West Valley Arborists, Inc. is an urban tree care specialist that serves corporate, commercial and residential clients in Santa Clara County. Its many tree services include arborist reports, fine pruning and shaping, tree and stump removal, planting, fertilization, cabling and bracing, and consultation. The company also offers 24-hour emergency response for its customers’ convenience.
Owner Simon Tunnicliffe has been involved in the arboriculture industry for more than 35 years, starting in his native England and working with influential companies in France, Germany, and Australia. “I began as a groundsman,” he says, “then worked my way to becoming a specialized climber, foreman, and operations and sales manager.” Simon moved to the United States in 1994 and founded West Valley Arborists in 2005.
West Valley Arborists operates under industry-best standards set forth by the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) and International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). The company also specializes in removing overgrown or hazardous trees in difficult locations.
“We believe in giving people the best tree service possible, and we achieve that by staying committed to expertly completing every job, no matter how difficult. Our meticulous attention to detail allows us to exceed our clients’ highest expectations. Ultimately, we want to provide a quality service and give back to the environment through tree conservation and preservation.”
Before hiring a tree care company, make sure it’s qualified to provide ongoing service.
“Most species of trees need to be pruned every two years, so it’s important to find a company that you want to work with in a long-term capacity,” says Simon Tunnicliffe, an ISA-certified arborist and owner of West Valley Arborists, Inc. in Campbell. “Some tree service companies merely cut back trees, but it’s better to find one that really cares for your trees and wants to keep them healthy for many years.”
It’s also important to understand the difference between a landscaping company and an arborist. Landscaping companies deal with shrubbery, small plants, hardscapes and irrigation, while arborists are specifically trained to care for trees. Different trees respond in different ways to their environment, and arborists have the in-depth knowledge to prune them correctly and safely. In fact, most reputable landscaping companies will call upon arborists to care for customers’ trees instead of trying to perform the work themselves.
Timing is also important in tree care work. Conifers, like cedars and pines, shouldn’t be pruned in summer when their sap flow is at its maximum. Many fruit trees, such as peach and nectarine trees, should be pruned between November and January. Citrus trees, on the other hand, can be pruned just about any time. “Generally, a tree service company shouldn’t prune a tree until it’s in blossom, but there won’t be any long-term damage if it’s pruned before that,” says Mr. Tunnicliffe. “Deep-root feeding is best done between November and March—it’s wetter and easier to push deep into the soil. You don’t want to fertilize in summer because you’ll burn the tree.”
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. For West Valley Arborists, Inc., achieving and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction is entirely dependent on the performances of its technicians, all of whom have extensive training in tree safety and take pride in helping customers maintain the aesthetic and functional qualities of their trees. "We deliver what we promise–prompt, professional service with a courteous attitude," says owner Simon Tunnicliffe. "From the moment we receive the initial phone call to the final clean-up, our goal is complete customer satisfaction."
West Valley Arborists has been providing urban tree care services for corporate, commercial and residential clients throughout Santa Clara County since 2005. In addition to pruning, stump removal and planting, the company offers detailed arborist reports, cabling and bracing, 24-hour emergency response services, and more. It also specializes in removing overgrown or hazardous trees in difficult locations.
Unlike tree service companies whose owners delegate quality control responsibilities to foremen or other employees, West Valley Arborists provides every project with the supervision and expertise of Mr. Tunnicliffe himself. "I'm always in the field training my guys by example," he says. "I have unique training from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), and I want to make sure my technicians have the same understanding of tree care that I do."
Another distinguishing attribute of West Valley Arborists is its dedicated approach to customer retention, which includes communicating honestly with customers about their tree issues and performing high-quality work at practical prices. "Our customers can probably find a company that can underbid us, but nobody can deliver the same amount of value," says Mr. Tunnicliffe. "The heart of this business is repeat customers, so we strive to deliver the best possible services that make our customers want to come back year after year."