Frequently Asked Questions
Is Karhu Tree Service licensed and bonded?
Absolutely! We are registered with the Oregon State Construction Contractor Board under. You can follow the link provided below to verify our license. # 222146
Does Karhu Tree Service have general liability AND Workers Compensation insurance?
Yes! We will provide policy documents upon request. You can also verify our insurance policy through the Oregon State Construction Contractor Board.
Do you have a International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist?
Owner-Operator, Brandon Karhu is a ISA Certified Arborist #PN-8848A. You can verify his credentials by visiting their website with the following link.
What are my payment options?
We accept cash, check, debt and credit (3% credit fee). Check is our preferred form of payment. Full payment is due upon completion of the job, unless otherwise arranged prior to contractual agreement.
Do you provide emergency service?
In the event of an emergency, we are available 24/7 to assist you and your family. Call 541-505-8818 and Brandon will prioritize your emergency job.
What are your financing options?
We do not currently offer any financing options, although we do accept credit cards for payment.
What are your hours?
Emergency response: 24/7
Regular office hours: Monday-Friday - 8:00am-5:00pm
Saturday: By appointment
Sunday: Closed
Do you offer free estimates?
Estimates are always free!
When is the best time to have tree pruning done?
Many tree species can tolerate light pruning throughout the year. Although, pruning during mid spring to early summer is favorable for most tree species. This is because the tree is actively growing and the compartmentalization of pruning wounds is not delayed by dormancy.
Why hire an arborist?
A healthy landscape is typically comprised of trees, shrubs, grass, shade gardens and water features. Each one of these components can be of great investment, both in time and financially. Trees and shrubs are living elements in your landscape and must be treated accordingly to sustain their value and vitality.
The landscape you surround yourself with should be healthy, beautiful and sustainable without constant intervention. It's important to recognize that large trees stand within a spectrum of asset verses liability. The balancing act that is your tree's health can swiftly shift if not properly addressed. Not all tree care providers are properly trained or equipped to advise you on the state of your trees health.
"An arborist is a specialist in the art and science of caring for individual trees. An ISA Certified Arborist is trained to understand the needs of trees and provide the care and maintenance necessary to enhance a tree’s health, beauty, and structural soundness." -International Society of Arboriculture (https://pnwisa.org/hire-an-arborist/benefits-of-hiring-an-arborist/)
What makes Karhu different from it's competition?
Tree preservation is extremely important to us. With the biological demands of trees in mind, we are always looking for creative solutions to the problems our clients face. We are not like every other tree care company out there. Our focus is to find solutions for the long term. Every job preformed is carefully thought out and we stand behind our work. We are focused on creating long term relationships with our clients here in Eugene. We are associated with ISA and TCIA which provides us with up to date tools, techniques, training courses and safety seminars. If you’re looking for a Tree Service with an Arborist on staff, you’re in the right place.
What would be considered a bad tree planting spot?
A good general rule of thumb: When looking for a place to plant a tree, try the outskirts of your landscape, away from any structures. Avoid overhead or underground utilities, septic fields or any other significant infrastructure. Most tree species can be planted at least 15' from a house.
Why is tree topping a bad practice?
Tree topping is typically preformed to manipulate the height of a tree. This expensive chore is absolutely terrible for a trees health. Tree topping actually encourages your tree to grow larger long-term, but at the expense of stability and health. When large topping cuts are made, the tree produces many new epicormic sprouts, otherwise known as water sprouts or suckers. These new growths are not attached in a strong manner like the pre-existing structure and they grow extremely fast which makes them weak. In addition, the large pruning wound will decay near the attachment point of these sprouts. This produces a very hazardous tree. When you top a tree, you doom it to a lifetime of struggles, followed by a premature death.
Do you provide emergency service?
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My neighbors tree is hanging into my yard, can i cut it back?
If plant material is hanging into your yard, you can prune the tree or shrub back to the property line. However, if you damage or kill the tree your neighbors tree you will be liable. Furthermore, pruning "at the property line" is not very conducive to best management practices for tree care. Improper pruning can actually encourage regrowth back into your property and severely damage a tree permanently. More often than not, disputes between neighbors regarding their trees can be resolved with the assistance of a certified arborist. We are experienced in conflict mitigation between home owners and pride ourselves on finding solutions.
How do i know how big my tree will get?
Tree height, canopy spread, trunk diameter and root zone size is determined by a combination of species genetic potential and environmental strain. To find out how large your tree will grow, you will need to know exactly what type of tree it is. Once you know tree type, you'll be able to find it's average and max growth potential sizes. These predictions may vary greatly depending on specific circumstances. A local arborist will be more familiar with local trees than Wikipedia. If you're in the Eugene or surrounding area, give us a call. We will provide you with concise information regarding our local trees.