FAQs

Browse our collection of General Tree Work and Plant Health Care frequently asked questions. Don't see what you're looking for? Please call us.

General Tree Work:

What tree work services do you provide?

Tree Specialists' mission is to conserve, preserve and restore trees within the landscape. We provide many services including:

Why should I use a Tree Company/Arborist instead of my landscape company?

Tree work is highly specialized, and requires different equipment, training, and insurance than landscaping. Arborists are skilled individuals that specialize in diagnosing and caring for trees. Proper tree care is an investment that can reduce risk and increase the asset value of your property.

What areas/towns does Tree Specialists, Inc. service?

We service the MetroWest Boston area. If you are unsure if Tree Specialists services your town, please give our office a call. The Administrative Staff can answer questions and/or make an appointment or refer you to a company that can help you.

How much does a consultation cost?

Consultations that precede an estimate for services are $60. Please see our contact page for more information.

How do I make an appointment for a consultation?

You can either make an appointment by visiting the Consultation page on our website, or you can give our office a call at (508) 429-8733 (TREE). Our Administrative Staff would be happy to help you! Office hours are Monday - Thursday from 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM and Fridays from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.

How much time should I reserve for a consultation with an arborist?

Typically, we schedule an hour for the Consulting Arborist to be on site assessing the trees, but it can take anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour. We do prefer that the client is present for the consultation, so the arborist can answer any questions and provide accurate specifications based on the client's preferences. In some cases, the arborist will leave a handwritten copy of the estimate, but other times, a digital copy will be emailed within a day or two.

Who do I call if I need trees removed?

We are a full-service tree company, and do provide tree removal services for our clients. If you are a new client, looking only for tree removal, we may refer you to one of our "partner companies" that specializes in removals. In many cases, if the tree is a risk and needs to be removed, we would refer you to a crane company. Contact our office for further information.

I don't want to cut my tree down, but I am concerned about the safety factor because it has a lot of structural and health issues. Can you save it?

Our Consulting Arborists are specially trained to examine and evaluate tree structure and health. They will give you the facts needed to make an informed decision about whether or not to have a tree removed.

I lost the information packet I received during my consultation. Can you send me a copy?

We can certainly send you a copy of the fact sheets, guidelines and insurance information, but you can also find them on our website in the Learning Center.

How do I sign up for tree work?

In order to sign up for general tree work, we require a signed proposal and a 50% deposit for the approved items. You can send the proposal via email, USPS or fax to (508) 429-7991. The deposit can be submitted via our website by clicking on the Make a Payment link, or you can call the office or send a check via USPS. Once we receive the deposit, we will confirm a work date that meets with your approval.

Where do I mail a check and who do I make it out to?

The mailing address is:
140 Washington Street
Holliston, MA 01746

Please make the check payable to Tree Specialists, Inc.

Can I submit payment online for a deposit or invoice?

Yes, you can submit deposit and/or invoice online by clicking the Make a Payment tab. The invoice number is not a required field (you can leave it blank), but you can enter the invoice number or write deposit.

When will my tree work be scheduled? How long is the waitlist?

We will do our best to schedule your tree work promptly after we receive the signed proposal and deposit. Depending on the nature of the work, we may need to schedule the work at a certain time of the year. Though we are typically booked out for several weeks, we always leave room in the schedule for emergencies or other time sensitive projects. In the event of storm-related emergencies or inclement weather, we often need to rearrange schedule dates. We ask for your patience when this occurs.

Does Tree Specialists, Inc. have proper up-to-date insurance?

We can provide a hard or electronic copy of our proof of insurance upon request.

My tree work requires approval from the Conservation Commission/Tree Warden. Who do I contact?

If your tree work needs approval from the Conservation Commission or Tree Warden, you can go to your town's website and find their contact information. In some cases, our Consulting Arborist will contact the Conservation Commission or Tree Warden for you. If that is the case, the arborist will let you know while he or she is on-site.

My tree work will require use of heavy equipment. How do you protect my lawn/driveway?

If your tree work requires heavy equipment, our crew will bring plywood and/or plastic mats to put down under the equipment. While we cannot guarantee that damage won't occur, incidences of significant damage are rare.

Do Tree Specialists, Inc. employees have proper licenses and certifications to operate equipment?

Yes, our crew has the proper licenses and certifications to perform their work and operate equipment.

Where can I provide feedback about my experience with Tree Specialists, Inc.?

Please feel free to contact our office at any time to provide positive or constructive feedback. Also, we will perform a client courtesy follow up after your tree work has been completed. We are always trying to improve and client feedback is critical.

What do others say about Tree Specialists, Inc.?

Please find our client testimonials on our Reviews page.

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Plant Health Care:

What time of day will my property be treated?

Arrival time cannot be predicted or guaranteed because of traffic, environmental conditions, unexpected delays, etc. Please let us know in advance if you have any special requests for a scheduling time. We will do our best to accommodate your request.

My pool/neighbor’s pool is uncovered, we have a fish pond, etc. Can you still treat my property?

Yes. The products we use are primarily bio rational products that are safe to use around pools and fish ponds. However, if your treatment requires special preparation we will let you know in advance. If you’re concerned about your pool, pond, or fountain we suggest that you cover it prior to our arrival.

My property is supposed to be treated on the same day that a contractor is coming to build a deck, work on my roof, paint my house, etc. What should I do?

We will try to schedule your property to be the first treatment of the day (at approximately 7:00 am) before the other contractor is on site. Please inform the other contractor about our treatment, and ask that they cover anything they do not want to get wet. If this is unacceptable, let us know as soon as possible so that we can reschedule your treatment.

My neighbor has bee hives. Is it safe to spray?

Please notify us if you or your adjacent neighbors have beehives.

Are you still coming to treat my property if it gets windy?

The technician will decide if the wind is too strong to allow for treatment once he/she is at your property. If he/she thinks the wind will reduce the effectiveness of the treatment, then we will reschedule for the following day or day after. You will receive a call from our office explaining when your treatment will be rescheduled.

You treated, and it started raining. Will the treatment still work?

We add an adhesive agent to the product to help bond it to the leaf. As long as the product dries on the leaves before the rain starts, it will be effective. If you see continued feeding activity within the next week, please give our office a call back, and we will come out and retreat the tree.

If the technician treated your property, and it started raining while he/she was there, we will retreat the property once the rain stops.

Do I need to close my windows/neighbors windows?

Yes. Even though the product is not harmful to people or pets, we prefer that windows be closed. Neighbors located within 50 feet of the tree(s) being treated need to have their windows closed as well. Windows should be closed on the day of treatment and may be reopened after the product dries (approximately 30-45 minutes). If the plant health care technician feels that the treatment is not appropriate because your/your neighbor’s windows are open, a note will be left stating as such, and the treatment will be rescheduled by our office.

It is the client’s responsibility to communicate with their neighbor regarding closing their windows.

Will the spray damage my deck/patio?

No. You may see a small amount of white residue after the product dries. This is the sticker agent we add to the spray. You can wash it off with a hose, or the next rain storm will wash it away.

I’d like to read the labels for products being used.

Please call our office. We would be happy to email the label to you.

What should I do with my bird houses, feeders, and baths?

If the bird houses and feeders can be easily moved, please move them before we arrive. Bird houses do not need to be moved, but the feeders should be. This is not because it’s toxic, but to prevent the seed from getting wet and clumping in the feeder. Bird baths will be turned over and drained by our technician to avoid chemicals sitting in them.