Tree care companies are always looking for ways to distinguish themselves from their competition, and those that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award are already several steps ahead. In addition to its Diamond Certified status, Fine Tree Care sets itself apart by taking a customized approach to caring for its customers’ trees–instead of merely pruning them and keeping them healthy, the company focuses on optimizing their future growth and ensuring their longevity. “Simply put, our goal is to bring out the best in each property,” says owner Jeff Rebischung. “We’ll go to extraordinary lengths to save even the smallest tree if it’ll improve the property in the long run.”

Fine Tree Care has been providing general tree care services for residential and commercial clients in Sonoma, Marin and San Francisco Counties since 1999, handling everything from preventive care and general pruning to stump grinding and hazardous tree removal. Mr. Rebischung says the company’s standard services are important, but its true advantage lies in its specialty services, which include boutique timber harvesting; bonsai, fruit and heritage tree pruning; and more. “From the most detailed specialty pruning to simply mowing the lawn, we’ll do whatever it takes to make our customers happy.”

Unlike less experienced tree care companies that perform pruning jobs as quickly as possible in an effort to maximize their workload volume, Fine Tree Care is known for taking the time to perform high-quality, detail-oriented work that’s designed to produce long-term results. “We strive to give our customers three things: the best quality service, the best quality products and the best value for their money,” says Mr. Rebischung. “Our goal is to provide more service per dollar than any other tree care company.”

Another distinguishing attribute of Fine Tree Care is its implementation of environmentally-friendly business practices–it’s one of the few companies that the California Department of Fish and Game uses for logging services directly above Class 1 water courses, and it offers a “Free Chip List” delivery program that provides homeowners with complimentary wood chips to be used in a variety of ways. “We look at trees as community resources rather than individual work order items,” says Mr. Rebischung. “Since we focus on the bigger picture, we’re able to see the long-term value of these types of Green practices.”

Maintain the trees in your yard to maximize your long-term property value. A tree can be part of a residential landscape for up to 200 years, so it’s in your best interest to ensure your trees are as healthy as possible—not only for their potential to increase your property value, but also for their ability to create an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. “Humans tend to focus on day-to-day changes, but you really need to think long-term when it comes to trees,” says Jeff Rebischung, owner of Fine Tree Care in Sebastopol. “You should plan at least 10 to 20 years into the future when putting together any type of tree maintenance program.”
If you don’t know how to establish a long-term maintenance plan for your trees, a professional arborist can provide invaluable assistance. “A tree care professional can gently guide your trees in the right direction so they’ll be the way you want them in the future,” says Mr. Rebischung. “You don’t want a tree to grow to maturity with a structural imperfection that could have been corrected when it was young. If you wait too long to fix a simple problem, it’ll be significantly more expensive than the initial maintenance. The key is to think long-term and treat your landscape like it’s your own health.”
When it comes to hiring a tree care professional, Mr. Rebischung advises against directly comparing bids from different companies. “There’s a lot of variation in the way contracts and proposals are written in this industry; very rarely is it apples to apples,” he says. “Generally, when you have a difference in price, there’s going to be a difference in quality, so make sure you’re paying for the same service before choosing the lowest bidder.”
If you want to save money on tree care services, consider waiting until the off-season (winter) to hire a company. Most companies offer price discounts on winter work so they can improve their cash flow, and they can typically respond much quicker because there’s less demand from other customers. Also, trees are easier to maintain in the winter because their architecture is clearly visible and there are no leaves to add to the clean-up time.

Q: Do you provide consultation services?

A: Yes, we’ll survey your property and come up with a long-term plan to maintain its aesthetic and monetary value.

Q: Are your employees trustworthy and professional?

A: Absolutely. Each of our crew members has to pass a rigorous background check and complete a minimum of 60 hours of training prior to working in the field. Our workers are highly skilled and professional, and they treat every property with the utmost respect.

Q: Do you offer any Green or sustainable services?

A: We’re committed to responsibly managing our resources, so we’re always looking for new ways to save energy and protect our community. One of the ways we accomplish this is through our ‘Free Chip List,’ which allows our customers to sign up to receive free wood chips that are byproducts of our regular work. Wood chips can be used to suppress weeds, control erosion, define pathways and more.

Q: What’s the difference between interior and exterior pruning?

A: Interior pruning is when you start at the trunk and work outward; exterior pruning is the opposite. Interior pruning is faster and easier, but you eventually reach a point of diminishing return, especially with older trees that have been continually pruned over the years. At that point, you have to switch to exterior pruning, which is more time consuming and expensive because it involves more surface area and cuts.

Q: What’s the best time to prune a tree?

A: There’s no single answer—it depends on the type of tree, its age and health, and its location.

Q: Do you provide free estimates?

A: Yes.