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Pickering, Ontario · Updated September 2026

Best Tree Services in Pickering

The three highest-scoring tree companies that serve Pickering, ranked by LEAF Score. Every company in Ontario is checked the same way, on insurance coverage, arborist credentials, experience and reviews. No company can pay to be at the top of this page.

16companies serve Pickering
9with WSIB clearance confirmed
3.1average leaves here

Pickering’s top 3 by LEAF Score

1

Brooklin Tree Care Inc.

Serves Pickering, Brooklin, Whitby, Oshawa and Ajax and more

5.0 · 148 Google reviewsWSIB clearance confirmed · to Nov 19, 2026
Not yet verified by the businessThese details come from our own research. Is this your business? Claim this listing

Specializations

Tree removal (small)Tree removal (large)Tree pruning (small)Tree pruning (large)Hedge trimming (medium and large)Stump grinding (small)Stump grinding (large)Tree planting (small)Tree planting (large)Cabling & bracingFertilizationHydro line clearance24/7 emergency serviceCrane servicesOn-site consultationLegal / bylaw dispute assistanceArborist reportsTree protection plansTree risk assessmentTree appraisalAir excavationPest & disease treatmentLand clearingEducation and advocacyWood chips - UNrefined - LARGE quantityWood chips - Refined - LARGE quantity
Inferred from our research — not yet confirmed by the businessNot inferred — ask directly
Visit websiteFull profile →
5/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews148 Google reviews
5+ years in business7 years in business
Employs a Certified Arborist2 ISA Certified Arborists
Eric Batty, Certified Arborist See certificate →
Mark Batty, Certified Arborist See certificate →
Employs a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holderNone confirmed
Employs a Board Certified Master ArboristNone confirmed
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceWSIB clearance confirmed
Matched WSIB account: BROOKLIN TREE CARE INC. See certificate →
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada
2

Tandem Tree Service

Serves Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and Courtice and more

5.0 · 149 Google reviewsWSIB clearance confirmed · to Nov 19, 2026
Not yet verified by the businessThese details come from our own research. Is this your business? Claim this listing

Specializations

Tree removal (small)Tree removal (large)Tree pruning (small)Tree pruning (large)Hedge trimming (medium and large)Stump grinding (small)Stump grinding (large)Tree planting (small)Tree planting (large)Cabling & bracingFertilizationHydro line clearance24/7 emergency serviceCrane servicesOn-site consultationLegal / bylaw dispute assistanceArborist reportsTree protection plansTree risk assessmentTree appraisalAir excavationPest & disease treatmentLand clearingEducation and advocacyWood chips - UNrefined - LARGE quantityWood chips - Refined - LARGE quantity
Inferred from our research — not yet confirmed by the businessNot inferred — ask directly
Visit websiteFull profile →
5/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews149 Google reviews
5+ years in business10 years in business
Employs a Certified Arborist1 ISA Certified Arborist
Luke O'Brien, Certified Arborist See certificate →
Employs a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holderNone confirmed
Employs a Board Certified Master ArboristNone confirmed
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceWSIB clearance confirmed
Matched WSIB account: NOAH PERRY AND LUKE O'BRIEN / TANDEM TREE SERVICE See certificate →
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada
3

Virgin Tree Care

Serves Pickering, Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax and Durham Region and more

4.9 · 78 Google reviewsWSIB clearance not confirmed
Not yet verified by the businessThese details come from our own research. Is this your business? Claim this listing

Specializations

Tree removal (small)Tree removal (large)Tree pruning (small)Tree pruning (large)Hedge trimming (medium and large)Stump grinding (small)Stump grinding (large)Tree planting (small)Tree planting (large)Cabling & bracingFertilizationHydro line clearance24/7 emergency serviceCrane servicesOn-site consultationLegal / bylaw dispute assistanceArborist reportsTree protection plansTree risk assessmentTree appraisalAir excavationPest & disease treatmentLand clearingEducation and advocacyWood chips - UNrefined - LARGE quantityWood chips - Refined - LARGE quantity
Inferred from our research — not yet confirmed by the businessNot inferred — ask directly
Visit websiteFull profile →
4/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews78 Google reviews
5+ years in business1 years in business
Employs a Certified Arborist1 ISA Certified Arborist
Craig D. Virgin, Certified Arborist See certificate →
Employs a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holder1 with Tree Risk Assessment Qualification
Craig D. Virgin, Tree Risk Assessment Qualification See certificate →
Employs a Board Certified Master ArboristNone confirmed
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceNo WSIB account found under this business name
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada

Ties are broken by number of credentials (each Certified Arborist, Board Certified Master Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holder counts, so someone with two counts twice), then Google reviews. Virgin Tree Care and CE Tree Services are tied at 4/10 leaves.

More companies serving Pickering

4CE Tree ServicesDurham Region · 5.0 from 96 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed4/105About the Cut Tree ServiceDurham Region · 5.0 from 76 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed4/106Royal Tree Service OshawaDurham Region · 5.0 from 193 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed3/107Evans Tree WorkDurham Region · 4.9 from 112 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed3/108Davey Tree Care Services (East Toronto office)Durham Region · 4.7 from 80 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed3/10See all 16 companies serving Pickering on the map →
A gutter with a guard on top. Wet leafs pile up on the guard and carry rain water over the front edge of the gutter instead of into it, so guards still need to be cleared from time to time.
Homeowner question

Do gutter guards work against leafs?

They can help, but it is important to understand that they are not a cure-all. Having a gutter guard does not mean the gutters will never need to be inspected and cleared of leafs from time to time.

This is particularly the case when leafs get wet and accumulate. The leafs can sit on the gutter guard and act as a bridge, carrying the water right over the top of the gutter.

Before you cut

Pickering’s private tree rules

Permit needed in some areas or cases

In Pickering, a permit is needed to remove a tree only if your property is inside a mapped Tree Protection Area, usually near creeks, wetlands and green spaces. Inside those areas even small trees (2.5 cm, about 1 inch) and dead trees need a permit.

Tree Protection Areas

Check the map first

Tree Protection By-law 8073/24 (approved January 22, 2024) applies in areas shown on Schedule A, which mostly follow watercourses, wetlands, the Oak Ridges Moraine and green spaces. Outside those areas no City permit is needed.

Tree Protection Areas

Small trees count

Inside a protected area, trees as small as 2.5 cm (about 1 inch) across are regulated.

Tree Protection Areas

Dead or dangerous trees still need a permit

Dead, dangerous, diseased or badly injured trees need a permit. It is free if you include a certified arborist's report; a City arborist inspection costs $50.

City-owned trees

Boulevard trees belong to the City

Contact the Customer Care Centre about City or boulevard trees. Do not prune or remove them yourself.

All of Durham Region

Woodlands 1 ha and larger

Durham Region's Woodland By-law 30-2020 requires a Region permit to cut in woodlands of 1 ha (2.5 acres) or more.

Anywhere in Ontario

Trees on a property line

A tree whose trunk sits on the line belongs to both neighbours. Ontario’s Forestry Act says you need your neighbour’s consent before removing or injuring it.

Size limits, fees, replacement trees and exemptions
Which trees need a permit
2.5 cm (about 1 inch) trunk width, only inside mapped Tree Protection Areas (measuring height not confirmed)
Permit fee
2026: $155 standard removal permit; no charge for dead, diseased or dangerous trees with a certified arborist report; $50 if a City arborist inspection is needed.
Replacement trees
The City may require replacement planting; details not confirmed in the pages read.
Common exemptions
  • Properties outside mapped Tree Protection Areas
  • Trees under 2.5 cm

Not sure if you need a permit?

Ask the municipality before any work starts. A good tree company will also check for you and tell you who applies for the permit.

City of Pickering Customer Care Centre

905-683-7575Official information page →

Summary checked September 2026. It’s a plain-language guide, not legal advice. Bylaws change, so confirm with the municipality before you remove a tree.

Sources
A year strip of months showing the dormant season as best for pruning live branches, the spring growth flush as the time to avoid heavy pruning, and dead or hazardous limbs removable any time.
Homeowner question

Does it matter when a tree gets pruned?

If the branches are dead or truly hazardous, then to protect your health and safety, it doesn't matter. Do it any time of the year. For live branches it is best done before the spring growth flush, when wounds close the fastest.

Before you hire

What to check before you hire a tree service

Tree work is dangerous, and it’s expensive to fix when it goes wrong. Six questions worth asking any company, including the ones on this page.

  1. Ask for a WSIB clearance certificate and proof of liability insurance

    Tree work is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. We do our best on our end, but these certificates can change before we have a chance to update them. Some good companies will give them to you without you even having to ask. Bonus!

  2. Find out who will actually do the work

    You may get a Certified Arborist as your salesperson, but will the same be true of the person who works on your property? You won't know until you ask. A Certified Arborist may cost more, but it can cost a lot more if the work is done wrong and the tree dies early or your property is damaged.

  3. Get the quote in writing

    It should say exactly which trees, and whether cleanup, wood removal, stump grinding and so on are included. The more detailed the quote, the better.

  4. Ask who handles the permit

    If a bylaw applies, agree up front who applies for the permit and who pays the fee. Removing a protected tree without one usually means a fine for the property owner, not the tree company.

  5. If money is tight, try this

    See if the work can be scheduled in a slower season for a lower price. Clear obstacles (fences, gates, lawn ornaments, plants) before the crew arrives. Find someone online, such as on Facebook Marketplace, who will take the wood for free. Or change the scope of work, for example pruning only the lower half of the tree instead of the whole tree.

  6. Trees near power lines are a utility job

    If branches touch or come close to a hydro line, call your local hydro utility (the one on your electricity bill) first. Only crews the utility approves can work near power lines.

The same tree twice. In winter with the leafs off, an arborist sees the branch structure, joints, cracks and dead limbs. With the leafs on, they see leaf health, dieback and pests.
Homeowner question

Should an arborist assess a tree with the leafs on or off?

Both views have their pros and cons. In the winter an arborist can see the overall structure of the tree better. If there are splits in branches, we can see them more clearly. The downside is that sometimes it is a little harder to see which branches are dead or alive.

Bottom line: if you think your tree needs to be assessed, don't let the time of year stop you from reaching out to an arborist.

Tree services near Pickering

AjaxWhitbyOshawaMarkhamRichmond HillToronto

LEAF Scores reflect public records and research on the date checked. Always confirm insurance, certification and WSIB coverage directly with a company before you hire it.