication provides some information that may be helpful to both municipalities and homeowners who are looking for professional tree-care help.  Hiring an arborist deserves careful consideration. A qualified arborist will do tree work properly and safely, but an unqualified person may further damage the tree, and more importantly may not be insured, leaving the liability burden to the client. This liability could run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Remember the following points when hiring or contracting with an arborist: 1. Check your telephone directory's yellow pages under "Tree Service" for a listing of those businesses which do tree work in your area. While anyone can list themselves in the phone book, a listing at least indicates some degree of permanence. Be cautious of any arborist that advertises "topping" as a service. "Topping" is not an approved tree maintenance practice. 2. Ask if the arborist is certified by either the Nebraska Arborists Association or the International Society of Arboriculture. Certification is not required by the State of Nebraska but it does indicate that the arborist has a high degree of knowledge. 3. If the arborist you are considering is not certified, determine if he/she is a member of any professional organizations, such as the Nebraska Arborists Association, the International Society of Arboriculture or the National Arborists Association. Membership in these and other professional organizations does not guarantee quality, but does indicate professional commitment. 4. Ask for certificates of insurance, including proof of liability for personal and property damage and workman's compensation. Then, contact the insurance company to make sure the policy is current. Under some circumstances, you can be held financially responsible if an uninsured worker is hurt on your property or if the worker damages a neighbor's property. 5. Ask for local references. Take a look at some of the work, and if possible, talk with former clients. Experience, education and a good reputation are signs of a good arborist. 6. Don't rush into a decision just because you are promised a discount if you sign an agreement now. Be sure you understand what work is to be done for what amount of money. It is not generally a good idea to pay in full until the work is completed. 7. Most reputable tree care companies have all the work they can handle without going door to door. People who aren't competent arborists may solicit tree work after storms, seeing an opportunity to earn quick money. Storm damage creates high risk situations for both workers and property. 8. If possible, get more than one estimate. 9. A conscientious arborist will not use climbing spikes except when removing a tree. Climbing spikes open unnecessary wounds that could lead to decay. 10. Good tree work is not inexpensive. A good arborist must carry several kinds of insurance as well as pay for expensive and specialized equipment. Beware of estimates that fall well below the average. There may be hidden costs or the arborist may not be fully Figure 1. A handy form for tree service comparisons. Tree Service Qualifications Insurance Price ReferencesJoe's Cutters NAA certified Yes $270 Mildred said a good job.Bob's Badgers No Yes $170 OK, but rude.     File NF112 under FORESTRY C-1, Protection Issued February 1993  Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Elbert C. Dickey, Director of Cooperative Extension, University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the non-discrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.                          

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln 
Historical Materials from University of 
Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Extension 
1993 
NF93-112 Damaged Trees: How to Select an Arborist or Tree 
Service 
David P. Mooter 
John C. Fech 
University of Nebraska--Lincoln, jfech1@unl.edu 
Myrna L. Powell 
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist 
 Part of the Agriculture Commons, and the Curriculum and Instruction Commons 
Mooter, David P.; Fech, John C.; and Powell, Myrna L., "NF93-112 Damaged Trees: How to Select an 
Arborist or Tree Service" (1993). Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. 579. 
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist/579 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Extension at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - 
Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension by an 
authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. 
Nebraska Cooperative Extension NF93-112
Damaged Trees: 
How to Select an Arborist or Tree Service 
David P. Mooter, Assistant State Forester, Nebraska Forest Service 
John C. Fech, Extension Agent, Horticulture 
Myrna L. Powell, Extension Agent, Communications  
Over the past three-to-five years, western, and parts of eastern Nebraska have endured drought 
conditions resulting in many stressed trees. The drought was partially broken in the fall of 1991 with a 
snow and ice storm that brought severe early cold on the 30th and 31st of October. This was followed by 
another, but less severe storm around Thanksgiving. The rest of the winter of 1991-92 was mild and 
open, producing little or no snowfall after the Thanksgiving storm. However, early spring of 1992 
produced a late freeze, bringing an end to an unusual Nebraska winter.  
These weather conditions' devastating potential manifested as trees began to leaf out. By mid-June it 
was apparent many trees were either severely damaged or did not survive the unusual temperature 
swings that came on the heels of a serious drought. Siberian elms, willows and mulberries were hardest 
hit, especially in western Nebraska. During the summer of 1992 the Nebraska Forest Service estimated 
250,000 trees stood dead on Nebraska public land. Eighty percent of these trees were west of Kearney. 
Some cities reported 80 to 90 percent mortality of their Siberian elms. At least 500,000 Nebraska trees 
are in need of pruning to remove dead or damaged limbs.  
In eastern Nebraska the problem was much different. Late fall ice storms caused serious damage to 
countless trees. Damage was widespread from Falls City north to Norfolk and beyond. In this area tree 
maintenance and repair have become paramount activities.  
Communities must now begin to deal with the problem of removing the dead trees and repairing 
survivors of such devastation. In most cases, the work should be done by professional arborists. This 
publication provides some information that may be helpful to both municipalities and homeowners who 
are looking for professional tree-care help.  
Hiring an arborist deserves careful consideration. A qualified arborist will do tree work properly and 
safely, but an unqualified person may further damage the tree, and more importantly may not be insured, 
leaving the liability burden to the client. This liability could run into the tens of thousands of dollars. 
Remember the following points when hiring or contracting with an arborist: 
1. Check your telephone directory's yellow pages under "Tree Service" for a listing of those 
businesses which do tree work in your area. While anyone can list themselves in the phone book, 
a listing at least indicates some degree of permanence. Be cautious of any arborist that advertises 
"topping" as a service. "Topping" is not an approved tree maintenance practice. 
2. Ask if the arborist is certified by either the Nebraska Arborists Association or the International 
Society of Arboriculture. Certification is not required by the State of Nebraska but it does indicate 
that the arborist has a high degree of knowledge. 
3. If the arborist you are considering is not certified, determine if he/she is a member of any 
professional organizations, such as the Nebraska Arborists Association, the International Society 
of Arboriculture or the National Arborists Association. Membership in these and other 
professional organizations does not guarantee quality, but does indicate professional commitment. 
4. Ask for certificates of insurance, including proof of liability for personal and property damage and 
workman's compensation. Then, contact the insurance company to make sure the policy is current. 
Under some circumstances, you can be held financially responsible if an uninsured worker is hurt 
on your property or if the worker damages a neighbor's property. 
5. Ask for local references. Take a look at some of the work, and if possible, talk with former clients. 
Experience, education and a good reputation are signs of a good arborist. 
6. Don't rush into a decision just because you are promised a discount if you sign an agreement now. 
Be sure you understand what work is to be done for what amount of money. It is not generally a 
good idea to pay in full until the work is completed. 
7. Most reputable tree care companies have all the work they can handle without going door to door. 
People who aren't competent arborists may solicit tree work after storms, seeing an opportunity to 
earn quick money. Storm damage creates high risk situations for both workers and property. 
8. If possible, get more than one estimate. 
9. A conscientious arborist will not use climbing spikes except when removing a tree. Climbing 
spikes open unnecessary wounds that could lead to decay. 
10. Good tree work is not inexpensive. A good arborist must carry several kinds of insurance as well 
as pay for expensive and specialized equipment. Beware of estimates that fall well below the 
average. There may be hidden costs or the arborist may not be fully 
Figure 1. A handy form for tree service comparisons. 
Tree Service Qualifications Insurance Price References
Joe's Cutters NAA certified Yes $270 Mildred said a good job.
Bob's Badgers No Yes $170 OK, but rude.
     
File NF112 under FORESTRY 
C-1, Protection 
Issued February 1993  
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation 
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Elbert C. Dickey, Director of Cooperative Extension, 
University of Nebraska, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.  
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension educational programs abide with the non-discrimination 
policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture. 
     
     
     
     
     


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NF93-112 Damaged Trees: How to Select an Arborist or Tree Service

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