If you have large trees in your yard or you have recently planted young trees cut this article out and put it somewhere that you can find it again. Many people opt to hire someone else to prune their trees and this article will give you some ideas on what to look for when choosing an arborist.

Hiring an arborist deserves careful consideration. A qualified arborist will do tree work properly and safely. An unqualified person may actually damage the tree. Unqualified persons may not have proper insurance, leaving a liability burden to the customer that could run into the thousands of dollars.

Tips for selecting an arborist:

* Check your telephone directory’s yellow pages under "Tree Service" for a listing of those businesses which do tree work in your area. While anyone can list themselves in the phone book, a listing at least indicates some degree of permanence.

* Be cautious of any arborist that advertises "topping" as a service. "Topping" is not an approved tree maintenance practice under normal conditions and will seriously damage the tree.

* Determine if the arborist is a member of any of the following organizations; International Society of Arboriculture, National Arborists Association, American Society of Consulting Arborists or the American Forestry Association. Membership does not guarantee quality, but lack of membership casts doubt on the person’s professionalism.

* Find out if the arborist is certified through a state certification program or the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). The ISA’s program is available to arborists nationwide and requires appropriate training, experience and knowledge as evidenced by successful completion of a standardized application and testing process.

* Ask for certificates of insurance, including proof of liability for personal and property damage and workman’s compensation. Then, contact the insurance company to make sure the policy is current. Under some circumstances, you can be held financially responsible if an uninsured worker is hurt on your property or if the worker damages a neighbor’s property!

* Never let yourself be rushed by bargains. ("If you sign an agreement today, I can take ten percent off the price.") Never pay in advance!

* Most reputable tree care companies have all the work they can handle without going door to door. People who aren’t competent arborists may solicit tree work at you door pointing out a condition that needs "immediate attention" or the "tree will die". If a tree is that close to death there is probably nothing that can be done to save it.

* Good tree work will not be inexpensive by any means. A good arborist must carry several kinds of insurance as well as pay for expensive and specialized equipment.

* A good pruning job is often one that cannot be noticed after the work has been done!