Best Tree Service Contractor Serving Saskatoon And Area

This is a very important question to ask. As a homeowner in Canada, you as the land owner are legally responsible for the work carried out on your property. The best way to safeguard neighbours or the general public who are passing by, is to make sure that your tree service provider has up to date insurance. Normally, most arborists will carry Commercial General Liability (CBL), but it's important to note that this policy doesn't cover everything that an arborist does. Without getting into too much detail, insurance providers have a special arborist specific policy, which covers your property, your neighbours property, and any other personal type injury that may occur as well. Simply asking if your tree removal company has arborist insurance could save you a huge headache should something not go as planned.

Not all tree service professionals are equal. A guy with a chainsaw isn't a tree surgeon, and a tree surgeon also isn't an arborist. Getting to know the difference is important when deciding who to hire, and what price to pay. Someone who only works on the ground will usually hold a chainsaw qualification as a minimum, but are limited to helping the arborist or tree surgeon from below, keeping the work area clear and assisting where needed. A tree surgeon will have moderate training in assessing tree health, climbing trees and working at heights, and knows the best ways to prune or fell your tree safely, while minimizing damage to the plant itself. Lastly, an arborist, as well as having any or all of the training and qualifications above, will have studied arboriculture and have extensive knowledge on how to care for the overall health of your tree and help maintain a long lifespan.

Because the trade of arboriculture and tree surgery doesn't have an overriding body to control who calls themselves what, like medicine or engineering, people can exaggerate what their title actually is. There are some questions you can ask though and determine for yourself exactly what qualifications they have. In Canada, there are a few certificates people who call themselves professionals can get. One of the more common ones is a Certified Arborist through ISA (International Society of Arboriculture). Another one some choose to further their qualifications is to become a Registered Consulting Arborist through ASCA (American Society of Consulting Arborists), as well as a multitude of trainings and certificates through the Arboriculture Canada Training and Education schools. Being aware of what your tree service provider is capable of before they start the job can make all the difference between a successful job, and a job where things could go wrong.

No matter what size of job you have, it's advisable to get a written quote before allowing any tree removal service company to start work. This ensures that both you and the contractor know exactly what needs to get done, and the total cost isn't going to be a big surprise at the end. This quote or contract will go through all the specifics as well, describing how long it will take, how many people will be involved, and what type of equipment is needed. Should heavy machinery be involved, the quote phase is often the best time to talk about what kind of damage you could expect to your lawn or flower beds, and what will be done to rectify this disturbance. Usually a knowledgeable arborist can minimize any damage from falling limbs of trees by using special rigging techniques to lower heavier sections slowly and safely to the ground. Make sure contractors like Emondage Saint-Jean are capable of such work.

A great place to start with who to hire should be with references. Having a look at the companies previous work experiences and quality of feedback from other clients can tell a lot about the company as a whole. Be sure to actually read the reviews on sources like the Google Business Page, Facebook or other directories, as often companies take the time to explain why things were done a certain way, and try to correct any wrong doings. Not all bad reviews are created equal.

Most of the time it will be obvious as a homeowner which trees are on your property and which ones aren't. Any trees that are on the boulevards, on the other sides of sidewalks and in parks. Other times, where it seems like the tree is both on your property and on city property, it can be tough to make a decision. Although it's usually easy to tell, people can times have a lapse of judgment, say when there is a massive tree whose limbs are dangling into your yard. Your local tree surgeon should have a firm grasp on the rules regarding this, and in the event of a 'straddling tree' (where more than 50% of a tree is on your property, but still some is on city property) situation, a survey of the land may be required before proceeding. Before any pruning, trimming or removing a questionable tree, call the city or have your tree service company do it for you. This simply step could save you over $10,000!

Such wildlife like bats and certain types of birds are protected to different degrees in Saskatoon. The most common type of bat in Saskatoon is called the Big Brown Bat, and can at times be found roosting in homes, old buildings, or clumps of trees. This bat, and all the other types found in Saskatoon are protected and cannot be killed. If the tree you have selected to be removed has any protected species living in it, the tree care specialist should be able to inform you of what steps must be taken to be able to continue with the work. From July to August while the pups are still in the roost, moving or relocating this critters should not be done. Be sure to have the tree in question inspected for inhabitants before the removal process begins, that way a clear plan can be established and a proper timeline can be given.

When receiving the estimate and work description, the amount of time needed for the job should also be made clear. As noted above about both the nesting and roosting times of certain animals, and the amount of machinery and equipment required, it can at times be necessary to delay the commencing of work until it's either safe to move the wildlife or it vacates on its own. In addition, a professional arborist can advise the best time of year to do all your trimming and pruning to make sure minimal harm is done to the health of your tree or shrub.

Things like topping and using spikes while tree climbing are the two biggest mistakes a tree removal company can make. The practice of topping, although usually only used by misinformed homeowners, is the act of cutting the top of the tree off. This will drastically reduce the height of the tree, and can lead disease and death. Find out more about tree topping here. 

For the arborists and tree surgeons who intend to climb the tree to carry out thinning or trimming, it should also be noted that wearing boots with spikes on them will cause open wounds on the tree. Wearing cleated footwear does make climbing dramatically easier, but doing so could allow disease and infestations to occur, leading to an early death.

Last but not least is our standards on safety. When choosing the right company to care for your trees and yard, making sure both your families safety and your properties safety should be the highest consideration. We take every precaution, from barricading off areas to avoid people or vehicles from entering dangerous locations, to using the proper rigging and slinging techniques for lowering large sections of trees to the ground. Our team also wears all the latest safety gear when the job calls for it. This includes hard hats, face shields, cut proof chain saw pants, along with safety boots and harnesses. No matter how big or small your job is, let us take care of it safely, and efficiently!