Tree work moves fast and most of the critical decisions happen in the first minutes of the job — how the tree will be rigged, where the drop zone is, how close to the power line the climber will go. Knowing what to watch for, and what to ask at the right moments, helps you confirm the job is being done safely and to the agreed scope.

A practical note: don’t hover directly under the tree or in the work zone while crew are working overhead. Maintain a safe distance and ask questions during natural breaks — when the climber descends, when the chipper is off, when sections have been moved. Safety for you matters as much as for the crew.

“The best thing a homeowner can do during tree work is stay out of the work zone and ask questions during breaks. I appreciate when homeowners are engaged — when they ask about the rigging plan before we start, or ask to see a specific branch before we remove it. What I don’t want is someone standing under a tree section while we’re lowering it because they want to see how it’s done.”

— Tomasz Kwiatkowski, ISA Certified Arborist and tree risk assessment qualified practitioner with 20 years of experience in residential and municipal tree management in the local area

Before Work Starts

Lumberjack using a chainsaw to cut a tree trunk outdoors, showcasing professional equipment and safety gear.

Can you walk me through the plan before the crew starts?

Ask the crew lead or arborist for a brief pre-job overview:

  • Which tree or trees are being worked on today?
  • Where is the drop zone for removed sections?
  • How will the tree be rigged — what rigging points will be used?
  • Where will the chipper be positioned?
  • Where should you and any family members stay during the job?
  • Is there a concern about the power line, and has the utility been notified?

This five-minute conversation gives you context, ensures you’re not in a dangerous location, and creates a shared understanding of the day’s plan.

Are there any surprises from this morning’s look at the tree?

Sometimes a tree looks different once the crew is up close versus from the ground the day the quote was given. Ask whether there’s anything the crew noticed this morning that changes the plan.

During the Job

Man pruning branches of a tall tree

What safety clearance is being maintained from the power line?

If there is a power line near the work area, ask specifically what clearance the crew is maintaining. In many regions, the minimum safe approach distance for an unqualified person is 3 meters from distribution lines. Ask where the crew’s designated safe approach distance is and whether anyone will be going closer.

Red flag: A crew working within arm’s reach of energized distribution lines without utility de-energization or insulation in place.

Are spike gaffs being used?

Look at the climber’s feet when they ascend the tree. Climbing spikes (gaffs) create a wound every few inches up the trunk — appropriate only when the tree is being removed, never when it will remain. If the tree is being pruned and you see gaffs, ask the crew lead to address it.

Is the pruning following the plan that was quoted?

For pruning jobs, ask periodically whether the work is staying within the agreed scope — the percentage of crown removal and the specific branches targeted. Scope creep in either direction (removing less than agreed or more) should prompt a conversation.

How are removed sections being lowered?

For sectional removal near structures, ask the crew lead to explain how each major section will be rigged and lowered before it’s cut. A proper rigging plan uses rated hardware and appropriate rope at a controlled lowering rate. Sections that are simply pushed or dropped are a hazard to structures, fences, and underground utilities below.

After Each Section or Major Phase

Is the rigging gear being inspected between sections?

Ask whether the rope and hardware is being inspected between sections. Rigging rope should be checked for abrasion; hardware should be checked for unusual wear. In a high-production environment, this inspection can be brief but should happen.

Are there any concerns about what’s been found?

As the crew works higher into the tree, they may find decay, structural defects, or conditions that weren’t visible from the ground. Ask the crew lead at natural breaks: has anything changed from the original plan, and is there anything I should know about?

After the Job

Walk the site together before the crew leaves.

Before the crew packs up and you make final payment, do a walkthrough:

  • Is all debris chipped and hauled, or are logs/brush left behind as agreed?
  • Is the stump ground to the agreed depth?
  • Are all cut ends visible (for pruning jobs) — confirming cuts were made at appropriate locations, not leaving stubs?
  • Is adjacent landscaping, fencing, and structures undamaged?
  • Is the work area raked and reasonably clean?

Raise any concerns before the crew leaves — this is the time when corrections are easy. Once the crew departs and you’ve made final payment, leverage disappears.

Ask for any documentation from the job.

Ask for:
– A receipt or invoice documenting what work was done
– Any photos of notable conditions found during the job (decay discovered in a cavity, a co-dominant stem that was removed)
– Confirmation of what was applied if any treatments were used (fertilizer, wound dressing)

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