What's in a Written Assessment
Every assessment includes species identification, DBH and height measurements, a target-and-occupancy analysis, primary and secondary defect inventory, decay testing where appropriate (resistograph or sonic tomography), root collar excavation if root issues are suspected, and a clear recommendation: monitor, prune, cable, treat, or remove. Reports are delivered as a PDF you can share with your insurance company, HOA, or the MPC.
Common Conditions We Diagnose
Hypoxylon canker on water oaks and willow oaks (almost always indicates significant decline). Ganoderma butt rot at root collars. Phytophthora root rot in poorly drained sites. Pine beetle infestations (southern pine beetle and Ips engraver beetle). Lightning damage. Construction injury from grade changes, trenching, and root severance. Salt damage on Tybee and coastal properties. Storm-induced cracks and unions that need cabling.
Pre-Construction Tree Protection
Building or remodeling near a mature tree? Get an arborist involved before site work begins. We map critical root zones, design protection fencing, advise on driveway and foundation routing, and produce reports for the MPC when heritage trees are involved. The cost of an upfront assessment is a fraction of replacing a 200-year-old live oak that died from a single trenched utility line.
Risk Assessment for Insurance and HOAs
We provide Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) reports for documentation requested by insurance carriers, HOAs, or attorneys. The TRAQ framework is the industry standard for evaluating likelihood of failure, likelihood of impact, and consequences — the three legs of arboricultural risk.
FAQ
How much does a tree assessment cost?
Verbal consultations are free with most service quotes. Written TRAQ-style reports for insurance or legal use start at $300 per tree.
Can you tell if my tree is dying?
Usually yes. Indicators include canopy dieback, hypoxylon presence, mushroom conks at the root flare, bark sloughing, and structural shifts. Some conditions require resistograph testing to quantify internal decay.
Do you treat tree diseases?
We treat what is treatable — borers, scale, certain fungal issues — and we are honest when a tree is beyond intervention. Treating a dying tree is wasted money.
Will you write a report for my HOA?
Yes. Written reports for HOAs, insurance companies, and MPC permits are part of our regular work.