Tree Pruning in Indianapolis

In the section above I mentioned 5 tips for finding great Indianapolis tree care. Let’s look deeper:

1. Choose certified arborists (especially for tree pruning/tree trimming). If someone cannot be bothered to spend 3 years on the job learning things like “tree biology”, “risk assessment” and “pruning” then they shouldn’t be pruning your trees. Simply put, tree companies without a trained knowledge base can’t recommend steps that meet your goals and preserve the tree’s health. ISA certification is the best way to quickly filter who in the industry is committed to continuous education and steady improvement. Avoid killing your trees (and the associated tree removal prices) by choosing a certified arborist in Indianapolis who can make qualified recommendations. Consider starting your next search with “certified arborist tree service near me” and filter your results from there.

2. Choose professional tree trimmers with technical expertise. Not every certified arborist has the equipment or climbing skills to access the tree for effective pruning. On the flip side sometimes a certified arborist will provide your quote but the crew doesn’t have the knowledge to execute their quote. The sweet spot is to find a company that prioritizes their production team getting certified, not just their salesmen. The reality is that workers regularly get new information about the tree when they get aerial; the crew needs to be able to assess that new information and combine it with the goals of the client to create the best outcome.

3. Choose a team that wears bluetooth helmets and chainsaw protective pants. Can you imagine climbing a tree every week and diligently calling down “stand clear” when making every cut and hearing back “all clear” without bluetooth? How about making hundreds of cuts at various times of day on the jobsite and always putting chaps back on when it’s time to cut? The reality is that people don’t pursue safety when it’s too difficult, which is why you have to make it easy. Bluetooth microphones in helmets promote regular and clear safety communication. Chainsaw protective pants ensure constant protection when making cuts. The reality is that these are just two small pieces of safety gear, but they are a quick way to gauge how seriously a company values safety. Google a company and see what people are wearing in the photos. Safety conscious companies will have helmets with mics and chainsaw pants (bare minimum). Companies with no observable photos or lack of good safety gear are worth skipping*.

4. Choose a good communicator. The pain of poor communication often lives on the completion side of the job. Two different tree companies might mean vastly different things when they say “tree pruning services” or “leave debris on site”. For “tree pruning services” how many cuts are they going to make? Where in the tree will those cuts be? Why will those cuts be beneficial? Is there a max diameter of cut which will be made? Where on the property will the debris be left? Will it be cut up at all? Will anything be hauled away? There are numerous details to a job and aspects left ambiguous might lead to frustration later on. Choose someone who takes the time to deliver the details which you need to feel comfortable about the outcome. Ask lots of questions about what they will do, why they chose that and how they will execute. A certified arborist in Indianapolis with technical expertise should be able to answer all of that.

5. Choose someone overinsured. General liability insurance is the bare minimum, and here’s why insurance beyond that is a good sign. Good employees care if their company carries worker’s compensation insurance. Not only are you more protected from risk when they enter your property, but the quality of worker is likely higher. If they carry commercial auto insurance then they are communicating thoughtful concern for the reality that 10-25% of job hours are spent driving. This indicates a thorough company who know that vehicles may damage client properties and account for employee time on the road. Finally, if a company carries umbrella insurance then they are likely qualified for municipal, commercial and other exclusive contracts which require the highest levels of insurance. Lazy companies typically are not getting this far- only the best. It is certainly possible that a well-insured company may disappoint the client, but that is far more likely from the underinsured company. Check our homepage for industry standards for insurance.

As I mentioned above, this list is not comprehensive, but it’s a great start. Hopefully you found this helpful, and reach out to us at Nova Tree Care for advice on your trees any time. We are very open source with what we know!

*Companies in southern states not wearing helmets may be prioritizing avoiding heat-stroke. There are numerous safety elements to balance and the presence of helmets is just a strong rule of thumb.