Horticultural Services, LTD provides a variety of tree care services for residential and commercial clients in Contra Costa County, including trimming, view clearing, removal, pest control, stump grinding and more. The company is known for its ornamental tree pruning skills, and it also specializes in preserving large, heritage-quality trees.
Owner Chris Chapman is an ISA Certified Arborist with more than two decades of industry experience. Mr. Chapman says he’s committed to applying the most current trade information and training to every project, and he believes in educating his clients so they can make informed decisions about their trees. “We schedule onsite meetings where we walk through customers’ properties, identify any problems and give them numerous options, beginning with the least invasive and expensive.”
Horticultural Services, LTD can provide consultation services that teach clients the best ways to create and manage their landscapes pre- or post-construction. The company also offers regular maintenance programs designed to keep properties healthy and thriving for years.
“Our policy is simple: We do what we say we’re going to do, when we say we’re going to do it. Communication is a very important aspect of our operation—we let our customers know the details of their projects so they don’t have to spend time searching for information. We prefer to involve them in all decisions to ensure they get exactly what they want.”
Make sure you choose a tree care professional with the training and education to handle your specific situation. Arborists can earn a multitude of different titles and qualifications, each of which requires its own specialized training and experience. Additionally, arborists can be called upon to act as field arborists, supervisors, diagnosticians, consultants, tree and landscape appraisers, expert witnesses, educators and more. To find an arborist who can best understand what’s affecting your tree’s health or how to best assess your tree’s situation, first familiarize yourself with the following industry titles:
ISA Certified Arborist:
Has demonstrated basic knowledge to inspect trees and perform tree care, with required minimum qualifications (individual and/or business) to meet statute requirements for the specific jurisdiction.
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA):
Has demonstrated higher skills in certain technical aspects of tree care and equipment used as an arborist, with higher knowledge of arboriculture.
ISA Certified Arborist Specialties (Municipal, Utilities and Tree Risk Assessor):
Has demonstrated higher knowledge and skills in the subject specialties of arboriculture.
ISA Certified Tree Worker:
Has demonstrated a basic knowledge of tree care to assist certified arborists in performing tree care services.
ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist® (RCA):
Has demonstrated higher skills in certain technical areas related to trees and tree care. Provides objective, independent opinions, with training for higher communication, presentation and/or report writing skills.
ASCA Member:
Has demonstrated higher skills in certain technical areas related to trees and tree care. Provides objective, independent opinions, with improved communication and presentation skills.
Educators, Researchers and Cooperative Extension Staff:
Have demonstrated higher education and skills in diagnosis of tree growth and conditions, with improved communication and presentation skills. May lack field experience with trees.
Landscape Architect License/Registration:
Requires a four- or five-year college degree and range of one to five years of design experience to take the license exam. Has demonstrated a higher competency in design and planning. May lack field experience with trees.
Certified Urban Forester (CaUFC) or Certified Forester (SAF- CF):
Has demonstrated a higher level of knowledge and experience in urban forestry and urban forest management. May include fire suppression and Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) property mitigation/basic knowledge and experience in forestry.
Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it's even more important for tree service companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Horticultural Services, LTD. takes an all-inclusive approach to helping its clients and provides them with a wide range of tree care services, including removal, stump grinding, pruning and trimming, view clearing, fertilization, consulting and pest control. "The first thing we do with a new client is schedule an onsite meeting and walk through their property," explains owner Chris Chapman. "After identifying any problems, we then offer them options that begin with the least dramatic, invasive and expensive choice. They really appreciate the effort we put into making the process as simple as possible."
One of Horticultural Services' most distinguishing characteristics is its punctual staff members, all of whom are meticulously trained to provide timely service within the given parameters of each job. "We go through every item on a work order and answer any questions that may arise," says Mr. Chapman. "Also, we only use small footprint-type equipment to prevent damage to other landscaping."
Unlike other tree care companies that only focus on arboricultural work, Horticultural Services also offers pest control services that utilize organic products as much as possible. "We take an integrated pest management (IPM) approach to pest control that starts with the least toxic solutions," notes Mr. Chapman. "Then we work our way up the scale into fungicides, insecticides and heavy-duty herbicides. We feel it's important to give our clients numerous choices when it comes to environmentally-friendly products and materials."
