Tree Service Portland | Urban Forest Pro

Financial Benefits

What are the financial benefits of trees in our cities?
* The Financial benefit for every $1 invested in trees in Portland is $3.80. Adding trees to our urban
landscapes can save the city money and potentially reduce taxes.
*A tree in Portland adds an average of $7,020 to a home's sale price. Mature trees that are maintained
and in good condition can easily add even more value. At the same time trees in poor condition can
detract from your home's value.
* A tree planted near your home can reduce heating and cooling costs. Portlanders save $750,000 per
year annually in avoided energy consumption due to our street trees alone.

Tree Eco Facts

How do trees in our cities help the environment?
*The average tree produces 260 pounds of oxygen a year. This is roughly half of what a person needs.
*Our urban canopy in Portland intercepts 1.3 billion gallons of storm water a year preventing urban
runoff from polluting our rivers and streams and saving the city $36 million dollars waste processing
costs.
*A mature oak tree hosts 10 to 15 pairs of nesting birds.
*The average lifespan for an urban tree is only 10 years where a tree reaches it's most productive age at
20 years. The key to maintaining a tree in an urban landscape over time is proper maintenance by an
ISA certified arborist.

Tree Removal

How do I know when a tree should be removed?
It is difficult for an untrained eye to recognize when a tree must go. We suggest you call for one of our
free estimates. But also keep in mind estimators for tree services are not always independent and might
push remove because they want the increased revenue. It is best to always get the opinion of an
independent consulting arborist if you have any doubt about weather or not the tree could survive. Of
course all of our estimators only give their independent opinion about the tree's fate. Tree are removed
for a variety of reasons including but not limited to failing health, poor location, property development,
too much maintenance required, improper pruning in the past, pests, threatening assets below, and much
much more.
What should I expect when having my tree removed by Urban Forest
Professionals?
The arborists and crew will come within an hour of their scheduled arrival. They will use ISA certified
techniques to safely remove your tree. We can leave the wood in 16-18" rounds for firewood or
remove it. All the branches and other debris from the removal of the tree will be removed. The crew will
likely return at another time to grind the stump if that is being done. Your stump will be ground 12"
down and the grindings will be left. Any damages need to be reported to the main office ASAP and we
will respond with scheduled repairs within 2 days of your call.
Do I need a permit to remove my tree?
Probably yes, most cities in our area have tree removal ordinances and many of these ordinances
include trees anywhere on your property. You also, as part of the process, might be required to replant.
If you have a commercial property the answer is defiantly YES. We can aide in permit acquisition and
help you navigate your cites ordinances. Removing a tree without a permit could result in thousands of
dollars of fines to the home owner not the tree service. City of Portland Tree Permit Info
What are my options for replanting my tree?
If you are planting a street tree your city will have a list of approved trees (City of Portland approved
street tree list) and you will need to get a permit in order to plant a tree. If you are looking for a tree for
your yard your options are endless. Take a look around you and take note of what you like and dislike
about different trees. Armed with that information our arborists can suggest a tree that meets your needs
and works in your intended location.

Permits

When do I need to get a permit?
You need a permit when pruning or remove street trees or when pruning or removing trees on a
commercial property. If you are pruning or removing trees in your yard it depends on which city you live
in. Our arborist as part of our estimation process will let you know if you need a permit. We can also
help you obtain the permit, replant, or prepare a mitigation plan.
What happens if I do not get a permit?
You could be subject to fines up to $1,000 per tree in Portland even if the arborist never told you, you
needed a permit. It is the home owner's responsibility to obtain tree permits.

Pruning

How do I know if my trees need to be pruned?
Most if not all mature trees in our urban environment need regular pruning to maintain their health. Trees
should be pruned every 2-7 years depending on many factors. Our arborist can estimate the last time a
tree was pruned and recommend a pruning schedule.
How often do my trees need to be pruned?
Most commonly trees should be pruned every 3-4 years but this could be as much as every 2 years if
there are special circumstances or as much as 7 years depending on the type of tree.
My trees have been topped or mis-maintenanced can you fix them?
No, we can not undo what has already been done and your tree will never be as beautiful as it would
have been, but we can over a period of years reverse some a the damage and return you tree to health
and viability.

Hiring an Arborist

What should I look for when hiring an arborist?
It is important to validate the claims of your arborist. If they say they are licensed, bonded, and insured
and have been in business for 10 years verify that by visiting the CCB website. Also verify their
International Society of Arboriculture Certification by visiting their website. If you can get a referral from
a friend that is the best way to find a reliable arborist. If you can not get a personal referral explore the
company's online reputation. The best firms encourage their happy customers to share their feelings
online. Beware of not-for-profit websites featuring arborist because these spots are obtained through
donations not an excellent reputation.

I got a few bids why do the prices vary so much?
It might seem like the prices vary a lot but usually there is a reason behind the discrepancy. You need to
be very specific about your expectations. One bid might included a lot more services then the other for
instance one my take into consideration preventing damage to all of your plants below a tree that is
being removed and another my not. If this is not necessary you could have a talk with the arborist with
the higher price and get it reduced if that company was your preferred choice. Most of the higher priced
companies don't charge a higher rate for their work you simply are getting more services for your
money and some of those services can be stripped away if budget is a concern. It is always a good idea
to call any contractor you decide to go with to over the job in detail before giving the go ahead.

Another reason there might be a discrepancy is that the other company in unlicensed or does not carry
workmen's comp insurance therefore lowering their overhead costs. You should always ask for a copy
of your arborist's workmen's comp insurance if they don't have a policy each person on sight needs to
be a licensed contractor or you need a copy of the employee leasing company's workmen's comp
insurance. Tree work has one of the highest injury and fatality rates of any industry so it is very
importnat to make sure your bases are covered.

Tree Health

My tree looks sick what can I do?
Just like people trees have the best chance of fighting off disease or recovering from an injury if they
have proper nutrition. The first step which is something you can do yourself is to fertilize the tree. The
next step is to call an arborist for a consultation. You can call a consulting arborist who does not do the
tree work to get an independent opinion about what is going on for a small fee or call a tree service
where you will get recommendations on what should be done and prices for that, but no real
explanation of why.

If branches on your tree are dying back you need to act quick to save your tree. Trees die from the tips
of the braches back so dying branches are a serious symptom something is wrong (except when that is
typical of the species). To check if a branch is dead when there are no leaves on the tree, look for
leaves that dried up but did not fall of the tree and try breaking one of the twigs if it snaps like the wood
is dry it is a dead branch.

There is construction going on near my trees should I be concerned?
Absolutely, if someone is doing construction near your tree talk to the foreman to see what precaustions
are being taken to protect the tree. If you are not satisfied insist that a consulting arborist is called to
unsure that the trees are not endangered. Tree can be twice as big underground as they are above so
precautions need to be taken.

Planting

What tree would be best to plant in my yard?
We highly recommend that you call an arborist to help you make a decision about what tree to plant
and where. The average life of a tree in Portland is approx. 10 years and offten that is caused by the
wrong tree being planted in the wrong location. The increased cost to have the tree purchased and
planted through an aroborist is minimal, but the rewards are great. If you are going to do your own
planting make sure you do your research on the tree species and variety you will be using. You should
estimate the future height of the tree at the top of the range because of the favorable growing
environment in Oregon. Also take into account the maintenance required to care for the tree. Some
trees are higher maintenance then other trees. If you are planting a street tree check with your city for an
approved street tree list.

I am planting a tree what should I be concerned about?
You will likely need compost to create a 50/50 mix with your own soil around the planting site. Remove
any pots or packaging around the tree, biodegradable or not remove it. Break up the edge of the root
ball loosening the root ends from the root ball. Plant the top of the root ball just underneath the soil.
Thoroughly water the tree after planting and water regularly during the summer and during dry patches
for the first 2 years.

Storm Damage

What is my insurance company responsible for when it comes to my trees?
In most cases the insurance company will not cover tree work unless a tree falls on your house or
garage. We can work with the insurance company to get the most coverage possible under your policy
which sometimes can include the value of the tree and moneys to relandscape your yard. Working with
a professional company with experience in dealing with insurance companies will have a large effect on
what your insurance company pays for. Do not use companies that knock on your door for work during
a storm. Nine times out of ten these companies are inexperienced, unlicensed, and could increase
damage to your property.

In some cases we have had success in getting insurance companies to cover other tree work, but it
depends greatly on who your insurer and claims adjuster is. You do not want to alert your insurance
company to a hazard without the help of our arborists because if the insurance company believes you
are a risk they could drop you.

Can storm damage be prevented or is it a fact of life?
Yes and No, there are things you can do to prevent storm damage. Trees can be pruned so that the
wind passes through them, but this is not a guarantee that there will be no damages it just vastly
increases the chances that there wont be. In some cases if you let your insurance company know that
you have had your trees pruned they can give you a discount on your policy for taking that precaution.

I have large branches overhanging my house should I be concerned?
Yes, but that does not mean you need to take out the tree. We can prune the tree to remove the
branches that are threatening the house and we can also cabel large braches so that they are far less
likely to break. Certain types of tree are more of a risk then others.

Neighbor's Trees

I hate my neighbor's tree what can I do?
Not much. Your best bet is to work with your neighbor to come to a compromise. You could offer to
pay half of the costs or get the opinion of an arborist in regard what should be done with the tree. What
you should not do is go ahead and prune or remove the tree even if it is on your property. Legal or not
(we are not lawyers) this could lead to an expensive legal battle. We can offen help neighbors come to a
compromise, but as a policy we do not do work where neighbors are in disagreement.

My neighbor's tree is threatening my property what can I do?
If your neighbors tree is truly a treat we still recommend you try and work it out with them. There are in
this case a few things you can do to force their hand. One is bring the tree to the attention of the city in
certain cases they can order it removed. You can also report the tree to their home owners' insurance
company or HOA and they may force them to have it taken care of. But we can not stress enough how
much better things work out in the end when you can come to an agreement with your neighbor.

Tree Service Portland | Urban Forest Pro, LLC