It’s the ARLnow Five and Five, where nonprofit Washington Consumers’ Checkbook provides five top-rated local businesses and five tips for getting great service and prices. ARLnow readers can access all of Checkbook’s ratings of local tree care services until May 5 at Checkbook.org/ARLnow/tree-care.
These tree care companies serve Arlington County and received Washington Consumers’ Checkbook’s top rating for quality (as reported by their customers in Checkbook’s surveys).
Arlington Tree Care
325 N Edison St
Arlington, VA 22203
703-524-0888
Bonilla Tree Service
2905 Summerfield Rd
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-533-0667
Dad’s Tree Service
Springfield, VA 22152
703-799-5844
Ports Professional Tree Surgery
5242 Port Royal Rd #1611
Springfield, VA 22151
703-323-7061
Strictly Stumps
39 Hermitage Dr
Stafford, VA 22556
703-978-8662
Checkbook’s Top Five Tips for Getting Great Tree Care for Less Green
- Before hiring any company, obtain competitive bids from several. For tree removal jobs, Checkbook’s undercover shoppers found big price differences for the same work. For one specific job, prices ranged from $1,500 to $2,350 and from $2,440 to $3,250 for another. Typically, you don’t have to be home when bidders are looking at the job.
- No-shows are a common complaint about tree care services. Invite more companies for estimates than you actually need; once you have enough bids, cancel remaining visits.
- Check whether a company’s liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance are current. Ask to see certificates of insurance, and call to verify coverage.
- When you’ve selected a company, request a contract including a thorough description of the work. Be sure to include who cleans up afterward, hauls away debris and wood, and removes the stump.
- You may be able to get a better price for pruning or removing trees if you can schedule work during the winter, when companies are less busy and there is less debris to haul away.
Washington Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. We are supported by consumers and take no money from the service providers we evaluate.