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About San Jose Tree Service & Landscaping
Arborist-Led.
Family-Rooted.
Built for the Long Term.
Three generations of tree knowledge — and a genuine commitment to doing this work the right way.
Our Mission
Education, Stewardship, and the Long View
The goal of every project we take on is the same: leave the property better than we found it — and leave the homeowner more informed than when we arrived.
San Jose Tree Service & Landscaping exists to help homeowners make confident, well-informed decisions about the trees and landscapes they steward. We believe that a properly cared-for tree is a long-term asset, that removal should always be a last resort, and that the best tree work is guided by biology and honest assessment — not speed or sales pressure.
That philosophy didn't come from a business plan. It came from three generations of working with trees, learning from them, and understanding that this profession carries real responsibility.
Board-Certified Master Arborist
A Little Bit of History
Three Generations of Arboriculture
Robert Apolinar is a third-generation arborist — and that lineage shapes everything about how San Jose Tree Service & Landscaping operates.
His grandfather managed the trees in the Saratoga orchards during the 1940s and 50s. His father has been running his own tree service since the 1980s. Robert didn't choose this profession from a distance — he grew up inside it, learning alongside his father, his uncle, and other seasoned tree professionals from the time he was a child. Two of his brothers have since become arborists as well.
From his early teens, Robert's father was bringing him to seminars and ISA training courses, spending hours each week teaching him the science and craft of arboriculture. By age 20, Robert had passed the ISA Certified Arborist exam — and shortly after, he set out to build a company of his own.
That company is San Jose Tree Service & Landscaping. What began as one person's vision for doing this work correctly has grown into an arborist-led team serving homeowners throughout San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Campbell, and the broader South Bay.
How We Work
Arborist-Led, Not Labor-Led
Robert holds the Board-Certified Master Arborist credential — the highest designation offered by the International Society of Arboriculture. Every project at San Jose Tree Service & Landscaping is overseen by someone with the training to evaluate the full picture: the biology of the tree, the conditions of the site, and the long-term consequences of each decision.
Assessment Before Action
Every recommendation — pruning, treatment, or removal — is based on an on-site arborist evaluation. We never default to a standard approach without first understanding what the specific tree and site actually require.
Preservation First
Removal is always a last resort. The pruning techniques Robert's team practices have been developed and refined across generations — structurally sound, biologically appropriate, and naturally aesthetic.
Education at Every Step
Our hope is that as we work together, you become more knowledgeable about the trees and landscape on your property. Every project ends with a walkthrough — so you understand what was done and why.
The Team
The People Behind the Work
A dedicated team of trained professionals — each committed to the craft and to the standard Robert has set.
Robert Apolinar
Owner & Board-Certified Master Arborist
Third-generation arborist with over two decades of hands-on experience throughout the South Bay. Holds the BCMA credential — the highest designation offered by the ISA.
Karen
Client Relations
The consistent, responsive voice behind scheduling, communication, and follow-up. Karen ensures every client interaction is clear, timely, and professionally handled from first contact through project completion.
Noe
Field Operations
An experienced field professional who brings precision and care to every project. Noe ensures on-site execution meets the standard Robert sets at every assessment — safely, efficiently, and with attention to the details that matter.
Bella
Marketing Manager
The strategic voice behind San Jose Tree Service & Landscaping's brand and outreach. Bella manages marketing across every channel — ensuring the company's commitment to education and honest expertise is reflected in everything we put out.
Our Credentials
The Qualifications Behind Every Recommendation
Every license, certification, and accreditation we hold is a direct reflection of the standard we hold ourselves to — and a commitment to the homeowners who trust us with their properties.
Board-Certified Master Arborist
Certificate #WE-8846B
Member of the International
Society of Arboriculture
BBB Accredited Business
Since 2013
Landscape Industry
Certified Technician
California Landscape
Contractors Association
Qualified Applicator License
#138201
Contractors State License Board
C-61/D-49 · C-27 · #985639
Where We Work
Rooted in the South Bay
San Jose Tree Service & Landscaping has been serving homeowners throughout Silicon Valley for decades. Our work is concentrated in the neighborhoods and communities we know best — the established residential areas where mature trees are part of what makes a property feel like home.
We serve San Jose first — with particular depth in neighborhoods like Willow Glen and Almaden Valley — and extend our services throughout the surrounding South Bay communities listed here.
Primary
- San Jose
- Willow Glen
- Almaden Valley
- Los Gatos
- Saratoga
- Campbell
Extended
- Cupertino
- Monte Sereno
- Santa Clara
- Sunnyvale
- Mountain View
- Milpitas
Also Serving
- Los Altos
- Palo Alto
- Atherton
- Morgan Hill
- Gilroy
- And surrounding areas