PlantAmnesty membership organization has a referral service if you don't get much response here or want to check it out anyway. Recommended companies have to pass a test first. See their web site or telephone book listing.

You know, I always think of pruning rather than removal when I think of Plant Amnesty, so thanks for the suggestion--it would not have occurred to me otherwise. I'll go check out their referral list. Thanks.

Apex Arboriculture took down a huge old dying Elm for us.

They did a great job. Robert Gandt 206-351-6655 (He's an Arborist)

Does he swing through the trees by his arms? That would be impressive!

Seriously, sounds like quite a job. English elm (Ulmus minor vulgaris, syn. U. procera)? Highly susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease, which is too bad as form still common here--for the moment--a noble tree (procera means "lofty"), that even has good autumn color. One in Seattle is 118 ft. high.

I have to do a little digging and I'll come up with the name/# of a guy who, with his tree-cutting buddy did an excellent job removing a couple 70 yr old hemlocks, taking select limbs off two giant maples and carefully removing two alders intertwined with a cedar we wanted left intact. Excellent, safe, careful work: worth their weight in gold. They chunked, tied, and lowered huge pieces of trunk or limbs and not one needle or leaf on adjacent tree or nearby buildings were harmed. (Well, hardly any.) Very, very reasonably priced. One works for a private tree company and one works for a City Dept that deals with trees.

And yes, they swung from trees but on ropes not by their arms!

I'll email you at Yahoo as Gweb's email doesn't seem as reliable as it used to be.

Certified Arborists in your area can be found with link below.

Click the home page center to enter. Then from the menu, select the find an arborist option.

Use your zip code.

Whether you get a name from that site, or from a referral here, consider a Certified Arborist. These days, any tree service providers who really care about trees education, are ISA certified. It's the main means of supporting continued education.

Here is a link that might be useful: International Society of Arboriculture > Find an Arborist

Stonehedge is a W. Seattle based company loved by gardeners. Qualified and reliable. Good people. Free chips. Mark Harman is owner. They would never ever top a tree under any conditions.

206-730-2896

You might want to get the Summer/Fall 2006 issue of Puget Sound Consumers' Checkbook magazine that has an article on tree care services and rates 45 firms throughout western Washington. Fifteen of them received a top rating for quality; several are in the greater Seattle area. The ratings are very detailed and the accompanying article is very informative. The magazine retails for $10, but it also has articles and ratings on a dozen other Puget Sound services. Good luck!

Bboy, the arborist said it was an American Elm (Ulmus americana) (Swamp Elm)

I hated to see it go down, but the crotches of the tree were rotting and becoming a major threat.

I don't think it had dutch elm disease.

Thanks for all of the replies and suggestions--I really appreciate them. I found a nice service and they removed the offending trees very professionally. I am thrilled (as are several neighbors).

Thanks again,
Grant

Who did you end up going with? For anyone finding this post, I'd recommend Martin Macauley of Blooma Tree Experts (link below).

Here is a link that might be useful: Blooma Tree Service Seattle