About Cedar & Oak Tree Co.
We started Cedar & Oak because we were tired of seeing trees butchered and homeowners overcharged — there's a better way.
Marcus Cedar started climbing trees professionally in 2010, working under a mentor who drilled one rule into him from day one: understand the biology before you touch the wood. After earning his ISA Certified Arborist credential (#OH-9912A) and spending years on other companies' crews, Marcus founded Cedar & Oak Tree Co. in 2012 out of a single truck and a simple idea — that Columbus homeowners deserved honest quotes and arborist-quality work without having to gamble on who showed up at their door.
Today Cedar & Oak runs two full crews across the Columbus metro, handling everything from routine pruning to crane-assisted removals to 24/7 storm response. Every estimate is written by a certified arborist, every job is scoped before a blade touches the bark, and every invoice matches the quote. The company has never topped a tree and never will — it's in the employee handbook.
Over fourteen years the crew has grown to a tight group of trained climbers, ground hands, and a dedicated estimates lead who makes sure every customer knows exactly what they're getting before they sign anything. Marcus still goes on-site for complex assessments and takes personal calls from customers who need guidance on a sick tree or a close call after a storm.
The Columbus area has been good to Cedar & Oak, and the team tries to return that trust on every job — whether it's a $125 stump grind in Worthington or a week-long lot-clearing project in Dublin. The yard always leaves cleaner than they found it. That's not a tagline; it's a job requirement.
Marcus has been climbing and caring for trees in the Columbus area since 2010. ISA Certified Arborist #OH-9912A.
The people behind the work
- Marcus CedarOwner · ISA Certified Arborist #OH-9912A
Marcus has been climbing and diagnosing trees in central Ohio since 2010. He founded Cedar & Oak on the belief that tree work done right the first time is always cheaper in the long run. He personally handles complex assessments, disease consultations, and any job within ten feet of a structure.
- Derek HoltLead Climber
Derek joined Cedar & Oak in 2016 after five seasons on utility right-of-way crews. His rigging precision is why the company can work on tight residential lots other companies turn down. He's pursuing his ISA credential and will have it this year.
- Lorena VásquezEstimates & Office Lead
Lorena manages scheduling, estimates coordination, and customer follow-up. She's the reason quotes go out same-day and insurance documents never have to be asked for twice. If you've emailed or called Cedar & Oak, you've probably already talked to her.
Our values
- Honesty over upsell
If a tree can be saved with a $300 pruning job, we say so — even when the removal quote would have been $1,200. Our repeat and referral rate is built entirely on that reputation. Every estimate is written before any work starts, and the invoice number matches it.
- Tree biology first
We don't make cuts to satisfy a customer's aesthetic preference if those cuts will harm the tree. We explain what we're doing and why. That means no topping, no flush cuts, no lion-tailing — and a short explanation of ISA pruning standards if you want one.
- We leave it cleaner than we found it
Every Cedar & Oak job ends with a full cleanup pass: brush and wood hauled away, the work zone raked and blown, and a walk-through with the homeowner before the invoice is signed. The yard looks better after we leave than when we arrived — that's non-negotiable.
The paperwork is real.
Ask for proof of insurance before any contractor steps on your property. We email ours unprompted.
- ISACertified Arborist
- TCIAAccredited
- BBBAccredited · A+
- Fully Licensed & Insured
Four steps. No surprises.
Boring is good when heavy equipment comes near your house.
- 01
Free on-site estimate
An ISA Certified Arborist walks the property with you, identifies the work needed, and writes a fixed quote on the spot.
- 02
Scheduled, on the calendar
Most non-emergency jobs scheduled within 7–10 days. We send a text the day before with the crew lead's name and ETA.
- 03
Crew arrives, work begins
Climber and ground crew, proper safety gear, drop zones marked. We protect lawn, beds, and structures with mats and tarps.
- 04
Cleanup beyond expectation
All wood and brush hauled away. We rake, blow, and walk the property with you before invoicing. The yard looks better than before.
Ready to work with a crew that tells you the truth? Let's start with a free on-site assessment.
Get a free quote