Carr's Tree Service

What Carr's Tree Service does

Carr's Tree Service is a family-owned, full-service tree care and vegetation management company founded in 1974 in Ottertail, Minnesota. The company operates from seven office and yard locations across Minnesota, Eastern North Dakota, Eastern South Dakota, Western Wisconsin, and Northern Iowa, providing tree trimming and removal, pruning, cabling, stump grinding, brush mowing, plant health care, storm-damage response, and utility line clearance. It employs 101-250 staff and serves three distinct customer segments — residential property owners, government and municipal entities (including the Minnesota DNR and DOT, cities, counties, and townships), and electric utility companies — with crews dispatched regionally and supported by 10-12 ISA Certified Arborists plus TRAQ, CTSP, and Certified MN Tree Inspector credentialed personnel.

The company's technical footprint is built around specialized arborist equipment — aerial basket trucks capable of reaching 40-60+ foot heights, crane systems ranging from 38-ton to 175-ton capacity, stump grinders, brush chippers, loader trucks with 20-ft boom arms, forestry mulchers processing material up to 10 inches in diameter, and licensed herbicide application systems. For utility customers, the company operates a GIS inventory and mapping platform integrated with Star Energy that delivers real-time work-cycle tracking, customizable data points, and resource-management reporting. Service delivery follows ANSI and OSHA safety standards, and the company holds the TCIA 3-year Utility Contractor Accreditation (earned June 2019, the third Minnesota company to do so) plus membership in the International Society of Arboriculture and TCIA dating back to 1996.

Revenue is generated under a professional-services model across three streams. Residential work is sold on a quote-based, free-estimate project basis through phone and web-form inquiry. Government and municipal contracts, including multi-year engagements for vegetation management on state highways, wildlife management areas, and city parks, are awarded through direct relationships and RFP processes. Utility vegetation management contracts provide recurring, multi-year line-clearance, GIS data, and land-clearing revenue, exemplified by a 10-year Benco Electric engagement and City of Andover Emerald Ash Borer program participation entering its seventh year. Plant health care specialty treatments, including EAB trunk injection (claimed 99% pre-infestation survival with two-year protection), Oak Wilt, Dutch Elm Disease, and Bur Oak Blight fungicide injections, operate as an add-on recurring module. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company also operates an authorized Stihl equipment dealer channel as a secondary commercial line.

Name

Carr's Tree Service

Legal name

Carr's Tree Service

Website

https://carrstreeservice.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Carr's Tree Service is a family-owned, full-service tree care and vegetation management company founded in 1974 serving residential, government, and utility customers across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa from seven regional office and yard locations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tree Care & Vegetation Management Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Tree Removal & Dismantling (HSAIADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Utility Line Clearance & Vegetation Management (HSAIADAK), Tree Health Care (Diagnosis, Treatment, Fertilization) (HSAIADAD), Arborist Consulting, Tree Risk Assessments & Appraisals (HSAIADAJ), Tree Care & Arborist Services (BPABADAD)

Keywords

• Tree trimming services
• Tree removal services
• Utility vegetation management
• Arborist consulting services
• Emergency storm response

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottertail

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Residential Tree Services: One-time and recurring service fees for residential property owners including tree trimming, tree removal, tree cabling, tree pruning, stump grinding, brush mowing, emergency storm removal, and plant health care. Customers contact via phone or web forms for free estimates. Revenue is project-based with no recurring subscription component.
2. Government and Municipal Contracts: Contract work for government entities including DNR, DOT, city, county, township, and state properties. Services include vegetation management, roadside management, tree trimming and removal, stump grinding, and herbicide spraying. Contract-based revenue typically multi-year with recurring engagement.
3. Utility Tree Services: Contracted services for utility companies across Minnesota, Eastern North Dakota, Eastern South Dakota, Western Wisconsin, and Northern Iowa. Services include utility line clearance, GIS inventory and mapping, land clearing for new line construction, and ongoing vegetation management. Revenue derived from utility vegetation management contracts with established clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Carr's Tree Service is a tree care and vegetation management company providing trimming, removal, pruning, cabling, stump grinding, brush mowing, emergency storm response, and plant health care services (including Emerald Ash Borer, Oak Wilt, Dutch Elm Disease, and Bur Oak Blight treatment) to residential, government/municipal, and utility customers. The company operates seven regional offices across Minnesota and North Dakota, deploying ISA Certified Arborists and specialized equipment (aerial baskets, 38-ton to 175-ton cranes, forestry mulchers, brush chippers) under ANSI and OSHA safety standards.

Product overview

Carr's Tree Service offers a comprehensive tree care service platform organized into three core divisions: Residential, Government, and Utility Tree Services. The Residential division provides homeowner-focused services including tree trimming, removal, pruning, cabling, disease treatment, stump grinding, and emergency storm services. The Government division serves DNR, DOT, City, County, Township, and State properties with similar services plus vegetation management for public spaces. The Utility division provides specialized services for utility companies including GIS inventory and mapping with Star Energy integration, land clearing for new line construction, utility line clearance, and comprehensive vegetation management. A Plant Health Care (PHC) add-on module provides holistic tree care including disease diagnosis and treatment services for Emerald Ash Borer, Oak Wilt, Dutch Elm Disease, and Bur Oak Blight. All divisions leverage ISA Certified Arborists and various equipment including aerial baskets, cranes ranging from 38-ton to 175-ton capacity, and specialized climbing techniques.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Tree Services Comprehensive tree care services for homeowners including tree trimming, removal, pruning, cabling, disease diagnosis, emergency storm removal, stump grinding, and plant health care, delivered by ISA Certified Arborists following ANSI standards.
• Government & Municipal Tree Services Vegetation management, tree trimming and removal, brush mowing, stump grinding, herbicide spraying, roadside management, park maintenance, airport compliance, school tree care, and wildlife management area maintenance for DNR, DOT, City, County, Township, and State properties.
• Utility Tree Services Utility line clearance, GIS inventory and mapping integrated with Star Energy, land clearing for new line construction, vegetation management programs, herbicide spraying, and regulatory compliance reporting for electric utility companies across Minnesota, Eastern ND, Eastern SD, Western WI, and Northern IA.
• Plant Health Care (PHC) Holistic tree care focused on tree health and growth, including diagnosis, prevention advice, and treatment options for insects and diseases — covering Emerald Ash Borer, Oak Wilt, Dutch Elm Disease, and Bur Oak Blight across residential, government, and utility customers.
• Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Treatment Trunk injection treatment protecting ash trees from Emerald Ash Borer with a 99% survival rate when treated pre-infestation, lasting 2 years per injection cycle, with injection holes healing between cycles.

Quantifiable outcome

• EAB trunk injection treatment achieves 99% survival rate for pre-infestation ash trees with 2-year protection duration
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• City of MoorheadminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2023Moorhead's urban forest is approximately 26% ash (6,890 of 26,500 trees). The city developed a long-term EAB management plan and has been a long-term client for tree care services. CTS quoted in city EAB announcements. City received $220,000 in DNR grants since 2019 for proactive ash tree management.
• Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member since 1996. CTS earned TCIA's 3-year Utility Contractor Accreditation in June 2019, becoming the 3rd company in Minnesota to receive this accreditation. The accreditation evaluates business practices across all departments and involves a rigorous audit, site visit, and adherence to TCIA standards. TCIA featured CTS in their magazine about the accreditation journey.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud member of ISA with 10-12 ISA Certified Arborists on staff. ISA certification requires ongoing continuing education. Company also holds ISA TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) for staff. The company's ISA credentials are prominently featured in marketing materials.
• City of AndovercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDesignated preferred contractor for Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) treatments. This is the 7th year of Andover's EAB program (as of 2023), with CTS selected for the 2nd consecutive year. CTS treated 176 trees in 2022. Andover residents receive discounted rates, with eligible trees inspected by Andover staff. Additional 20% bonus discount available for healthy trees treated for the first time.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Davey Tree Expert Company: Largest employee-owned tree care company in North America, providing residential, commercial, and utility vegetation management services. Directly comparable across all three of CTS's segments (residential, government/municipal, utility) at vastly larger national scale.
• Asplundh Tree Expert Company: One of the largest utility vegetation management companies in North America with deep utility line clearance expertise. Comparable to CTS's utility segment at much greater scale and with national utility customer relationships.

Direct peers

• Bartlett Tree Experts: Multi-generation family-founded tree care company with residential, commercial, and utility service offerings across the U.S. Closely comparable business model to CTS, with similar ISA arborist emphasis and field-service delivery, though at substantially larger national scale.
• SavATree / SavaLawn: National tree, shrub, and lawn care company serving residential and commercial customers with ISA-certified arborists. Direct peer in residential plant health care, disease treatment, and tree maintenance services, with overlapping service areas in the Upper Midwest.
• Wright Tree Service: Major U.S. utility vegetation management contractor with line clearance and right-of-way services. Comparable to CTS's utility division, with multi-state utility contracts and similar ISA-certified workforce.
• Lewis Tree Service: Employee-owned utility line clearance and vegetation management company serving electric utilities across the Midwest and U.S. Comparable to CTS's utility segment and to Midwest utility contracts more broadly.

Regional players

• Arbor Masters Tree Service: Midwest-based tree service company serving Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. Comparable in scale and service mix to CTS, with similar residential, commercial, and utility offerings and overlapping geography.
• Shade Tree and Shrub Care: Regional tree care provider in the Upper Midwest offering residential and commercial tree services, plant health care, and consulting arborist services. Comparable in scale and service scope to CTS's residential and PHC segments.

Emerging players

• Monster Tree Service: Franchise-based tree service brand building national footprint through local franchisees. Competes with CTS in residential tree care with a different (franchise) operating model but similar end-customer offerings.

Others

• Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements: Supplier of tree care products including the well-known TREE-äge EAB trunk injection used by CTS. Adjacent ecosystem participant supplying the proprietary treatment products CTS uses in its Plant Health Care business.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_2A-Vzjl6J1rxu4Ox4uNuQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CarrsTreeServiceMN
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carrs-tree-service

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carr's Tree Service