How do I check a tree company?
Check the named person's ISA credential, the company's directory record and current insurance. Ask the insurer to send the certificate directly. Put the actual work and cleanup in writing. [1024] [1027] [1018]
Updated 2026-10-25
What a year of care looks like.
Most of the work happens below ground, in the soil the roots live in. Here it is, one step at a time.
A year of care, step by step.
Most of the work happens below ground, in the soil the roots live in. Press play, or pick a step.
Start at the soil line.
Two things we look for first: mulch piled against the trunk, and soil packed hard by mowers, cars and feet.
Uncover the root flare.
Compressed air blows the soil away without cutting roots. A root wrapping the trunk can be cut free, if that is safe for the tree.
Loosen packed soil.
We open channels in the packed soil with air and work in compost, so new roots have somewhere to grow.
Test before adding anything.
A soil test shows the pH and nutrients, and it decides what, if anything, the tree needs.
Add only what is short.
Many trees need no fertilizer at all. If the test shows a shortfall, we add only what is missing.
Mulch wide, water deep.
Two to four inches of mulch, as wide as you will allow, kept off the trunk. In dry spells, a slow, deep soak.
Come back every year.
We check the tree top to bottom once a year and leave a written report, so small changes get caught early.
A logo on a truck is not verification.
Verify the person, not just the business name
ISA's Verify a Credential tool checks credential holders. Ask for the person's full name and credential number. Then confirm the current listing and ask who will assess your tree. The Find an Arborist directory and credential verification serve different purposes. Neither means ISA reviewed your particular job. [1024]
Use the TCIA company directory
TCIA links its Tree Care Member Directory from its official resources page. Use that route to check a claimed membership. Membership and accreditation are different claims; do not treat one as proof of the other. A directory search here is a consumer check, not a statement that Help My Tree holds TCIA membership or accreditation. [1027]
Have the insurer send the certificate
TCIA consumer guidance recommends requesting the certificate from the insurance company rather than accepting an unverified copy. Ask about liability and workers' compensation coverage relevant to the work. Confirm the business name and dates. A certificate is evidence to check, not a promise that every possible loss is covered. [1018] MU Extension also advises calling the insurer for verification. [1032]
Compare the work, not just the headline
Ask for a written scope identifying the tree and the work proposed. Clarify debris hauling, stump work and site cleanup. Ask who secures any required municipal permission. For a pruning proposal, ask what stays on the tree, not just what comes off. These are our practical comparison checks.
Watch for pressure after a storm
MU Extension warns against rushed hiring of unverified door-to-door workers. It also notes that legitimate arborists may travel to disaster areas. Verify both local and visiting firms. Do not let urgency replace an insurance check or a clear written scope. [1032]
Questions about this work
Does an ISA credential prove insurance?
No. Verify the credential through ISA and coverage through the insurer. They are separate checks. [1024] [1018]
Should I accept a topping proposal?
ISA describes topping as harmful and identifies reduction pruning or appropriate replacement as alternatives. Ask for another assessment if topping is presented as routine safety care. [1031]
TCIA Tree Care Company Directory