Arborist Services in Baton Rouge, LA

Arborist services in Baton Rouge give you a clear read on a tree’s health, its risks and the care it needs, so you can make a decision with real information. Big Easy Tree Cutting offers tree health and risk assessments, pruning plans, fertilization, storm-prep pruning and keep-or-remove advice for homes and businesses in Baton Rouge, and every visit starts with a free estimate.

This page also explains the state and City-Parish rules and how to check any company you are considering. We are based in New Orleans and list Baton Rouge among our service areas. For everything else we do locally, see our tree service in Baton Rouge page.

Arborist services for Baton Rouge homes and businesses

From homes near LSU to commercial properties across the parish, trees in Baton Rouge deal with heat, heavy rain, construction and the occasional hurricane. Our arborist work is built around helping your trees handle all of that:

• Health assessments. Thinning canopies, discolored leaves, dieback, bark damage and signs of root stress.
• Risk assessments. We check for weak branch attachments, cracks, decay, dead wood over roofs and walkways, and leaning trunks.
• Pruning plans. A plan for which limbs to remove, when, and why, so pruning improves structure instead of stressing the tree.
• Pest and disease concerns. We help you sort out whether a symptom points to insects, disease or simple environmental stress.
• Fertilization. Targeted feeding for trees in compacted or nutrient-poor soil. See our fertilization services for more.
• Storm-prep pruning. Removing dead and weakly attached limbs and reducing wind load before hurricane season.
• Keep-or-remove advice. If a tree can be saved, we will say so. If it cannot, we will explain why.

Our main arborist services page describes how we approach tree care in general.

How Louisiana Licenses Arborists

What the state law says

Arborist licenses are issued by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) through its Horticulture Commission. Under La. R.S. 3:3804(C), no one may receive fees for, advertise or solicit business in a regulated profession, including arborist work, unless they hold a valid license, have a regular employee who holds one, or work under the direct supervision of a license holder. La. R.S. 3:3808(A) says an arborist’s license authorizes the holder to recommend or carry out tree removal, measures to prolong the life of a tree, and measures to enhance its aesthetic value.

The LDAF arborist licensing page puts it in plain terms: making recommendations or doing tree-surgery type work, including removal, pruning, trimming, cabling, fertilization and cavity work, calls for an arborist license when you work on trees for a fee.

Rules that apply to licensed arborists

The state’s horticulture rules (LAC 7:XXIX.117) include these points for licensees:

• Licensees are to enter into a written contract with the property owner that specifies the services and the sum to be paid.
• The license must be displayed.
• Pruning is to meet the standards in the ISA Arborists’ Certification Study Guide.
• Climbing irons are not to be used in trees that are not being removed, unless the owner has given written permission in advance.

When a homeowner does not need a license

State law has a narrow exemption in La. R.S. 3:3816. An individual pruning a tree under the specific direction and responsibility of the property owner does not need a license when the branch being removed is two inches or less in diameter and within ten feet of the ground. That exemption does not apply to services for commercial establishments.

ISA certification is a different credential

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) offers the ISA Certified Arborist credential. It is voluntary and private. Candidates need at least three years of full-time experience in arboriculture, or a mix of education and practical experience, and they must keep up with continuing education and a code of ethics. ISA’s own program guide says its certifications do not represent licensure or authorization to conduct business for a fee.

The two credentials meet in one place in Louisiana law: after a declared catastrophe or emergency, the state may issue a temporary arborist license, and ISA certification is one of the ways an applicant can qualify. To check an individual’s ISA status, use the credential verification directory linked from the Find an Arborist section of treesaregood.org.

Hiring a licensed arborist in Baton Rouge: what to check

Baton Rouge adds a local layer. Chapter 11 of Title 9 of the City-Parish Code of Ordinances (Secs. 9:490 to 9:496) says it is unlawful to engage in the business of servicing trees within the parish or city without first getting a license from the office of the director of finance, and that this is in addition to the state Horticulture Commission license. The code defines tree service to include tree removal, shade and ornamental tree trimming, cavity work and fertilizing. It also says the application must include a copy of the state license, and that tree-service vehicles must be clearly marked with the company name and city or parish license number.

How those local provisions are applied today is something to confirm with the office of the City-Parish director of finance. Either way, they give you good questions to ask any company:

1. Ask for the LDAF arborist license number and the name of the license holder.
2. Check it yourself against the licensed arborist lists LDAF publishes on its arborist page, or call LDAF’s Horticulture office at 225-952-8100.
3. Ask about local licensing under the City-Parish tree-service provisions, and confirm with the director of finance’s office if you have doubts.
4. Ask who will be on site and whether the license holder is supervising the work.
5. Ask about ISA certification separately, and look up the individual’s name.
6. Get the scope in writing, including the services and the price.

Planning for storm season in Baton Rouge

The National Weather Service reported that Hurricane Ida’s winds downed numerous trees, power lines and power poles across East Baton Rouge Parish in 2021. An arborist assessment before hurricane season can flag dead limbs, weak unions and trees that lean toward the house. Where branches reach toward a service line, call your electric provider first. In East Baton Rouge Parish that may be Entergy Louisiana or DEMCO, depending on your address. Our guide to tree trimming before hurricane season covers what to prioritize.

When an assessment shows a tree has to go, our tree removal in Baton Rouge page explains the process, and stump grinding in Baton Rouge handles what remains.

Arborist services in nearby communities

We also offer tree care elsewhere in the region, including arborist services in Hammond and arborist services in LaPlace.

Book a free arborist visit in Baton Rouge

If a tree has you uneasy, or you want a long-term plan for the trees you love, we are happy to take a look. Request your free estimate through our contact page or call 504-732-9714.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do arborists in Louisiana need a state license?

Yes, Louisiana generally requires anyone doing arborist work for a fee to hold an LDAF arborist license or work under a license holder. The requirement covers recommending or performing removal, pruning, trimming, cabling, fertilization and cavity work.

Does Baton Rouge have its own tree-service license?

The City-Parish code includes tree-service license provisions in Sections 9:490 to 9:496, issued through the office of the director of finance. Confirm current requirements with that office, and ask any company you hire about its local licensing.

How can I verify an arborist’s state license?

Ask for the license number and the license holder’s name. Then check the licensed arborist lists on the LDAF arborist page, or call the LDAF Horticulture office at 225-952-8100.

Can someone prune my trees without a license?

Only within a narrow exemption in state law. An individual pruning under the owner’s direction and responsibility needs no license when the branch is two inches or less in diameter and within ten feet of the ground. That exemption does not apply to services for commercial establishments.

What is the difference between a licensed arborist and an ISA Certified Arborist?

The state license is a legal requirement issued by LDAF for paid tree work. ISA certification is a voluntary private credential, and ISA says it is not a license to do business.

Should I get a tree service contract in writing?

Yes, a written scope protects both sides. Louisiana’s horticulture rules call for licensed arborists to use a written contract that specifies the services and the price.