What Wachtel Tree Science does

Wachtel Tree Science is a privately held, family-owned tree care company founded in 1935 and headquartered in Merton, Wisconsin, with operations concentrated across 10+ counties in Southeastern Wisconsin and the ability to consult nationwide. The firm delivers a full-service Plant Health Care offering — disease and pest diagnosis and treatment, pruning, fertilization, planting, cabling, construction protection, root collar excavation, removal, and stump grinding — executed by in-house Certified Arborists. Differentiated capability is built on (i) staff credentials, including ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Certified Master Arborist, TCIA CTSP, and an in-house Soil Scientist (M.S. in Soil Science); (ii) advanced physical diagnostics via Tree Check (soundwave speed analysis) and Resistograph (drill-resistance measurement) for internal decay detection; and (iii) proprietary service procedures such as a smaller-diameter Emerald Ash Borer injection method and an Air-Tilling compressed-air root-zone treatment backed by an in-house soil evaluation lab. Additional treatment products include a Root Biostimulant with Biological Fungicide.

The company operates a single-channel, direct field-service go-to-market: services are delivered exclusively by its own certified arborists without resellers or distributors, on a quote-based pricing model tailored to property-specific assessments. Customer segments span residential property owners (the long-tail SMB base reflected in published testimonials across Milwaukee, Delafield, Elm Grove, West Bend, Franklin, and Mequon), commercial property owners, and municipal governments (latter served via GIS-based tree inventories and urban-forestry consulting). A Pre-purchase Inspection use case also targets prospective home buyers. No external investors, parent companies, or funding rounds are associated with the firm; ownership and leadership run through the Scharfenberger family, including ISA True Professional Award recipient Dave Scharfenberger and next-generation Mentoring Coordinator Paul Scharfenberger.

Commercial mechanics are anchored in recurring seasonal treatment cycles and annual prescription letters, which generate multi-touch engagement rather than transactional one-off jobs. Marketing is content-led — SEO-optimized website, The Plant Doctor's Seasonal Report newsletter, and organic social on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram — designed to surface in top-of-funnel searches around Wisconsin tree pests and diseases. No app, public API, or software product lines exist; the company's intellectual property resides in proprietary field procedures and certified human expertise rather than in a platform or licensed technology asset.

Name

Wachtel Tree Science

Legal name

Wachtel Tree Science

Website

https://healthytrees.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wachtel Tree Science is a family-owned, Certified Arborist-led tree care company founded in 1935 and based in Merton, Wisconsin, delivering science-based Plant Health Care, diagnostic assessments, pruning, planting, removal, and consulting services to residential, commercial, and municipal customers across Southeastern Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Arboriculture and Tree Care Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Tree Health Care (Diagnosis, Treatment, Fertilization) (HSAIADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arborist Consulting, Tree Risk Assessments & Appraisals (HSAIADAJ), Tree Pruning & Crown Management (HSAIADAA), Tree Removal & Dismantling (HSAIADAB)

Keywords

• Tree care services
• Arborist consulting
• Plant health care
• Tree pest management
• Tree removal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Merton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Tree Care Services: Full-service tree care including plant health care, insect/disease diagnosis and treatment, pruning, removal, fertilizing, planting, and consultation services provided by Certified Arborists. Services are offered to residential, commercial, and municipal customers on a service-fee basis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wachtel Tree Science provides science-based tree care services delivered by ISA Certified Arborists across Southeastern Wisconsin, including insect and disease diagnosis and treatment, pruning, fertilization, planting, cabling, construction protection, root collar excavation, tree removal and stump grinding, and dedicated consulting services for municipal, commercial, and residential properties. The company also operates diagnostic technology (Tree Check and Resistograph), an Air-Tilling process, a proprietary Emerald Ash Borer injection method, and an in-house soil lab to support its prescriptions.

Product overview

Wachtel Tree Science offers a comprehensive suite of tree care services centered around Plant Health Care, delivered through a unified service model by Certified Arborists. The core offerings include Tree and Shrub Pruning, Planting, Tree Removal and Stump Grinding, Tree Cabling, Fertilization, and Root Collar Excavation. These services are supported by specialized treatment offerings for Tree Disease Treatment and Tree Pest Control, including targeted programs for Emerald Ash Borer and Oak Wilt. The company also provides Consulting services across Municipal, Commercial, and Residential segments, utilizing advanced diagnostic technologies including Tree Check (sound wave analysis), Resistograph (drill resistance testing), and in-house Soil Evaluation. A proprietary Root Biostimulant with Biological Fungicide product rounds out the treatment portfolio. The service model emphasizes science-based tree care with seasonal treatment calendars and annual prescription letters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Plant Health Care Comprehensive tree health diagnosis and treatment services including insect and disease identification and prescription-based care delivered by Certified Arborists for residential, commercial, and municipal customers.
• Tree and Shrub Pruning Professional tree and shrub pruning using industry-leading technology and best practices for efficient, safe, and aesthetically beneficial results.
• Tree and Shrub Planting Complete tree planting services including species selection advice, proper planting techniques, and expert aftercare.
• Tree Removal and Stump Grinding Complete tree removal services including stump grinding for property clearing and hazardous tree elimination.
• Tree Cabling Services Structural support systems for weak or damaged trees to prevent branch failure and extend tree life.
• Fertilization Nutritional tree care treatments including root fertilization to support tree health through Wisconsin's seasonal challenges.
• Construction Protection Specialized services to protect trees during construction activities, including root zone preservation and damage prevention.
• Root Collar Excavation Air-tilling and root zone treatment services to reduce soil compaction and improve root development and tree health.
• Municipal Tree Consulting Professional consulting services for municipalities including tree inventories using GIS systems and urban forest management.
• Commercial Tree Consulting Expert tree care consulting for commercial properties including risk assessments and property tree management plans.
• Residential Tree Consulting Tree care consultation services for residential properties including tree inspections and health assessments.
• Tree Disease Treatment Identification and treatment of tree diseases common in Wisconsin including Dutch Elm Disease, Oak Wilt, Apple Scab, Anthracnose, Needlecast, and Tar Spot.
• Tree Pest Control Identification and treatment of tree pests including Emerald Ash Borer, Spongy Moth, Japanese Beetle, Bronze Birch Borer, IPS Beetle, and Zimmerman Pine Moth, including preventive Emerald Ash Borer trunk injections reported up to 99% effective when performed every other year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Preventive trunk injections for Emerald Ash Borer have been up to 99% effective when performed every other year

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

Feature4 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SavATree: Regional/national tree, shrub, and lawn care company offering science-based plant health care programs. Direct overlap in PHC, disease diagnosis, and subscription-style treatment plans, though SavATree serves multiple regions and lawn care as well.
• Asplundh Tree Expert Company: Major utility vegetation management and tree care company. Less direct overlap in residential PHC but adjacent in commercial/municipal arborist services where Wachtel also competes.
• Bartlett Tree Experts: Largest US tree care company offering pruning, plant health care, and consulting nationwide. Comparable in service mix but far larger in scale and geographic reach; overlaps directly with Wachtel's PHC and consulting offerings.
• Davey Tree Expert Company: National tree care, utility line clearance, and consulting services with residential and commercial plant health care programs. Competes directly with Wachtel in PHC and arborist consulting but operates at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Arbor Masters Tree Service: Mid-size Midwest tree care company offering pruning, removal, PHC, and consulting. Closest peer in scale and service mix to Wachtel with similar science-driven positioning.

Regional players

• Strobert Tree Services: Mid-Atlantic regional tree care and plant health care provider with similar diagnostic and consulting offerings; comparable in service depth though geographically separate from Wachtel.
• Mr. Tree Services: Midwest tree care company with ISA-certified arborists offering PHC, pruning, and removal. Comparable in services and customer mix though it serves a broader Midwest footprint.

Others

• TCIA (Tree Care Industry Association) Accredited Firms: Industry trade body that accredits Wachtel's CTSP-credentialed peers; serves as the competitive set's certification backbone and relevant ecosystem reference point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwI2ifYwd_mFGDNu4YEz2KQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/wachteltreescience
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wachtel-tree-science
• Instagraminstagram.com/wachteltreescience/?hl=en
• Xx.com/healthytrees

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Wachtel Tree Science