Tree Call – A Request for a Tree Steward Consultation

Tree Call Program: Expert Guidance for Your Trees

Redbud trees, Cercis species, naturally fertilize the soil by fixing nitrogen in nodules on their roots.

Professional, Research-Based Tree Consultations for Local Homeowners

Is your favorite oak looking stressed? Are you unsure how to care for a newly planted maple? The James City County/Williamsburg Master Gardener Association offers the Tree Call Program—a free, educational service designed to help you maintain healthy, thriving trees in our local landscape.

How It Works

From April 1 through September 30, our specialized Tree Call team is available to visit your property. At your request, a small group of two or three certified Tree Stewards will walk your grounds with you to:

  • Identify tree species on your property.

  • Diagnose signs of disease, pest infestations, or environmental stress.

  • Provide research-based recommendations for pruning, mulching, and long-term care.

  • Offer guidance on selecting the right tree for the right place in your landscape.

Who Are the Tree Stewards?

Our volunteers are certified by the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). Unlike general Master Gardeners, Tree Stewards have undergone extensive additional training and field experience specifically in arboriculture and forest health to provide you with the most accurate, science-based information available.

Service Areas

We proudly serve homeowners in:

  • James City County & Williamsburg

  • New Kent County

  • Charles City County

  • Upper York County

Request a Tree Call Visit

Ready to schedule your consultation? Follow these simple steps:

  1. Fill out the Request Form: Complete the digital form below with your contact information and a brief description of your concerns.

  2. Attach Photos (Optional but Recommended): To help our team prepare, please upload a few clear photos of the tree(s) in question. Wide shots showing the whole tree and close-ups of specific problem areas (leaves, bark, or base) are most helpful.

  3. Consultation & Scheduling: A Tree Steward will contact you to review your request, discuss your photos, and schedule a convenient time for the team to visit.

Important Program Notes

  • Educational Focus: Our mission is to provide you with the knowledge to care for your trees. We provide advice and resources but do not perform physical tree removal or commercial pruning services.

  • Risk Assessment Policy: Our volunteers are educators, not licensed contractors. Tree Stewards cannot assess the structural risk or "hazard" status of a tree’s location or disposition. If a tree appears to pose an immediate danger to structures or people, we will provide you with resources on how to contact a Certified ISA Arborist for a professional safety evaluation.

  • VCE Standards: All recommendations are based on the latest research from Virginia Tech and Virginia State University.

Questions?

If you have a quick question that may not require a home visit, you can always contact our Master Gardener Help Desk at 757-564-2175

Tree Call Request 2026

(Note: Your personal information is not shared with anyone outside of this office. It is used only to contact you to coordinate our Master Gardeners' visit.)
Please Note: Tree Calls are conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 30 September. There are two appointment times- morning 0900-1200 and 1300- 1600 [ 1 -4 pm]. Due to master gardeners' availability these are the days/times that the tree call lead will make appointments
MM slash DD slash YYYY
Name(Required)
Address(Required)
Please indicate any periods of time you will not be available to schedule a tree call.
Description of problem requiring a visit
Max. file size: 512 MB.

How did you hear about this year's Tree Call Program? (Select any that apply)
Help us help other by getting out the word about our programs. Please indicate how you learned about this year's Tree Call Program.

Thank you for applying for the Tree Call Home Visit Program

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