Certified Arborist in Toronto & the GTA
An arborist keeps your trees healthy, safe, and compliant with city rules. At Al Miley & Associates, our ISA certified arborists have cared for trees across Toronto and the GTA for over 50 years.
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Caring for Toronto's Trees Since 1974
Tree Care Done to ISA Standards
We work to ISA industry standards on every job, backed by decades of hands-on experience across residential and commercial properties. From arborist reports and tree risk assessments to professional pruning, tree and shrub planting, and storm damage restoration, we offer a full tree service under one roof, always focused on the long term health of your trees. We handle everything from a single hazardous limb to a full property of mature trees, and we treat each job on its own merits.
Our Arborist Services
We focus on the health, safety, and long term health of your trees, and we offer a full tree service under one roof:
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Arborist reports and consultations: for permits, development, and by-law applications
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Tree risk assessments and inspections: yearly checks and post-storm reviews
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Tree health care: diagnosis and treatment of tree diseases and pests
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Professional pruning: clearing dead branches and supporting healthy growth
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Tree and shrub planting: planting with species selection matched to your soil conditions
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Cabling, bracing, and storm damage restoration: stabilizing large trees
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Stump grinding: plus a full final cleanup after any removal
When a tree is truly beyond saving, we also handle safe tree removal and stump grinding — but our first goal is always to preserve a healthy tree where we can.
Arborist Reports and Consultations
Many projects in Toronto need a certified arborist report before work can begin. If you plan to build near a tree, take down a protected tree, or submit a development application, the city usually requires a report under the Private Tree By-Law, which protects trees measuring 30 cm or more in diameter. Our arborist reports document each tree's species, size, and condition along with its root zone, then set out protection measures or, where unavoidable, the justification for removal.
We prepare reports for development applications, tree protection plans, and Private Tree By-Law permit applications, and we can meet on site to walk you through the findings and handle the paperwork. Book a consultation and our professional arborists will tell you exactly what your project needs.
What an Arborist Report Includes
A useful report is more than a form. Ours typically covers:
Tree inventory:
species, trunk diameter, height, and canopy spread of each tree
Condition rating:
structure, disease, deadwood, and root health
Root zone review:
the protected area and how nearby construction may affect it
Protection plan:
hoarding, tree protection measures, and any pruning or removal recommended
Permit-ready justification:
clear reasoning and photos to support your application
Because we follow ISA industry standards and know how Toronto and other GTA municipalities review submissions, our reports are written to be approved the first time, which keeps your project on schedule.
The Private Tree By-Law, in Plain English
On private property, trees measuring 30 cm or more in diameter are protected. To prune heavily or take one down, you generally need a permit and a supporting arborist report, and the city can require replacement planting or charge a fee. A tree on the road allowance or on a neighbour's property is not yours to cut, and removing a protected tree without a permit can lead to significant fines.
Thresholds and forms differ between municipalities such as Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Markham, so it pays to confirm the rules before work starts. We deal with these applications every week and will tell you what applies to your property before you commit to anything.
Tree Health Care and Diagnosis
Trees show stress long before they fail. Our arborists look for early warning signs — dead or weak branches, a thinning canopy, fungal growth, an exposed root flare, and poor soil conditions — and build a plan to restore healthy growth and protect the tree's long term health.
Different tree species fail in different ways, and treating one problem early often protects the other trees around it. Local pressures make this work especially important: the Emerald Ash Borer has killed ash trees across the region, road salt and construction stress mature roots, and ice storms leave hidden cracks.
Depending on the diagnosis, treatment might mean corrective pruning, deep root fertilization, insect and disease control, or a change to how the ground around the trunk is managed. Catching a problem early is almost always cheaper and safer than dealing with a failed tree later, and it keeps your healthy trees an asset rather than a liability.
Professional Tree Pruning
Pruning is the single most valuable thing you can do for most trees. Done well, it removes dead and weak branches, opens the canopy to light and air, and shapes the tree for both safety and curb appeal. Done badly, it invites disease and weak regrowth. Our arborists make precise cuts to ISA industry standards, and we never top a tree or over-thin it.
For young trees we prune to build strong structure; for mature and large trees we reduce risk while protecting long term health. Regular tree pruning also keeps shrubs and hedges tidy and helps the rest of your trees thrive, and every visit ends with a final cleanup so your property looks better than when we arrived.
Tree Risk Assessments and Inspections
Cracked limbs, sudden leaf drop, a leaning trunk, or roots lifting near a driveway are all reasons to book an inspection. We suggest a check once a year and again after major storms, when high winds and ice can cause storm damage you cannot see from the ground. A proper assessment weighs branch load, trunk stability, and signs of internal decay, then flags anything likely to cause property damage or injury. You get a clear explanation and a practical plan, not a hard sell.
Get A Free Quote
We even offer a free estimate so that you can get an idea of our services' cost before committing. Al Miley & Associates looks forward to hearing from you and cannot wait to prove to you why they are known as one of the top arborist companies in the Toronto area.
Signs It's Time to Call an Arborist
A quick call now can prevent a dangerous failure later. Book an inspection if you notice:
Dead or hanging branches:
deadwood in the canopy can drop without warning.
A leaning trunk or lifting roots:
often a sign of root or soil failure after storms.
Cracks or cavities:
splits in the trunk or major limbs point to structural weakness.
Fungus or oozing bark:
mushrooms at the base and seeping wounds signal internal decay.
Sudden leaf loss or dieback:
a common early warning of disease or pests.
How We Work With You
Every job starts with a conversation and a free estimate. A certified arborist visits your property, inspects the trees in question, and explains what they are seeing in plain language. From there we put our recommendations in writing, whether that is a full arborist report, a pruning plan, or a treatment schedule for a struggling tree.
Once you approve the plan, our insured crew carries out the work in a safe, professional manner, protects the surrounding lawn, shrubs, and garden beds, and does a final cleanup before leaving. For trees you want to keep in good shape, we can set up a maintenance schedule so small issues never turn into expensive ones.
Areas We Serve
We work throughout Toronto — the downtown core, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, York, and East York — and across the wider GTA, including Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, Mississauga, and Oakville. Wherever you are, you get a local crew that understands the city's mix of mature trees, tight lots, and established yards.
Residential and Commercial Tree Care
We look after trees for homeowners, property managers, and commercial sites across the city. For homes, that usually means keeping mature trees safe and lifting curb appeal with tidy shrubs and a well-shaped canopy. For commercial properties and condos, we schedule around tenants, manage large trees near buildings and parking, and can set up a regular maintenance plan so nothing is left to chance.
Whatever the property, you deal with the same expert Toronto arborists and get the same clear advice, honest pricing, and a full cleanup after every visit. Beyond removals and reports, our skilled team also handles routine tree care, tree planting, and choosing the right new tree for each spot — the kind of expert tree services that keep a property looking its best year-round.
Why Property Owners Choose Al Miley & Associates
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50+ years of experience: family-run in the GTA since 1974.
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ISA-certified team: including a Board Certified Master Arborist on staff.
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Fully insured: public liability insurance and WSIB coverage on every job.
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Recognized members: Tree Care Industry Association and Landscape Ontario.
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Honest, tree-first advice: from expert arborists, with a free estimate up front.
Need an arborist report, a tree inspection, or expert advice on a tree you are worried about? Contact Al Miley & Associates or call 416-749-3723 for a free estimate.
Arborist FAQs
What does a certified arborist do?
A certified arborist assesses tree health, diagnoses diseases and structural problems, prunes and treats trees, writes arborist reports, and removes trees only when there is no safe alternative.
Do I need an arborist report to remove a tree in Toronto?
Often, yes. Toronto's Private Tree By-Law protects trees 30 cm or more in diameter, and the city usually requires an arborist report and permit before removal. We can confirm the rules for your property.
How much does an arborist report cost?
It depends on the number of trees and the type of report your project needs. We give a free estimate up front so there are no surprises.
See What Our Clients Have To Say
We have earned hundreds of reviews from GTA property owners for our arborist work. Here is what a few of them say about our reports, inspections, and tree care.
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Address
Head Office
Blind River, Ontario P0R 1B0