Frequently Asked Questions

Poor tree care can become a huge liability, and even cause harm to your home, possessions and even family. Removing and caring for trees can be dangerous without proper equipment and training. Certified arborists, like Kostos Tree Service Inc , are specifically trained to plant, care for, and maintain the trees native to your area.

Hiring a certified arborist ensures that the trees on your property remain healthy, are properly cared for, and improve the value of your home rather than posing a safety risk.

Priority number should be looking for a tree care service that is licensed, insured and carries workers compensation. Why? Because tree care and removal is very dangerous work and you don’t want to be held liable for injuries on the job. Always ask for up-to-date copies of each of these documents.

DO NOT trust people going door-to-door promising low prices with no credentials. A simple injury can lead to a lawsuit that will take money right out of your pocket, and that’s a risk no one should take.

Then, look for companies with a strong reputation in your community. You can do this by checking online reviews, talking to your neighbors, and looking for indicators of good service like BBB membership, Tree Care Industry Association membership, etc.

Also consider looking for companies that embrace environmentally safe practices (like recycling engine oil, tree waste, etc.)—this proves that the company takes tree care seriously in all phases from removal to root fertilization.

It depends on the job. We respond to emergency requests first and then schedule other appointments on a first come-first serve basis.

A tree removal can take a few days or as much as a week. We outline all timelines during your initial estimate request, and have backups of all equipment (including cranes) to ensure that there are no unforeseeable delays or malfunctions.

There are a number of factors that impact the cost of tree removal. They are the:

• Size of the tree
• Location of the tree (ease of accessibility)
• Safety considerations (power lines, proximity of house, etc.)
• Required equipment (crane, climbing, stump grinder, etc.)

Tree pruning is about more than appearance. It can impact a tree’s safety and health as well. The intent is to prune trees to improve structural strength, reducing the risk of weather damage and stimulating healthy growth (including increased fruit production).

Additionally, it’s important to prune trees to remove branches in danger of falling and causing property damage or other harm. Different species of trees should be pruned at different times. Consult with your tree care service to learn when to prune your trees.

Kostos Tree Service, Inc.! We offer 24 hour service because you can’t plan for emergency storm damage.

After a tree is removed, the stump remains. Digging out the roots would leave a massive crater. Leaving the stump in place can be unsightly, a safety hazard, and annoying to mow around. And that’s not to mention that it takes up space in your yard that could be used otherwise.

A stump grinder can solve this problem by grinding the stump into mulch (the grinder will penetrate about 8” beneath the surface to ensure that erosion doesn’t cause the stump to resurface). The process is quick and affordable and eliminates the hassle of an unsightly, unsafe tree stump in the middle of your property.

In certain situations trunk, where a tree is diseased, infested, or nutrient deficient injections can help to bring a tree back to health.

However, if injections are done improperly or unnecessarily, it can cause your tree serious harm. And trees that have failed to heal previous injection holes should never be injected again. Always consult a certified arborist before pursuing trunk injections.

Yes there are! Plant Health Care or PHC is preventative maintenance that aims keep plants and trees healthy and therefore less susceptible to damage from pests. Think of it as a more inclusive treatment, addressing the cause of the problems as opposed to just the symptom.

Typically minor pest problems that do not cause serious harm to your tree can be handled without pesticides. Certified arborists trained in Integrated Pest Management or IPM, will have the insight to know when pesticides are needed in addition to PHC based on environmental conditions, seasonality and other factors.

Depending on the condition of your soil and other environmental factors, your trees may need to be fertilized to stay strong and healthy. >Deep root fertilization restores essential nutrients that your tree may not be receiving.

Most trees will not need fertilization annually, and over fertilization can have adverse effects on the health of your tree.

The following activities can bring harm to your trees:

• Topping or improper pruning
• Climbing trees with spikes
• Cleaning or filling cavities or holes
• Enlarging, painting, or excessively dressing wounds
• Wrapping wire or twine
• Unnecessary or excessive spraying or injections
• Burying trees or piling excessive mulch, rocks or other materials around them

If you’re planning on having construction around or near trees on your property, you’ll need to protect your trees with tree preservation service. Several counties in San Diego require tree preservation during construction.

Tree preservation is a multistep process that involves preparing and protecting the trees on your property to not only withstand the stress of construction, but thrive after its completion.

Yes they can, but they should be treated with care by a certified arborist.

The first step is to determine whether any action is necessary. In certain situations treating a cavity can cause more harm than good—an experienced arborist will be able to make a recommendation on what, if any, action should be taken.

Whatever you do, do not cut into solid wood, widen the wounds, install drain tubes, or fill cavities unless recommended by your arborist.

Additionally, avoid painting pruning cuts.

While crown reductions are possible, keep in mind that a tree can grow back quickly, and the reduction is not permanent. They are a last resort alternative to tree removal.

If your tree is growing under power lines, or poses a potential hazard to your safety or property, a tree removal may be preferable. A professional arborist will be able to help you make this decision.

Trees should NEVER be topped. This is a dangerous practice that not only harms the health of the tree, but also makes them less safe and more likely to fall.