Survey Reveals Respondents’ Tree Care Offerings

The tree care survey was distributed as a wrap cover on the April 2001 issue of Lawn & Landscape, and reader responses totaled 220.

Results of the survey show that a majority of respondents (72.3 percent) do tree installations, while a few less (60.5 percent) do tree removal. Most companies that responded (84.5 percent) do not have separate divisions for tree services, and only 21 percent of respondents have more than three employees devoted to tree care. Additionally, tree care represents a lower volume of companies’ sales, as 54 percent of respondents only have tree care revenue between $0 and $20,000.

Always a popular item in the lawn and landscape industry, equipment is represented highly among respondents. About 84 percent of respondents own saws, 80 percent own pruners, 51 percent own sprayers and 20 percent own stump grinders.

More information about the tree care industry and its services will be included in Lawn & Landscape’s first tree care supplement and buyers’ guide, which will be available in the August 2001 issue. The supplement will include articles and information on micro- and macroinjection treatments, adding on tree services, maintenance tips, installation tips and a buyers’ guide of industry companies offering tree care products.

The complete tree care services survey results follow:

1. What type of tree care services does your company provide (check all that apply)?
• Disease, insect, etc. identification and diagnosis - 39 percent
• Chemical application (organic programs included) - 34.5 percent
• Removal - 60.5 percent
• Installation - 72.3 percent
• Other - 15.5 percent (Other included pruning/trimming, fertilizing, maintenance, consultation, research, stump removal and design)
• No Answer - 12.3 percent
2. Do you subcontract tree services?
• Yes - 48 percent
• No - 45 percent
• Some - 3 percent
• No Answer - 4 percent
3. Do you have a separate division for tree services?
• Yes - 11 percent
• No - 84.5 percent
• No Answer - 4.5 percent
4. How many employees do you have in your tree care division?
• 0 to 3 - 71 percent
• 3 to 5 - 7 percent
• 5 to 10 - 9 percent
• 10 or more - 5 percent
• No Answer - 8 percent
5. Do you have an arborist on staff?
• Yes - 22 percent
• No - 69 percent
• No Answer - 9 percent
6. How much revenue does your tree care division account for?
• $0 to $20,000 - 54 percent
• $20,000 to $50,000 - 7 percent
• $50,000 to $100,000 - 9 percent
• $100,000 to $500,000 - 11 percent
• $500,000+ - 2 percent
• No Answer - 17 percent
7. How many lift trucks do you use in your tree care division?
• 0 - 63 percent
• 0 to 2 - 19 percent
• 2 to 5 - 7 percent
• 5+ - 1 percent
• No Answer - 10 percent
8. What type of tree equipment do you own (check all that apply)?
• Saws - 84 percent
• Pruners - 80 percent
• Stump grinders - 20 percent
• Sprayers - 51 percent
• Microinjection applicators - 19 percent
• Chippers - 35 percent
• Chip, dump or other specialized trucks - 31 percent
• Wood processing equipment - 9 percent
• Other - 5 percent (Other included trailer, tree spade, loaders, cranes, root pruners, hand tools, ladders and macroinjection applicators)
• No answer - 10 percent

The author is Internet Editor of Lawn & Landscape Online.