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Trees are long-term investments. The large shade oak that makes your Edwardsville backyard a sanctuary didn’t get that way overnight — it took decades of growth, and it deserves professional care that extends its healthy life for decades more. BCS Tree Service provides complete tree health and arborist services to homeowners and commercial property owners throughout Madison County, St. Clair County, and the Metro East.
Our ISA-certified arborists go beyond simply cutting — we diagnose disease, identify pest threats early, assess structural risk, provide soil and root zone treatments, and develop personalized long-term care plans for the trees on your property.
An arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) demonstrates extensive knowledge in areas such as tree health, growth patterns, soil conditions, proper pruning techniques, insect and disease management, hazard evaluation, and long-term tree care practices. That certification means:
The Emerald Ash Borer has devastated ash tree populations throughout Madison and St. Clair Counties. EAB larvae tunnel beneath bark, disrupting nutrient flow and causing rapid decline. Early signs include crown dieback, D-shaped exit holes, and bark splitting. Treatment with systemic insecticides is highly effective when begun before 50% canopy loss. Our arborists can assess your ash trees and recommend a treatment protocol or removal timeline.
Oak wilt is a serious fungal infection that can rapidly kill red oak trees, often within a matter of weeks, while white oak species may decline more gradually over the course of several months or years. It spreads through root grafts between neighboring trees and through wounds created during spring pruning — which is why we follow strict no-prune protocols for oaks from April through June. Our arborists can identify Oak Wilt symptoms and recommend treatment or removal before the disease spreads.
Wet Metro East springs regularly trigger anthracnose outbreaks on sycamore, dogwood, white oak, and maple. The disease causes early leaf drop, brown leaf margins, and premature defoliation. While rarely fatal, it weakens trees over successive seasons. Proper pruning to improve airflow and fungicide applications in early spring can significantly reduce anthracnose impact.
Black walnut trees in the Metro East are increasingly threatened by Thousand Cankers Disease, spread by walnut twig beetles. The disease causes rapid dieback and has no approved cure — early identification and removal of infected trees is the primary management strategy.
The health of every tree begins underground. Metro East clay soils create specific challenges:
Our arborist services include soil assessment, deep root fertilization, air-spading to relieve compaction and examine root systems, and mulching recommendations to moderate soil temperature and moisture.
Not all tree risk is obvious. A tree can look healthy from the sidewalk and be structurally compromised from within. Our formal risk assessments evaluate:
Risk assessment reports are useful for homeowners weighing removal costs against liability, for estate and property sales, and for insurance or legal documentation.
The right tree in the right place is one of the best investments a property owner can make. The wrong tree — wrong species for the soil, planted too deep, or sited too close to a structure — creates problems for decades. Our arborist can help you:
| Pricing Factor | How It Affects Your Quote |
|---|---|
| Consultation vs. Treatment | Basic consultations and assessments are often free or low-cost. Treatment programs, including insecticide applications, fertilization, and soil treatments, are priced based on tree size and treatment type. |
| Number of Trees | Multi-tree care plans and maintenance programs offer economy of scale. |
| Tree Size & Species | Larger trees and species with specific pest or disease vulnerabilities require more product and treatment time. |
| Pest/Disease Severity | Early-stage treatment is less intensive and less expensive than late-stage intervention. |
| Soil Treatment Type | Deep root fertilization and air spading are more involved than surface applications. |
| Frequency of Service | Ongoing annual or seasonal programs reduce per-visit cost versus one-time service. |
| Report Preparation | Formal written arborist reports for insurance, legal, or real estate purposes are priced separately from standard consultations. |
| Emergency Consultation | After-hours or urgent on-site assessment calls carry a premium similar to emergency service calls. |
A: Early signs include S-shaped galleries under loosened bark, D-shaped exit holes (about 1/8\” diameter), vertical bark splits, and crown dieback beginning at the top of the tree. Woodpecker activity on the upper trunk is also a telltale sign — woodpeckers are going after the larvae. Call us for a free assessment if you suspect EAB.
A: Yes, if treatment begins before canopy loss exceeds 50%. Systemic insecticide injections or soil treatments are highly effective when applied on schedule. Trees that have lost more than half their canopy are generally not good candidates for treatment. Our arborist will give you an honest assessment.
A: Deep root fertilization uses pressurized injection to deliver liquid fertilizer directly to the root zone below compacted soil layers. It’s particularly beneficial for trees in compacted urban or suburban soils, trees showing signs of nutrient deficiency (yellowing leaves, poor growth), and trees recovering from construction damage or disease.
A: Yes. Fungal conks or mushrooms at the base of a tree typically indicate significant internal decay. The visible mushroom is the fruiting body of a much larger internal fungal colony. This is a risk assessment situation — call us for an evaluation. The tree may be safe, or it may need removal, but you need professional eyes on it.
A: Sometimes. Lightning damage ranges from superficial bark scoring to explosive internal steam damage that splits the trunk. Our arborist will assess structural integrity, overall tree health, and the extent of damage. Some lightning-struck trees recover fully with proper care; others decline rapidly. A prompt assessment is important.
A: A tree trimmer is anyone who cuts trees. An ISA-certified arborist has advanced training and proven expertise in areas such as tree health, soil conditions, disease and insect management, hazard evaluation, and industry-approved pruning practices. Certification requires meeting professional standards and successfully completing a comprehensive examination. All BCS jobs include a certified arborist, not just a crew with chainsaws.
A: Our certified arborists use a structured risk assessment framework that evaluates structural integrity, overall health, pest/disease status, and the potential consequences if the tree fails. We give you an honest recommendation — we never push removal when preservation is viable, and we never push treatment when removal is the safer option.
A: Yes. A pre-purchase tree assessment can identify hazardous trees, pest or disease issues, and high-maintenance specimens that should factor into your buying decision. We provide these assessments for home buyers throughout the Metro East.
A: Most mature landscape trees benefit from a professional assessment every two to three years, or after any major storm event. Trees with known pest or disease issues, trees near structures, or trees showing signs of stress should be assessed annually.
A: Yes. Formal written reports documenting tree condition, risk level, and recommended action are available upon request and are commonly used for insurance claims, property disputes, and real estate transactions.