The Ranking
Our top 5 tree services in Denver
Denver has far fewer native trees than it has planted ones. Most of the city's canopy is cottonwood, silver maple, green ash, honey locust, crabapple and Colorado blue spruce, all of them watered by hose or sprinkler in a semi-arid climate. That makes tree work here more about timing and health than most people expect. Heavy, wet snow in spring and fall breaks limbs on trees that are still holding leaves, and strong wind off the foothills drops weak branches onto roofs and cars. Homeowners in our reviews describe a blue spruce lost to canker, crabapples with fire blight, pine beetle damage and, more and more, ash trees that need treatment for emerald ash borer, which has reached the Denver metro area. Late winter, while trees are dormant, is a common time for pruning.
Rules matter too. Trees in the public right of way, including the strip between the sidewalk and the curb, belong to the city, and work on them goes through Denver Forestry. Colorado has no statewide arborist licence, but Denver licenses arborists who work in the city, and the Colorado Department of Agriculture licenses the qualified supervisors who apply tree pesticides. Several companies below cite those credentials. Branches near power lines are a separate matter: leave them to a line-clearance crew or the utility.
To check a company, ask for the ISA certification number and look it up through the International Society of Arboriculture's Find an Arborist tool. Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and proof of workers compensation, because tree work is among the most dangerous trades. Get the quote in writing, with the scope, cleanup and stump grinding spelled out, and confirm the Denver arborist licence number with Denver Forestry before work begins.
