Arboricultural Consulting
Apollo O’Neil provides arboricultural consulting services for residential, commercial, municipal, and legal clients throughout the Tampa Bay area. Consulting engagements include tree risk assessment, tree and plant appraisal, plant health care evaluation, construction impact analysis, and formal written reports. All work is performed under ISA BCMA (FL-6102B) and TRAQ credentials.
Who Engages an Arboricultural Consultant
Most people contact a consultant when they need a formal written opinion, not just a recommendation from someone who wants to sell them tree work. Common situations include:
A large tree over a structure and a dispute with an insurance company over risk or damage
A property transaction requiring a tree inventory or condition assessment before closing
A construction or development project requiring tree preservation planning and permit support
A neighbor dispute involving tree damage, encroachment, or failure
A municipal or HOA situation requiring a documented arboricultural opinion
A legal matter requiring an expert opinion or written report from a credentialed arborist
Consulting work is scoped, documented, and delivered as a formal report when the situation requires one. It is independent of any tree work sales relationship.
Services
Tree Risk Assessment
Formal tree risk assessments conducted using ISA Best Management Practices methodology. Level 2 and Level 3 assessments available. Written reports include failure probability analysis, consequence evaluation, overall risk rating, and recommended risk mitigation. TRAQ-qualified practitioner.
O’Neil’s Tree Service operates a Resistograph for internal decay mapping and has training and field experience with sonic tomography for structural integrity assessment. These diagnostic tools are available for complex assessments where internal condition cannot be determined through visual inspection alone.
Tree and Plant Appraisal
Formal tree and plant appraisals for situations requiring documented monetary valuation. Common engagements include property damage disputes, estate matters, insurance claims, and litigation support. Appraisals follow recognized methodologies including the trunk formula method and cost approach, and are produced as formal written reports appropriate for legal and insurance use.
Apollo holds the ISA Tree and Plant Appraisal Qualification (TPAQ).
Plant Health Care Evaluation
Diagnostic evaluations for trees in decline or showing symptoms with an unclear cause. Assessment works from the root zone up. Common findings in Pinellas County include Ganoderma root rot, Hypoxylon canker, Lethal Bronzing Disease in palms, construction-related root damage, and nutrient deficiencies in sandy coastal soils. Evaluation results in a written findings summary and recommended course of action.
Construction Impact and Tree Preservation
Pre-construction tree surveys, tree preservation plans, and post-construction monitoring for development projects requiring arboricultural review. Work includes canopy mapping, critical root zone analysis, mitigation planning, and documentation for permit submission. Engagements range from single-lot residential additions to commercial site development.
Tree Inventory
Systematic field inventory of trees on a property or within a defined area, documenting species, size, condition, and any noted concerns. Common clients include HOAs, municipalities, commercial property managers, and institutional properties managing long-term canopy assets. Inventory deliverables are formatted for practical use by non-arborists.
How Consulting Engagements Work
Engagements begin with a scoping call or email exchange to confirm the nature of the matter, the deliverable required, and the timeline. Most engagements include a site visit followed by a written report or formal letter of findings. Fees are based on scope and are established in writing before work begins.
For legal matters, an engagement letter covering scope, fees, independence standards, and confidentiality is standard. Expert witness engagements are handled separately.
Service Area
Primary consulting area is Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay region, including Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, Belleair, St. Petersburg, and Tampa. Engagements outside this area are considered on a case-by-case basis, particularly for litigation support and expert witness matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a consulting arborist and a tree service arborist?
A tree service arborist assesses your trees and recommends work their company can perform. A consulting arborist assesses your trees and provides a written, independent opinion — with no financial interest in what work follows. For risk reports, appraisals, legal matters, and situations where an unbiased written opinion matters, a consulting arborist is the right engagement.
Do I need a BCMA or is an ISA Certified Arborist sufficient?
For most residential consulting, an ISA Certified Arborist is the appropriate standard. For complex structural assessments, high-value appraisals, litigation support, or any situation where the report may be scrutinized by another expert or a court, the BCMA credential adds a documented layer of depth and experience. Fewer than 2% of ISA Certified Arborists hold it.
Can you work with my attorney or insurance adjuster directly?
Yes. Consulting engagements with legal or insurance context are common. The engagement letter establishes independence and scope. Written reports and opinions are produced to the standard appropriate for the intended use, including legal admissibility where required.
What does a tree risk assessment report include?
A formal written report includes a description of the tree or trees assessed, observed defects and conditions, failure probability rating, consequence of failure rating, overall risk rating, recommended risk mitigation actions, and the methodology used. TRAQ-qualified methodology means the report follows ISA Best Management Practices for Tree Risk Assessment and is defensible in an insurance or legal context.
Contact
To initiate a consulting engagement, contact the office at 727.215.3600 or apollo@apollooneil.com Briefly describe the property, the nature of the matter, and the deliverable you need.