I know what you are probably thinking right now. You are thinking that before you hire a tree service (or any service provider for that matter) you always request a certificate of insurance (COI) to verify proof of workers compensation insurance. Unfortunately, thanks to what is known as a Ghost Policy, a COI does not mean the tree service actually has any real insurance protection for its employees.

A Ghost Policy  is a policy designed for a company with only one member (the owner) and no employees. It is an extremely cheap way for an individual to obtain a COI in order to win bids and projects that require workers comp insurance coverage.

The Ghost Policy, however, has opened a major loophole. Many tree services with employees still purchase this Ghost Policy by claiming either they they have no employees (and pay them off the books) or that their employees are sub-contractors, which is illegal given Federal and State law. By obtaining a Ghost Policy, a tree service is able to show you a COI while saving anywhere from $30,000 to well over $300,000 per year. This allows that service to offer much lower prices – hence the drastic variation in pricing between companies with legitimate insurance and those without.

But here is the incredible danger: by doing this, that service exploits its employees and puts you the client at great risk. If someone is injured on your property, you could be held responsible for medical and related costs.

The good news is that there are ways to avoid hiring such a service. Read our full article The Dangerous Truth About Ghost Insurance Policies to learn more.

Be sure to let us know what you think!

This award is measured across all categories, not simply the tree service category, and is based on feedback from Angie’s List members. Thus out of the hundreds of companies on Angie’s List, we have been selected as one of the 15 best.

We are truly honored. As with any award or accolade we receive, we know this would never be possible without our outstanding staff and amazing clients such as yourself. Thank you!

According to Angie’s List, this distinction is awarded annually to approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on their website. The Super Service Award 2012 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, including earning a minimum number of reports, maintaining an excellent rating from their customers, and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

We are honored that you think so highly of our company. We strive to offer excellent customer service, as well as quality workmanship, and this is one indication that we are headed in the right direction towards achieving our goals. Thank you!

The International Society of Arboriculture is a scientific and educational organization committed to spreading information regarding the care and preservation of trees. It is one of the largest organizations of tree care professionals in the world. In 1992 the ISA founded its certification program with the goal of improving the knowledge and standards of practice within the tree care industry. In addition, the program is designed to help the general public in identifying quality professionals who have a thorough knowledge of tree care practices, as demonstrated by passing the ISA education program and exam.

This program is voluntary. All individuals who choose to earn this certification must complete an education program and exam that covers all facets of arboriculture. This includes topics such as soil management, tree identification & selection, tree biology, safe working practices, pruning, diagnosis & treatment, tree risk management, and much more.

When you work with Joe and Leaf & Limb Tree Service, you can rest assured knowing that we have the experience and working knowledge necessary to properly tend to your trees. Contact us today for a free consultation, advice, and a plan of action for all your tree care needs. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

• For a trimming project, it is important not to use spikes when ascending the tree. Spiking a live tree leaves small wounds along the trunk. These open wounds could lead to health problems in the future.
• Pruning cuts must be made at the branch collar. If pruning cuts are made too close to the trunk (this is called a “flush cut”) the tree is not able to properly heal over the cut. Flush cuts leave a tree more susceptible to future rot, infections, and pest infestations.
• It is often necessary to lower limbs down using a rope. This is called rigging. This prevents the branches from causing damage to property below.

Enjoy this video and be sure to let us know if you have a trimming or pruning project in mind. We would love to send one of our ISA Certified Arborists out to meet with you in order to discuss your needs and offer solutions. As always, these estimates are free.

Anyways, enough chit-chat. Enjoy the video and let us know what you think!

The International Society of Arboriculture is a scientific and educational organization committed to spreading information regarding the care and preservation of trees. It is one of the largest organizations of tree care professionals in the world. In 1992 the ISA founded its certification program with the goal of improving the knowledge and standards of practice within the tree care industry. In addition, the program is designed to help the general public in identifying quality professionals who have a thorough knowledge of tree care practices, as demonstrated by passing the ISA education program and exam.

This program is voluntary. All individuals who choose to earn this certification must complete an education program and exam that covers all facets of arboriculture. This includes topics such as soil management, tree identification & selection, tree biology, safe working practices, pruning, diagnosis & treatment, tree risk management, and much more.

When you work with Leaf & Limb Tree Service, you can rest easy knowing that our ISA Certified Arborists have a working knowledge of how to properly tend to your trees. We are able to offer consultations, advice, and plans of action for all your tree care needs. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

With 2012 under way, we are finally ready to begin offering each new service. Today we are featuring an exciting new segment: tree root care. Roots are vitally important to the health and longevity of a tree. While most tree services focus on the canopy of a tree, many overlook its underground component – the root system. Yet when a tree displays problems such as disease, pest infestation, dead branches, or overall decline, these can often be traced back to issues within the roots. Once the root system is damaged, the tree will begin declining in health, to the point where it could die.

To learn more, be sure to read our page about Tree Root Care

In the meantime, enjoy the below video the we recently created. It features aeration and de-compaction of the soil around an oak tree. Before you begin watching, here is the background:

In this video, the soil surrounding the oak tree was badly compacted. When compaction occurs above the key structural roots of a tree, it diminishes the available soil pores (air spaces) that hold oxygen. This limits the oxygen diffusion rate in the soil and results in root suffocation. But a tree’s roots must have oxygen in order to grow. As such, compaction can severely harm a tree. Aerating and de-compacting the soil in the critical root zone will fix the problem. As you will see in this video, we do so using an Air Spade. This tool blasts out air at over 1200 MPH. This is powerful enough to break up the soil, but does not harm the roots. Once the aeration is done, we cover the area with mulch. The mulch helps trap moisture, regulate temperature, and keep weeds and grass from growing.

According to Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List, “Only a fraction of the businesses rated on Angie’s List can claim the sterling service record of being a Super Service Award winner because we set a high bar.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their clients, and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Here at Leaf & Limb we are honored to have received this award. Although it is only one small award from one of many companies, it is nice to see that our efforts to offer excellent service are being recognized. For us, the client is king and we strive to demonstrate this through our service.

Thanks to each of you who took time out of your busy day to post feedback about our company on Angie’s List. It is because of you that we won this award.

• Reducing energy bills by providing shade
• Absorbing pollutants in the air, soil, and water
• Cleaning carbon dioxide from the air
• Lessening noise pollution
• And more!

Whether you are looking to add value to your existing property, sell your property for a higher price, or command higher rent rates from tenants, your trees should be an important consideration.

Many tree service companies are able to fell trees, trim trees, and remove stumps, but they do not have the expertise with which to identify, diagnose, and solve tree disorders. As such, they are unable to recommend solutions that heal and preserve trees.

To offer tree care services requires a great deal of knowledge about tree physiology, diseases, root systems, pests, abiotic factors, as well as the surrounding environment. But this expertise does not translate into offering services that are more expensive. As a matter of fact, tree care services are generally cheaper than tree removal services.

According to various surveys and cost analyses performed by USDA Forest Services, municipalities, and the private sector, it is estimated that the average cost to remove a tree is somewhere around $500-$700.  In contrast, tree care services (fertilization, pest control, etc.) generally range from $50 to $200 per tree. Not only that, but tree care involves less risk to workers and property. Best of all, by caring for your trees you have maintained and enhanced these assets rather than removing them.

The end result of tree care? You have saved money and increased your property value. Contact Leaf & Limb Tree Service today for all your tree care needs.

NOTE: This blog post is an excerpt from Leaf & Limb article entitled Tree Care: Save Money and Increase Your Property Value. You can read the full version of this article by clicking the link.