The Process
How It Works
We Collect Data
Google reviews, the ISA certification, TCIA accreditation, insurance and bonding each crew states on its own website, and real job photography — all from public sources.
We Score Five Factors
Each arborist is evaluated across five weighted categories totaling 100 points.
We Assign a Grade
Points map to a letter grade from A (best) to D. Low scorers show as "Limited info". Updated as new information becomes available.
Scoring
The Five Factors
Each factor is weighted to reflect what matters most when hiring someone to work on your trees.
We use each crew's Google rating and review count. But we don't just look at the star average — review volume, recency, and how the crew responds to complaints all factor in. An outfit with 200 reviews averaging 4.6 scores higher than one with 5 perfect reviews from last month.
Tree work is dangerous and Wisconsin doesn't require a statewide arborist license — so insurance matters even more. We look for general liability, workers' comp, and bonding as listed on each crew's own website. ISA Certified Arborist credentials and TCIA accreditation, when a crew states them, earn extra points. Business details come from each company’s own website and public profiles, collected on the date shown, and owners can correct their listing at any time by claiming it. ISA publishes a public arborist search. A crew without workers' comp can leave you liable if someone gets hurt in your yard.
Years serving Fox Valley homeowners. Longevity isn't everything — but a crew that has navigated multiple EAB waves, oak wilt seasons, and severe storms has proven they can run a durable operation. New shops aren't penalized, just scored a little more cautiously.
Phone number from the business's Google profile, functional website, clear service area, business hours, and photos of real completed jobs. Crews that make it easy to reach them and show their work score higher than those with scattered or outdated information.
Whether tree care is their core business, not a seasonal add-on bolted onto a landscaping or lawn care operation. Dedicated tree services train climbers properly, invest in bucket trucks and cranes, carry the right rigging, and understand Wisconsin-specific threats like emerald ash borer and oak wilt.
Results
The Grade Scale
Points are totaled and mapped to a letter grade. Only A and B arborists are featured prominently in our directory.
ISA-certified, excellent reviews, strong track record, dedicated tree-care specialist.
Solid reputation, good credentials, and clear specialization. A safe pick for most jobs.
Decent but with limited information or mixed reviews. Worth a second look — ask for references.
Sparse profile, few reviews, or credential gaps. Get multiple quotes and verify insurance before booking.
Not enough public data to form a judgment. Low scorers show as "Limited info".
Questions We Get
The Fine Print
Can arborists pay to improve their grade?
No. Our grades are generated from public data and cannot be influenced by payment, advertising relationships, or listing claims. If a crew disputes their grade, we review the underlying data — but the scoring formula applies equally to everyone, from the biggest TCIA-accredited company down to the one-person ISA-certified operator.
How often are grades updated?
We refresh arborist data on a rolling basis. Major changes — new reviews, certifications a crew adds to its website, business closures — are reflected in the next monthly grading pass.
Why isn't every tree service in the Fox Valley listed?
We only list crews with enough public data to score meaningfully. If a shop has no online presence, no stated credentials, and no reviews, there's nothing to grade — and frankly, nothing we'd feel comfortable recommending to a homeowner with a 60-foot ash over their roof.
What if I think a grade is wrong?
Send us the specifics through our contact page. If we find an error in the underlying data — an insurance policy or certification the crew states that we missed, a review that was mistakenly attributed — we'll correct it and rerun the score.