Gainesville, FL & Surrounding Areas
Workman Forestry, LLC
Expert tree trimming, removal & arborist consulting in Gainesville, FL.
Serving residential, commercial, and government customers throughout Gainesville and surrounding areas
ISA Certified Arborist on Staff
Arborist Consulting
Our Arborist will help you care for your trees by:
- conducting tree inspections to evaluate tree health and structural integrity,
- performing formal risk assessments using the ISA TRAQ methodology when needed — providing property owners with a clear picture of risk and a documented basis for decisions.
- determining the need for and urgency of a removal
- planning for a healthy urban forest: identifying species suited to the site, identifying the best individuals present and how to manage surrounding trees to favor the best or those that suit the client's needs.
- Advising on permitting requirements, by helping property owners understand local regulations and navigate the permitting process as needed.
- Provide options related to individual tree decisions.
Whether you have a single tree or are managing a larger property, our arborist is available to consult to meet your needs.
Kelly holds the following ISA credentials:
Tree Service
Tree Removal
Our team conducts planned and emergency removals.
In either case, we take care to protect the surrounding landscape:
- We piece down and remove trees using bucket trucks or compact, lightweight aerial lifts depending on the situation.
- We utilize ground protection mats to minimize ruts and impacts to the yard.
- We choose the access route carefully considering obstacles, aesthetics and customer preference.
- We have large and small machinery to suit your needs.
- We chip debris on-site which keeps the job site clean and safe and avoids unsightly debris piles on the curb waiting for pickup.
Tree Service
Tree Pruning
We prune to help your trees live longer and grow strong, while keeping future problems at bay from poor or skipped pruning. Our aim is to meet client goals such as:
- Increased clearance for structures, drives, lighting and use areas
- Directional pruning to guide growth away from assets or toward areas where you want shade
- Managing weight in older trees to lower the chances of branch breakage
- Encourage a balanced and more wind resistant structure
- Removing dead parts over important things (common for live oaks near homes)
- Making your trees look good
- We customize pruning to consider species-specific differences in reactions to pruning, risk of introducing rot, sprouting responses, seasonal responses, and others.
- We also offer structural pruning of young trees to help them grow into an urban-friendly form that optimizes future strength and compatibility with surroundings. Guiding growth early saves money by preventing conflicts with surroundings, and encouraging a strong form.
What Not To Do
Not all pruning is good pruning. Poor practices — from improper cuts to over-removal — can expose trees to fungal decay, weaken their structure, and create long-term hazards. We don't just know how to prune; we know what to avoid, and we're happy to explain better alternatives when you've inherited someone else's work.
Live Oaks
Live oaks are strong, resilient trees ideal for urban settings with enough space. They need pruning every 3 to 5 years to guide growth and remove naturally shaded, dead branches. Without regular pruning, older trees can develop large, drooping branches, leading to poor solutions like complete branch removal or shortening branches without leaving leaves, which can harm the trunk, roots or create dead branches over your home.
We prune thoughtfully over a couple pruning intervals to avoid these issues and to help your live oak have a more compact form.
Sustainability
We Believe in Recycling & Re-Use
The material that comes off a tree doesn't have to go to waste. We chip debris on-site, keeping the job clean while producing wood chip mulch that can go right back into the landscape.
- We deliver mulch to the Gainesville area.
- We have fresh mulch for controlling weeds or lining pathways.
- We also have decomposed mulch that gardeners use for building soil organic matter.
- Interested in hugelkultur? We have raw materials.
- Looking for wood to mill with your Wood-Mizer saw mill? Give us a call.
Specialized Equipment
The right equipment for the job — with an emphasis on minimizing impact to your property.
Aerial Lifts
We operate bucket trucks and spider lifts. Spider lifts are lightweight aerial platforms that minimize ground disturbance and can reach into tight or sensitive spaces that bucket trucks cannot access.
Chippers & Ground Protection
We chip debris on-site to keep jobs clean and safe. Ground protection mats are used to shield lawns and landscape from the impact of equipment traffic.
Full-Size & Mini Skid Steer
Our full-size and compact skid steers handle material movement and cleanup. The mini skid steer fits through standard gates and into tight yards where larger machines can't go.
Our Credentials
Professional certification and deep experience, applied to every job.
Kelly McPherson
ISA Certified Arborist
Kelly joined Workman Forestry in 2017, became an ISA Certified Arborist in 2019, and continues to build her expertise daily. She holds an M.S. in Botany from the University of Florida, and brings 6 years of experience as a Biologist for the Florida Park Service and 11 years as a Senior Environmental Specialist for the Alachua County Forever Land Conservation Program.
Kelly holds ISA Certification, Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ), and the Florida ISA Prescription Pruning Qualification.
Tom Workman
Owner & Founder
Tom holds an M.S. in Forest Ecology from the University of Florida. His background includes roles as Biologist II for the Florida Park Service, Land Manager for the St. Johns River Water Management District, and Urban Forester at the University of Florida. He founded Workman Forestry in 2010.
Education
Who's Responsible for That Tree?
In Florida, a dead tree is the responsibility of the owner of the tree — determined by where the tree is rooted. Live trees are more complicated.
Removal of a live tree requires the consent of its owner. Tree ownership can be shared if a tree sits on a property line. Trees that overhang your property can be pruned back to the property line, as long as pruning doesn't affect the health or stability of the tree.
If you're uncertain about ownership or your rights, our arborist can help you think through the situation and, if needed, provide professional documentation to support your case.
Call Us for GuidanceUF/IFAS: Tree Ownership in Florida
The University of Florida's IFAS extension offers a clear summary of Florida tree law and property owner responsibilities.
View PDFHelpful Resources
Tree Owner's Manual
A comprehensive guide covering planting and maintenance of trees on your property.
View PDFWhat Tree Should I Plant?
University of Florida has a good tool for selecting trees. Remember to put the right tree in the right place. Consider things like not planting tall trees under power lines, or large trees too close to the house.
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