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The Gentle Arborist

About us

Gentle Arborist is a small company of well trained arborists dedicated to the care of trees and the properties where they reside. We always look at the lowest cost, least invasive ways to preserve and enhance your trees while ensuring safety and harmony for the homeowner. Additional DBA - Gentle Arborists.

Business highlights

35 years of experience

Services we offer

Tree removals, planting & maintenance., stump grinding

Amenities

Free Estimates

Yes

Reviews
4.826 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
92%
4
4%
3
0%
2
0%
1
4%
Showing 1-25 of 26 reviews
Brenda D.
Sep 2015
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
unknown

Jeanmarie G.
May 2015
1.0
$2,500
Three large trees trimmed but dead stuff keeps falling out from branches left in tops at time of service. Dead tree stumps were supposed to be part of removal - stumps still in the ground. Med trees don't look much different except for low hanging branch removed. Smaller dogwoods are still full of deadwood, some of the branches cut were not clean cuts and bark is torn/ripped where branch removed. Crew showed up close to 10am and left by 5:15 and they had to borrow my drill to do vertical mulching. NOT satisfied for the money spent. BE extremely cautious to get a written quote and make them spell out EVERYTHING they will do; my biggest mistake was looking at the notes he took and agreeing to them. Those notes did not translate to the service. EXTREMELY disappointed and out of budget to have the remaining finished.

Jennifer H.
Jan 2014
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,200
We got more than our money's worth! The Gentle Arborist representative was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. He took down a very tricky (split) dead tree with perfect precision. He removed branches from several trees and did an overall inspection of the trees that will be used as part of a zip line tour. He worked quickly and efficiently, was helpful and friendly, and he was able to easily perform tasks that we could not have done on our own. We will use the Gentle Arborist again and again.



Mark P.
Aug 2013
5.0
$60
Brett was very helpful in completing agreed work. He also helped with advise on work I could do myself on smaller issues. All in all I was very happy with this company.

Jill A.
Apr 2013
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$600
Excellent.  I applaud the service I received.  First, Brett went out of his way to meet me on a Friday after work.  Second, it was also raining that afternoon, but I only had that afternoon available, so he met me anyway and was rained on while he looked at the various trees I needed trimming.  He never once complained and was super gracious about it all.  Rarely do I feel the service I receive warrants such an excellent rating, but this one delivered what they promised.

Julie K.
Sep 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$925
Glenn Christman (owner) was sensitive to my emotional attachment to a very old Bodock tree that had partially fallen in my front yard, and although it was still living and anchored into the ground, presented a potential risk to my house. Glenn worked to come up with a solution that addressed the risk without removing the whole tree where other arborists advised to remove the tree entirely.  Although he advised that such a dramatic action might threaten the tree's survival, he understood my need to try to save what I could and found a compromise that I could live with more easily. So far, almost three and a half months later, the tree has survived and seems happy and healthy for now.
I found The Gentle Arborists crew to be extremely professional, skilled and courteous, was very painstaking in their work, and happy to take extra time to help me pick out and safely store some pieces they had cut down for potential mementos.   The original bid for the work proposed was less than other companies I consulted.  In the end, Glenn gave me a price reduction off the original agreed upon price, saying they had completed the job under budget. I have no hesitation recommending this company.

Jean H.
Apr 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$200
The man who owns the company is a certified arborist.  He's extremely knowledgeable about how to grow trees in Tennessee and have them thrive.

Ralph C.
Mar 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,000
The price was a little expensive but he did what he said.  He is very precise and will not cut or harm trees at certain times. He is very conscientious and knowledgeable.

Tom J.
Jan 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$300
They did a very good job.  They cleaned up and they were on time.  They didn’t mess up anything around.  He did a very good job and they were reasonably priced though they were not cheap.  I didn’t check around for price but the price seemed reasonable to me. 

Delilah C.
Jan 2012
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$150
They are excellent. Glen Christman is the owner of the company. I use them whenever they are available to take care of my needs. I spent about $150 the last time I used them. They are completely professional. They really care about trees. They do it right. They never chop a tree. They know how to cut the tree right. I use them for optimal tree health. They are very nice. I will use them again. 

Dana J.
Nov 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$75
The giant elm we were considering cutting down is now going to remain adding character and charm to the back yard. Glenn confirmed it was generally healthy and wasn't a threat to the roof or home structure should a windy storm come along.

Sharon C.
Sep 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$250
They did it to prevent more damage to the tree.  They were conscientious and did a good job.  They also cleaned up well.  I would use them again.

June L.
Jul 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$5,700
Not possible to get crane in backyard which increased the price. 

All removal completed by 3 crew members climbing trees, cutting, using pullies, etc.  Very labor intensive.  Yard was cleaned up and left in good condition.  Some damage was done to the rock fence but that was anticipated.

Received bids from 2 other tree services.  The Gentle Arborist was the most knowledgable in our opinion.  He came serval times to answer questions, revise bid, and finalize the job.  No money was paid until all work was completed to our satisfaction. 

Because of all the bad weather in April, once we accepted the bid and he put it on his schedule, it was a month before our job got started.  The crew took 3 days to complete the work.  They arrived daily and worked hard all day.  The tree stump removal guy came a couple days later to complete the job.  He also was very professional and took care not to damage the rock fence.

Took lots of photo's of the tree prior to and during the removal job.

Cass M.
Jul 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$575
I got estimates and references from other providers and chose the Gentle Arborist based on the references. An employee did the actual work and cleaned up and removed all the debris in a very satisfactory manner.

Megan W.
May 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$325
Glenn Christman came to our house to see the location of the tree to be planted and to discuss various possibilities.  He explained the pros and cons of various tree varieties and sent an estimate for five different ones.  The weather stayed unseasonably warm late into the fall and he waited for it to be just right for planting.  When the time came, his assistant brought a beautifully shaped little tree and planted it carefully (after removing the dead tree that was there).  It is now flourishing and we are very happy with it. We plan to ask him to plant a dogwood in the fall.

Keri J.
Apr 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$300
Glenn came out and gave us a median priced quote to trim and clean up our HUGE but very neglected 60 year old oak tree.  We chose The Gentle Arborist because of Glenn's knowlege, professionalism and passion for his work.  Glenn  was not here for the job. However, his two employees were punctual, reliable and did a great job.  I am happy with the services provided by The Gentle Arborist and would not only use them again but would also refer them to friends.

Elizabeth H.
Mar 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$800
The Gentle Arborist is fabulous. I have used them for years and have always been very happy with their service and professional work. The clean-up they did for me after the May flood/storms was super -- and very reasonable in price. Glenn knows his trees and always gives great advice and options for what can be done, depending on your budget. I highly recommend the Gentle Arborist!

Jean H.
Mar 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$650
The Gentle Arborist has great climbers on staff. They are very impressive with the way they just climb up the trees and trim the branches. They do good work and are reliable.

Alice B.
Feb 2011
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$600
The man who comes out to speak with us is honest with what he thinks needs to happen. He will tell you how long you can wait before you need to do something, so he isn't really pushy, which I like. He seems to be very knowledgeable about trees as well. He will send his crew out the next day or whenever you schedule them to come out and do the work and they are all very nice.

Jean W.
Feb 2009
4.0
$3,000
They lost my check! Even though I had sent it signature confirmed and had a confirmation I was accused of nonpayment. They didn't call till weeks later, so unfortunately I had already thrown away the receipt. My suggestion? Deliver your check in person or send it with insurance, confirmation, and signature return service. And then save your receipt for 12 months!
Response from The Gentle Arborist
"The Member's trees were assessed as needing many cables, which she agreed to and OK'd the price. The material costs for the cabes and other items she ordered was over $1000. Installing a cable in a tree 50-75 feet up isn't easy, so labor is not low. I'm not sure what happened to the check, as I am responding to this 3.5 years after the fact. I am sorry the Member is unsatisfied with our service, and would like to offer her some free services to take the edge off of how she sees us as a company. Glenn Christman, Gentle Arborist"

RON C.
Feb 2009
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$2,700
He and his crew are highly professional and really care about their work. I'd recommend them to anyone. Worth the price!

Nicole C.
Oct 2008
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$300
Glenn was great to meet with, assessed the situation quickly, offered a fair estimate and showed up a few weeks later while we were out and did the work well. I have no complaints, although I still haven't received my invoice and would love to pay him for his fine work.

SHANE W.
Aug 2008
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$850
Glenn is so passionate about trees and it shows in his work. He walked me through what each tree needed individually and had his guys do exactly that.

Simon M.
Jun 2008
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,200
He is very professional and very thorough. He may be a little bit expensive, but he does do a very good job. He does clean up all the debris after he is done with the job. I would recommend him to anyone.

Emery R.
Feb 2007
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,315
Mr. Christman returned my call promptly in November 2006, visited as promised and gave us an estimate. His crew called the day before the work was to be done as I had requested. They showed up exactly on time and completed all work professionally. I was particularly impressed that they did not request a check upon completion. Mr. Christman explained that he first ensures complete client satisfaction before sending out a bill.
Showing 1-25 of 26

Licensing

State Contractor License Requirements

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FAQ

The Gentle Arborist is currently rated 4.8 overall out of 5.

Yes, The Gentle Arborist offers free project estimates.

No, The Gentle Arborist does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.

No, The Gentle Arborist does not offer a senior discount.

No, The Gentle Arborist does not offer emergency services.

No, The Gentle Arborist does not offer warranties.