My father, Larry Mercado, was one of a small number of arborists chosen to work at the Sacramento California Capital grounds, and tasked with preserving their old growth trees. Having grown up as the son of an ‘tree guy,’ it was not uncommon to find a rope rigging book on the coffee table, or hear an insect and disease conversation over the dinner table.  My father eventually retired from the state, and then started his own tree care business.  I was a young teenager at the time, and just beginning my own journey in the green industry.  So I went to work with the family as a groundsman, then as a crew climber, and learned to advance my skills to eventually become lead crew foreman. Throughout these formative years I discovered a deepening passion for Arboriculture.                             

Eventually my father decided to explore other professional opportunities and sold his business. I decided to continue in the industry and actively sought opportunities to advance my field experience and technical knowledge. This was collected over several years by surrounding myself with the very best arborists I could find in every place I worked. My ethics, values, practices, and knowledge base are all home grown, and have been refined through these relationships with influential industry leaders.

It was during my mid-twenties that I made the leap from field work into operations management and sales. During that time I participated in the development of an emerging Sacramento based tree company that grew from five employees to fifty-two over the span of my employment. Participating in this type of growth was a great motivator, and I enthusiastically began to increase my industry involvement. Some notable activities and achievements have been: local seminars and workshops, obtaining and maintaining multiple certifications, volunteering for the local International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Chapter, and supporting community events throughout California, Nevada, and Arizona, including Tree Climbing Competitions (TCC) as both a judge and a competitor. 

Speaking of Tree Climbing Competitions… I won the state of Utah while I was living there in 2009, and represented the state in the International Tree Climbing Competition (ITCC) held in Rhode Island that same summer. I placed 1st overall in Utah the following year, but fell just shy of winning the event again. I have been a head judge several years over, and have always had a blast enjoying the camaraderie of our trade.

I now run my own business, just like my dad. And I have two sons learning to turn a childhood activity into a passion filled career. Tree Care Solutions started in Utah (while my wife was finishing college) but our Sacramento roots ran too deep to stay away. More than two decades have passed since I first got my climbing boots dirty. In that time I have evolved from a young man with raw passion, to a refined Certified Arborist with a wealth of knowledge and experience covering multiple states.

We welcome your questions, and look forward to working – and growing – together.