Tree work is the most physically dangerous residential trade — more worker fatalities per capita than almost any other sector, including construction and mining. A chainsaw 15 meters up in a tree, next to power lines, over a house, requires skill, training, and equipment that a person with a truck and a saw simply does not have. Yet tree service is one of the trades with the lowest barriers to entry and the highest proportion of unqualified operators.

The consequences of hiring the wrong tree company aren’t limited to a tree that’s improperly pruned. They include workers who fall and whose medical costs land on your property liability, trees that fall on houses because a structural assessment was never done, and power lines that are struck because the crew didn’t coordinate with the utility before working near them.

The questions in this guide apply whether you’re hiring for routine pruning, hazard tree removal, stump grinding, storm damage cleanup, or a comprehensive tree health assessment.

“The question I get from homeowners most often is: can you just cut down this tree? The question I wish they asked first is: does this tree actually need to come down? Because a significant percentage of trees that homeowners want removed are healthy trees that are being misread as problems — roots near a foundation that aren’t causing damage, a leaning tree that’s been leaning for decades, a dead branch in an otherwise healthy crown. A certified arborist gives you an honest answer about what the tree actually needs. A tree removal company’s answer is almost always removal.”

— Colin from Toronto Tree Service, arborist and tree care specialist with over 42 years of experience providing professional tree services across Toronto, focused on safe work practices, long-term tree health, and reliable customer service

Before You Call Anyone

Firefighter in protective gear using chainsaw to cut tree branches outdoors.

Does this tree need to come down, or does it need care?

Before inviting any tree service company, consider what the tree actually needs. The most common misread situations:

A tree leaning toward the house: Most trees that lean have been leaning for years and are structurally sound. A lean is not inherently dangerous — the risk depends on the degree of lean, what’s underneath, the root system integrity, and the species. A certified arborist can assess the actual risk.

Dead branches: Dead branches in an otherwise healthy tree crown are normal and are addressed by pruning, not removal. Only a tree that is entirely dead, or dying, may warrant removal.

Roots near the foundation: Tree roots grow toward water. Roots visible at a foundation have typically been there for years. Actual root damage to foundations is much less common than homeowners fear — and removal doesn’t undo damage that’s already occurred.

A tree that “looks dead” in spring: Some species leaf out very late and can appear dead when they’re not. Others may have winter dieback in specific branches without being structurally compromised. Wait for full leafout before making decisions about removal.

What type of work do you need?

Pruning/trimming: Removing specific branches for safety, health, clearance, or aesthetics. Should be done according to ANSI A300 standards by a qualified person.

Tree removal: Removing the entire tree, including felling or sectional removal and disposal.

Stump grinding: Grinding the remaining stump after removal, below grade.

Tree health assessment: An arborist’s assessment of a tree’s health and structural condition. Should result in a written report.

Emergency storm damage: Removing or securing a tree that has fallen or is in imminent danger after a storm.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

Arborist climbs tree to cut a trunk with a chainsaw, showcasing safety gear and sawdust.

Is your company insured, and for how much?

This is the most important question in tree service. Tree work near structures and power lines carries enormous liability. Ask specifically:

General liability insurance: Covers damage to your property if a tree or limb falls on your house, vehicle, or fence during work. Ask for the coverage amount — a minimum of $2 million is appropriate for residential tree work. $5 million is standard for any work near structures.

Workers’ compensation (workers’ compensation coverage): Covers workers if injured on your property. A tree worker who falls and is not covered by workers’ compensation coverage may have legal recourse against you as the property owner. Ask for a current workers’ compensation coverage Clearance Certificate and verify it at your workers’ compensation board’s website.

Do not accept verbal assurances. Ask for a current certificate of insurance listing your property as an additional insured for the duration of the work.

What a good answer looks like: A certificate of insurance with at minimum $2 million liability coverage and a current workers’ compensation coverage Clearance Certificate, provided immediately and without reluctance.

Do you have ISA Certified Arborists on staff?

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist credential is the primary professional certification in the tree care industry. Achieving it requires passing an examination on tree biology, tree identification, pruning standards, tree risk assessment, and tree care practices.

Ask specifically whether the person who will be supervising and doing the work holds an ISA Certified Arborist credential — not just whether the company employs one somewhere.

What a good answer looks like: At least one ISA Certified Arborist on the crew for any significant pruning or removal job, with their certification number available for verification at isahq.Org.

Are you a member of TCIA or equivalent?

The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) is the primary professional association for tree care companies in North America. TCIA members agree to a code of ethics and some pursue Accredited Tree Care Company status. Your region-specific membership in organizations like a recognized landscaping trade association’s tree care division is also relevant.

Will you coordinate with utilities before working near power lines?

Working within the established safe clearance distance of power lines requires coordination with the utility — in many regions, this typically means notifying Hydro One or the local distribution utility, and in some cases having the utility de-energize or insulate the lines before work begins.

A tree company that proposes to work near power lines without any mention of utility coordination is either unaware of the requirement or planning to ignore it. Either is dangerous.

What a good answer looks like: Confirmed knowledge of your region utility clearance requirements (typically 3 meters for distribution lines) and a described process for utility notification or coordination when working within that zone.

For more: Questions to Ask a Tree Service About Safety and Insurance

Questions About the Assessment

Will a certified arborist assess the tree before proposing work?

Any significant tree work should be preceded by an arborist’s assessment — not a sales visit by a company estimator. The assessment should:

  • Evaluate the tree’s health and structure
  • Identify any specific hazards or defects
  • Determine whether removal is necessary or whether pruning and care can address the issue
  • Propose a scope of work proportional to the actual condition

What a good answer looks like: A described assessment process with findings communicated before a treatment recommendation is made.

Can you provide a written tree risk assessment?

For any tree where safety risk is the reason for the proposed work, ask for a written tree risk assessment. A formal risk assessment — particularly one conducted by an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) practitioner — documents the assessed likelihood of failure, the consequences if it fails, and the overall risk rating. This documentation matters for insurance purposes and for making an informed decision.

For more: Questions to Ask an Arborist About Tree Health and Risk Assessment

Questions About the Work

Will this pruning follow ANSI A300 standards?

ANSI A300 is the American National Standard for Tree Care Operations — the professional standard for pruning cuts, pruning ratios, and tree care practices. A company that prunes to ANSI A300 standards makes proper cuts at the branch collar (not flush cuts, not “hat-racking” or “topping”). Ask whether ANSI A300 is the company’s pruning standard.

What a good answer looks like: Confirmed knowledge of ANSI A300 and a commitment to follow it.

For removal: what is the plan for felling direction and drop zone?

For any tree removal, ask specifically how the tree or sections will be brought down, what the drop zone is, and how your property and any adjacent properties will be protected. For sectional removal in confined spaces, this requires detailed rigging plans.

Is stump grinding included in the removal price?

Stump grinding is typically a separate line item from tree removal. Ask explicitly whether stump grinding is included and to what depth. A standard stump grinding brings the stump to approximately 15–20 cm below grade. Deeper grinding or complete stump removal is possible at additional cost.

What happens to the wood and debris?

Ask whether wood and debris removal is included in the price, or whether logs will be left for you to manage. Chipping and hauling all debris adds time and cost but is typically the standard service. Confirm explicitly.

For more: Questions to Ask When Getting a Tree Service Quote

Red Flags to Watch For

No insurance documentation provided. A tree service that won’t provide a certificate of insurance immediately is either uninsured or has something to hide. Do not allow any tree work on your property without verified insurance.

Recommending “topping” a tree. Topping — removing large portions of a tree’s crown by making cuts through main branches — is a harmful, non-standard practice that damages tree health, creates hazardous regrowth, and is condemned by every professional arborist organization. Any company that recommends topping as a solution is not operating to professional standards.

Working near power lines without utility coordination. This is a safety issue, not just a procedural one. A crew working in close proximity to energized lines without proper training or utility notification risks electrocution.

Door-to-door solicitation after storms. Storm chasers — tree companies that appear in affected neighborhoods immediately after storms, often without local offices, insurance, or qualifications — are a well-documented post-disaster fraud pattern. Decline door-to-door tree service offers.

Cash-only, no written contract. A professional tree service provides a written contract specifying scope, price, insurance coverage, and what happens with debris. Cash-only operators have no accountability.

Spike climbing for pruning. Climbing spikes (gaffs) damage trees by creating wounds every few inches up the trunk. Spikes are appropriate only when a tree is being removed — never for pruning a tree that will remain. If you see a crew member spiking a tree they’re going to prune, stop the job.

For a full guide: Red Flags When Hiring a Tree Service or Arborist

Before They Start: A Quick Checklist

  • Certificate of insurance with adequate limits received and verified
  • Workers’ compensation coverage Clearance Certificate verified at your workers’ compensation board’s website
  • ISA Certified Arborist on crew confirmed and credential verified
  • Utility coordination confirmed for any work near power lines
  • Written contract with scope, price, and debris disposal specified
  • ANSI A300 pruning standards confirmed
  • Spike climbing prohibited for pruning work confirmed

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