Boise Tree Cutting and Arborist Services

Choose the work before comparing quotes

Describe the concern you want the arborist to assess: a branch over the roof, damage you have noticed, clearance for a project or a tree you hope to retain. Request an explanation of the proposed cuts. Before agreeing to removal, ask whether the arborist recommends a pruning option and why.

Identify who will assess the tree and who will lead the crew. Request their credentials and proof of insurance for the proposed work. Have the provider identify any approvals and property-access arrangements that need attention before cutting, and record who will handle them.

For its utility-clearance work, Idaho Power uses directional pruning, cutting a limb back to another limb or the trunk to direct future growth away from power lines. Its FAQ explains that random stub cuts from rounding trees can harm tree health. Have your arborist describe the cuts proposed for your tree and their purpose. [3]

Resolve electric-line coordination before booking

Idaho Power says customers cannot substitute their own pruning service for its line-clearing work. It also says only specifically trained professionals can work within 10 feet of a power line. Contact the utility before accepting a cutting plan for a tree near its lines. [3]

Tell Idaho Power whether the branch approaches a distribution line or the service wire running from the pole to your house. The utility excludes service-wire pruning from routine maintenance. If it determines that a nearby branch presents a problem, it can de-energize the service wire during normal business hours. Have the utility and contractor confirm their tasks before scheduling. [3]

Idaho Power includes routine line-clearing costs in its approved power prices and makes no separate charge for that work. Confirm what the utility will address before requesting a private quote for other tree care. Keep each party’s work clear in your job notes. [3]

Compare the complete price and cleanup scope

Give each provider the same tree list, photos and desired result. Describe gate access, nearby structures and the planting beds or paving you want protected. Request an equipment plan and identify any proposed access through neighboring property before accepting the quote.

For removal, specify whether you want the crew to leave, grind or excavate the stump. Request the proposed grinding depth, treatment of visible roots and arrangements for chips and backfill. Explain whether you plan to restore lawn or plant another tree so the provider can quote the finish you want.

Define cleanup with a list of tasks: chip branches, haul or retain logs, remove or leave chips, and clear the work area. Request a total price, exclusions and an approval process for extra work. Compare removal-only quotes with complete quotes only after accounting for stump treatment and restoration.

Prepare the site and choose a work date

For yard work involving digging, Idaho Power advises calling 811 at least two business days beforehand to mark underground utility lines. Include that step when arranging stump excavation or replacement planting. Confirm who will make the request and point out irrigation or other buried features you know about. [2]

Idaho Power’s FAQ reports that most professionals recommend extensive pruning during the winter dormant season, while minor pruning can occur throughout the year. Have the arborist recommend timing for your tree and the intended cuts. Coordinate any service-wire de-energization with the utility’s normal business hours. [3]

Agree on parking, gate access, pet control and equipment placement before the crew arrives. Discuss which movable items you should clear from the work area. For replacement planting, request a watering plan and decide who will provide follow-up care.

Boise monthly precipitation context for replacement planting

Choose your next step

Your hiring checklist

1. Identify each tree and describe the concern with photos taken from a safe position.
2. Resolve utility coordination before accepting a work date near electric lines.
3. Request the assessor’s credentials and proof of insurance for the proposed work.
4. Compare written quotes with matching pruning, removal, stump and hauling scopes.
5. Agree on equipment access and protection of paving and planting beds.
6. Confirm who will arrange utility locating before excavation or planting.
7. Record the cleanup finish and approval process for additional charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my own tree service do Idaho Power’s line-clearing job?

No. Idaho Power’s FAQ says customers cannot substitute their own pruning service for its line-clearing work. Only specifically trained professionals can work within 10 feet of a power line. For a pole-to-house service-wire problem, contact the utility about coordination; routine maintenance excludes that pruning, but Idaho Power can de-energize a problematic wire during normal business hours. [3]

Will Idaho Power take away all the wood?

For routine line clearing in landscaped settings, Idaho Power chips small branches and brush and hauls them away or leaves them at your request. It leaves wood larger than four inches in diameter in manageable lengths and leaves dead wood. When severe weather causes vegetation to fall across power lines and cause outages, the owner handles debris disposal after the utility’s emergency restoration operation. [3]

Should I book major pruning for winter?

Idaho Power’s FAQ says most professionals recommend extensive pruning during the winter dormant season. Have your arborist confirm timing for your tree and the proposed work before choosing a date. [3]

How should I budget for removal and stump work?

Request a site-specific written quote with separate amounts for removal, stump treatment, hauling and restoration. Identify what could trigger additional charges and require approval before extra work. Choose the finish you need before comparing totals.