Bartlett Tree Experts acquired HortScience, a horticulture, arboriculture and urban forestry consulting company operating out of Pleasanton, Calif., since 1983.

This acquisition marks the launch of Bartlett’s consulting division, which will be known as HortScience, Bartlett Consulting. This new division is an extension of the company’s existing services, particularly its tree inventory management service, Bartlett Inventory Solutions and its consultancy group in the U.K.

“We can’t imagine a better avenue for growing our consulting business than through this collaboration,” said Jim Ingram, president of Bartlett Tree Experts. “HortScience has an outstanding reputation in this arena, and the scientific contributions its staff has made to the field of arboriculture truly sets it apart. Its dedication to moving the consulting forward on a scholarly level, and then putting those practices into action through work for its clients, is very much in line with Bartlett’s own mission.”

Nelda Matheny and Jim Clark, former owners of HortScience, will be continuing their roles as consultants and managers with HortScience, Bartlett Consulting. Both are consultants, authors and educators who have helped develop arboricultural consulting as a profession. Their publications on tree risk assessment, tree preservation during development, diagnosis of abiotic diseases and tree appraisal are industry standards, according to Bartlett.

“We look forward to continuing to support all of the work that HortScience and its staff have been doing, as well as finding ways to integrate the two businesses in order to better serve our clients,” Ingram said.

Photo: Bartlett Tree Experts