Who we About Green Heart Arborist Services
Green Heart Arborist Services is an independent, woman owned arborist consulting firm dedicated to helping property owners and managers make informed, defensible decisions about trees.
Trees are valuable, long-term assets. They contribute to safety, property value, environmental health, and community well-being. At the same time, trees can pose real risks, regulatory challenges, and maintenance responsibilities. Green Heart Arborist Services exists to bring clarity to those complexities through objective assessment, clear communication, and science-based recommendations.
The practice focuses on consulting, not tree removal. This independence allows Green Heart Arborist Services to provide unbiased evaluations that prioritize preservation whenever it can be done safely and responsibly, while also supporting clients when pruning, mitigation, or removal is necessary.
Services are tailored to homeowners, HOAs, property managers, and industry partners who need credible documentation, expert analysis, and practical guidance within municipal regulations and industry standards.
Why Green Heart
Green Heart Arborist Services was founded to provide a calm, credible voice in situations where tree decisions can feel stressful, emotional, or contentious.
By combining decades of experience with independence from removal services, Green Heart Arborist Services helps clients move forward with confidence, knowing their decisions are informed, defensible, and aligned with both safety and stewardship.
Our Approach
Green Heart Arborist Services is guided by a preservation-first philosophy grounded in professional integrity and evidence-based arboriculture.
Each project begins with careful evaluation and documentation, using established industry methods to assess tree health, structural integrity, site conditions, and risk factors. Recommendations are designed to balance safety, environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, and client goals.
When preservation is not feasible, Green Heart Arborist Services supports responsible removal and replanting strategies that maintain long-term canopy value and site resilience.
Clients can expect:
Objective, independent assessments
Clear, defensible reporting
Thoughtful consideration of both people and trees
Practical solutions rooted in experience and standards, not opinion
About Justina Kraus
Justina Kraus is the founder of Green Heart Arborist Services and an ISA Certified Arborist with nearly 30 years of experience in arboriculture.
Born and raised in the Puget Sound region, Justina has lived and worked throughout Seattle, Bothell, and Everett. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Washington and has completed formal training in arboriculture and horticulture through Edmonds Community College and Lake Washington Technical College.
Over the course of her career, Justina has worked in a wide range of arboricultural roles, including consulting, client advising, and field leadership. This breadth of experience allows her to understand tree-related challenges from multiple perspectives and translate technical findings into clear, actionable guidance for clients.
Her credentials include:
ISA Certified Arborist (PN-1583A)
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ)
ISA Arborist of the Year (2023)
ISA Volunteer of the Year (2018)
In addition to her professional work, Justina is a long-time community member, mother of two, and steward of her own landscape, where she has kept chickens for more than 15 years. Her personal connection to land and place informs her work, but her recommendations are always grounded in objective analysis and professional standards.
Contact us
Interested in rates, availability and some more information? Please send me a message and I will be in touch shortly. I want to hear from you!