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Frequently Asked Questions
Your Tree Service Questions Answered
Get the Expert Answers You Need
Before hiring a tree service company, be sure they're able to answer all of your questions.
Our team has gathered the most common questions from homeowners about invoicing and payment options, our service standards, and what to expect when working with us.
Site Visits & proposals
It is not always necessary to be present. Your proposal is always personalized to meet your needs. However, to do that, it's best if we have a chance to meet and examine your property together so you can help us understand your objectives for the work, as well as any limitations or other factors we need to be aware of.
For your first appointment with our company, it's best if you can be present. Although we can access your tree(s) if they're not behind a locked gate, we prefer to meet you in person. We like to build a relationship with our clients, as well as explaining what we suggest for your trees and the reason why.
However, if you cannot be present, we request that you mark the tree(s) in question so we know which tree(s) to inspect. Ribbon, tape, snowplow markers, and paint (for removals) all work well. We also ask that you be available by phone for any questions or a virtual walk-through.
We provide free proposals for all our tree care services. In some cases, we are hired for Arboricultural Consulting on issues that require more time and in-depth evaluation, such as in cases of insurance damage claims, tree preservation plans, arborist reports, etc. However, we can give you a free proposal for these paid consulting services as well.
We cannot provide a proposal without visiting the site where the work will be done. Each tree and location is unique. Our representative needs to examine the tree its and surroundings to be able to give an accurate proposal.
There are 3 simple ways to accept a proposal.
- Accept the proposal electronically from the link in the email we send to you with the proposal information.
- Print the proposal, sign it, and mail the signed document to 4109 King Arthur Court,
Santa Rosa, CA 95405 - Print and sign the proposal, then scan it and return it to us via email at info@systemictreeservice.com.
Scheduling
After you have accepted a proposal, we will call you to schedule your service. If you need to be scheduled right away, please give our office a call at 707-400-7724.
We usually have a backlog for work to be completed, so cannot schedule new work to be done immediately.
Even though it sounds like the logical thing to do, we also cannot just pick a date to schedule your work to be done. A lot of factors influence our scheduling. For example, timing is affected by weather, equipment, employees, permits, and sometimes we need to coordinate assistance from energy providers and utility contractors.
When we schedule, we first look at the date on which a proposal was accepted; work that was accepted first will be scheduled first. We usually notify you 48 hours prior to the work to let you know your work has been scheduled. These scheduled workdays are always weather and equipment pending.
Even though you see a crew in your neighborhood, they cannot be called over to work on your property. Their day is fully scheduled with work they have to complete. They will not have a window of time available to add more work.
If you like what you see, please call our office at 707-400-7724! We will schedule one of our tree care professionals to visit your property. They can examine your tree(s), discuss your needs, and provide you with a proposal for the work. After you accept the proposed work, we will call you a few days before the work is scheduled to be completed.
Invoices & Payment
When the project is finished, we'll send you an invoice for the work.
Tips are never expected and are always at your discretion. However, our team members certainly appreciate a tip if you feel they've done exceptional work.
We accept the following forms of payment: cash, personal check, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
Yes, you can pay by credit card by calling our office at 707-400-7724 or using the online payment portal from the link in your invoice.
Please note that a 3.50% convenience fee will be added to your invoice if paying by credit card.
What to Expect
No, you do not need to be home unless we have specifically asked you to be there.
The crew or treatment technicians will have a work order describing the work described in your proposal and they will complete the work following these guidelines.
Sometimes the symptoms you're observing in your tree(s) are very distinctive and one of our Certified Arborists can make an accurate diagnosis over the phone. However, there are often other factors influencing your tree's health, such as nearby landscaping, soil conditions, irrigation, etc., that you may not be aware of. A site visit to inspect the tree in person is usually required.
If there are any animals on the property, please let us know before we come out to provide an estimate. All animals must be brought indoors or contained before staff arrive.
Some animals find the noise and activity associated with tree work to be distressing. Please ensure that all animals are kept well away from the work zone while our crew is on site.
It's always a good idea to contact Call Before You Dig (call 811) to get underground utility lines marked before stump grinding, tree removal or large pruning jobs.
If you have any underground sprinklers, drain lines, invisible fences, septic fields or underground cables, those should also be marked or mapped.
Unless the underground lines and structures are adequately and accurately marked or mapped, and that information is presented to our crew before work starts, we can't be responsible for any damage caused during performance of the work.
We clean up all debris from performing our tree services before we leave your property (unless you've made other arrangements with us and it says so on the proposal).
That means we rake all lawn areas, clear streets and sidewalks, and remove all brush, branches, and logs from your property.
The length of time required to properly and safely complete tree work will vary based on a lot of factors. Until we see the tree(s) and the job site, we can't give you a realistic estimate for that. We will discuss timing with you during and/or after the site visit is completed.
About Us
Yes, Systemic Tree Service, Inc. is fully insured with liability and workers compensation insurance that is specific to tree care work. Please call the office at 707-400-7724 for proof of insurance.
Tree work is inherently dangerous, both for the workers and the property on which the work is done. Without the proper insurance (this is very different from insurance for "landscaping") and workers comp, you are on the hook in the unfortunate event that something goes wrong.
Please, always check the insurance credentials of someone you're considering hiring to do tree work on your property.
Our liability policy covers damage to any property, people, or buildings. It specifically covers any damage caused by tree work.
If a contractor shows you a certificate of insurance, it may be expired or not cover the job that you are having done (for instance, most landscapers have insurance that only covers work done up to 10-15 feet off the ground, but not above).
We work with many HOA management companies around the area and would be happy to provide you with any details you may require. Please call us at 707-400-7724 for more information.
We work year-round through all types of weather conditions. However, we may shift our schedule during particularly harsh weather, not only for the safety of our crew, but also for the health of your trees and landscape.
For safety reasons, we are unable to work during lightning and/or strong winds. Winter storms may also delay work.
About Certified Arborists
A Certified Arborist brings extensive knowledge about:
- Tree biology and proper tree care techniques
- Safe and effective pruning and removal methods
- Identification and treatment of pests and diseases
- Professional safety protocols
- Specialized equipment operation
Through rigorous training and certification by the International Society for Arboriculture (ISA), Certified Arborists demonstrate their expertise and commitment to following industry best practices. They must maintain their certification through ongoing education and adhere to a professional code of ethics.
While anyone can offer tree services, only Certified Arborists have verified credentials and expertise. Other tree workers may include:
- General landscapers who primarily focus on lawn care and basic plant maintenance
- Independent workers with varying levels of experience but no formal qualifications
- Tree service workers who have some training but lack professional certification
The key difference is that Certified Arborists have proven their knowledge through testing and must maintain their expertise through continuing education.
Yes, especially when you consider that mature trees add significant value to your property. Here's why:
- Proper pruning by an arborist promotes long-term tree health and prevents costly damage
- Expert knowledge helps avoid common mistakes that can lead to tree decline
- Professional assessment can identify potential tree issues before they become major problems
- Correct pruning techniques eliminate the need for repeated "fix-it" pruning
- Proper care extends the life of your trees, protecting your landscape investment
While you can handle some basic tree care, safety should be your primary concern:
DO:
- Prune branches you can reach while standing firmly on the ground
- Remove small dead branches
- Clean up fallen twigs and leaves
DON'T:
- Use ladders for tree work
- Attempt to remove large branches
- Work near power lines
- Climb trees to prune them
Tree work consistently ranks as one of the most hazardous professions because it involves:
- Working at significant heights
- Handling heavy, unpredictable tree sections
- Operating powerful equipment like chainsaws and chippers
- Navigating confined spaces between buildings
- Working near electrical lines
- Managing complex rigging systems
This is why Certified Arborists use specialized safety equipment and follow strict safety protocols.
Call a Certified Arborist when you notice or have:
- Signs of tree illness or pest problems
- Dead or broken branches
- Trees growing too close to structures
- Storm damage
- A need for routine pruning
- Questions about tree planting or selection
Early intervention by an arborist often prevents more serious problems from developing.
While landscapers excel at maintaining lawns and ornamental plants, tree work requires specialized knowledge, insurance, and equipment that the typical landscaper doesn't possess. For example:
- Arborists understand tree biology and growth patterns, so they know how trees will react to different types of damage and pruning cuts.
- Arborists are trained in proper pruning techniques that promote long-term health, rather than using common but highly damaging pruning methods like tree topping and lion-tailing.
- They carry appropriate insurance for elevated work. Usually, this refers to any work done at heights above 15 feet. Landscaper insurance does not cover work done this high above the ground.
- Arborists have specialized equipment for safe tree work, such as spider lifts, grapples, and bucket trucks.
- They focus on both the current appearance of your trees and future tree health, whereas landscape crews are most often concerned primarily about appearance.
Every ISA Certified Arborist has a unique certification number. You can verify credentials at https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist. Always ask for:
- Their ISA certification number
- Proof of insurance (including workers compensation)
- Local references
- A written estimate