Scam Tree Companies Blow In With The Storms

Most days, I love being a consulting arborist. Trees are one of the most fascinating, complex, and important things on Earth. Their adaptability to an almost unlimited number of conditions and situations continually amazes me.

Then there are days like some I've had recently, when human beings prove they're capable of some of the worst behavior you could imagine.

In a three-day span, I've seen two different groups of unqualified tree workers risk the safety of themselves and others, and take advantage of an unsuspecting neighbor to the tune of thousands of dollars. Those days, I expect there's a spike in my blood pressure.

This time of year, you'll see tree companies everywhere, especially following strong storms. Tree scam artists are just like other storm chasers: they prey on peoples' fears. News reports showing downed trees, smashed cars, and emergency vehicles may make viewership or click rates jump, but they create the necessary fear these scammers need to operate.

The best way to stop these people is to get educated.

Arboriculture - the science and practice of caring for trees - has come a long way in the past 20 years. The amount of research is staggering (I know, I'm trying to keep up!), and our understanding of how and why trees grow and survive has taken great leaps forward.

A qualified arborist will avail themselves of this ongoing information and be able to explain why they do what they do. They'll also be associated with professional organizations that inform and train, like the International Society of Arboriculture and the Tree Care Industry Association. Doctors, accountants, engineers, and investment professionals are all required to receive ongoing education to maintain their credentials. The same is true for certified arborists, registered consulting arborists, municipal tree specialists, and board-certified master arborists.

Your best chance at hiring a truly professional arborist is to verify their credentials. Asking questions is crucial. Did you know that there are international, peer-reviewed, agreed-upon, published standards for tree care and safety? Tree work is the second most dangerous industry in the United States, and if you hire a tree company whose workers do not even wear eye, ear, and head protection, they are in violation of these basic standards. Now, these are not laws, just industry standards, but if they don't care enough about the people they work with to protect themselves, how likely is it they'll apply the necessary care around your property?

Tree care standards are published by the American National Standards Institutes, and they cover everything from pruning, planting, soil management and drainage, root management, and more (ANSI A300). There is an entire section devoted to safety practices (ANSI Z133). If the tree workers you're thinking of hiring aren't aware of or don't follow these standards, then they are not true tree professionals, just people who work on trees.

And there's a huge difference.

There are amazing new fields of study like tree biomechanics, which uses NASA-inspired technology and software to analyze how trees move and bend during loading events like wind and ice. We even use motion-capture technology similar to what Hollywood uses to create virtual creatures like those you see in science fiction movies. We know so much more about how and why trees survive and thrive, and anyone who doesn't study and utilize this knowledge and research is falling behind. You wouldn't go to a doctor or dentist who stopped studying 30 years ago, would you? Don't hire a tree worker who's doing the same thing.

Municipalities and police can do little about these scam artists. In most cases, they're not doing anything illegal. They make you an offer (an uneducated, overpriced offer), and you agree. That's not illegal, it's just lousy business. A city can require a company be authorized or insured to work in their town, but that's no guarantee of their professionalism or knowledge. Some cities do require companies have at least one ISA-certified arborist on staff, and that's a good start, but scammers come in and out so quickly that they often fly under the radar. That's where you come in.

Get educated. Ask questions. Your neighbors, friends, family and trees are relying on us.

Palmer is a consulting arborist, teacher, and voluntary chair of the marketing committee of the Ohio chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. Read more: whenbadthingshappentogoodtrees.com.