You’ve got a tree that doesn’t look right. Maybe it’s been standing there 20 years with no problems, and now suddenly there’s something off. That’s when you call an arborist.
An arborist is a tree care professional. We assess tree health, diagnose diseases, evaluate whether a tree is structurally sound, and figure out what comes next: preservation, treatment, or removal.
Robert Phillips, owner of Sure Notch Tree Service, personally supervises every assessment. He brings over six years of hands-on experience and a 5.0-star rating from 313+ verified Lexington-area customers. We’re licensed, insured, and we tell you what your tree actually needs.
Sure Notch offers more than tree removal. We assess before we cut, which means you get a diagnosis before any decision gets made.
We examine the roots, trunk structure, canopy density, and any signs of disease or pest activity. If internal decay is suspected, we use resistograph testing to measure wood density and see how far the rot has penetrated.
See the processWe look at structural defects, lean angle, root stability, dead limbs, and proximity to your home, then map the target zones where a failure would cause damage. That written report is your liability protection.
Warning signsCentral Kentucky sees emerald ash borer, oak wilt, and bagworm damage regularly. We identify what’s wrong through canopy inspection, bark examination, and foliage analysis — early, while treatment is still realistic.
Common questionsNot every tree should be removed. We recommend cabling, bracing, and targeted tree trimming when they make sense, plus mulching, watering, and protection during construction.
Keep or remove?Call an arborist if you see dead branches in the canopy, vertical cracks in the trunk, mushroom growth at the base, sudden leaf loss outside of fall, significant leaning, or visible storm damage.
These are called widowmakers. They fall. They signal crown dieback.
Vertical cracks mean structural failure is coming, especially after ice storms or high winds.
Mushrooms and shelf fungi indicate internal decay and root rot.
Mid-season leaf loss suggests root damage, disease, or pest activity.
A newly leaning tree usually means the root plate failed or the soil shifted.
Root collar damage weakens the tree’s foundation and opens it to disease.
Broken limbs, torn bark, or partially uprooted trees need immediate professional evaluation.
Exit holes, sawdust trails, or visible insects mean borers or beetles are in the tree.
Robert provides fast, accurate on-site assessments — evaluating your tree in person and telling you straight whether it can be saved.
Robert Phillips personally conducts every assessment. You get a root-to-canopy inspection, diagnostic testing if needed, and a clear written recommendation for what comes next.
We start at ground level. Root collar, decay, fungal growth, root damage, soil compaction. The root collar tells us whether the tree has a stable foundation.
The trunk gets examined for cracks, cavities, weak unions, and bark problems. Branch structure is checked for deadwood and poor attachment points that will fail under load.
Canopy density, leaf color, and dieback patterns show us how much vitality the tree has left. If the crown is mostly gone, that’s different from a tree recovering from a late frost.
If internal decay is suspected, resistograph testing measures wood density and confirms how extensive the rot is. Soil analysis might be recommended for nutrient deficiencies.
You get a clear written report with our findings and next steps: a preservation plan, treatment options, or a removal recommendation if the tree is hazardous. Same-day assessments are available for storm-damaged or hazardous trees.
We recommend preservation when structural integrity can be restored through cabling, bracing, or targeted pruning and the remaining risk is manageable. We recommend removal when internal decay exceeds 50% of the trunk, the root system is severely compromised, or the tree poses imminent danger to people or property.
Once a tree comes down, stump grinding clears what’s left, and tree planting can put the right species back in the right spot.
“I’ve been doing this six years. I’ve seen homeowners try to cut corners and get hurt. I’ve seen people get attached to a tree that’s already dead and waste money trying to save it. What I’ve learned is that people want two things: an honest assessment and someone who will actually show up if something goes wrong.”
Sure Notch has a 5.0-star rating from 313+ verified Google reviews. Robert personally conducts every tree assessment, and this business was built on not upselling people. You call us about a tree, we come look at it, and we tell you what we think. No pressure. No inflated estimates.
We’re licensed and fully insured, with transparent pricing and no hidden fees. We respond quickly to storm damage and hazardous tree situations. Learn more about our team.
Sure Notch Tree Service provides professional arborist services throughout Lexington and the surrounding Bluegrass communities. We serve residential properties in Richmond, Georgetown, Nicholasville, Winchester, Versailles, and Paris.
Our local presence means fast response times and familiarity with the tree species and conditions specific to our area.
An arborist is a trained tree care professional who specializes in tree health, safety, and maintenance. We evaluate tree health, diagnose diseases and pest problems, assess structural risks, and recommend treatments or interventions. Some arborists focus purely on consulting; others do the work themselves. At Sure Notch, I do both the assessment and the removal or preservation work.
Kentucky does not license arborists. There is no state arborist license to hold, so any company advertising one is describing something that doesn’t exist. What matters instead is whether the company holds a valid business license, carries liability and workers’ compensation insurance, and holds a Kentucky Department of Agriculture pesticide applicator license if it applies chemical treatments. The recognized professional credential in this trade is ISA Certified Arborist, issued by the International Society of Arboriculture — a voluntary certification, not a government license. Sure Notch Tree Service is a licensed, fully insured Kentucky tree service, and Robert has been assessing trees across Fayette County and the surrounding Bluegrass for over six years. Before anyone climbs a tree on your property, ask for proof of insurance.
We offer free consultations and assessments for most residential tree concerns in Lexington. Basic evaluations — determining whether a tree is healthy, diseased, or hazardous — cost nothing. If advanced diagnostic testing is needed, we discuss those costs upfront before we proceed.
Common signs are sparse or absent foliage, dead branches throughout the crown, loose or falling bark, fungal growth at the base, and lack of new twig growth in spring. Dying trees often show premature fall color or drop leaves early in the season. Sometimes it’s fast. Sometimes a tree declines over several years, and you don’t notice until it’s gone.
It depends on the disease, how far it has progressed, and the overall health of the tree. Fungal infections caught early can sometimes be managed through pruning and improving tree vigor. Bacterial diseases are harder to treat. Vascular diseases like oak wilt are often fatal and spread to nearby trees. During our assessment, I determine whether treatment is realistic or if removal is the safer option.
An arborist focuses on tree health, diagnosis, and preservation, while a tree service typically focuses on removal and maintenance. At Sure Notch, I do both: arborist-level assessments and diagnostics, and the removal or maintenance work when needed. Some customers call us just for the assessment. Others have us come back every few years to monitor a preservation plan.
Robert will come out, inspect the tree root to canopy, and tell you whether it can be saved or needs to come down. No pressure, no inflated estimates.
