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Prime Buyers Guide Tree Care Services

We’ll Help You Find the Best Marin County Tree Services

Hiring good tree services in Marin County can be an effective way to open up space in your yard or to simply tidy it up for the upcoming season. Tree contractors, tree doctors, and tree care companies can diagnose tree disease (such as sudden oak death), trim branches, remove stumps, or perform tree removal and relocation in Novato, Sausalito and San Rafael. Below you will find valuable information on tree services in Marin County.

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Updated September 3, 2008

Top 10 Tree Care Services in Marin County

Small World Tree Co.
Send an email to this Company
(415) 455-0909
PO Box 2824
San Anselmo, CA 94979
Contractor's License #755039
   Prime Buyer's Certified  Diamond Certified ISA (International Society of Arboricultursts) Chamber of Commerce-San Anselmo

Areas Served: Marin County incl. San Rafael CA, Sausalito CA, Mill Valley, Tiburon, Belvedere, San ...
Services: Tree care services incl. tree care maintenance, tree pruning, tree planting, Oak ...
Key Brands: Stihl chainsaws

Happy Tree
(415) 380-TREE
775 E Blithedale Ave # 123
Mill Valley, CA 94941

Areas Served: Marin County incl. San Rafael, Sausalito, Mill Valley, Ross, Tiburon, Belvedere

Beaver Tree Service
(415) 456-3428
PO Box 702
Kentfield, CA 94914

Areas Served: Marin, Novato, Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael, Tiburon, San Anselmo, Woodacre

Elite Tree Services
(415) 453-5648
51 Ross Ave
San Anselmo, CA 94960

Areas Served: Novato, San Rafael, Sausalito, Corte Madera, Tiburon, San Anselmo, Mill Valley

Marin County Arborists
(415) 381-8733
170 Gary Pl # B
San Rafael, CA 94901

Areas Served: Mill Valley, San Rafael, Novato, San Anselmo, Fairfax CA, Woodacre, Tiburon

Geo's Tree Care
(415) 461-6492
23 Meadow Dr
Terra Linda, CA 94903

Areas Served: Novato, San Rafael, Mill Valley, Sausalito, Larkspur, San Anselmo, Tiburon, Fairfax

Geo's Tree Care
(415) 383-8788
Novato, CA 94949

Areas Served: San Rafael, Novato, Sausalito, Mill Valley, Greenbrae, Ross, Tiburon, Kentfield

Marin Tree Service, Inc.
(415) 472-7105
34 De Luca Pl # M
San Rafael, CA 94901

Areas Served: San Rafael, Mill Valley, Sausalito, San Anselmo, Tiburon, Ross, Belvedere, Novato

Swift Tree Care
(415) 454-8733
PO Box 416
Forest Knolls, CA 94933

Updated October 26, 2008

We’ll Help You Find the Best Marin County Tree Services 

After heavy rains or high winds, your trees can often suffer. Limbs litter the yard, the roof, and get tangled in electrical lines. Aside from the unattractive appearance and cleanup associated with the aftermath of a storm, there may also be serious dangers involved. Large limbs need to be removed from your roof and anything near power lines must be carefully extracted by a professional. If you've found yourself in this situation, it's imperative that you contact a local tree service contractor. With special equipment and thoroughly trained employees, they can safely remove or trim precariously positioned limbs so you don't have to climb a ladder and risk breaking your neck. Even without a storm, trees often need trimming or treatment for disease and again, a professional tree service can help. The following literature can help you find a reputable tree service in Marin County that can remediate post-storm damage or refine the appearance of your treesgarde.

Tree Services in Marin County Perform Numerous Services
There are many tree-related problems that only professional tree services can remedy. It's usually not advisable to attempt to resolve these issues yourself, particularly with dangerously dangling limbs or anything near power lines. Therefore, tree services for tree removal or trimming is essential. Before starting any procedures (including emergencies), tree services must assess the situation in its entirety with aerial inspection, hazard evaluation, structural analysis and consultation. Once the situation has been fully inspected, tree surgeons may decide to perform tree shaping, pruning, topping, tree transplantation, tree bracing, root zone fertilization, height reductions, crown reductions, pest control, tree repair, or hopefully, tree preservation. The tree services may also perform the appropriate forms of vegetation management at your request, such as lot clearing, disease management, stump removal, dead wood removal, ivy removal, blackberry removal, or poison oak removal. Tree services in Marin County approach the problem in different manners, including cabling, portable milling, crane service, or climbing spikes, the latter being potentially hazardous to a living tree. You should inquire about these techniques before hiring tree services. If the risk associated with the procedure is minimal, some tree services will even rent some of their equipment for your personal use, such as stump grinders and heavy equipment. Tree services are also trained to attend to various potentially problematic situations, such as fire road maintenance, regular clearance for fire safety, construction damage prevention, sudden oak death, spraying, weed control, insect and disease suppression, and other preventive maintenance. Tree services will also repair storm damage with removal, limbing, wind damage repair, and view restoration. If you're concerned about preserving clippings, some tree services re-use or sell removed vegetation in the form of wood chipping, brush chipping, or firewood. Tree services in Marin County usually have an ISA certified arborist on staff for reports or consultation, and adhere to tree service industry standards.

Tree Services in Marin County are Properly Equipped

Tree service contractors are equipped with specialized tools to efficiently remove dangerous branches or restore the appearance of overgrowth. They employ pole tree pruners, chainsaws, aerial lifts, chippers, or stump grinders for all of your tree removal needs.

Evaluation Tree Services in Marin County
There is a wide selection of tree services in Marin County. If you aren't familiar with any of them, it can be difficult to make an informed decision. That's why The Prime Buyer's Report has investigated and ranked them for you. The top 10 tree services in Marin County are Small World Tree Co., Happy Tree, Beaver Tree Service, Elite Tree Services, Marin County Arborists, Geo's Tree Care, Geo's Tree Care, Marin Tree Service, Inc., Swift Tree Care, Professional Tree Care Co. Other tree services who might serve Marin County are .

Research Potential Marin County Tree Services
If the situation lacks urgency, take some time before you make a hire to learn about the tree care industry. There are different treatments and techniques that you may prefer. And, for safety reasons, tree surgeons are required to have certain licensure to practice in Marin County. This information is found at related Web sites, blogs, and even specialty magazines. To avoid a lengthy search with meager results, The Prime Buyer's Report has collected a list of these resources for you. View them in the article, "Key Resources for Tree Services in Marin County".
Updated September 3, 2008
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How to Choose a Tree Service Contractor 

Step 1: Describe Work
Explain what type of tree service work is involved. Some situations are much more urgent than others, and potential tree service contractors should understand this.

Step 2: Answer Questions & Take Notes
What concerns does the tree service contractor have about your job? Does he just want to rush through the job or does he exhibit a firm grasp of the details of the tree service you need? Does he seem overly concerned about liability issues? A tree service professional who is willing to do work without any questions asked is not likely to be of the professional caliber you require.

Step 3: Ask Questions & Take Notes
You should be fully aware of the techniques that the tree service contractor employs. So, ask: Do you use tree spikes or lifts? Spikes will damage living trees that you wish to retain. Are you and your employees insured? Do you have experience working with or near electrical, telephone, or cable wiring? With tree removal or precarious branch removal, this should be a primary concern. There are many potential hazards with this type of work. Asking questions before the fact will eliminate the potential for grief later. Below are some more suggested questions for your interview.

How long have you been in business?
Do you specialize in the type of work I've described?
How long should it take to complete the work?
Do you use spikes or lifts?
What is your pricing policy?
Will you provide a written estimate?
Will you provide a written contract?
Are you experienced working near or with live wiring?
Are you covered by workers' compensation, liability insurance, property damage insurance, and public liability?
Are your arborists ISA certified?
How and when do you clean up?

Step 4: Making a Preliminary Decision

After you've interviewed several tree service experts, it's time to separate the good from the poor choices. Review your notes. Create a list of priorities and compare it to the results of each interview.

Step 5: Final Research
After you've selected a frontrunner for your required tree service, do some final research. What credentials does the tree service contractor have? It is time to verify licensing, insurance and certifications such as Diamond Certification, Better Business Bureau membership, contractor licensing, and certification from the International Society of Arboriculture (contact information for these associations and more can be found in the article, "Key Resources for Tree Service in Marin County."

Step 6: Making the Final Decision
Now it's time to select and make an appointment with your tree service contractor. As with any contractor, you should insist on a written estimate. Call and ask any final questions and then ask for your representative to provide a written and signed pricing, liability, and timing agreement.
Updated November 29, 2007
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Key Resources for Tree Service in Marin County 

Associations & Licensing
AFPO American Forest and Paper Organization (www.afandpa.org)
ASCA American Society of Consulting Arborists (www.asca-consultants.org)
BBB Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.gov)
CAA California Arborist Association (www.cal-arb-association.com)
CSLB Contractors State Licensing Board (www.cslb.cs.gov)
Diamond Certified (www.diamondcertified.org)
EPA Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov)
INFC International Network of Forests and Communities (www.forestsandcommunities.org)
ISA International Society of Arboriculture (www.isa-arbor.com)
NTT National Tree Trust (www.treetures.com)
NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service (www.nrcs.usda.gov)
TCIA Tree Care Industry Association (www.natlarb.com)

Media & Web Resources
The American Gardener
Better Homes & Gardens
Contractor Magazine
House & Garden
New Old House
The Practical Gardener
ProGarden Biz Magazine
This Old House
Tree Care Industry Magazine
Tree News Magazine
Tree Services Magazine
Western Arborist Magazine

www.arboristsite.com
www.landscaping.about.com
www.treehelp.com
www.treelink.org
www.treesaregood.com

If you are in need on tree triming or tree removal The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 tree service contractors in Marin County within the following zip codes.

94901, 94903, 94904, 94912, 94913, 94914, 94915, 94920, 94924, 94925, 94929, 94930, 94933, 94937, 94938, 94939, 94940, 94941, 94942, 94945, 94946, 94947, 94948, 94949, 94950, 94956, 94957, 94960, 94963, 94964, 94965, 94966, 94970, 94971, 94973, 94974, 94976, 94977, 94978 and 94979

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 tree service contractors in Marin County within the following cities.

Almonte, Bel Marin Keyes, Belvedere, Belvedere Tiburon, Black Point, Bolinas, Corte Madera, Dillon Beach, Dogtown, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Greenbrae, Ignacio, Inverness, Kent Woodlands, Kentfield, Lagunitas, Larkspur, Lucas Valley, Marin City, Marinwood, Marshall, Mill Valley, Mission Rafael, Muir Beach, Muir Woods, Nicasio, Novato, Olema, Point Reyes Station, Ross, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, San Marin, San Quentin, San Rafael, Santa Venetia, Sausalito, Sleepy Hollow, Stinson Beach, Strawberry Point, Tamal, Tamalpais Valley, Terra Linda, Tiburon, Tomales and Woodacre
Updated March 20, 2008
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9 Tips for Tree Care Services in Marin County 

Take Time Choosing Your Tree Service Contractor.
The more tree service contractors you interview, the better your odds are of finding the best one. Take the time to consider several local contractors and gauge their abilities and you'll be happier with the results.

Rely on a Professional.
If you've gotten this far, you've probably assessed the risks of undertaking a tree service project yourself. Caution is paramount when dealing with certain scenarios, such as large dead limbs or anything involving electrical or telephone wires. We advise you to keep this in mind whenever any tree service related situations arise, and remember, it really is best left to the professionals.

Get Several Quotes.
If your tree service needs are not too pressing, you should get a few separate estimates. Prices are determined solely by each contractor, so there can be a fairly large difference in estimates from one to another. Spend some time shopping around and you could save a considerable amount of money.

Get it in Writing.
A qualified professional will always provide a written agreement, and you should expect it from the contractor you choose. Make sure he provides you with a written description of the work, pricing and timeframe for completion.

Do Your Homework Before Signing An Agreement.
Before you sign a contract, be sure to check licensing, ISA certification, workers' compensation and liability insurance, as well as any other relevant credentials.

Choose Certified Companies.
Some tree service contractors have risen above the rest and developed a reputation for quality work and attentive customer care. In Marin County, they've earned endorsements such as Diamond Certification or Better Business Bureau honors or membership. If you check these Web sites to find an affiliated tree service, you'll receive better service and workmanship.

Observe the Process.
After you've signed an agreement, you want to ensure that it is followed completely. Make sure broken limbs are properly secured and, if it is a term of your contract, make sure lifts or ropes are used in lieu of climbing spikes. Overall, you want to watch for the amount of care the professionals use. Make sure all necessary precautions are taken so you won't have to deal with additional damage later on.

Check the Work.
After the job is completed, have the senior contractor accompany you while you review the results of the work. Ensure that every term was adequately met, including any clean-up details.

Know Your Rights.
Local law provides protection to consumers. Before you encounter any problems with your contractor, read up on the laws that effect you. Since you're working with contractors in Marin County, applicable details can be found at the California Department of Consumer Affairs Web site.
Updated September 30, 2008
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Diamond Certified