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  • Average homeowner rating star icon4.8
    Average homeowner rating
  • Verified reviews icon295
    Verified arboricultural services reviews

Find Arborists in Santa Barbara

Aldo's Tree Service, LLC
4.7(
60
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 1995

Free estimates

Customers say: Quick response

"Manuel is so focused on what the client wants and has an expert eye for aesthetic tree trimming. I had four unruly, giant Juniper trees that had never been trimmed, and now they are beautiful. The crew came right on time and cleaned up the yard well before they left. Fairly priced, responsible and professional!"
Response time1 day
13 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by96%of homeowners
Avatar for Grays Landscaping LLC
Grays Landscaping LLC
4.7(
80
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

Super Service Award Winner

In business since 2023

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"They are great!!! I plan to hire them again. I would like to change flowers and weeds into grass. I plan on hiring Grays Lanscaping LLC to do the job."
Snow removal
Ivy removal
Landscaping Project
Ivy removal
Yard cleanup

+52

Response time3 days
1 neighbors recently requested a quote
Recommended by57%of homeowners
Avatar for Shofar Landscape Contracting
Shofar Landscape Contracting
5.0(
13
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2018

Free estimates

Small jobs welcome

"Shofar was wonderful to work with; they repaired our patio slab. Removed /tore up damaged concrete, tore out the tree roots which had caused the problem. and then laid a new slab. They were so professional, timely, efficient, and communicative! I highly recommend this company!!!!"
Response time1 day
Response rate87%
9 neighbors recently requested a quote
Avatar for Nature's Tree Service
Nature's Tree Service
4.9(
8
)

Serving Santa Barbara, CA and surrounding areas

Approved

In business since 2000

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

"It went good, it took about 2 hrs and 45 min. The only thing is they were an hour late. Overall they did a great job. I would recommend Nature’s Tree Service but suggest they be on time to job."
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+27

Response time1 day
Response rate100%
Recommended by100%of homeowners
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Arborists questions, answered by experts

Generally speaking, you’ll want to avoid flush cuts, which are cuts made as extremely close to the trunk or main branch. These cuts can weaken your tree, lower its natural defense mechanisms, and even cause decay. You’ll also want to avoid tree topping, which is the total removal of the leader and upper main branches of a tree. 

Most pros will advise against either of these methods, which is why hiring a pro is often the best choice when it comes to tree trimming.

If you aren’t sure what you’re doing, be very careful when cutting mature tree roots (roots larger than 2 inches). Root cutting and pruning can affect both a tree’s stability and its ability to nourish itself. Issues during root cutting can result in damage or injury. 

It’s recommended you call in a pro to help, unless it’s a very small tree and you aren’t worried about the prospect of losing the tree.

Most jobs take 2-8 hours, but extensive trimming may take multiple days.

You can use a chainsaw, but it won’t remove the entire stump or root ball and is not a recommended method. It takes quite a bit of physical work to achieve and will likely dull or ruin your chainsaw. Instead, consider using salt, herbicide, light deprivation, boiling water, stump grinding, or burning to kill a tree stump. These methods allow you to kill a stump using minimal machinery and physical exertion.

Palm tree stumps can take as long as seven to ten years to rot naturally. Whereas some tree stumps rot within a year, palm trees tend to last longer due to their deep root networks. Chemical rotting (described above) can help speed the process up so your palm tree stumps rot in under two months.

The Santa Barbara, CA homeowners’ guide to arboricultural services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.