Tree surgery comes in four different classes or types when done by a certified arborist. These well defined classes set up by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) go a long way toward making it possible to compare bids wisely. They have also developed a certification process for tree workers. I suggest that you make sure your trees are done according to ISA standards and that you know which class of pruning you will get. Price is not the only factor to consider. Less is not always better.

There are four classes of pruning. Class one is the best class because it reduces the need for pruning in the future, does the most to improve the health of the tree, and enhances the tree’s beauty the most. It requires more money at the time, but reduces the cost of tree maintenance over the long run. However, I do not always recommend class one. I like it best for older, long-life trees that have been well cared for over a long period of time. 

When we do our most complete pruning (class one) we do all those things and more. We prune to make trees better able to live next to each other by removing branches that damage each other and by leaving limbs that defend uninvaded space. I call this "compatibility pruning". We prune all the way to the growing tips of each limb selecting out small growth that is not growing desirably. This reduces the need for future pruning. We also prune so as to make a tree better able to fill space with well placed branches by removing obstructing limbs that force an otherwise good limb to grow poorly. ( I have never seen this done by any other service.) We prune around structures in such a way as to reduce the need for future pruning by removing as much as can be done without compromising the tree’s health and beauty. We leave nothing undone. Everything the tree needs gets done. This is our "Class One" pruning.

Class Two pruning involves removing dead limbs of one half inch or larger in diameter, pruning to clear around structures, sidewalks, driveways, streets, and wires, removing most of the ball moss, and removing all the mistletoe branches. This class is a good class of care for the trees and costs less. It does not reduce the need for pruning in the future as much as class one does, but it does a lot to reduce future pruning needs. I recommend this class most often. It helps the tree greatly. We include things often left undone by the other guy like:  removing stubs that are not healing, leaving a healable wound in it's place, selective pruning to provide growing space for limbs that are being forced to grow undesirably by other limbs, treating cavities, and pruning for desirable growth pattern in the long term.

Class Three pruning requires the removal of dead limbs of two inches in diameter and larger, plus the pruning for clearance around structures and wires. It is the least expensive class of pruning and does help the trees though less than the other two classes.

The fourth class of pruning is custom pruning. You can have whatever you would like done. I will help you to determine what to do if you like. It is a free service.

After the pruning is done we clean the area most thoroughly. When we leave the job it will be difficult to see that we were there by any means other than looking at the tree. We will even remove the dust from the driveways, sidewalks, porches, and streets. We clean the roof and gutters. And when all that is done, we take all the trimmings to the recycler where they are made into soil. We also offer to cut, stack, and leave the fire wood removed from your trees.

Please contact me at :  

1. Home Office       512-280-1958

2. E-mail                 ndbishop@sbcglobal.net

I sure would love to hear from you.