FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
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Are you insured?
Yes! We carry a large liability insurance policy (as befits tree work) and would be happy to email you our Certificate of Insurance at your request.
Tree work is one of the most dangerous industries in the world, and as such you should expect any tree service you hire to be insured, as well as use safety equipment on the job site, including helmets, eye protection, and chainsaw pants (chaps).
What is ISA certified and why should I care?
ISA stands for the International Society of Arboriculture. An arborist who is ISA certified has gone through a professional assessment process to demonstrate their knowledge on how to properly care for trees. This includes an understanding of tree biology, diagnosis, proper pruning, and safety practices. An ISA certified arborist must continue their education to maintain this credential, so they are more likely to be up to date on the latest techniques in arboriculture. Alison of Canopy Climbers is ISA certified (RM-8102A).
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The weather looks bad, will you reschedule my job?
Since the forecast/severity of weather can change quickly, we usually wait til the morning of to contact you regarding rescheduling. If you don't hear from us, assume the job is on! The type and difficulty of the climbing is a factor we consider: for example, some trees are downright slippery and dangerous to climb even after a rain or snow event has cleared. As a rule, we do not work in heavy rain, thunderstorms, or negative degree weather.
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Do you work in the winter?
Yes, winter can be a great time to do tree work. Less stress is caused to trees by pruning them in the dormant season, and certain trees such as oaks, elms, fruit trees, ash, and some flowering shrubs should only be pruned when dormant to avoid disease. Doing removals in winter can be less impactful to your lawn as well, since the ground is frozen.
Winter weather can be unpredictable and tricky to work in, so we appreciate your patience in scheduling (and rescheduling) jobs.
Do I need to be home when my tree work is done?
Nope! While we appreciate you being on site during the estimate to help answer any questions, (especially for pruning!) we create a detailed work order that we follow on the day of the work, so you do not need to be on site while the tree work is being done.
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If you have any changes to make to the work order, please let us know before the day of your tree work! We will email you a bill once the work is completed.
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What can I do to prepare for tree work?
We ask that you mow your lawn and tidy up after pets that may use your yard as a restroom. This helps expedite our clean up and allows us to do a better job! Additionally, we ask that you remove any yard art or bird feeders from the work area.
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How will tree work affect my yard?
Pruning is relatively low impact, but removals can leave dents and scuffs in your lawn. If lawn impact is a concern, let us know and we can arrange to do your removal during winter while the ground is frozen.
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What do you do with all the logs and branches?
When you opt for us to clean up, we will usually chip the branches and take the logs and biomass to a local dumpsite or back to our property.
Moving biomass can be a problem as it contributes to the spread of insects and tree diseases. (like in Emerald Ash Borer or Oak Wilt cases) When that is a concern we like to discuss “down only” options, involving us leaving the biomass like chips, branches, or logs, on the property they were removed from.
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Opting to keep the biomass or doing the clean up yourself can get you a “down only” discount! We are able to cut logs into firewood length chunks, but extra time and cost may be incurred for that service.
If you are interested in a “down only” option, we would love to chat about your expectations to create a manageable outcome for you.
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Why do I need to prune my trees?
When you add trees into an urban environment, it creates risk. By pruning, we create safer trees and can help mitigate the risk of your tree failing in a storm and causing damage to itself and its surroundings. We can assess the risk of your trees and provide you with pruning or cabling options as necessary.
Follow this link to our pruning page for more info.
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When should I prune my trees?
While all trees benefit from pruning, pruning young trees (think sapling to about 20-30ft tall) pays dividends as it helps them mature into a healthy, structurally sound investment on your property. Pruning a young tree also ends up being much cheaper than paying for a removal or storm damage clean up later in its life!
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Most trees can be pruned any time of the year, though oaks, elms, fruit trees, and ash should be pruned when dormant (Nov-March).
Follow this link to our pruning page for more info.
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My trees look sick, what can I do?
We can come take a look at your sick tree and provide our recommendations… but because of how many variables play into a tree looking “sick” we may not be able to completely diagnose it for you. When we are unsure, we recommend sending in samples to the Plant Disease and Diagnostics Clinic at UW-Madison.
We can send in samples for you for a small fee, or you can do it yourself by following the instructions at the Diagnostics Clinic’s website:
https://pddc.wisc.edu
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My tree has been diagnosed, can you treat my trees with the proper pesticides/herbicides?
Unfortunately, we are not a certified Pesticide Applicator and cannot apply chemical sprays to your trees or do drench or injection treatments. If you are interested in this service, reach out by email at canclimbllc@gmail.com and we can recommend someone to fit your needs.
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