Seattle's expert arborists. Built for wet ground and winter wind.

From removals to structural pruning to storm response after the next windstorm rolls off the Sound, we keep Seattle's trees standing through a wet climate and soil that rarely drains before the next front arrives. Expert arborists, on call around the clock.

Get An Estimate (844) 835-8733

Why Seattle

Why Seattle trees need a real arborist.

The Certified Arborist Tree Service brings expert arborists, consistent standards, and full insurance to every job in Seattle and the surrounding King County area, whether it is a single removal or storm cleanup after a windstorm.

Seattle sits under a mild wet maritime climate, cool wet winters and dry summers, on soil that runs deep but stays saturated through the wet months and turns acidic underneath the duff. That combination is exactly what tall conifers struggle to stand in once the ground softens.

Knowing which species carry the most root and canopy risk here, and how winter windstorms over saturated soil, ice, and heavy wet snow load a tree that is already compromised, is what separates a tree that gets managed from one that ends up on a roof.

Schedule a Seattle site walk Call (844) 835-8733

Why Seattle trees fail

The risks we watch in Seattle right now.

When a tree comes down in Seattle, it is almost always one of these problems working underground or in the canopy long before the storm that finishes the job.

Laminated Root Rot

Spreads through root contact in conifer stands across King County and rots structural roots from the inside, so a Douglas fir can look healthy above ground while it loses its anchor below it.

Swiss Needle Cast

A fungal disease that thins Douglas fir needles year after year in our wet maritime climate, reducing the crown's ability to shed wind load and weakening the tree well before it fails.

Bronze Birch Borer

Targets stressed European birch, a common planted tree in Seattle yards, tunneling under the bark and killing limbs from the top down until the crown collapses.

Windthrow in Saturated Soil

Seattle's deep but often waterlogged winter soil loses its grip on tall conifer root plates, so a windstorm can push over a tree that had no visible defect at all.

Service area

Our Seattle service area.

Serving Seattle and King County, from removals to storm response.

Areas we cover

Click an area to learn more about our work there.

What people are saying

Rated 4.9 stars across 140+ reviews.

Real reviews from real customers, straight from our Google Business Profile. Here's what people say once the crew has packed up and the yard is clean.

★★★★★

March 11th, a brief but strong storm came through Goodlettsville and blew over two giant trees in my front yard; one which was being supported by a 3rd tree that was facing and threatening my house. It was an…

Julie Bangs●3 days ago

★★★★★

From the time I inquired w this company about removing a tree that was strongly impacted from the major strong 80 mph winds on March 3, 2023, they provided us w exceptional service in every way . They were…

Jeanne Mason●3 weeks ago

★★★★★

CATS crew was amazing across the board from Mike & Lisa & Joe to the crew that came to our house. The consultation was easy and informative and made me feel comfortable in choosing them. The price was less…

Guy Hunt●1 month ago

Read all 140+ reviews on Google

What we do

A geotagged inventory of every tree on the property: species, age, condition, and recommended work, refreshed annually.

Learn more →

Trees we know

The Seattle species list, and what we watch for.

Local soil, local weather, local pests. Each species here fails in its own way, and we plan around all of them.

Red Maple

Handles Seattle's wet winters well but can develop included bark at codominant unions that splits under wind load if it is never structurally pruned.

Flowering Cherry

A common Seattle yard tree that is short lived and prone to canker and limb dieback once winter wet sits against damaged bark.

European Birch

Vulnerable to bronze birch borer under any drought or root stress, which shows up first as sparse upper canopy long before the tree looks obviously sick.

Sweetgum

Roots aggressively in Seattle's often saturated soil, and shallow root plates lift sidewalks and lose stability faster than deeper rooted natives.

Littleleaf Linden

Tolerates urban soil compaction well but needs regular structural pruning to avoid the weak codominant leaders that fail in winter windstorms.

Douglas Fir

Seattle's iconic conifer and its biggest liability at once, carrying real risk from laminated root rot and Swiss needle cast that only a trained eye catches before a windstorm exposes it.

Local expertise

Why an Expert Arborist Matters in Seattle

A mild wet maritime climate grows big trees fast, and it also grows the conditions that take them down: saturated soil, root disease that spreads underground, and winter windstorms that find the one tree already compromised. A crew with a chainsaw treats the tree that already failed; an arborist reads the one about to.

Every estimate in Seattle is walked by an experienced arborist. Cuts follow ANSI A300, risk assessments are TRAQ qualified, and you get a plan and a current Certificate of Insurance before work begins.

Across Seattle

Bothell, Shoreline, Kenmore, and Lake Forest Park each carry their own species mix, but the same soil and storm pattern that shapes Seattle's risk calendar runs through King County.

Every community in our coverage list has its own page covering the species, soil, and storm exposure we plan around there.

Seattle FAQ

Local questions, local answers.

Don't see your question? Call us. Every call is answered by a human arborist, day or night.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Seattle?

Seattle's tree protection ordinance covers exceptional trees and certain lot sizes, and King County has its own separate rules outside city limits. We confirm what applies to your exact address and handle any permit or arborist report needed before work begins.

How fast can an arborist get to my property?

Most estimate visits happen within 24 hours, and storm emergencies get a crew on site the same day. We answer the phone around the clock, which matters most during a winter windstorm.

What is stressing Seattle trees right now?

Laminated root rot, Swiss needle cast, and bronze birch borer are the biggest regional factors, compounded by windthrow whenever winter storms hit soil that is already saturated.

What standards do your arborists follow?

Every job runs to ANSI A300 standards and risk assessments are TRAQ qualified. An expert arborist conducts every estimate in Seattle personally.

Are you insured?

Yes. We carry full general liability and workers' compensation on every crew and can email a current Certificate of Insurance before work begins.

Why do Seattle conifers fall over without warning?

Laminated root rot and years of saturated winter soil quietly weaken a conifer's root plate long before the crown shows any obvious sign, so the tree can look fine right up until a windstorm pushes it over. Regular risk assessments catch it earlier.

Take back your trees today

One expert arborist. Every tree on your property.

Free estimate. Twenty-four-hour response. No contracts. No commitments.

Or call (844) 835-8733, answered 24/7 by a human.