Question 1

What’s the best time of year to prune my tree?

Accepted Answer

Typically, the best time of year to prune a tree is during its dormant season; essentially speaking, when the sap isn’t flowing. With some species of trees (birch for instance), making even moderate pruning cuts in flush of the spring season can potentially cause it to ‘bleed out’, and overstress the tree. Having said that, other species, like Manitoba Maple for instance, can be especially resilient; provided pruning is done properly, work can be done at pretty much any time of year.

Question 2

Is my tree unsafe? Does it need to come down?

Accepted Answer

Often, the subtext to this question is “I love my tree, so please tell me I can keep it!”

Personally speaking, if mitigative measures can be done to a tree to save it rather than cut it down (like bracing compromised limbs, or selectively pruning a tree such that wind passes through it easier), that’s what I’ll typically advocate for. That said, I’ve only done my job if you can feel safe and comfortable…. upon careful assessment, I’ll endeavor to give my best professional opinion, and as much information about feasible options as possible, but the final decision is of course yours.

Question 3

How much do you charge to take down a tree?

Accepted Answer

Firstly I’ll say that having me give you an estimate is free, but the short answer to the question is, ‘it depends’…

…on whether you’ll need us to do cleanup as well, or you’d prefer NiceGuy do a ‘drop-only’ (i.e. get the tree safely down, and perhaps bucked up into manageable pieces /firewood, such that you’re able to do cleanup yourself)
          …on the size of the tree (but you already knew that)
          …on where the tree is situated relative to other structures, etc (i.e. whether it’s in an open field and can be simply felled, as compared to being within striking range of obstacles like houses and wires such that it will require a lot of rigging)
          …on the condition of the tree (i.e. can the tree be climbed for takedown, or will it be necessary to bring in our lift or some such)
          …on the tree’s accessibility (i.e. if you intend to hire us to do cleanup as well, how far will we have to move the cuttings to get them to our truck and chipper)
          …on the location of the tree in a ‘geographical’ sense (i.e. the ‘gas gods’ get more meddlesome in the case of a tree at a camp that’s two hours away than they do a tree within city limits)
          …on any ‘mitigating financial circumstances’ you might have (i.e. hey, if we both lived in Cuba, I’d pretty much be doing this for free;)

I’ll also add that, as it states on my estimates stationary, “Nice Guy for 'Higher' will match any reasonable, written quote from any other insured, reputable tree service.”

The other short answer, then, is: we’ll sort something out that works for you!

Question 4

What do you do with the woodchips?

Accepted Answer

If you can use them, we’re happy to leave them onsite for you. Typically though, we bring them to a farm and let them break down, to be used as compost.

Question 5

What do you do with the wood?

Accepted Answer

Again, if you prefer, we can leave it for you, either in log length, or cut up as firewood. Most often, I’ll give it away, to save the time and expense of handling it (thus not passing the expense on to the client). I have a list of people who’ve expressed interest in free firewood over the years, so I might send out a group text (with pics of the wood that’s available and location); whomever commits first to picking it up in reasonable time gets it.

Alternatively, I might give it to the person I sometimes subcontract to do groundwork for me, who’ll use it on his farm (warm farm animals are happy farm animals!). In any case, I do my best to make sure it goes to good use, and the client has the option of holding off on payment until all wood is gone.

Question 6

What options do you take as payment?

Accepted Answer

e-transfer, cash, or credit card (using PayPal)

Question 7

Do you still climb trees in the winter?

Accepted Answer

As you might imagine, when trees are frozen and/ or icy, climbing them can get a little more ‘entertaining’. That said, I will climb if a tree poses an immediate hazard and requires mitigation, though I’ll admit that I much prefer climbing in warmer climes in the off season!

Question 8

My cat is stuck in a tree. Can you help?

Accepted Answer

Been there, done that, would gladly do it again.

Frequently asked questions