This is the third time we have had Arbor First take care of our trees. Every time they have been very efficient, trimming really tall palm trees and olive trees. They take the time to look at the tree and decide on the right approach to trimming so the tree always look better than before. All the trimmings are removed and the space left clean. Couldn't be happier and the price was very reasonable for the time spent trimming and hauling away. Thanks Bob, Dee and crew. read more

Professional, talented, polite. I can't recommend this company enough. We had some large oak trees with a lot of dead wood threatening our home, and they expertly trimmed the trees to keep us safe and the trees healthy. Very easy to work with, and showed up on time. read more

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Bob Hill, the last bastion of good business, cares for his customers. Do you remember a time when business' actually cared about their costumers? Me neither, because I am 43 years old. I can say that without reservation because I have experienced his compassion and experience first hand. I can't explain the details about how much he selflessly helped my family because I wish to allow certain conflicts to naturally die, but he went to bat for our family. Keep in mind, a lot of his efforts were inspired by his own good sense, but he had the knowledge and drive that makes him a tree cutting hero. Due to his understanding and experience, we saved a lot of heartache and money, that Bob would certainly could have profited upon if he desired. Instead, he did what was right and provided us sage advice. What happened was just and we could not have arrived at that conclusion without him. I cannot sing his praises more highly. I know, "above and beyond," is a simple trope that people leave in reviews. That doesn't adequately explain all the efforts of Bob Hill over the...literal...YEARS! We've been working with him that long, no joke. He was working to help our family, not because we were paying him, but because of his strong scruples. This man, is an honest agent. Old school good business. A classic community businessman. One who cares about, not only his customers, but also the community he lives in. Ask yourself, "how rare is that?" If you need an arborist, I know the name I will provide. Please believe that people still exist out there who are community advocates and, in my experience, need our support. We need to encourage and allow people like Bob to thrive with the good business sense of caring about their clients. He's already proved that in spades to us. Honestly, you'd be a fool to choose anyone else. Thank you Bob Hill, you really gave my sister a lot of comfort in trying times. Of course, you came through like the champ you are. Naturally. read more

I did not hire Arbor First. A neighbor did. I came home at lunch to find my yard completely full of tree timings, up to my shoulders and I couldn't open my back door. Nobody notified me that they were going to enter my property / drop tree trimmings in my yard. My entire garden was destroyed. My dogs could have been hurt. The crew said they knocked on my door at 8:30a but no one was home...Of course, I was at work. Anything could have happened on my property and these guys insisted that it was my fault I wasn't home when it was convenient for them to knock on my door. The crew came over the fence to toss the trimmings back over the fence, completely trampling what was left of my garden. All the while making nasty comments about me. A guy then came to my door wanting to see my yard, I asked him why I didn't get notice, he said he has his schedule and I have mine. So his message was F U, he notifies people when it's convenient and it was not his fault I wasn't home. Then he threatens to kick my dogs teeth out and said derogatory things about me. Of course my dog was barking, this guy was acting threatening on my property. At least one bird nest destroyed. This major vegetation removal work took place within nesting season and I know there was at least one nest. A permit is required during nesting season even on private property for major vegetation removal. Since there was a nest, they would have been required to wait til June 30th. The trees had been a problem for YEARS so waiting a couple weeks would not have made any difference. It was just convenient for them, F the birds and the neighbors seems to be their message. Do not hire these guys, inconsiderate, illegal, and will cause damage. They do not appear to be licensed contractors. I couldn't find them in a license search for a C-61/D-49 tree service license which means they may not have proper insurance either, leaving customers open to liability. read more

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The excellent Arbor First crew just left our property and the work they did was superb. Bob has gathered a group of professionals who work as a well-oiled machine. I was amazed at how much they accomplished in just one day. They showed up on time, were respectful of the neighbors, and cleaned up thoroughly when they finished (ahead of schedule). read more

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We have a large live oak in the front yard. We received a call from PG&E that their tree trimmer would be in our area. They said that our Oak was too close to power lines. It was no where near them. We told them absolutely not and started looking for someone who knows what they're doing with Live Oaks. I asked for quotes from two different companies. Arbor First had great reviews and was half the cost as the other. I am very particular about my landscaping and the way that I want my trees. I also have a cluster of large White Birches that I wanted trimmed as well. AF did a great job. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. I very much appreciated the customer liaison Dee. She was my go to person. I told her exactly what and how I wanted my trees done. Dee made sure all the other staff were aware of what I wanted. She would keep checking back to make sure everything was good. The clean up was amazing. I don't think there were any branches on the ground. They also made sure that no other plants under the trees were damaged We plan on having them come back once a year. Thank you AF for helping me avoid a (unneeded)horrible butchering from PG&E and Davey tree. read more

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Arbor First is our go-to tree trimming service! After 8 years of living in San Miguel, and admittedly NEVER trimming the trees, we had Arbor First out to give them an overhaul. Bob is a true professional and his crew is GREAT! We had 2 trees removed, 10+ GIANT pepper trees trimmed and skirted, several trees that were touching the house cut back, and an overzealous olive tree tamed. At one point I looked out the window and I had 3 guys hanging from ropes wielding chainsaws in the tallest trees while the huge truck hoisting more guys up to lop off the top of a pepper tree. This was back in 2019 and we are getting ready to have them come out again! They really do a beautiful job! read more

I had a few different odd jobs that needed to be done. Cypress Tree removal, Sycamore safety trim and some brush removal. I got 3 quotes... Arbor First was the first to come out and was SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than the other two companies. Bob was also WAY nicer and much more personable. He seemed to appreciate the business verse the other two companies that I won't name, they were kind of rude. The crew worked their butts off and knocked the entire job out in a day. Very nice team they have over there and they did great work!!! Don't bother wasting your time with other companies. Arbor first is fair, honest and just great to work with. read more

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On time, great work, fast efficient and very good value. They come out once or twice a year and they are my go to crew.

After getting three quotes, Arbor First was not only the cheapest by far, but they were also 10 times better than the last two tree companies we used. They were great at communicating, they cleaned up after themselves and their crew was friendly. We will not be using anybody else going forward. So glad we found them as they were recommended by a friend. read more

Wow! Met with Bob today from Arbor First. We had him out to our home today to talk about two huge avocado trees. We so appreciate his knowledge and experience. The communication was terrific and I would highly recommend Arbor First to everyone. read more

We recently had trees planted in our backyard and they started browning/yellowing. I reached out to Bob at Arbor First and he came by to take a look. Within minutes he diagnosed the issue and gave me a simple solution to hopefully save the trees. He was very friendly and knowledgeable. Will definitely use their services in the future. read more

I hired Arbor First because Bob demonstrated excellent knowledge about my trees and made recommendations, which we followed! His crew did an excellent job removing a couple of large trees, ground down the stumps, in addition to removing several additional stumps. The crew was very accommodating agreeing to remove additional growth on the spot - several long panels of lattice work that had been INVADED by ivy...it took 3 guys to carry one. As soon as I decide on new tree types (from a list also from Bob, recommended based on our position so close to the water) Bob and his crew will be invited back to plant! read more

I'm very pleased with arbor first. They were very responsive to my request for a quote. When they came out to look at what I needed they were knowledgeable and the quote was very reasonable. The crew is worked quickly and efficiently. I recommend them! read more

Arbor First crew is first rate, they showed up earlier than expected. Had two trees removed and stumps ground down, areas were cleaned up to my satisfaction and my neighbor received about 4 yards or mulch. Thanks GA. read more

I hired Arbor First out of curiosity because some people on Yelp appeared happy and said they were cheaper. I normally use Greenvale, a serious and excellent company, but I thought I would give Arbor First a try. I never hired them again, and this is why: My backyard was very dark because of the large tree canopy. Nothing grew at the base, but the top blocked the light. I wanted them to top the trees so growth would restart where the branches had been cut. I know you can't top some trees, but these were Rhamnus Californica and Garrya Eliptica, and Arbor First should have known that they grow back fast. Instead they claimed they would never restart, so they cut side branches and left the canopy as it was. My yard looked worse than before. A year later, I called Greenvale to the rescue. They did exactly what I wanted, the light suddenly bathed my backyard, and leaves started to sprout all along the branches. I can't believe how much they have already grown, and how good they look. And Greenvale did not charge anymore although they did a lot more work. Furthermore I agree with those who doubt Arbor First's credentials. Besides the above blunder, they also told me I should have my trees cut in summer instead of late winter. This is not something the average true arborist will tell you. read more

I called several different tree services to get their take on a tree that was bothering a dear neighbor, fearful that the tree was not healthy . Bob from Arbor First was the first person to respond and came out the same morning I called to access the situation. He was honest and reassuring, deemed the tree fit and healthy, even offering a few tips on what we could do ourselves to improve the trees longevity. We are "out of towners" and he could have told us anything to generate business- but he didn't. Nor did the other tree companies that responded. Where do all these honest and ethical people come from? Chalk it up to the difference between City and Country business practices. Almost enough to restore my faith in community! Thanks Bob! read more

I have 4 very large and very tall palm trees on my property that were in need of pruning. They pruned them, shaped the oak trees on the lot, ground down an old stump and hauled away all of the associated brush. The cost was very fair and the crew was fast and efficient. I will use them again in the future. read more

For a couple of years now, Arbor First has been maintaining my olive trees. Every time I receive quick responses from Bob, excellent customer service and professional tree shaping and branch/leaves removal from Dee and her crew. I previously had other tree services but Arbor First adds the cheerful personal input. I highly recommend this company. read more

Absolutely a first class experience with Arbor First. This is the third time we have called on Bob and his crew to deal with our 30 year old trees. We have had them deal with Palm, Olive, and Pine. They do a great job of taking care of the trees and cleaning up after. Quick and efficient. And, reasonably priced. We have also had them work on our commercial property. Excellent job done. read more

The Arbor First crew is just finishing our trees. There was a lot to do as they hadn't been trimmed in almost twenty years. I'm a very picky customer and I have to say I couldn't be happier. Everyone knew exactly what they were doing and did their job perfectly. The trees, three very large white oaks and several large live oaks, all look great. The wood was cut to fireplace length and stacked for us. We have a large pile of mulch waiting for our garden. And our property is now cleaner than it was before the job started. The crew members were all great. They were polite and friendly, and kept exactly to stated work hours. And the cost did not exceed the very fair estimate. We will absolutely use this company again if needed. Thank you Bob and crew. Our trees thank you too! read more

We needed a tree service company to cut 5 very large trees, including a 35' Palm in our front and backyard. We also asked them to remove the stump. We chose Arbor First because of their 5 star reviews and also speaking with Bob Hill, the Manager. Bob was very knowledgeable, professional and personable. We liked that he knew so much about each of our trees. He even volunteered to contact City to make sure we could remove all of our trees without a problem since we are in a gated community and the trees were over the 12 inch diameter. We then confirmed a date to begin the removal on October 31st and his Foreman, Sam and Crew: Cory, Cory, and Edgar were on time. Each one of the young men were skilled in their areas of expertise in removing the trees. It was fascinating to watch them from a distance. Due to the massive tree removal some of our water pipes were entangled and broke. Cory said if we break anything, We fix it! And sure enough they took care of everything. They estimated a 2 day job but ended as a 3 day job. The crew cleaned up everything...even went next door to the neighbors to clean up their yard where branches fell. They did an awesome job. We plan to have them come back soon to remove all of our over grown ivy and over grown brush before the rains come. read more

Everyone I spoke with was so helpful and gracious. They managed to drop wood-chips in a very difficult spot even though initially it seemed impossible. They were friendly and lighthearted and polite the whole time. The guys went above and beyond to give us a good experience. Highly recommend. read more

Bob and his crew are as professional as they come. We had a massive eucalyptus forest in a tight work area that was endangering our home. Bob and his crew were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. The crew came in with a smile and left with a smile which is rare to see in any industry. Our place looks amazing and now my family can sleep peacefully. I would highly recommend their company! read more

I had an amazing first impression and first meeting, received a fair quote quickly .... and then ... nothing. Absolute crickets. They didn't return my emails or phone calls. When my husband finally got in touch with a receptionist he was told the guy was on vacation. I had such high hopes because they received such great reviews. Maybe they were just having a bad month but I was left hanging. read more

Bob,Dee and the gang did an outstanding job. They removed a part of atree that broke almost in half and trimmed the remaining portion to prevent further damage. They trimmed other trees also. They did the project when scheduled. They did more Than I expected. read more

We can not express how pleased and happy we are with our new trees. Arbor First in SLO transformed our view blocking giant Oak bush into a beautifully trimmed tree and we found our view again. Bob, the manager, first came to discuss the job, his suggestion were in line with what we wanted to achieve and he made many useful suggestions. As the crew trimmed they were constantly asking us if they were achieving our vision for the tree. The work was done in a timely manner and for a very reasonable price. When the job was complete they asked if we were happy with the outcome or needed any changes, the area was also throughly cleaned. We will definitely hire them again and fully recommend this company to anyone looking to have tree trimming or Arborist advice. Norma B read more

Had a great experience with these folks. They trimmed 3 trees for us, a Birch, Pepper, and another tree invading on our property from another yard, they all look better than ever. The price was better than the competition besides. Highly Recommended. read more

As usual, Arbor First did great work for me! I think this is the third time I've used them and was just as pleased as the other two times. They actually showed up on an earlier date than scheduled because they had finished up early at a nearby location. The crew is always respectful and hard working and cleans up after themselves. I was happy that they did a little extra for me, above and beyond what I had asked them to do, and didn't charge me any extra. You're welcome on my property anytime! read more

I had five trees trimmed this past week by Arbor First. They did a awesome job with the trimming and clean up. Crew was friendly and very professional. The estimate was a fair price and the Arborist Bob, really knew his stuff. Recommend highly. read more

I am a board member of a small HOA development. We needed 5-6 small trees trimmed. After several bids, we decided on Arbor First. It took several contacts on our part before they responded and gave us a schedule date. We notified all tenants to remove their cars early the scheduled day so Arbor First would have easy access. One board member rearranged her schedule to make sure everyone complied and waited for the crew. Well, they didn't show up and when she called them, they said they needed to reschedule for the next morning. Once again that member had to notify the tenants to remove their cars. The crew showed up earlier than was scheduled and was flippant and condescending to our member. They did such a poor job that our HOA manager asked to meet onsite with them and address the crew's attitude and performance. Arbor First sent their crew to "fix" the trimming unbeknownst to our HOA manager and without meeting onsite with her. Bottom line, we are extremely disappointed in the lack of customer service and poor performance of this company and will never use them again. read more

We had two trees that we needed to have removed and one of those trees were in a very difficult spot. The tree was a pretty large tree and it was in the corner of our small backyard. I communicated with Bob Hill mostly via email during the duration of a week or so which was a very pleasant experience. Then after he gave me a very fair and reasonable quote, he was at my house just a few days later. He removed both trees, ground down the stumps, and cleaned up all the mess. I was reluctant to go through this process again due to a negative situation with a different tree service in the past, but I am so happy we chose Arbor First. I would recommend this company for any of your tree services. read more

I got in a jamb because my usual tree guy couldn't do the job. I called Bob @ Arbor First. I assumed because I needed a certification for a building permit, to submit to the city, it would be a long drawn out process. Bob said: "I'm on it" He sure was! I got my cert. and submitted it to the city on the same week! Then Arbor First's price was fare and reasonable! Not to mention that Bob was a really nice on the phone! These folks tell you what you need to know, THEN THEY FOLLOW THROUGH! I'm REALLY very happy I called them. Great company to work with and very professional. Easy to put 5 stars! read more

This company was recommended by a friend. I asked for an estimate to trim several trees around my home. When the work was completed it took much longer than anticipated. In addition, more personnel were needed than originally thought. Even with the additional personnel and added days to complete the work, Arbor First honored their original estimate. They did a wonderful job. I would recommend Arbor First to anyone who needs professional tree trimming work done. read more

Bob and the crew at Arbor First did a wonderful job trimming 3 trees at my home. The crew was very friendly and they were very knowledgeable in trimming the trees. They took their time to make sure it looked great and kept asking me what I thought of their work as they were trimming the trees. This job required working on 4 different properties due to the trees overlapping the properties. They cleaned all the properties and left it the way it was before the work started. Their pricing was very competitive for the amount of work they did. I actually asked them if they bid this correctly due to the length of time they spent on the trees. My concern was they did not charge enough, but the supervisor responded that the bid was correct. I would use them again and definitely recommend them. read more

On time responses for appointment and work scheduling, fair pricing, proficiency and innovation in completing the job made hiring Arbor First a wise choice. Indeed, working with their congenial & knowledgeable staff and Bob was a pleasure. Betty T. read more

We were very pleased with Arbor First from start to finish. They provided a very fair estimate to trim some trees in our front yard. Their representative, Bob, met with us to discuss our objectives to maximize our ocean views while continuing to screen buildings across the street. The trees were beautifully trimmed & we are very pleased with the results. I would not hesitate to recommend Arbor First to anyone! read more

These guys are the real deal. I watched them careful go over each tree with care and selectively take off the branches that needed it. There is so much more light in my house, I wish I would have done this sooner. read more

We have an Olive tree that over the years became unmanageable. Bob and his people came out and were able to tame the ugly beast. While it took them a while to get it looking the way an Olive tree should look, they did a wonderful job trimming, thinning, shaping and cleaning up the job site. I would heartily recommend them for your arborist work. read more

They were competitive in price and did a good job removing a tree, trimming 2 trees and pruning a couple. Will call them again.