Locals -- can you recommend a tree service?

[pameladean]

Hello hello! I have a huge backlog of things I want to write about, from my last hike of the season with Raphael to camping with Eric and doing early voting and going to see Ten Thousand Things' production of Pericles to my adventures with David in recovering my camera from a rental-car company's lost-and-found office in the twilight zone.

But right now I'm hoping some people local to me can recommend a tree service. Things have been neglected around here for too long. We need trees trimmed back from the house and from the power lines; there are bunch of volunteer trees that are a bit large for me to remove, though I could do it if I had to; and there's a big Chinese elm back by the garage that needs some attention.

An extremely nice man came out from Rainbow and opined that, while they would be happy to do the work, most of it did not require the services of trained arborists, and if you asked trained arborists to cut down a bunch of little trees and haul them away, it would take a lot of time and would cost us a bundle of money. He named a number that made me blanch and suggested getting some other bids. So I am thinking of saving the Chinese elm for Rainbow at some later date, and getting some competent people who aren't quite so exalted in their expertise for the rest of the work.

Recommend away, I beg of you! If you are comfortable with saying how much various services charged to do your work, and what the work was, that would be excellent.

Pamela

Comments

In the long ago...

[lsanderson.livejournal.com]

We used Custom Quality Tree Care, Matt Krousey. I have two phone numbers, 320-266-8824 and 320-573-2345. He was a couple of thousand dollars below other estimates I received and did a great job. (I have not tried the phone numbers and an internet search was a bit, err, inconclusive.)

If'n it's only volunteer hacking, I gotta electric chainsaw and a sawsall that can do them in quite quickly.

Re: In the long ago...

[pameladean]

I'm thinking I should separate the two jobs. The clearing of high branches from around the house and power lines, and the cleaning up of the dead wood in the gigantic Chinese maple, will need some skill and training and equipment. The smaller volunteer trees, not so much.

I've got a rough estimate from Rainbow for the upper-level jobs, and the arborist specifically told me to get in touch with him if I had any questions, so I think I'll get some of the recommended services to give me a bid just on the hard stuff and compare that with Rainbow's.

Will keep your possession of a chainsaw in mind; thanks!

P.

[sraun]

Step-son Jacob would probably be willing to come look and tell you if it's something he could do.

homeandlawnenhancement@gmail.com, (651) 347-3004

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

We had 4 trees trimmed last year for a total of $1200, which seemed to be a pretty good price for the work they did. It WAS "trained arborist" stuff involving aerial branches hanging precariously over garages and electric wires and a guy in a cherry picker. The service we used is called Great Estates. I think they did good work for the price and were easy to deal with.

We also had a bid from Rainbow. My notes say, "Bid was much higher than the others, and I was not impressed with arborist. Would not use them again." You may have gotten a more agreeable arborist - one with better listening skills.

And if all you really need is for somebody to cut down a bunch of little trees, you might be better off with a local handyman type.

[pameladean]

We got a great arborist from Rainbow who paid very close attention. Sorry you got a bad one, or at least one having a bad day.

We don't just want little trees removed; we also need trees trimmed back from the house and the power lines; and the Chinese elm needs work, but that last is not urgent like the power line tangle is.

P.

[pameladean]

He might well be able to do the smaller volunteer trees that don't need to be climbed and aren't tangled in the power lines. He's on my list; thanks.

P.

[coffeeem.livejournal.com]

A Tree Service on 38th St. did excellent work for us when we needed the enormous ash out of the backyard and the unhealthy maple out of the front. And at the time they had a special, advertised at the Riverview theater, offering, I think, 10% off if you showed them a Riverview ticket stub. Because local businesses.

[pameladean]

Oh, that's a great idea. I have been to the Riverview fairly recently, but I probably don't have my ticket still. I salute them, however.

It took me quite a while to realize that "A Tree Service" was the name of the company -- it is, right?

P.

[coffeeem.livejournal.com]

It is. So very meta. :)

[owensrobin91]

If you know you need to do some tree maintenance work but aren't sure who to call, you can search online for the best tree service near me. You will likely find that there are many options.