Serving Southern Vancouver Island
Consulting Arborist in Greater Victoria & Saanich, BC
Our Certified Arborists write the arborist reports, tree risk assessments and tree protection plans that tree permits and building projects need. We don't cut or prune trees. We assess and advise, and we refer the hands-on work to vetted local partners.
- Family owned
- Since 2014
- Clients served
- 3,000+
- Certified arborists
- ISA & TRAQ
- Fully insured
- WorkSafeBC
Who is Oakstead?
Oakstead Tree & Property Care is a family-owned arborist consulting company based in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia (BC), serving Saanich, Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula and the Cowichan Valley since 2014. Its Certified Arborists assess trees and sites, prepare arborist reports and permit support, and refer hands-on tree, lawn, landscape and property work to vetted local partners. Work follows ANSI A300 (the American National Standards Institute standard for tree care) and Canadian Landscape Standards, and estimates for a scope of work are free.
In plain words
Oakstead is a family-owned company in Brentwood Bay. Our Certified Arborists check trees and sites and write reports. Vetted local partners do the hands-on tree, lawn and property work. We have served the area since 2014.
Our services
Arborist Consulting & Permits
Oakstead Tree & Property Care provides arborist consulting near Victoria, British Columbia (BC): ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) Certified, TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) qualified tree risk assessments, resistograph mapping, sonic tomography, Air Spading, arborist reports for permits, tree protection and management plans, inventories, appraisals and wildfire planning. The family-owned team in Brentwood Bay works with homeowners, developers, stratas and municipalities across the Saanich Peninsula, Greater Victoria and the Cowichan Valley.
See all 33 services in Arborist Consulting & Permits
Partner Referrals
Oakstead Tree & Property Care is an arborist consulting business. Our Certified Arborists assess trees and specify the work, and vetted partner companies do the hands-on tree, landscape, property and construction work. We don't do the cutting, so we have no stake in whether a tree comes down, and we take no referral fee or commission from any partner. We share your details with a partner only if you agree.
How partner referrals work
Construction & Renovation Referrals
Construction and renovation work referred to CSC Current Solutions Contracting Inc.; architectural design, planning and drafting referred to Dot Cross Design.
About construction and renovation referrals
Popular services
Our long-term, science-based approach
We think about the future and plan for the long term. Climate change is happening all around us, and we work hard to find the right vegetation for you that will survive these changes — chosen for resilience during watering restrictions, value to wildlife and resistance to wildfire.
Our practices and treatments are based on science, professional standards (the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 tree care standard, and the Canadian Landscape Standards) and your long-term needs, delivered with good old-fashioned customer service and an honest work ethic.
Frequently asked questions
What areas does Oakstead serve?
Oakstead serves southern Vancouver Island, including Saanich, Central Saanich, Brentwood Bay, North Saanich, Sidney, Victoria and the wider Greater Victoria area, plus the Cowichan Valley and Duncan. The company is based at 7040 West Saanich Rd in Brentwood Bay.
Does Oakstead offer free estimates?
Yes. Estimates for a scope of work are free; the $225 site consultation is a separate paid advice visit. Call Oakstead at (250) 888-9222 or use the request form on our Get a Quote page. Oakstead responds to every estimate request, so you will not be left wondering whether your message was received.
Are Oakstead’s arborists certified?
Yes. Oakstead’s team includes Certified Arborists, Arborist Technicians and Horticulturalists. Oakstead’s assessments and recommendations follow the ANSI A300 standards and the Canadian Landscape Standards, with treatments based on science and each property’s long-term needs.
Is Oakstead insured and WorkSafeBC registered?
Yes. Oakstead Tree & Property Care is fully covered with liability and professional insurance and is registered with WorkSafeBC (British Columbia's workers' compensation agency), so homeowners, stratas and businesses in Greater Victoria and the Cowichan Valley can work with Oakstead with confidence.
Does Oakstead work with stratas, businesses and municipalities?
Yes. Along with homeowners, Oakstead works with stratas, commercial and industrial properties, and government clients. It provides arborist consulting, assessments and referrals for tree, landscape and property maintenance work. These clients are across the Saanich Peninsula, Greater Victoria and the Cowichan Valley.
Does Oakstead do hands-on tree and landscape work?
Oakstead’s Certified Arborists assess the trees or site and recommend the approach. They prepare any arborist report or permit support needed. Hands-on work such as pruning, removals, landscaping and maintenance is referred to vetted local partners. Oakstead performs its consulting services directly, including tree risk assessments, resistograph mapping and Air Spading.
From the Tree Talk blog
The best trees to plant in Victoria’s climate
Good trees to plant in Victoria, BC’s mild, sunny climate include pyramid cedar, cherry laurel, Leyland cypress and dwarf conifers, according to Oakstead Tree & Property Care in Brentwood Bay. Native trees such as Garry oak, arbutus, Douglas fir and Pacific dogwood are great choices too but grow very large, and a diverse mix of trees best supports local wildlife.
Pruning Apple Trees
The best time to prune a healthy, well-maintained apple tree is late winter, when pruning triggers a strong growth response and can focus on fruit production, according to Oakstead Tree & Property Care in Brentwood Bay, BC. Apple trees that need significant restoration are generally best not pruned in winter or early spring and may need 2 or 3 years of restorative pruning.
A Tree is a Place
Oakstead Tree & Property Care, an arborist company in Brentwood Bay, BC, helped a family keep their senior heritage cherry tree by taking weight off one side and bracing the trunk with three 30-inch ready rods. The braced tree was safer but no longer safe to climb, and still had many years of cherries to give.
Ready to talk to a Certified Arborist?
We respond to every request. Serving the Saanich Peninsula, Greater Victoria and the Cowichan Valley.