On this page
Tree work is risky and, in many Canadian cities, regulated. Crews climb with ropes and saws next to houses, fences and power lines, municipal by-laws protect many private and street trees, and utilities restrict who may work near their wires. Training, insurance and a written scope matter more here than in most yard services.
This broad guide covers the services a tree company offers, arborist credentials in Canada, cabling, bracing and planting, tree health diagnosis, the rules for private and city trees, storm work and the tree care year. Removal and pruning each have their own, more detailed guides.
Tree services explained: pruning, removal, cabling, planting and tree health care
- Pruning: removing dead, crossing or crowding branches and training young trees so they grow a sound structure.
- Removal: dismantling a dead, hazardous or badly placed tree in sections, often followed by stump grinding.
- Cabling and bracing: installing flexible cables or rigid rods to support weak forks and heavy limbs on a tree worth keeping.
- Planting and transplanting: choosing a species suited to the site, planting it at the right depth and moving small trees with enough roots to survive.
- Diagnosis and plant health care: identifying insects, disease and root problems, then recommending treatment, pruning or monitoring.
- Assessments and reports: written tree evaluations for a permit application, a construction project or an insurance claim.
Certified arborist vs general tree crew: ISA certification, Ontario's arborist trade and insurance
Anyone can advertise tree service, so credentials are worth asking about. ISA certification is a private credential earned by passing an exam on tree biology, pruning, diagnosis and safe work. In Ontario, Arborist (trade 444A) is also a provincial trade covering the transplanting, maintenance and removal of trees with ropes, climbing systems, pruning and diagnostic tools and mechanized equipment. Skilled Trades Ontario issues a Certificate of Qualification to those who complete the apprenticeship and pass the certifying exam, but the trade is non-compulsory, so the certificate isn't required to do tree work.
Neither credential replaces coverage: before anyone climbs, ask for proof of the company's liability insurance and of workers' compensation coverage with your province's board.
- Ask who will actually do the work on the day, and whether that person holds a credential, not just who wrote the quote.
- Get a written scope that names each tree, the cuts or treatment planned, and how debris and wood will be handled.
- Be wary of anyone who proposes topping a healthy tree or climbing on spikes to prune a tree that is staying.
Tree cabling, bracing and planting: supporting the trees you keep and adding new ones
Cabling and bracing extend the life of a valuable tree with a structural weakness, such as a narrow fork with bark trapped between two stems or a long limb over the house. Cables high in the crown limit how far stems can move apart in wind and under ice, and threaded rods hold a weak union or split together. The hardware goes with pruning to reduce weight, needs periodic inspection as the tree grows, and is no substitute for removal when the trunk or roots have failed.
Planting is where many long-term problems begin or are avoided. An arborist picks a species that suits the space, the soil and your region's winters, keeps large-growing trees away from foundations, sewer lines and overhead wires, and sets the root flare at the soil surface. Wire baskets and twine that could strangle roots are cut away, mulch is kept off the trunk, and the young tree gets deep watering through its first seasons.
Tree health diagnosis: insects, disease, girdling roots and construction damage
A declining tree rarely has one obvious cause, so a careful diagnosis looks at leaves, bark, roots and the site's recent history before suggesting a fix, which is often better watering, mulch, targeted pruning or monitoring rather than spraying.
- Thin crown, small leaves or early fall colour: often root stress from drought, compacted soil or damage during construction.
- Small holes, fine sawdust or heavy woodpecker activity on the bark: signs of boring insects that call for a prompt diagnosis.
- A trunk that enters the ground straight like a pole: roots buried too deep or circling the trunk, which can strangle the tree over time.
- Browned needles on the street side and spring dieback: typical salt injury along roads and driveways.
- Decline a year or two after a new driveway, addition or trench: cut or smothered roots, which is why the root zone should be protected during construction.
Tree by-laws for private and city-owned trees in Toronto, Montreal and other cities
Tree rules depend on what is being done and whose tree it is. Toronto's private tree by-law requires a permit to injure or remove a protected tree, but the City states that no permit is needed to prune a tree when the work follows good arboricultural practice to maintain its health, and it lists excessive canopy removal and improper pruning as harmful. In Montreal, felling a tree on private property requires a permit under rules set by each borough. Many other municipalities have their own by-laws, so the arborist should check them before quoting.
Street trees are a separate case. Toronto maintains the trees in its parks and on the public road allowance between the roadway and private property, residents ask for pruning or inspection through 311, and all work on City-owned trees must be authorized by the City, even when an owner is willing to pay a contractor. Many cities treat boulevard trees the same way, so no crew should touch one without written approval.
Emergency tree service after ice storms and windstorms: fallen trees, hanging limbs and power lines
Ice storms, windstorms and heavy wet snow bring the most calls to tree companies, and the most dangerous jobs. A tree resting on a roof, a split trunk or a broken limb caught in the crown is loaded in unpredictable ways and can shift as it is cut. Emergency crews stabilize first, using rigging and sometimes a crane to take weight off the house, then dismantle the tree and clean up.
If a tree or limb is on a wire, stay well back, keep others away and call your utility, or 911 if there is fire or injury; crews start only once the line is safe. In Quebec, work where a person, tool or branch could come within three metres of wires is reserved by law for arborists authorized by Hydro-Québec, and in Ontario the Electrical Safety Authority directs homeowners to their local distribution company or a certified utility arborist.
- Photograph the damage before anything is moved, and call your insurer early to ask what the policy covers.
- Get the scope and rate in writing even when the work is urgent, and be cautious with crews knocking on doors after a storm.
- Once the danger is past, have the remaining trees checked, since cracks and stripped bark can weaken a tree that looks fine from the ground.
Tree care through the Canadian year: dormant pruning, planting windows and winter protection
- Late winter: dormant pruning of many deciduous trees, while branch structure is easy to see and frozen ground protects lawns from equipment.
- Spring: planting and transplanting once the soil can be worked, and checking trees for winter damage, cracks and salt injury.
- Spring and summer: nesting season, when federal law protects occupied migratory bird nests, so crews look for active nests before cutting.
- April onward: oaks are left unpruned, because oak wilt, a fatal fungal disease found in Ontario, spreads to fresh wounds through sap beetles.
- Fall: a second planting window, deep watering of evergreens before freeze-up, and guards around young trunks against rodents and sunscald.
Tree Service: frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a tree service and an arborist?
A tree service is the company; an arborist is a person trained in tree care. Many tree services employ arborists, but not every crew includes one. For diagnosis, cabling or advice on keeping a large tree, ask for someone with a recognized credential, such as ISA certification or, in Ontario, the Arborist Certificate of Qualification.
Does cabling a tree really work?
It can, on an otherwise healthy tree with a weak fork or a heavy limb. Cables and braces reduce the chance of a split, but they need inspection as the tree grows, and they won't save a tree with a rotten trunk or failing roots.
Can I have the city tree in front of my house pruned?
Ask the city rather than hiring a crew. In Toronto, residents request pruning of City street and park trees through 311, and all work on City-owned trees must be authorized by the City. Other municipalities have similar rules for boulevard trees.
When is the best time to plant a tree?
Spring and early fall are the usual windows, when the soil is workable and temperatures are mild. Container-grown trees can go in later if they are watered deeply, but midsummer heat makes it harder for them to settle in.
Should a tree company use climbing spikes?
Only on a tree that is being removed. Spikes puncture the bark and leave wounds on a living tree, so pruning a tree that is staying should be done with ropes and a harness, a lift or a bucket truck.
Sources
- Arborist (444A) — Skilled Trades Ontario
- When to apply for a tree or ravine permit — City of Toronto
- City-owned tree maintenance — City of Toronto
- Apply for a permit to fell a tree on private property — Ville de Montréal
- What to do before pruning or cutting down a tree — Hydro-Québec
- Homeowner landscaping and tree pruning — Electrical Safety Authority
- Oak wilt — Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Oak wilt — Government of Ontario
- Guidelines to avoid harm to migratory birds — Environment and Climate Change Canada
Written by the LokalMatch editorial team. Reviewed by Zubair Afzal on September 10, 2026. How we write and check our guides