Frequently
Asked
Questions

• Do you prune fruit trees? 

Yes! In fact, I am also a member of the tree care team at Portland Fruit Tree Project.

• How about shrubs and vining plants?

Yes - those, too! My most common requests are camellias, rhododendrons, lilacs, and grapes.

• Do you give estimates?

Absolutely. They include each of your trees or shrubs as a different line item/project, with an hourly rate for that particular job x approximate time for completion (within a 30-minute ballpark).

Estimates are sent by text or email as a link to a PDF.

• Do you haul the debris afterwards?

In order to save on hauling fees, I typically dispose of all or most of the pruned branches and leaves in your green compost bin. Anything that doesn't fit I leave in a neat pile for you. If you prefer hauling, there is a maximum $75 fee for hauling and advanced notice is needed.

• When is the right time to prune?

Japanese maples
- It depends on the age, condition, and site of the tree. I do think there are non-ideal times when attempting to achieve certain objectives. Pruning in winter is great for structural shaping and larger diameter cuts while late spring/summer is a great time for finer shaping and thinning. If I can establish long term relationships with local clients and their tree(s), I will recommend multiple visits to do the appropriate care for each season. With some trees, to achieve a more open, architectural form, it may take several seasons and require a revisit within a year of the initial pruning. Every tree and cultivar is different, so I hope to come back to the same trees and continue seeing them evolve over time.

Fruit Trees
Short answer: depending on the species, summer and/or winter. In the PNW, my colleagues and I prune stone fruit trees only in the summer in order to reduce the spread of bacterial canker from pruning wounds in our wet winter months.  Apples and pears often benefit from both a winter and summer pruning, the latter of which helps reduce vigor and encourage fruit production. 

• Are you an ISA certified arborist?

Not yet, but I am currently on the pathway for that certification. When I studied tree care at Portland Community College with ISA certified arborist, David Sandrock, our sole text was the ISA certification study guide. For those unfamiliar, ISA is the International Society of Arboriculture.

I am an associate member of the Aesthetic Pruners Association (APA) and currently building my portfolio to become an APA-certified aesthetic pruner.

• Who is Thomas?
  Thomas Nontanovan is my late father, who died in a motorcycle accident in December 2023. It happened only a few months after I had decided to really give the personal pruning business a shot and hadn't really landed on a name yet. During his retirement he grew over 200+ fruit trees in his home garden, so even though we never got to work on trees together, it just felt right to name my company as a dedication to him.