Certified Arborist Services in the Springfield Area
Our ISA Certified Arborist brings real experience and tree science to every removal, trim, and treatment decision.
A certified arborist is not a title you can just claim.
The ISA Certified Arborist credential requires three years of hands-on, verified industry experience as well as passing an in-depth exam covering tree biology, diagnosis, pruning, soil, and safe work practice. It is earned, it is verifiable by certification number, and it has to be maintained.
What that buys a homeowner is peace of mind that the individual they are speaking to brings a level of experience and proven know-how to the conversation. A mature tree in your yard is worth more than the work we are performing on it and arborist-guided outcomes are more likely to protect that value. Even when deciding that the tree has to be removed, you can have more confidence that this wasn't a dollar-denominated recommendation by a tree company.
“I will use these guys exclusively. They’re polite and punctual. Luke is knowledgeable and super to work with. The work was as expected. They cleaned up so well, you’d never be able to tell I had that much debris. I’ve got more work to do, so I’ll be seeing them again.”
- Wishing to save it? Just because a tree is leaning, has storm damage, or is showing signs of dying does not make it an automatic removal. Arbor's judgment can distinguish hazard from a tree needing care.
- Pruning that does not backfire Some forms of pruning promote weak tree structure regrowth which can make a tree more vulnerable to wind and storm. We will advise you if the desired tree shape is structurally unsound.
- Storm response, planned When a tree comes down on something, the order of operations matters. Knowing what is still under load requires expertise.
- Grinding near living roots How deep a stump gets ground, and how close to neighboring root systems, changes what survives around it.
Request a free estimate
We typically call back within 60 minutes during business hours.
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(417) 413-4729Not sure the tree has to come down?
That is the question worth asking an arborist before anyone quotes you a removal. Send us what you are looking at and we will come assess it in person, free of charge. We promise an honest and experienced opinion about whether removal is actually the right call.
- Free on-site assessment
- Remove-versus-treat answered plainly
- Friendly, down-to-earth service
- Certificates of insurance before work begins
#MW-6217A — verifiable by certification number.
$1M general liability + $4M umbrella, plus commercial auto and workers’ compensation.
Local and owner-operated, with every crew trained to the same standard.
“Trufast showed up on time and got the job done quickly and efficiently. I think it’s especially important to support tree services who have certified arborists, which Trufast does.”
“I have used Trufast for tree removal and, most recently, to trim some tree branches touching the roof of our house. In both occasions, the work was done well, including cleanup and at competitive prices. Trufast will remain our family arborist professionals.”
The tree assessment that formally documents risk
Our arborist is also ISA TRAQ-qualified (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification). This is another in-depth, hands-on ISA training and exam on evaluating whether a tree is actually a hazard. This qualification training teaches an arborist to methodically go through the factors to diagnose possible reasons why a tree is showing signs of deterioration, and what are the risks and consequences of that specific tree failure.
A TRAQ assessment looks at three things:
likelihood of failure. Is this tree, or part of it, about to come down.
what are the consequences if it does. Is a house or structure, driveway, power lines or human traffic in danger
how severe the consequences would be. Standardized process used by insurance companies and municipal risk evaluations that provides a documented, defensible, documented answer on paper, rather than a quick verbal opinion
If you have a tree that you are concerned may be endangering your neighbor's property, and you need to document the risk, this is the main use case for this service. We have often seen this used to encourage a reluctant neighbor to take action on a tree endangering your property as well.
Arborist services, answered.
What is a certified arborist?
It's a certification credential from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). But you can't even take the test until you have earned your way to it. An arborist needs about three years of documented full-time tree work in order to be qualified to take the test. The ISA Certified Arborist exam itself covers 10 areas and is comprised of 200 multiple-choice questions.
- Tree Biology
- Tree Identification and Selection
- Soil Management
- Installation and Establishment (planting)
- Pruning
- Diagnosis and Treatment (pests, disease, disorders)
- Tree Protection (for example, during construction)
- Tree Risk Management
- Safe Work Practices
- Urban Forestry
In order to stay a certified arborist, though, they are required to take continuing education classes. They are reevaluated related to having taken enough of these classes every 3 years. If they haven't stayed up on education, they lose their certification.
Is Trufast’s arborist actually certified, or just experienced?
Does having a certified arborist cost more?
What services benefit from arborist input?
Arborist judgment runs through more than just removals.
Emergency Tree Services
When a storm brings a tree down onto a house, vehicle, or driveway, knowing what’s still under load and what could shift next is what keeps an already risky cleanup from turning into a second incident.
See emergency tree servicesTree Trimming
Pruning cut for structure, not just shape, keeps a tree stable and reduces what the next storm can take off it — the kind of call that’s easy to get wrong without the training behind it. The same judgment applies to shrub trimming, which we handle under the same arborist-guided standard.
See tree trimmingOther services
Consulting, formal risk assessments, tree planting guidance, plant health care, and ongoing tree health maintenance all draw on the same arborist judgment. If your question doesn’t fit neatly into removal, trimming, or stump work, ask — there’s a good chance we can still help.
Ready for a free estimate?
No pressure to remove a tree that does not need it. We typically call back within 60 minutes during business hours.
*Some outer towns may have a trip fee, depending on our estimating schedule. If yours does, the office will tell you on the call, before anything is booked.