Guides

Expert guides and resources for tree service professionals.

Tree Care (9)Business & Operations (6)Safety & Techniques (4)Equipment (4)Seasonal Tips (4)Regulations & Certification (3)

How to Estimate Tree Removal Costs

6 min

A practical guide to pricing tree removal jobs based on size, access, hazards, and disposal costs.

Business & OperationsTree RemovalPricingEstimating

Rigging Techniques for Tight-Access Removals

7 min

How to safely lower large sections of wood in confined spaces using technical rigging.

Safety & TechniquesRiggingTree RemovalSafety

Understanding Soil Compaction and Tree Health

7 min

Why compacted soil kills trees slowly and what arborists can do about it.

Tree CareSoil CompactionTree HealthRoot Zone

Chainsaw Chain Selection and Sharpening

6 min

How to pick the right chain for the job and keep it cutting clean.

EquipmentChainsawChainSharpening

ISA Certification: What Arborists Need to Know

6 min

Requirements, exam prep, and career benefits of becoming an ISA Certified Arborist.

Regulations & CertificationISA CertificationArboristCareer Development

Storm Damage Assessment and Emergency Response

7 min

How to safely assess storm-damaged trees and manage emergency response operations.

Safety & TechniquesStorm DamageEmergency ResponseTree Assessment

Pruning Standards: ANSI A300 Explained

7 min

What the ANSI A300 pruning standard says and how to apply it in the field.

Regulations & CertificationANSI A300Pruning StandardsTree Care

Starting a Tree Service Business

8 min

Practical steps for launching a tree service company, from licensing to equipment to your first customers.

Business & OperationsStarting a BusinessTree ServiceEntrepreneurship

Crown Reduction vs. Crown Thinning

6 min

When to recommend crown reduction versus crown thinning and how to execute each properly.

Tree CareCrown ReductionCrown ThinningPruning

Stump Grinding Equipment Comparison

6 min

A breakdown of stump grinder types, sizes, and when to use each one.

EquipmentStump GrindingEquipmentStump Grinder

Tree Risk Assessment: The TRAQ Method

8 min

How to conduct professional tree risk assessments using the ISA TRAQ framework.

Safety & TechniquesTree Risk AssessmentTRAQSafety

Managing Oak Wilt in the Midwest and Texas

8 min

How oak wilt spreads, how to identify it, and what arborists can do to prevent and treat it.

Tree CareOak WiltTree DiseaseOak Trees

Emerald Ash Borer: Treatment Options and Timing

7 min

Current treatment methods for protecting ash trees from emerald ash borer and when they make sense.

Tree CareEmerald Ash BorerEABAsh Trees

Winter Tree Work: Cold-Weather Safety

6 min

Safety considerations and operational adjustments for tree work in cold weather.

Seasonal TipsWinter SafetyCold WeatherSeasonal Work

How to Price Commercial Tree Service Contracts

7 min

Strategies for bidding and structuring commercial tree maintenance contracts.

Business & OperationsCommercial ContractsPricingBusiness

Crane-Assisted Tree Removal: When and How

7 min

When a crane makes sense for tree removal and how to plan a crane-assisted operation.

EquipmentCraneTree RemovalHeavy Equipment

PHC Programs: Selling Plant Health Care

7 min

How to build and sell recurring plant health care programs to residential and commercial customers.

Business & OperationsPlant Health CarePHCRecurring Revenue

Root Zone Management for Construction Sites

7 min

How to protect trees during construction and what happens when root zones are disturbed.

Tree CareRoot ZoneConstruction DamageTree Protection

Lightning Protection for Trees

6 min

How lightning protection systems work for trees and which trees are candidates for protection.

Tree CareLightning ProtectionTree ProtectionANSI A300

Tree Preservation Ordinances: A State-by-State Overview

7 min

Understanding local tree protection laws and how they affect tree service operations.

Regulations & CertificationTree OrdinancesRegulationsPermits

Spring Storm Preparation Checklist

5 min

A seasonal checklist for tree service companies to prepare for spring storm season.

Seasonal TipsStorm PreparationSeasonal ChecklistSpring

Hiring and Training Tree Service Crews

7 min

How to find, hire, and train reliable tree service crew members.

Business & OperationsHiringTrainingCrew Management

Cabling and Bracing: Hardware and Installation

7 min

A technical guide to supplemental support systems for structurally compromised trees.

Safety & TechniquesCablingBracingStructural Support

Aerial Lift Safety for Arborists

7 min

OSHA requirements and best practices for safe bucket truck and aerial lift operations in tree work.

EquipmentAerial LiftBucket TruckOSHA

Tree Identification for Field Crews

6 min

Basic tree identification skills that every tree service crew member should have.

Tree CareTree IdentificationSpeciesField Training

Insurance Requirements for Tree Service Companies

7 min

What insurance coverage tree service companies need and how to manage costs.

Business & OperationsInsuranceBusinessLiability

Summer Drought Stress Management

6 min

How to identify and manage drought stress in landscape trees during summer heat.

Seasonal TipsDrought StressSummerWatering

Fall Planting Guide for Replacement Trees

6 min

Best practices for planting trees in fall, including species selection, planting technique, and establishment care.

Seasonal TipsTree PlantingFall PlantingSpecies Selection

Integrated Pest Management for Urban Trees

7 min

How to apply IPM principles to tree pest and disease management in urban and suburban settings.

Tree CareIntegrated Pest ManagementIPMTree Health

Soil Testing and Amendment for Tree Health

7 min

How to test soil, interpret results, and amend soil to improve tree health.

Tree CareSoil TestingSoil AmendmentTree Health