After more than a decade working as a certified arborist in and around west Georgia, I’ve learned that good tree work is rarely about big promises. It’s about judgment, timing, and knowing when not to act. I first crossed paths with All In Tree Services through overlapping projects in the Lithia Springs area, where dense neighborhoods and fast-growing trees tend to punish shortcuts pretty quickly.
One job that still stands out involved a large sweetgum behind a split-level home. The homeowner had been told by another crew that removal was urgent due to “internal rot.” When I took a look later, the issue turned out to be a long-standing cavity that had stabilized years earlier. I watched how the situation was handled—no pressure, no scare tactics. Instead, the recommendation was a targeted reduction to relieve weight over the roof and a plan to reassess in a year or two. That’s the kind of call you make only after seeing hundreds of trees fail and hundreds more hold strong.
I’ve also seen what happens after poor pruning decisions. A customer I worked with last spring had a row of crape myrtles that had been topped repeatedly, leaving thick knuckles and brittle growth. Correcting that kind of damage isn’t fast, and it’s never perfect. The approach taken here was slow and deliberate—thinning out weak shoots, restoring some natural form, and setting expectations honestly. Anyone who’s spent real time in the field knows you can’t undo years of bad cuts in a single visit.
One mistake I still see far too often is ignoring soil conditions. Around Lithia Springs, clay-heavy ground can look solid until it’s saturated, and then root plates start to move. I’ve been called in after storms where a tree didn’t fall because it was dead, but because no one paid attention to drainage patterns. Crews that check soil firmness, root flare exposure, and recent rainfall before climbing or rigging tend to avoid those close calls. In my experience, that awareness separates seasoned operators from crews just trying to get through the day.
Tree service isn’t just physical work; it’s decision-making under uncertainty. You’re balancing property, safety, tree biology, and the client’s expectations, often all at once. The professionals who last in this line of work are the ones willing to explain their reasoning, admit limits, and choose the slower option when it’s the right one. That mindset doesn’t come from manuals or quick training—it comes from years of watching what holds up after the trucks leave.