Cook County native Philip Klobuchar (Class of 2008) returned home this September to launch Treewalker Services and Consulting, LLC. Klobuchar is an ISA Certified Arborist—essentially a tree doctor focused on the health, safety, and preservation of trees. He specializes in aerial tree work, assessing and treating canopies dozens of feet off the ground using only ropes, pulleys, and hand tools. And most notably, he does aerial tree work, sometimes dozens of feet off the ground, to assess and treat trees using only ropes, pulleys, and hand tools.
He describes his business as, “Helping Cook County residents preserve, maintain, and start a conversation with their trees.” This low-impact approach—relying on ropes rather than heavy equipment like skid steers and lift trucks—ensures the safety and aesthetic appeal of the landscape with minimal disturbance to surrounding structures.
Klobuchar holds the Certified Arborist credential from The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). ISA is a global, non-profit professional organization dedicated to promoting the professional practice of arboriculture and fostering a greater worldwide awareness of the benefits of trees. Earlier this year, he completed part of the continuing education needed to preserve certification in a forest in New Zealand.
Arborists possess specialized knowledge in several areas. They identify and treat problems caused by insects, disease, nutrient deficiencies, or soil issues; perform strategic cuts to maintain tree health, shape, safety, and fruit production. Selecting and properly planting appropriate species for a given site.
The day Klobuchar visited with the North Shore Journal, he had been working in a 90-foot-tall White Spruce to trim the canopy, which reduces the leverage on the trunk, making the tree a bit more weatherproof.
After graduating from the U of M with an English degree in just three years, Klobuchar sought adventure, working in carpentry from New Orleans to the West Coast. In Northern California, he transitioned into a career as a wildland firefighter. This diverse and intense background, including work on the devastating Camp Fire near the town of Paradise in 2018, equipped him with a unique perspective on tree health, risk, and care.
While firefighting, Klobuchar met his partner, Sage, and her two children. After living off-grid in California, the family eventually returned to Minnesota, settling in Hovland this fall after a couple of years in the Twin Cities. After those years of working for Twin Cities tree services, Philip says the family has adapted well to the Boreal Forest: “It was a magical place for me to grow up in, and we’re happy to be close to family here.”
Currently, Treewalker Services does not have a website or social media presence. To contact Philip for service or advice about your trees, you can email him at tree walkerservices@gmail.com or call/message him at 530-739-3754.
