As a tree trimming provider, you know that safety comes first. You must be able to do the job well and do it while keeping the safety of you and your workers in mind. That said, having the proper equipment can make or break your business. There are a few types of equipment you can use, depending on how extensive your business is.

You have a few choices: You can do light trimming or you can do full-scale tree surgery using a cherry picker or a crane. Your personal experience will play into this, but if you hire workers who have the right skills, you can offer more. Before you open your business, it's a good idea to take a few things into consideration:

1. Decide exactly how much tree trimming your company can do. You may have to start slow and work your way up to buying bucket trucks.

2. Ensure that your workers are properly trained. Tree trimming can be a dangerous occupation so make sure they know what they're doing.

3. Obtain tree trimmer liability insurance. If your workers damage someone's property, you may be responsible for paying for it.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Do tree trimming from the ground using a pole saw

These pruners are like miniature chain saws attached to a long pole. You can do quite a bit of tree trimming with these saws; expect to cut branches from 10 to 20 feet high with these. Practice proper safety when using this equipment: the pruners are somewhat heavy and should be used from the ground, not from a roof or ladder.

I recommend: Choose from fixed-length or telescoping pole pruners made by the renowned Stihl. You can also find great power pruners at Echo.

Give each qualified tree trimmer a commercial-grade chain saw

Of course, you can find chain saws at your local hardware store for a couple hundred dollars. But professional-grade chain saws are quite pricey, sometimes coming in at over $1000 for top-of-the-line commercial equipment. Establish a budget before you go shopping so you don't overextend yourself.

I recommend: Take a look at the chain saws offered by Cub Cadet Commercial. The chain saws at Jonsered range from 35 to 95 cc.

Find tree trimming climbing gear

Climbing gear consists of a network of ropes and spikes that allow a person to move up and down a tree with ease. It's imperative that you buy new equipment since you don't know how much use or abuse pre-owned equipment has received. Proper training is important as well; don't send one of your workers up a customer's tree until he has proved himself.

I recommend: Check out the huge selection of climbing equipment at WesSpur Tree Equipment: you can find anything from spurs and harnesses to smaller products like carabiners and micro pulleys. Select from the professional saddles offered by Saw House.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you plan to do full-scale tree trimming, you'll need a cherry picker or a crane. If you're in doubt about how to safely use these heavy machines, make sure to get plenty of tree trimming information before you get started.
• •  To get yourself more business, put your company's name on a tree trimming list. Many government agencies employ systems that require prospective vendors to put their names on a bid list. These agencies can be a great source of income, so make sure to get on that list.