SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care in Afton

SavATree - Tree Service & Lawn Care

(651) 770-3744 www.savatree.com

12450 Hudson Rd S, Afton, Minnesota 55001

Equipment and Capabilities: Chipper

Tree Services: Large Trees, Cabling Bracing, Works Near Structures

Credentials and Trust: Long Established

At SavATree Afton, our certified arborists are your experts in comprehensive tree, shrub & lawn health care, from roots to canopy. Using advanced technology and science-based solutions, we deliver top-quality care tailored to your property’s unique conditions. Since 1978, we’ve built our reputation on exceptional service, environmental stewardship & a deep commitment to our community. Our experienced team of arborists and specialists provides the personal attention and professional expertise your landscape deserves. Trusted by thousands of homeowners and businesses, we're here to help your trees & greenery thrive. Experience the difference a certified local expert makes - contact your Afton tree & greenery experts today!

4.9 from 740 reviews

5 stars
701
4 stars
17
3 stars
6
2 stars
3
1 stars
13

Pros

  • SavATree provides excellent communication, professional workmanship, safety, punctuality, reliability, and easy, well-managed transactions.
  • The crews are very professional, courteous, and respectful of property.
  • Colton Meyer and the arborists consistently deliver trusted expertise and thoughtful tree health recommendations.
  • The team completes removals and trims efficiently while leaving the property clean and well cared for.
  • They protect lawns and landscaping during work, using protective measures to prevent damage.
  • Customers find the pricing fair and the value high for the quality of service.
  • Cleanups are meticulous, with debris and branches removed and yards returned to pristine condition.
  • SavATree is repeatedly recommended by long-time customers for knowledge, reliability, and care.
  • They handle challenging jobs with care and precision, even in tight or hazardous spaces.
  • Arborists explain options clearly and provide detailed, coordinated bids and timelines.

Cons

Based on reviews representing only 3% of total ratings

  • SavATree was the worst tree service, worse than companies that didn’t even show up for a quote.
  • They hid information and were wholly unprofessional after signing the paperwork.
  • They would leave gates open, arrive unannounced, and leave massive piles of debris in the yard.

Review Overview

SavATree in Afton, MN is best suited for homeowners who manage mature, valuable trees on single-family properties where job complexity, safety, and clean results matter as much as the price. This firm shines for larger or more technical jobs: removals near structures or power lines, tight or cluttered sites, and storm-damage scenarios that demand precise rigging and careful planning. Clients who value arborist-guided decisions, long-term tree health, and a finish that leaves the yard indistinguishable from before will find SavATree a sound fit. The Stillwater–Afton corridor is their natural habitat, where property owners typically have the time, tolerance, and budget to invest in high-quality care rather than the cheapest quick fix.

Safety and cleanup standards are not merely table stakes with SavATree, they are the core of every job. The teams routinely bring climbers with specialty rigging, drop the tree away from structures with careful planning, and use ground protection to spare turf and foundation slabs. Crews often lay plywood and deploy protective measures to keep lawns, driveways, and plantings safe while heavy equipment moves in and out. The best work cases repeatedly describe “no damage to homes or lawns” and impeccable debris removal, with crews chipping, hauling, and blowing to restore a landscape that looks untouched after completion. In tight spaces or near utilities, the company’s demonstrated proficiency with cranes, cables, and precise drops makes the difference between a risky stunt and a safe, predictable process.

Cleanup is a defining feature of SavATree’s service, more often than not, the yard looks better after the crew leaves than before they arrived. Reviewers repeatedly mention meticulous debris cleanup, stump grinding completed promptly, and even small touches like blowing dust off a roof or raking leaves from beds. The yard is commonly left “spotless” or “left as neat as when they started,” and logs or wood chips are managed with explicit consideration for neighbors and landscape features. That said, a minority of experiences report delays or residual piles, typically tied to permit issues, scheduling hiccups, or stump-work subcontracting. When everything aligns, however, the result is consistently a professional, tidy finish that minimizes post-job cleanup for the homeowner.

Project management and communication show up as a major differentiator in SavATree’s favor. Across multiple reviews, the arborists, names like Mike Sombrio, Guy Carlson, Colton Meyer, and Jonathan Lee, are praised for thorough site visits, clear explanations of options, and written bids that reflect real-world conditions. The approach often involves an on-site walk-through, a detailed plan, and a staged schedule that updates clients as work progresses. Most customers report timely arrivals and predictable timing, with crews coordinating around power lines, fences, and existing plantings. Occasional lapses, such as a no-call/no-show or permit delays, are acknowledged, but these are far from the norm and tend to stand out precisely because the typical SavATree experience is so communicative and well organized.

Value and outcomes span a broad spectrum, from routine pruning and shaping to difficult removals and preventive treatments. The company is repeatedly cited for saving trees through thoughtful cabling, maintenance pruning, and disease-prevention programs (including emerald ash borer injections and pine-beetle treatments). The fleet’s capability to execute large removals in compact spaces, or to lift and drop at safe distances from structures, underpins a perception of high-value workmanship. While some reviewers note that SavATree sits toward the higher end of pricing, the consensus is that the results, healthier trees, safer properties, and reliable cleanup, justify the cost for discerning homeowners who want long-term tree care rather than short-term gains.

For those weighing SavATree against lower-cost alternatives, the practical guidance is clear: prioritize safety, finish quality, and predictable service. If the goal is to remove or prune near a house, preserve a valuable specimen, or implement a long-term health plan with an arborist who can articulate options and tradeoffs, SavATree is the right choice. Prospective clients should secure a written scope that itemizes stump grinding, debris removal, and any required permits, and confirm the exact equipment plans and protection measures for delicate landscapes. In urgent situations, expect their teams to respond with urgency and a plan; in planned projects, you’ll likely receive a coordinated bid and a clean, complete finish. SavATree is the dependable partner for homeowners who demand safety, accountability, and superb cleanup as much as results.

Equipment and Capabilities

Chipper

On-site wood chipping turns bulky brush and branches into manageable mulch. Efficient cleanup and an option to keep the chips for your garden.

Chipping and on-site branch processing is a hallmark of SavATree’s work in Afton, MN. Across numerous projects, customers consistently note that limbs are chipped on site and debris is cleaned up meticulously, leaving the property looking neat and undisturbed. They describe crews removing large branches and then chipping them efficiently, with plywood floor protection and careful handling near structures to prevent damage. This approach supports rapid, thorough cleanup and makes complex removals—often in tight spaces—safer and less disruptive. Taken together, the feedback patterns indicate a reliable chipper-enabled workflow that enhances safety, efficiency, and customer satisfaction on Afton’s tree and lawn care jobs.

Tree Services

Large Trees

Experienced handling oversized trees - tall, wide, or heavily branched. Removing or trimming a large tree requires specialized skill and equipment, and these pros have both.

Handling very large trees is a core strength, with crews regularly removing or pruning massive oaks, maples, and cottonwoods in tight yards near roofs, fences, and power lines around Afton, MN. They plan carefully and execute with precision, often using cabling or bracing on large limbs to support the tree and safeguard structures and landscaping. Access is enabled by specialized equipment such as 90-foot lifts and mobile booms, enabling controlled drops in confined spaces while protecting nearby properties. Ground protection like plywood sheets and thorough cleanup leave lawns and driveways free of debris, with logs hauled away and no residual mess. Lead arborists and teams in Afton provide on-site assessments, clear options, timely scheduling, and professional follow-through on large-tree projects.

Cabling Bracing

Installs steel cables or braces to support weak branch unions, co-dominant stems, or leaning trunks - extending the life of a tree you don't want to lose.

Cabling and bracing large limbs is a core capability SavATree emphasizes, using cable systems to stabilize heavy branches and extend the life of valuable trees. In Afton, arborists like Colton Meyer have recommended and installed cables on substantial limbs—for example on a very large willow—to reduce the risk of breakage and protect surrounding structures. When trunk cracks appear, the team often braces the tree with cabling to support the main branches and prevent failure near roofs or yards. Customers consistently note the professional planning, careful execution, and thorough cleanup that accompany cabling projects, underscoring a safety-first approach and respect for their property. This combination of expert assessment, precise installation, and dependable results reflects SavATree’s commitment to preserving trees while safeguarding homes in the Afton area.

Works Near Structures

Skilled at working in tight spaces where trees sit close to homes, fences, garages, or power lines. Precision removal without damage to surrounding structures.

Near-structure work is a key capability of SavATree’s Afton team, evidenced by frequent cabling and bracing of large limbs to protect roofs, decks, fences, and nearby power lines. Crews regularly handle removals and pruning in tight spaces between buildings or over structures, using lifts and precise lowering methods to keep the work away from the home or other facilities. Arborists provide detailed options and keep communication open, ensuring decisions balance tree health with the safety of adjacent structures. Cleanliness and site protection are emphasized, with plywood laid to shield lawns and landscapes and thorough cleanup that leaves the property looking pristine.

Credentials and Trust

Long Established

A business with years - often decades - in the community. Local reputation and deep experience speak for themselves.

Since 1978, this long-established tree and lawn care provider has built a durable presence in the Afton area, consistently delivering reliable service over decades. Customer feedback patterns show a hallmark of safety, professionalism, and meticulous cleanup, handling large removals and near-structure pruning with protective measures and thorough yard restoration. Long-tenured arborists and crews—such as Colton Meyer, Mike Sombrio, and Guy Carlson—are repeatedly praised for knowledge, clear guidance, and responsive communication from quote through project completion. The breadth of work, including pruning, cabling, disease prevention, stump grinding, and lawn care, demonstrates a sustained capability to manage complex jobs with high quality and community trust.