Do I really need to hire an arborist if I have someone willing to cut/prune my tree?
Absolutely! It is highly recommended. Your friend/family member, no matter how well intentioned, does not have the correct insurance and expertise in order to complete your job safely. Tree removal is one of the most dangerous jobs in Canada and takes skill, experience and knowledge to do it safely! If something happens to your property, insurance may not cover you. If something happens to your friend/neighbor, you can be held liable and they can sue you. The question would be is it worth the risk? Saving a little bit of money is not worth destruction to your property or worse yet, someone getting injured or killed. When it comes to pruning, proper pruning practices are so important that the Province of Manitoba requires anyone providing this service to be formally trained and licensed. Making ‘stub’ cuts or ‘flush’ cuts are equally bad for your trees health. Also, if pruning trees with infection/blight, you can spread the infection to the rest of the tree if you do not take the necessary precautions in between cuts.