About Armstrong Tree Service: South Lake Tahoe's Certified Arborist Team
South Lake Tahoe's certified arborist led tree care company, serving the Tahoe basin since 2008.
From trimming to emergency response, our experienced arborist crew brings local knowledge and real credentials to every job.
Rooted in South Lake Tahoe Since 2008
Armstrong Tree Service started as a one-truck operation in South Lake Tahoe, built on a simple idea: trees in this basin deserve a tree company that understands granite soil, deep snow loads, and the fire danger that comes with a drought year, led by a certified arborist who treats every job like it's his own backyard. More than 15 years later, that idea still drives every job we take on, from a single hazardous tree removal on a Meyers hillside to a full defensible space clearing project near Kingsbury.
We've grown alongside the community we serve, picking up the tools and training needed to handle whatever Tahoe throws at a property: bark beetle outbreaks, heavy pine needle buildup, fallen trees after a winter storm, and the ongoing work of keeping yards clear and healthy. Our crews know the difference between a Jeffrey pine and a white fir because that distinction actually matters when you're deciding what to remove and what to save.
Today, Armstrong Tree Service serves homeowners and cabin owners from South Lake Tahoe down to Markleeville and up through Homewood, on both the California and Nevada sides of the lake. We're still a local, owner-involved tree care company, and we plan to stay that way.
Zach Armstrong, Certified Arborist and ISA Member
Zach Armstrong, arborist and founder of Armstrong Tree Service, brings years of hands-on forestry and ground management experience to every job in the Tahoe basin. He's an ISA Certified Arborist and a proud member of the International Society of Arboriculture, credentials that mean every tree assessment, pruning cut, and removal plan is grounded in accepted arboricultural standards rather than guesswork.
That training shows up in the details: how we diagnose bark beetle signs before they spread, how we judge whether a tree can be saved with crown thinning instead of removed outright, and how we sequence a defensible space project to meet local fuels reduction deadlines.
- ISA Certified Arborist with over 26 years of combined tree care and ground management experience
- Deep familiarity with Tahoe basin species, soils, and snow load conditions
- Trained in defensible space and vegetation management standards for wildfire-prone properties
- Experienced in TRPA permit requirements for tree removal in the basin
- Hands-on leadership on every significant job, not just office oversight
- Commitment to ongoing arborist education and current best practices
Our Approach to Caring for Your Trees
Every property gets a plan from our tree care professionals, built around its own trees, slope, and risk factors, not a one-size-fits-all service call. Here's how a typical project moves from first call to finished cleanup.
- Step 1
On-Site Assessment
We walk the property with you, looking at tree health, hazard potential, proximity to structures, and any defensible space or permit requirements that apply to your parcel.
- Step 2
Clear, Honest Recommendations
You get a straightforward explanation of what needs attention now, what can wait, and why, along with a free estimate that spells out the scope of work.
- Step 3
Careful, Skilled Execution
Our crew carries out the work, whether that's tree removal, pruning, stump grinding, or clearing brush, using equipment and techniques suited to your site and the trees involved.
- Step 4
Full Cleanup and Follow-Up
We haul away debris, chip what can be chipped, and leave the property looking better than we found it. If you have questions afterward, we're a phone call away.
Why South Lake Tahoe Property Owners Trust Armstrong Tree Service
Homeowners and cabin owners across the basin choose Armstrong Tree Service because the work is backed by real arborist credentials and a crew that shows up when they say they will. Here's what sets that experience apart.
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Certified Arborist Oversight
As a certified tree specialist, Zach Armstrong's ISA certification means tree health and hazard decisions are made with training behind them, not just a chainsaw and a guess.
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True Local Knowledge
We know the roads, the HOA rules, and the fire-risk conditions from Zephyr Cove to Tahoma because we work here every week, not just on storm days.
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Emergency Response When It Counts
A tree on the house or a driveway blocked after a storm doesn't wait for business hours. Our 24/7 emergency tree service covers the whole basin, day or night.
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Full-Service Property Care
Beyond tree removal and trimming, we handle stump grinding, firewood, snow removal, pine needle cleanup, and defensible space clearing, so you're not juggling multiple contractors.
Explore Armstrong Tree Service
Want to see more of what we do, read what past customers have to say, or get answers to common tree care questions? These pages go deeper.
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Careers
View CareersInterested in tree service jobs with a local, arborist-led crew? See current openings and what it's like to work at Armstrong Tree Service.
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Reviews
Read Armstrong Tree Service ReviewsRead what homeowners across the Tahoe basin say about our tree removal, trimming, and emergency response work.
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Gallery
View Our GalleryBrowse tree work photos from real jobs, including before-and-after shots of removals, trimming, and defensible space clearing projects.
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FAQs
Read Our FAQsGet answers to common questions about tree removal cost, permits, defensible space deadlines, and more.
Ready to Work with a Local Certified Arborist?
If you need a tree assessed, trimmed, removed, or cleared for defensible space, talk with the team that's been doing this work in South Lake Tahoe since 2008. Call Zach and his crew for a free estimate and a straight answer about what your property needs.