As a new homeowner, we were quite alarmed to see a tree fall on our property during a recent storm. Based on great Yelp reviews, I called James Komen for advice. He not only picked up the phone to talk me through on a Friday night (and then again on a Saturday morning), but he looked at photos and gave very helpful guidance about what to do, and who could do it, immediately. I am blown away by the customer service, especially as this turned out to be offered as a courtesy (as we need a slightly different crew to help with our particular issue). If you can work with James on something, I highly recommend that you do so. read more

James did a great job on our trees. I'm pretty clueless when it comes to things green but I knew our trees needed attention. He was extremely knowledgeable about all of the species of trees in our yard and knew exactly what each tree needed to thrive and keep our yard beautiful. He got the job done quickly and effieciently. Our trees look great and are thriving. He does an excellent job of giving practical advice regarding watering and maintenance of the trees to make sure they stay looking great and allow you to use the yard space the way you need. read more

Class One Arboriculture not only pruned our trees for health and beauty, owner James Konen sent certified arborist pruners Jonell Shamhart and Jeff Micka to do the job, who capably identified all of our trees by name; I had previously not known that we had a Strawberry tree! Besides identifying the trees, they identified the soil type of our landscape and explained how to best amend the soil for tree nutrition and gave us irrigation tips. Jeff and Jonell recommended that our sprinklers be converted to drip lines so as to more efficiently water the towering willow trees; we were losing water to the sidewalk and not enough was getting to the tree roots. The drip lines will also be a money saver; we will not lose so much water to evaporation. I found a local sprinkler specialist to do the job. I would not have anyone else work on our trees and highly recommend this company to anyone concerned about the aesthetic look and long term health of their trees. Incidentally, the fact that Class One Aboriculture has all the insurance needed and a worker's compensation policy to cover their workers who climb high during the tree pruning job gave me peace of mind. read more

I contacted James, about 2wks ago, when I noticed that my two front coral trees dropped the majority of their leaves. He was extremely helpful and optimistic about them and helped lead me through how to bring them back to life. He was even so kind to walk me around my yard and instruct me on the proper way to take care of the rest of my trees as well. Today I noticed that one of my coral trees seemed to be leaking water from the branches so I sent him a picture and he responded right away. I highly recommend James and will be calling on him every step of my trees journey. Thank you James read more

If you are looking for the best Arborist in all of CA, go no further. James is your guy. WE had some extremely large ficus trees that we needed advice on watering, trimming and care as it would be extremely costly to have them removed if not properly cared for. James is worth every single penny, a great investment in caring for your trees/yard. James gave us some very sound advice on our trees took time to explain many options and answered alot of questions. A true professional who really really knows trees. We highly recommend him if anyone is looking for a spectacular arborist. Super Service, wicked smart on all things trees, timely and very responsive. Thank you so much James !! read more

James was so helpful today and I learned a lot about my sad tree that died. I feel better about my plans and going forward I have a great resource. Thanks James for taking my Saturday call! read more

Prompt and honest. James responded to my Yelp request within minutes. He asked for some photos of the problem area and followed up with an after hours call because it was more convenient for my schedule. James' expert diagnosis based on what he was seeing in the photos? "Not a major problem." What a relief! He could have easily told us we needed an onsite inspection to give a more accurate diagnosis and we would have blindly paid for it. And maybe a less trustworthy arborist would have done just that. But not James. So, while no work was done, I can confidently recommend James on the basis of his honesty and customer service alone. read more

James Komen is simply awesome! He was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, honest and responsive. I was already worried about the overly aggressive tree trim that had occurred earlier this year (15% requested trim became more like 90%) but went into a panic when I found bark falling off all around the base of my very large ash tree AND upon closer inspection, termites! I sent James pictures and he not only addressed my concerns but provided me some useful education about trees, particularly tree trimming. I interviewed several tree trimming services and hired an arborist earlier this year but if I had met James earlier, I would've save myself a lot of money and stress! If you need an arborist who knows his stuff and cares about what he does, look no further than James. read more

I was concerned about the lean of a pepper tree that I had planted a couple years ago. James gave a detailed explanation of potential causes for the lean. After a test, the tree appeared to be in fine shape and to be self-correcting nicely. He's very honest, generous with his time and super knowledgeable. read more

My tree began bleeding huge layers of sap so I contacted COA and sent James some pictures. He told me our tree had gummosis and that there wasn't much that could be done other than keeping the base of the trunk dry and watering under the canopy instead. He said our leaves looked pretty healthy and that was a good sign. I was surprised because I think many businesses would charge hundreds just to come out and take a look knowing there isn't much that can be done. I appreciate his honesty, this is definitely the type of professionalism that I think is lacking this day in age and if we ever have issues with our trees in the future, this is somebody we would feel comfortable doing business with. read more

I spoke with James after he was referred to me by another landscape professional. We have a very old fig tree, that has a lot of sentimental value. After many years of trouble free enjoyment, and delicious fruit, this year was different. We saw strange leaf discoloration, smaller than usual fruit, with much later maturation, and curling leaves. All very concerning. After speaking with James, and discussing the situation, he assured me that the issues were not as serious as imagined and, next season, by implementing a few changes, things should be back to normal. I found him to be friendly, polite and extremely knowledgeable. Michael M. - Pasadena, ca read more

I called and left a voicemail - James got in touch within 1 hour. He asked for photos of my trees (far shot and close up) and immediately educated me on how they typically present, what to expect in terms of leaf/fruit drop, and how to keep them healthy. He was very informative and helpful, thus I plan to use him if I need any actual work done to them in the future. read more

Expert advice and sympathy for my massive Ficus with bugs. James was very thorough and really took his time answering my multitude of silly questions. All that for free! I will definitely hire him to come educate me about my trees & plants in the near future. Very helpful service when you buy an already landscaped house. Thanks, James!! read more

James Komen is a true professional and an expert in his field! James helped my family (even after hours) with with some fruit trees on our property. He was extremely knowledgeable and a good communicator. James was prompt with his correspondence and explained everything in a way that made sense to someone who doesn't know the 1st thing about trees or what they require to thrive. I would call him in a heartbeat if we ever needed his services again, and I would highly recommend him to anybody else who does. read more

Wow! Exceptional service. James responded very quickly and immediately requested photos of my avocado tree and photos of the leaves. He reviewed the photos and called me with a great formal analysis of my tree. He told me how to care for my tree and the reasons behind my concerns about my tree. After he provided the care instructions, the next step is to wait to see how the tree will respond. No one else offered me a complimentary consultation. Unbelievable value! I will definitely call on James again and even have him come out because his expertise is invaluable. What an awesome experience! If you find James no need to consult with any other arborist...he's your guy!!! Honest, reliable and knowledgeable is all you can ask for. read more

James and Class One Arboriculture came recommended by a friend - and I'm so glad! We had some questions about an issue with a few trees in our backyard, and with one call and texting over a few photos, we had our answers and next steps. James was so helpful and straightforward. He's definitely our go-to from now on. Thanks!! read more

James is an honest, knowledgable arborist. He provided us with advice regarding three, 200-year-old native oaks on our property. He was patient with our questions and spent the time necessary for us to feel confident in our next steps regarding the propertyl read more

Gave us a huge hand with some dead trees. Helped us determine that the trees died because of high salt content in the soil from some runoff from cleaning supplies. Very handy and would definitely recommend the services for anybody that needs help with their trees. read more

I am so impressed. These guys were able to diagnose my tree via photo. It turns out that I didn't have a problem with my trees. Instead of trying to sell me something I didn't need, they were honest. They just made a long-term customer today!!! read more

James was super helpful. We have a giant Sycamore tree whose roots are messing up our driveway. James first asked me to send pics and offered a way forward for us at no cost. It was quick and efficient and he was generous with his time and experience. If we have any other tree work that needs doin' he's our man. read more

Simply superb! James is incredibly knowledgeable and was extremely patient answering all of our questions. He gave us information about every tree on our property, told us how to take care of them, and what to look out for as the trees age. He is full of tips and insights and recommendations. He is also very personable and seems very caring of trees and his customers. Cannot recommend his business enough! read more

I contacted James regarding a tree in my front yard. He quickly responded and requested pictures. He identified the problem right away and suggested an easy solution. He seems to be very knowledgeable and was helpful in solving my problem. read more

James is wonderful. Great communication and advice through email and phone conversation. Just from email pictures alone, James provided kind, helpful advice! Will definitely consult him again for future plant/tree-related needs. Highly recommended. read more

James! Thank you! No selling, no nonsense. Yes, bad news (beetles infestation) but at least a straight honest answer and some options moving forward. No conflict of interest as his company is not the company to treat or remove trees. Very intelligent, valuable and appreciated advice. read more

James called me back soon after I left a message and was a wealth of information. Very helpful and extremely knowledgeable. (What tree trimmer cites peer-reviewed scientific research?). He actually recommended a way to get my job done cheaper than he could do it given his location, and he told me what to watch out for. Very impressive. read more

I was in escrow for a home and was concerned about the health of a few large trees on the property. I contacted James and he helped me out. He is a friendly, knowledgable and thorough arborist. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him to others. read more

Super helpful!! I was concerned about a large eucalyptus tree so I sent some photos to James to review. He gave me a call and explained everything about the tree and its risks in perfect detail. I would not have been able to come to my conclusion if it wasn't for his help! Thank you so much!! Would definitely recommend him. read more

James is the man. He responded quickly. I sent him photos of my damaged fig tree an he responded quickly and explained to me what was needed. He gave me great advice and made my worries disappear. read more

It is so great to be able to consult with a true professional! Mr. Komen was most gracious of his time in helping to diagnose issues with my liquidambar/sweet gum tree over the phone - with the aid of photos I provided. It is evident that he is über-qualified and knowledgable and provided sage advice on how to manage the situation. He will be my go-to from now on. read more

I got a call back immediately after messaging him through yelp. James was able to look at photos and give me advice and options. I feel 100x more confident about how to proceed with the work I need done. read more

James checked out our prized older and very large avocado tree and put us on track to improve its health. He also gave us advice on how to design our backyard patio project to not endanger the tree. Not only is James very knowledgeable but he explains his findings and suggestions in a way that is easy to understand. Just an all around professional and nice guy! read more

This is my first review. Lost several sleeps over my three-floor-high old avocado tree. There are holes in big cut wounds. Been there for years. Just found out they're actually deeper than I thought. Even scoop out powdery content. Is it dying? The thoughts overwhelm me. Research led me to James K's page. Sent over several photos. He called right back. Solid advice. No sales pitch. Just honest opinions like a friend. Matter of fact the best option he suggested is to leave it be for now. I stop digging. And it stops me from making things worse. Nowadays it's hard to obtain truth online. So when you do come across real good ones, please don't let go. Thank you James. read more

Wow, James is a rare breed - absolutely helpful without trying to sell me anything. I contacted him on here for a quote because I have a very established Brazilian pepper tree in my yard, and just added some square footage near the tree. After googling about these trees, I was concerned that the roots would be aggressive and be an issue to my new foundation. After sending him some photos and discussing our recent project, he gave me a very honest opinion, and was able to make some really helpful suggestions on pruning, and the type of tree service companies to use. Thank you so much for giving me that peace of mind! read more

An update to my review from last summer...and once again, if I could award more than 5 stars to James & Class One Arboriculture, I would. I had contacted James last summer when my puppy gnawed some bark off a new plum tree, and to my astonishment, James had me snap photos & then over the phone, James consulted with me completely gratis (see other review). Fast forward a year -- I noticed recently that another fairly young plum tree was displaying signs of browning around the leaves--early in the season to be scorched, I thought--so I reached out to James. He, once again, asked me to snap some photos, & emailed me a lengthy, helpful response, but since I actually had questions about other trees-- some issues with my citrus...and I have a few huge oaks that I wanted to check on-- I asked about an on-property consultation, keeping in mind of course, that there was a good possibility those were suspended for the time being. He offered to come out, and with masks donned & distance maintained...James spent an hour on our property checking on the health of our trees and making recommendations to my husband and me. He even climbed our very steep hillside to check on the oaks on the back edge of our property. It was perhaps the most educational & enjoyable hour we spent all week. James is a font of knowledge on all things arboreal, as one might expect-- but also impressively conversant on other areas of plant taxonomy, case law regarding tree branches extending onto neighboring properties, risk assessment & management recommendations etc. My husband & I were able to ask all kinds of questions & receive advice on a whole host of tree & plant issues-- including planting recommendations for our hillside & plants that would well in our micro-climate/micro ecosystem. We appreciated James' candor --he was not afraid to suggest to leave something alone. In fact, most of his recommendations were just that--or simple/no cost remedies like more water for a particular tree or remove some fruit when it is small & green-- but we did learn that two of our oaks our front needed to be attended to for liability issues. Along with his practicality, we also appreciated his philosophical approach. For example, on our hillside we have a tenacious oak sapling, that my husband has attempted to remove a few times over the years, but it just keeps springing up. My husband asked James if he thought he just really needed to dig deeper to get to all the roots. James' response was simple: Why do you want to remove it? Is it for aesthetic reasons? Practical reasons? (later we commented that we felt stupid, that we ourselves hadn't started with the basic precept of "why"). When it came down to it, we were just concerned that it was low enough on our hill that its roots could eventually disrupt our hardscaping. James assured us that such a scenario was so far into the future that it would no longer be our concern : ). In any case, we really appreciated his balanced approached & now I am excited for that persistent little oak tree. I also appreciated James' sensitivity to cost issues. When I asked about hiring him for a consultation for our property, he sent me his quote, but also with a note that he knew he was not the least expensive option out there and that if $ was a concern, there were other good options. While his quote was not inexpensive for us, it did sound reasonable to me, and since he had already helped me without charging a penny last summer and because he inspired confidence, I suspected that an on-property consultation would prove a good investment. When James left, both my husband & I felt we had gotten so much more than our money's worth...and indeed the advice on our tree liability could save us money down the line. To be clear, James is a consultant--he proffers advice--he is not a tree trimmer or landscaper...the upside of this is there is no "up sell"-- just honest advice. Lastly, beyond his expertise, James is friendly and personable and very comfortable to talk to--The whole experience felt like just walking through our property, chatting and getting recommendations from a very knowledgeable friend. In turn, we RECOMMEND James in the highest possible terms. read more

James was amazing! He identified the fungus on our tree, explained what was happening, and reviewed my options. He was honest and unlike others, did not push any high-cost options on me. I will definitely use his services in the future! read more

Class One (more like first class) is right!! Absolutely top notch in every way. James was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful and kindly offered up services by LA county for me to pursue first, before paying him to come out for a consultation. Would definitely recommend Class One Arboriculture to anyone needing arborist care or advice. read more

What a class act! Class One Arboriculture is outstanding! Had a question about our Italian Cypress trees and James was able to use Google maps to see the problem. Then I texted pictures of the trees. Love that he uses the technology available to make cogent comments about trees. What a concept! Highly recommend and will use in the future! His opinion and his customer service is unequaled. read more

I called James for some advice about two very large oaks on my property, assuming they would need to be trimmed. He took my call even though it was 7 PM and he was in Toronto teaching a class on tree care, which would make it 10 PM his time. He asked me to send pictures and then he called me right back, and spent 20 minutes answering all my questions... we went over all the pictures and I know he looked at them carefully. I can't believe I got so much information and great advice without spending a penny-- not only that, he probably saved me a lot of money by telling me that the oaks are healthy and don't need to be trimmed! It's clear that James is honest, and cares more about the trees than about making money-- not once did he push me to pay for a consultation or any other service, but I will definitely trust him to take care of my trees if they ever need help! read more

Class One Arboriculture - Tree Services Near Me

I was concerned about a tree at our home we recently moved into. I got James' info from a neighbor on Nextdoor and gave him a call. He was quick to respond and gave me sound advice. Thanks James! Appreciate you sharing your knowledge and putting my mind at ease! read more

Just spoke to James about planting some avocado trees. He was incredibly helpful, and obviously extremely knowledgeable, in addition to being entertaining. Very highly reccommend. read more