Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for tree service companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Arborist Now, Inc., the key to keeping clients happy is simple: treat them and their properties with the utmost care and respect. “We see our customers as friends, not just numbers, so we’re constantly searching for ways to serve them better,” says President Jean-Claude Rochat. “We want to develop long-lasting relationships with them, and the best way to do that is to care for their trees and landscapes as safely and accurately as possible.”

Arborist Now has been providing tree care services for residential, commercial and municipal clients throughout the Bay Area since 2006. The company has the in-house capabilities to handle everything from routine maintenance and planting to stump grinding and removal, and it also performs landscaping work like design and maintenance, irrigation repair, hardscape installations, and more.

Unlike less experienced tree care companies that provide minimal training and education for their technicians, Arborist Now makes sure all of its employees stay up-to-date on the latest advancements in the tree care industry. “From our certified arborists maintaining continuing educational credits to our team holding regular meetings to discuss the ever-changing dynamics of our industry, we’re always looking to expand our expertise,” affirms Mr. Rochat. “It’s truly a team approach—we keep each other accountable and make safety a top priority.”

Ultimately, Mr. Rochat sees Arborist Now’s company-wide solidarity as its most important attribute. “No one person is more important than another—ideas are exchanged daily and each employee is listened to and given genuine consideration,” he explains. “We’re a true team with a unified goal: executing every tree care plan safely and accurately.”

To ensure the long-term health of your trees, make proper maintenance a priority.

Whether you choose to do your own tree maintenance or have it professionally done, it’s important to observe correct procedures. In general, trees should be cared for on a two- to five-year cycle, but it varies depending on the type of tree. To ensure proper service intervals, it’s best to consult a certified arborist for your maintenance needs.

Thanks to the mild Bay Area climate, tree pruning can be done year-round. However, there are some exceptions and tips to keep in mind:

• Pine trees should only be pruned during cooler times of year.
• Fruiting and flowering trees are easier to prune when they aren’t fruiting and flowering, so it’s best to wait for the offseason.
• Trees with heavy branches and/or foliage should be pruned before the winter storms come. Don’t wait until the last minute, as tree service companies tend to get very busy in the fall.
• If you have a problem with one of your trees or think it’s unsafe, have it assessed by a certified arborist.

In addition to pruning your trees, it’s important to water them correctly. Generally speaking, all mature trees are somewhat drought-tolerant, but certain varieties will fare better with regular watering, such as birch, redwood and sycamore. However, the opposite is true for native California oak trees, which have adapted to the dry summer conditions. Keep in mind that your trees’ water needs can change due to environmental factors and the location they’re planted in. Consult a certified arborist if you think your trees are being under- or over-watered.

Q: Who will supervise my job?
A: Our sales staff will show your job to the crew before work begins to ensure everyone is on the same page. We employ highly trained arborists who know exactly what they need to do on a jobsite, so they don’t need to be supervised. After the work is completed, our sales staff will follow up with you to make sure the work was done to your satisfaction.

Q: Do I need to be home during the job?
A: No. Our crew members are professionals who take great pride in leaving each property looking better than when they arrived. For example, if we have to haul debris through your house, we’ll install interior protection prior to starting the job to ensure nothing gets damaged.

Q: What do you do with the leftover wood?
A: We mill all our tree waste and offer locally sourced wood slabs and finished products through our new division, Arbor Upcycle. We’re proud to provide our community with rare, local and historical material from San Francisco’s oldest residents.

Q: Will you top my tree?
A: We don’t encourage topping. After you top a tree, epicormic shoots arise and develop into weakly attached branches. These branches and the multiple leaders continue to develop girth and weight, which increases their potential of falling and damaging your property. In some cases, a severe crown reduction is called for, but that’s not a common practice.