Professional Guidance Before Making Tree Decisions
A paid arborist consultation is an on-site appointment focused on understanding your questions, evaluating the tree and surrounding site, discussing relevant findings, and providing professional guidance. This service is appropriate when you do not already know what is affecting the tree, what action may be needed, or whether any work should be performed.
Unlike a free estimate, the purpose of a consultation is not limited to pricing identified work. The arborist's time is dedicated to observation, diagnosis, discussion, and recommendations, even when the appropriate recommendation is monitoring the tree or taking no immediate action. At Eric Putnam BCMA Inc., consultations are based on the tree species, visible condition, structure, site history, root-zone environment, surrounding property, client concerns, and the realistic options available.
Understanding Paid Arborist Consultations
When a Paid Consultation May Be Appropriate
A consultation may be appropriate when:
- You do not know what is affecting the tree
- The canopy is thinning or declining
- Leaves are yellowing, browning, dropping, or changing unexpectedly
- The tree has visible wounds, cavities, decay, cracks, or unusual growth
- Insects, fungal structures, or other organisms are present
- Roots, soil conditions, drainage, or planting depth may be involved
- Construction or landscaping has occurred near the tree
- You need a professional second opinion
- You are concerned about a tree near a home, driveway, street, or other target
- You need help deciding whether treatment, pruning, removal, or monitoring is appropriate
- Another company has recommended expensive or irreversible work
- You want professional guidance without committing to a service
What a Consultation May Include
Depending on the concern and accessible conditions, the appointment may include:
- Reviewing your questions and objectives
- Discussing relevant tree and property history
- Identifying the tree species
- Observing the canopy, branches, trunk, and root flare
- Reviewing visible root-zone and soil conditions
- Examining visible wounds, defects, pests, or signs of decline
- Considering drainage, construction, grade changes, and environmental stress
- Explaining likely contributing factors
- Discussing reasonable management options
- Identifying whether treatment or additional evaluation may be appropriate
- Answering questions during the appointment
- Providing verbal recommendations and practical next steps
Our Arborist Consultation Process
Review Your Concerns
We begin by discussing what you have observed, when the concern began, relevant property history, previous tree care, recent site changes, and what you hope to understand.
Evaluate the Tree and Site
We observe the specified tree or trees and relevant site conditions, including accessible portions of the canopy, branches, trunk, root flare, surrounding soil, drainage, and nearby property features.
Explain the Findings
We discuss the conditions observed, likely contributing factors, uncertainties, and the significance of the findings in clear language.
Recommend Practical Next Steps
We explain whether treatment, pruning, monitoring, additional testing, written documentation, surveying, or another management option may be appropriate.
Do You Already Know What Tree Work You Need?
Request a free estimate when you already know what tree service or Plant Health Care treatment you want priced for one or more identified trees. If you need an independent diagnosis, professional guidance, a second opinion, or help determining whether any work is necessary, schedule a paid arborist consultation.
What to Expect From a Paid Arborist Consultation
A Consultation Provides Professional Guidance, Not a Written Report
The consultation fee covers the arborist's time, field observations, professional judgment, explanations, and verbal recommendations during the appointment. A formal written arborist report is not automatically included. If you need findings, photographs, professional opinions, or recommendations documented in writing for an HOA, insurer, attorney, municipality, project team, dispute, or property decision, request an Arborist Report.
Tree conditions may change after the appointment because of weather, construction, pests, disease, soil disturbance, mechanical injury, or other events.
Why This Is a Paid Professional Service
A diagnostic consultation requires more than briefly looking at a tree and naming a service. The arborist must consider the tree species, symptoms, structure, growing environment, site history, root-zone conditions, recent changes, surrounding targets, and possible interactions among several stressors.
The consultation remains valuable even when no paid tree work is recommended. Because the appointment is not dependent on selling a treatment, pruning service, or removal, the discussion can remain focused on the tree, the site, and the client's questions.
Why Homeowners Choose Eric Putnam BCMA Inc. for Arborist Consultations
Diagnosis Before Recommendations
We evaluate the tree and surrounding site before recommending treatment or other work. Similar symptoms may have different causes.
Guidance Without Service Pressure
The consultation is focused on understanding the concern and explaining reasonable options, even when no immediate tree work is recommended.
Clear, Practical Explanations
We explain what was observed, why it may matter, what uncertainties remain, and what next steps are reasonable for the tree and property.
What Our Customers Say
When it comes to the care of your trees and yard, we understand how important it is to find a tree expert you can trust. Thanks to our personalized and professional approach with our arborist visits and tree consultations, our customers rest easy knowing their tree’s health will always be our top priority. See what some of our clients had to say:
Common Questions
What should I provide before the appointment?
Provide the property address, tree or trees involved, your primary concerns, relevant history, recent construction or landscaping changes, photographs when available, and any recommendations you have received from another company.
What is the difference between a paid consultation and a free estimate?
A paid consultation is for diagnosis, evaluation, second opinions, and professional guidance. A free estimate provides pricing for identified work when you already know which service or treatment you want.
Will I receive a written report after the consultation?
No. A formal written report is not automatically included with a consultation. If you need written findings, photographs, professional opinions, or recommendations, request an Arborist Report.
Can the arborist look at more than one tree?
Yes, but the number of trees and property areas included should be discussed when booking. Larger properties, multiple unrelated concerns, or extensive tree populations may require an adjusted scope or a Tree Survey.
How much canopy can be removed?
There is no single percentage that is appropriate for every tree. The amount of live foliage removed should be based on species, age, condition, pruning objective, and the tree’s ability to respond. Excessive foliage removal can increase stress and disrupt normal growth.
