Few tree service companies earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award, which means they’ve been independently rated Highest in Quality. Even fewer can also claim more than three decades of industry experience and a staff of highly trained professionals who’ve been with the company for 20-plus years, but that’s exactly the case for Summit Tree Care. “We’ve been taking care of trees throughout the North Bay since 1977, so we really know what we’re doing,” says owner Bob Alvarez. “Our customers know the same crew members are going to come back to their houses year after year, and they really appreciate that.”

Summit Tree Care provides a wide range of tree care services for residential and commercial clients in Sonoma, Marin and Napa Counties. In addition to handling everything from basic maintenance and trimming to tree and shrub removals, the company sells and delivers firewood, performs yard renovations on neglected properties, and more.

Unlike less experienced tree service companies that strive to reduce their operating costs by using the same equipment for years, Summit Tree Care continually invests in new state-of-the-art equipment designed to streamline the tree care process as much as possible, including aerial lifts, brush chippers and stump grinders. “Investing in new equipment and keeping it well maintained actually saves our customers money because we’re able to work safer, quicker and more efficiently,” says Mr. Alvarez. “Our customers find great value in our combination of modern equipment and highly experienced employees.”

Another distinguishing feature of Summit Tree Care is its dedication to executing the basics on every job, which Mr. Alvarez says is important for ensuring 100 percent of his customers return for more work in the future. “Simply put, we’re prompt, reliable and trustworthy. We work efficiently, treat our customers fairly and take pride in our job from start to finish. Our customers see that and keep coming back as a result.”

Don’t underestimate the importance of maintaining the trees on your property. A property’s trees are among its most valuable assets—since they take decades to grow to full height, they’re long-term investments that increase the property’s value and make it more aesthetically pleasing at the same time. That’s why hiring a professional arborist to care for your mature trees is a sound investment for both your wallet and lifestyle.
Even if you elect to have a professional provide long-term maintenance for your trees, it’s still important to understand how to identify potential threats before they become serious problems. “The most common pests as of late are bark beetles,” says Bob Alvarez, owner of Summit Tree Care in Petaluma. “They bore into pine and birch trees, get into the cores, and actually shut the trees down. A bad infestation can kill a tree in a week.” A tree care professional will be able to provide bark beetle treatments, as well as deep root fertilization that keeps the tree strong so it can defend itself against pests.
Another warning sign to look for is a loss or discoloration of needles or leaves—this usually indicates your tree is in distress and requires the services of a professional arborist. Other signs include sap oozing from branches or the trunk and visible beetles or other insects. “Many treatments for these types of problems require the application of pesticides, which is a job that’s best left to a professional for safety reasons,” cautions Mr. Alvarez.

Q: How long will it take to complete my job?

A: Every property and job is unique, so it depends on the extent of the work. Regardless, we’ll give you a written estimate that includes both the cost and the estimated time of completion before any work begins.

Q: Can you give me a quote over the phone?

A: We can give you a ballpark figure, but we can’t provide a firm estimate until we visit the site, evaluate its accessibility, and determine the number, size and health of your trees.

Q: Do you use day laborers or subcontractors?

A: Absolutely not. Tree care is a dangerous business, so it’s important for us to use crew members who know exactly what they’re doing and are used to working together.

Q: How do you maintain quality control?

A: In addition to employing highly experienced crew members who have been with the company for more than 20 years, every job is inspected by our owner, Bob Alvarez, to ensure the work is done to his exacting standards.

Q: Is there a tree that’s too big for you to handle?

A: No, we can work with trees of every size.

Q: Do you sell firewood?

A: Yes, and we also deliver it.

Q: Do I need to tell my neighbors that you’ll be coming?

A: Usually no, but if there’s a tree that’s encroaching onto their property and we need access to it, you might need to alert them. Also, if we’re chipping for an extended period of time, you may want to let them know there will be noise for a few hours as a courtesy.