Licensed Arborist Serving New Orleans, Louisiana
Licensed Arborist #1368, providing tree health checks, hazard assesment, and honest recommendations from a state licensed professional.
Licensed Arborist Services for New Orleans Neighborhoods
Diagnosis First, Care Second.
An arborist is a trained tree-care professional: someone who understands how trees grow, why they decline, and what it takes to keep them healthy, beautiful, and standing. New Orleans is defined by its beautiful trees, from live oaks to magnolias that fill our city. Our warm, wet, storm-prone climate puts real pressure on them. Fungal disease, insects, saturated soil and hurricane damage can all threaten a tree long before a homeowner notices anything wrong.
Benton Tree Service is state-licensed through our owner Tim Benton, Louisiana Licensed Arborist #1368. Tim is also licensed in Mississippi (#LT715) and holds Louisiana Horticulture License #4548. With over 19 years of real, hands on experience with tree care, Tim knows how to assess the needs of trees in our local neighborhoods. Whether it’s a recommendation for treatment, feeding, pruning, or removal, it’s the honest answer.
When Do You Need an Arborist?
Licensed Tree-Care Pros Who Do the Job Right.
Don’t just trust any crew, trust the licensed one.
A Declining or Stressed Tree
Thinning Canopy, early leaf drop, dead branches or sparse growth can all signal a tree in trouble. An arborist can identify the the causes and tell you whether it’s recoverable.
Signs of Disease or Pests
Mushrooms at the base, cankers, oozing bark, sawdust or discolored leaves are common signs of disease or insects. Caught early, many are treatable.
Cracked, Leaning, or Hazardous Tree
A tree with cracks, a new lean, or limb dropping withou warning are hazard signals on your property. We assess the tree, root plate, and surrounding soil, then tell you what’s wrong.
Large, Old, or Heritage Trees
New Orleans’ mature and aging live oaks deserve careful hands. A proper assesment and pruning from a licensed arborist can protect their health and life.
Before You Buy, Build, or Remove.
Thinking about construction, or not sure about a tree your property? An on-site assesment tells you what you’re dealing with before you commout.
What We Do
What Do Licensed Arborists Do That a Regular Crew Can’t?
Tree Health & Hazard Assesment
Using our training and knowledge, we inspect condition, structure, and surroudings; the details that matter when it comes to caring for your tree and property.
Deep-Root Fertilization & Soil Care
Compacted and poor urban soils can leave New Orleans Trees malnourished. We use soil work and deep root feeding to restore tree health.
Cabling & Bracing
For weak, split, or heavy limbed trees, we employ support systems to reduce the chance of failure without removing the limb.
Correct Pruning & Structural Care
We prune for health, structure, and safety using proper technique, avoiding incorrect techniques, such as lion-tailing, that permantly damage the tree.
Removal When Needed
Tim and the rest of our crew firmly believe in sustaining the life of a tree for as long as possible. But when a tree can’t be saved and there’s real risk, we say so and handle removal safely. We’ll tell you when a tree you’re worried about is fine.
Why Hire A Licensed Arborist?
In Louisiana, “Tree Guy” Isn’t a Credential. Licensed Arborist Is.
Most homeowners don’t realize this: in Louisiana, working on standing trees for pay is a licensed profession. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Horticulture Commission requires a state Arborist License for anyone who advertises and sells tree services, including tree pruning, trimming, cabling, fertilization, or cavity work. Licensed state arborists must pass a state exam and renew their license every year.
No license usually means no real insurance, and if an unlicensed tree job goes wrong, you might be out of luck when problems arise.
Benton Tree Service is state-licensed through our owner Tim under Louisiana Licensed Arborist #1368, listed under New Orleans Parish LDAF’s roster, and carries $2 million in liability insurance.
Get Answers and Estimates From A Licensed Professional
Anyone can take a tree down. It takes a trained eye to tell you whether it needs to come down at all. For over 19 years, homeowners and businesses across Greater New Orleans have trusted Benton Tree Service to diagnose accurately and treat properly.
Worried about a declining tree, protecting a heritage live oak, falling branches, or worse? Call (504) 896-0820 to schedule an on-site assesment.
What Customers Say About the Assessment
“Tim is a very knowledgeable arborist and after he examined my tree, I chose him to cut down my 50 year old water oak. Tim and his team care about the environment and replaced my water oak with a young live oak tree, which 18 months later is doing quite well. Before hiring Tim, I met with several arborists and chose Tim and his team, as they were very knowledgeable, and affordable and cleaned up quite nicely. The team did an excellent job and Tim is quite likeable and I felt I could trust him.”
— Dianne M. · ★★★★★ Google Review
“Such a great experience from start to finish. Tim’s knowledge of trees and their care made it an ease to work with him. His team is prompt, well skilled and left my yard looking better than they found it. I highly recommend Benton Tree Service to anyone who wants expert advice and great service at a very reasonable price.”
— Michael B. · ★★★★★ Google Review
WHY CHOOSE US
Local Service, Trained Knowledge, Customer Approved.
Family Owned and Operated
As a local, family-owned tree service company, we understand how stressful fallen trees and limbs from storm damage can be for New Orleans property owners
State-Licensed, Insured, And Verifiable
Louisiana Licensed Arborist #1368, listed publicly on LDAF’s roster. Tim also holds LA Horticulture License #4548.
19+ Years of Experience
With nearly two decades of experience of handling live oaks, water oaks, magnolias, crape myrtles, and hurricane seasons; we’ve seen it all in tree care.
Honest Assement & Estimate
We love trees, that’s why we do what we do. If a tree’s condition doesn’t warrant service it doesn’t need, we let you know. If it does, we tell you our price and why.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arborists in New Orleans
Do arborists need a license in Louisiana?
Yes. The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) Horticulture Commission requires a state Arborist License for anyone who receives fees for, advertises, or solicits tree-surgery work; including pruning, trimming, removal, cabling, fertilization and cavity work. Licensed arborists must pass a state exam and complete continuing education each year to renew. Before hiring anyone in New Orleans, ask for their LDAF arborist license number and proof of liability insurance.
How do I verify a tree company’s arborist license?
LDAF publishes a public list of every licensed arborist in Louisiana, organized by parish, on its website. Ask the company for the name their license is held under and check it against that list. Benton Tree Service is licensed through owner Tim Benton, Louisiana Licensed Arborist #1368, listed under Orleans Parish.
What does an arborist do that a regular tree service doesn’t?
A licensed arborist diagnoses before cutting. That means assessing tree health and structure, identifying disease and pests, evaluating hazard risk, and recommending treatment, feeding, cabling or pruning, with removal as one option among several rather than the default. The goal is the long-term health and safety of the tree, not just the job in front of you.
How can I tell if my tree is diseased, dying, or dangerous?
Warning signs include a thinning canopy, dead or dropping limbs, mushrooms or conks at the base, cankers or oozing bark, a new or worsening lean, and cracks in the trunk. If you see any of these, an on-site assessment will tell you whether the tree can be treated or needs to come out.
Can an arborist save a damaged or leaning tree?
Often, yes. Depending on condition we may be able to treat disease, improve health through fertilization and soil care, or install cabling and bracing to support weak or split limbs. When a tree can’t be saved safely, we’ll say so directly and recommend removal.
Do you offer free estimates for arborist services?
Yes. We provide an on-site assessment and an honest, upfront quote before any work begins. Call (504) 896-0820 to schedule a visit in New Orleans.