Dave came highly recommended from a professional landscaper. I was instructed to "speak to Dave" and that is exactly what I did when I scheduled a consult. I didn't know what to expect as I've never hired an arborist before. Dave arrived a bit early, gave me a packet of info on what arborists do, which also included his certifications, etc. I was concerned about our Mulberry trees, which provide excellent shade, so this is where our conversation started. Our trees had been cared for by a family of tree trimmers for decades, which basically consisted of cutting everything back. So, we cut back on the tree trimmers and did our own "lacing" for two or three years, until my menfolk got their hands on a chainsaw, pruning limbs during their growth phase (of which we've been properly educated against since contracting Thrifty Tree Service). Dave came on strong addressing my husband, "What do you do for a living?" Husband replies by stating his profession, and Dave states, "What if tried to do what you do?" The analogy and the state of one Mulberry made the point. Dave examined our three Mulberry trees, a Cedar tree, two Ash trees, a Lace Bark tree, a Chinese Elm, and the 134 ft row of Eugenia. I wanted the Cedar and the 40' Ash tree removed, but Dave was reluctant; he said he doesn't like removing trees unless absolutely necessary. I made my case. The Ash had been infested with ants, then bees, and Dave himself saw evidence of termites (in both Ash trees); the Cedar - it needed to go - it provided no shade, no dust guard (horse arenas surround us), and it dropped Cedar needles in the lettuce patch, so after 18yrs we were ready to say bye bye. Along with pruning and tree removal, Dave recommended trunk injections to address disease, soil treatment to provide nutrients and growth hormones, and spraying for termites. He sent us an assessment, and then a proposal. It was expensive (for us) so I worked over the proposal, focusing on disease and supplemental treatments where most needed (opting out of the termite spray), leaving two trees to fend for themselves as we were prepared to let them die off (and eventually replace), being so compromised already. We came to an agreement, scheduled (mid January 2015), the crew arrived on time (7am) and they were done before 4:30! The removal of the giant Ash was amazing and Dave said it was "a good call" as he pointed out the rot and infestation in it's core. He took all the Ash wood away due to infestation, but the Cedar he left, which provided a wonderful aroma, mulch, and ideas for projects. We scheduled the trunk and soil treatments (early February), and Dave was gracious in allowing us to stagger our payments over a couple of months. When we discovered the roots from the Ash seemed as large as the tree itself, Dave sent the stump grinder and an operator who labored all day at no additional cost. By late spring the trees were in full leaf with limbs reaching out in lengths and density never seen before, requiring a bit of lacing - Dave came out to have a look. Recently, Leo came out to see how the trees are faring in context of the drought. It's like we have a tree therapist, checking in to see how they're doing, and they are doing great!! Through the education received via Thrifty Tree Service I was able to provide suggestions to a neighbor (citing Dave) whose trees were obviously suffering from the drought; their arborist recently said that advice may well have saved their trees, and those trees might recover. We'll see. I've seen so many trees neglected in this drought - such a sad oversight. LA needs healthy trees and Thrifty Tree Service! read more

Dave Aviram Thrifty Tree Service 18625 Topham St. Reseda, CA 91335 May 12, 2013 Dear Dave, It is my great pleasure to write this letter. I want to shout out to all of Los Angeles how very happy I am with your company! You are among the very best vendors ever to set foot on the Cross Creek Village grounds. I've lived here since 1979, and I've been involved with the grounds since 1998, so that's saying a lot. From the very first time we walked around to inspect the trees, I felt like you were an ally. Clearly you wanted to help us with information we needed, and you were a fountain of information. In contrast with other vendors who were also going to bid on the work, you understood what the results would have to look like and why it was important for the health of the trees to achieve those goals. We have 448 trees and our urban forest is the thing that distinguishes us from most other condominium complexes, and is a major reason why people buy condos here. I was so impressed when you spoke to that confused and misinformed neighbor who called the office to complain about mulch near her patio. You were patient, clear, instructive, friendly, and so very patient. The General Manager reported that she called to thank the office for sending you to her unit. You made the Landscaping and Grounds Committee look good, and I'm so grateful. Your workers always wore hard hats, work boots, and safety goggles. They worked quietly and quickly. They followed the directions of your excellent supervisor, Luciano. You were personally involved in supervising much of the work too. The amount of equipment you brought was phenomenal - you were so prepared. I asked Luciano what was the next assignment, thinking he would tell me how many trees were in the next job. He told me that they would return all the equipment to your yard to sharpen, clean and prepare it for the next assignment. What a great work ethic! It explains why the only complication we experienced last week was a day of rain, and we agreed to postpone. Thank you for such excellent service. It was a real pleasure to work with you. Best regards, Susan Rich, Chair Landscaping and Grounds Committee Cross Creek Village Homeowners Association read more

I love to garden, but I don't love being a slave to an abundance of fallen leaves. Every morning and late afternoon I was raking leaves from my Magnolia tree. Never before did I have this problem. I felt the tree was having a hard time due to the drought and my inability to water as often because of Los Angeles' new water laws. I didn't want to continue picking up leaves nor did I want to lose the tree. I asked around to find a good Arborist, and David from Thrifty trees was recommended from a very reliable source. I was blown away. He understood the mechanics of the tree and felt if he injected the tree with a new product he had researched it should restore the tree to good health and eventually stop the abundance of leaves it was losing daily. David knew what he was doing for in a short period of time my Magnolia had stopped its shedding and it looked healthy once again. David was excited with the results and pretty surprised at the quick turnaround of the tree's condition. Needless to say I was thrilled to have my tree back to looking beautiful with an added bonus of not needing to rake anymore. Before ending this note, I must say the reason for the great success I had with the Magnolia tree was because of the owner, David from Thrifty Tree Service. For over 40 years I have been heavily involved with my garden and over those years I have come in contact with a good amount of landscapers, arborist, tree doctors, gardeners, etc. of whom were all quite knowledgeable, but not one could hold a candle to David. He eats, sleeps, and breathes "trees" and he is far above all others in his field. His constant researching, reading, experimenting is what makes him full of great information and ideas. To have Thrifty Tree Service as one of your important numbers in the care of your garden will bring you years of satisfied beauty. read more

Dave Aviram and his staff provided high quality service in trimming my Liquid Amber and Black Pine. I had been prepared to sacrifice the Liquid Amber (backyard) based on my understanding that these trees have been dying regionally from an incurable disease. Dave explained to me on the phone that the branch dropping it was experiencing was most likely due to Summer heat/drought-related causes and suggested that I check the internet to inform myself about the situation, which proved quite helpful. He then came by the house to look at the tree. He told me that in fact all liquid ambers, including mine, were suffering from the disease but that my tree still had a number of good years of life it if I wished to keep it. I had lived with the tree for 30 years and was not in a hurry to lose it so we agreed to trim it substantially and provide a chemical treatment, including an insecticide and an antibiotic Dave's crew of four was efficient and competent. The two trimmers were skilled in their selection of branches to remove or trim. The tree looked beautiful when finished and the yard was enhanced by its shapeliness. A second arborist came by later to apply the chemicals. Similarly, the trimming of the Black Pine in the front yard improved significantly the look of the yard and house. Preparation was complete; virtually no damage was done to foliage that surrounded the tree thanks to the careful placement of protective boards. Cleanup was thorough. I was completely satisfied with Dave's expertise and his workers performance. I would enthusiastically refer his company to others. read more

I am the owner of a large Apartment complex in Chatsworth, CA. I recently was in need of some major "tree" work around my property. I called several Tree Service company's and I have to say was not impressed at all until I called Thrifty Tree Service. There office staff( Kim & Tara) are incredibly knowledgeable, courteous, efficient, and fair.. I asked Thrifty to come out to my property and give me an estimate to trim/remove some trees on my property. To my surprise they set up an appointment for the next morning. When they arrived to my property Luciano came to my office announced his presence and advised he already had his guys walking the property doing the estimate WOW.. I showed him my concerns on the property and he addressed them immediately. This guy really knows his stuff! Along with every other member of the staff at Thrifty Tree Service. I was given an estimate and advised that the work could begin immediately. I reviewed the estimate and found that there prices were right on the money. No hidden junk, or contract lingo, Just the stright up facts and costs to do the work. I made the appointment for Thrifty to come out and take care of my "Tree" Issues. They arrived promptly at the time they said they would, took great care in protecting my property and the property of my tenants and with great efficiency they worked there way across the property trimming and removing trees. I could not be happier with the results. My property looks beautiful and vibrant again. I would NEVER consider using another company to care for my trees. Thrifty Tree Service is simply the best. read more

There is nobody better, more knowledgable, faster or safer than Dave Aviram of Thrifty Tree Service!!! I've worked with him for years now and he's both miraculously saved many of the trees on our property from dying like the neighbors, and cut down big old ones that were a hazard to the house. He and his amazing team are uber professional, skilled and swift. Thrifty does a lot of city contract work too because it is that good. but hDave Aviram is very focused, incredibly trustworthy and cares about every client to a fault. I can't speak highly enough of him and I'd been through a lot of arborists before. don't try to save $ on the trees btw. price should be reasonable and fair. these guys bear huge risk while working high up and the overheard/insurances etc are exorbitant. In the long run you save THOUSANDS by caring for your trees properly. they'll live years longer, look amazing and add immeasurably value to your property while not costing thousands in emergency care and fixing. Suffice it to say that my very next door neighbors Pittosporum trees all died while my own just a few yards away are thriving, blooming and gorgeously fragrant every spring, not to mention provide perfect privacy to half the property. I first questioned deep root feeding them when David suggested it first. What good would it do if I couldn't see it? I'll never question him again :-) His team hand-prune all of our hedges and while more expensive per trim end up being cheaper (needs way fewer trimmings!) and so much more beautiful than when my gardener used to do it. read more

Can I give 10 stars, please?! We contacted TTS via Angie's List to remove a tree that was causing damage to our roof and gutter. I spoke with Dawn, who is the best, and explained our scenario and told her we needed the tree gone ASAP especially with the winds. She took my sense of urgency to heart and had Dave (owner) come out that weekend to provide an estimate. Dave is a very knowledgeable and passionate arborist. He has an amazing personality and great sense of humor. He provided plenty of credentials which made us feel very comfortable hiring TTS. Due to his very busy schedule, he promised to try to remove the tree by the following Thursday. He surprised us by having it removed on Tuesday when they had a break in between jobs. He listened to our desperation to have the tree gone and made us a priority. "Best surprise ever!" I told him. We had them quote us again to remove all our trees and bougainvillea plants from our backyard. Luciano, another amazing employee, originality quoted us an amount we were prepared to spend. He showed me how to cut down the plants and remove them ourselves. We took his advice and did our best. Then hired them to remove the stumps and trees for half the price. Luciano and his team got it done, and Dave called me to check in. He cares about his company and his clients. They clean up all the mess they make. They're efficient. And customer service is amazing. I can't say enough about TTS!!! I'd hire them again and again. read more

Barbara and Larry, As with past years, we received several quotes from guys working in the neighborhood, but we were unable to verify claims to be licensed, bonded and insured; or that they really had a "certified arborist" on staff. Further internet research led us to THRIFTY TREE SERVICE, and the fantastic owner, Dave Aviram. Frankly, Thrifty Tree Service may be the most professional service we have ever used for any work on our property. Dave was fantastic and guided us through the real requirements of the 12 trees needing work. (Two of these trees are over 150 years old and 200 feet tall.) His team consisted of professionals that arrived on time with the finest equipment; including tree trimming cherry pickers to reach to the top of the trees, roll offs for debris capture, flat bed with plywood sheeting used to protect our windows, doors, lamps, equipment on the roof, etc., and street traffic control signage and cones. Their fleet of equipment was sparkling, and his team worked like a well trained and disciplined military unit! In one day, Thrifty completed what other companies have taken 2-3 days to complete, and their price was very reasonable. We highly recommend Dave and THRIFTY TREE SERVICE! PS: The work was done in March and the trees are now full of foliage and look beautiful! THANKS Dave! read more

After having a tree-trimming nightmare less than a year ago, we (again) went through the process of meeting with arborists for quotes to remove 2 extremely large trees from our front yard. We were fortunate enough to meet Dave the operating owner of Thrifty Tree Service Inc. He was amazing -- extremely knowledgeable, transparent, honest, punctual, and genuine. He (unsolicited) provided us with his license, insurance, bond, and arborist certification info and quickly gained our trust and business. It was a big job, but only took 3 days to fully remove the two monster trees. It required the use of a 44 ton crane, hauling/dumping, grinding the stumps down, and filling the stump holes. His crew was tremendous also. They were respectful, professional, hardworking, and all spoke excellent English. Dave was not only present throughout the entire project, but was a masterful orchestrator, managing everything with calculated precision. He also was quick to pick up a chainsaw and really get his hands dirty, which to see a business owner be so hands on is rare. I never feel compelled to write reviews, but this experience was so smooth and painless, they really deserve the praise. Thank you Dave! read more

Dave's team is professional. He has a system that works. It took his team only 2 hours to do a job that in the past, other tree trimmers were here twice as long. They had the equipment to do the palms without spiking up the tree, which was important to me as I don't want to ruin my trees with holes that bugs can attack and infest my tree. Dave arrives and goes over with you to make sure that we're in sync. He tells his foreman who then is in charge. His people work hard to make sure all is done professionally. Tej, his foreman is great! He checked with me at the beginning to make sure we were in sync with what Dave told him; then as they were nearing the end, he walked me through what they had done. There were a couple of areas that I saw needed more work so he had his workers do that. At the very end, he went over everything with me again until I was satisfied. His people work very hard to clean everything up so the place looks better than when they left it. Tej and his team took the extra steps to make sure I was happy. I will use them again. Thank Dave, Tej and your great team. Susan read more

I have a eight story Canary Island Pine that had never been trimmed. I love that tree and wanted the job done right. Thrifty was the best combination of price and professional credentials. They are Arborists not your typical "slash and burn" tree guys. They came with two cranes and six workers - two workers directed car and foot traffic around the tree. They did a beautiful job safely and took great care not to damage my property. My tree is thinned out and balanced not a "telephone pole" like some of my neighbors trees. They left the area spotless as well as leaving about a cord of fresh pine wood for me to use. My neighbors were so impressed with the work and thought I spent a fortune for so much equipment and so many workers. I told them they were the same price as "two guys with a chain saw". I recommend them and would use them again in the future. I really am surprised that anyone would give them such a "slam" on Yelp. Must be a competitor. read more