5 Year Overview of the Denver Tree Service Web Market

From May 2019 through October 2025, we analyzed the organic search performance of locally owned and operated tree service companies in the Denver metro area. This study was based on more than 50 PDF reports compiled over four years, incorporating Ahrefs organic traffic data and the social media activity, blogging cadence, and referral-network engagement of the top companies. We used ChatGPT and Claude to analyze this data and to create this analysis. The off-page SEO efforts of these companies reflect their work to build authority, trust, and visibility online, aiming to attract organic traffic to their websites.

The focus of this research is strictly on organic web demand—real homeowners and property managers searching for tree services. We did not include any financial records, customer lists, or operational data. Organic search remains the most cost-effective marketing activity for local professional services, making it a reliable proxy for brand strength and online lead-generation potential.

During 2019–2021, the market was relatively fragmented, with Arborscape Services and Fielding Tree & Shrub Care consistently trading the top positions in search visibility. However, as the competitive landscape evolved, Ross Tree Company steadily increased its authority, topical depth, and referral footprint—ultimately emerging as the dominant leader in Denver’s tree service web market. We did not include national or regional companies or franchises in this analysis; it focuses exclusively on independent, locally owned firms serving the Denver metropolitan area.

May 2019 to June 2021

Between May 2019 and June 2021, Arborscape and Fielding consistently traded the #1 and #2 positions in Denver’s tree service web market, each pulling roughly 1,000–1,300 monthly visitors. Environmental Tree Care maintained a steady third with 250–420 monthly visitors, while Colorado Tree Service Pros and Denver Tree Services grew from just 110 visitors to 589 by May 2021.

The top performers excelled by combining multi-channel marketing with strong foundational SEO: they invested in professional websites, built social media and referral network presence through Google Business Profile, Yelp, HomeAdvisor, Team Dave Logan, and Facebook, and produced ongoing long-form, authoritative content. Arborscape leveraged Google Ads and a 19-video YouTube library, while Fielding capitalized on its Yelp dominance and high-quality “Ask an Arborist” articles. In mid-2019, Ross Tree only had 48 in search traffic, which climbed to 310 by May 2021—ultimately overtaking many mid-market firms through a disciplined blogging cadence and successful Facebook audience growth.

Here is a clean comparison table summarizing the companies and their approximate monthly organic traffic during the May 2019 – June 2021 period:

July 2021 to July 2023

Google’s March 2023 core update reduced traffic by roughly 62%, creating much volatility in the tree service web market. The core update hoped to improve the overall quality and relevance of search results. It heavily favored websites that demonstrated real brand presence and user trust signals. Ross Tree had already invested in that direction—using paid Facebook referral traffic to create brand familiarity, sending consistent email newsletters to its customers, and expanding its footprint across Nextdoor, Yelp, LinkedIn, and Google Business Profile. A mobile-first website redesign in 2021, along with seasonal service pages, improved navigation, stronger calls to action, and a clean sitemap, ensured the technical SEO foundation matched its off-page authority. This combination of brand-building and technical discipline is what ultimately carried Ross Tree to the top. Companies with thin web content and irrelevant links lost web presence, some drastically.

Here is a clean, clear table summarizing the organic traffic performance from July 2021 to July 2023 based on your analysis:

Oct 2023 to Oct 2025

From October 2023 through July 2025, Ross Tree held the #1 organic position end-to-end, with traffic ranging from a low of ~810 in March 2024 to a high near 3,000 in May 2025, stabilizing around 2,700 by June. Splintered Forest held a strong #2 through most of 2024 before declining sharply in 2025. Environmental and American Arbor Care rose steadily in this period, while Fielding’s position experienced much volatility, finally settling in the #2 position.

The companies that performed best in this period followed a balanced marketing cadence: 8–14 blog posts per year, active social posting, quarterly email blasts, 100+ Google reviews, and light but efficient paid search. Ross Tree distinguished itself by adding a direct competitive content strategy—publishing refreshed, authoritative articles on topics where competitors previously led —helping Ross Tree maintain topical authority. From August through October 2025, Ross Tree remained the market leader, with ~1,800 monthly organic visits—roughly double or triple those of the next competitor.

Here is a clean, clear comparison table using the ranges described for Oct 2023 – Oct 2025:

How to Create Competitive Advantage

Across 2022–2025, total organic market volume for locally owned companies contracted from 8,023 searches in October 2022 to 6,450 in September 2025—about a 20% reduction. In a shrinking web market, companies had to up their SEO game. Some competitors ignored or misunderstood Google’s move toward quality content, with dire consequences.

Ross Tree’s advantage in this period was not a single tactic but the durability of its marketing stack. It also modified its off-page SEO efforts over the last five years to align with Google’s core updates to remain in good standing. While competitors often excelled in one or two channels at a time—content, reviews, social, or paid—Ross Tree consistently maintained all pillars at once. All these activities create a brand signal that Google’s algorithms increasingly reward post-2023.

After resolving its de-indexation and domain issues, Fielding reclaimed the #2 position by leaning into Google Business Profile strength, steady review growth, and consistent service-area visibility, rather than heavy blogging. By maintaining strong local trust signals and refreshing core service pages, Fielding restored search credibility. At the same time, several competitors lost momentum—Splintered Forest declined, Bear Creek’s surge faded, and Environmental and American Arbor Care grew more slowly. The result was a stable, trusted brand with ~900–1,150 monthly organic visits, second only to Ross Tree. Fielding did not win by out-marketing everyone—it won by remaining consistent while others slipped.

In 2025, customers started using AI to find tree services or check the credibility of tree companies. Ross Tree has more AI citations than any of its competitors. The net effect: Ross Tree turned organic search into a defendable moat, with paid and social functioning as traffic amplifiers, not crutches. In a market where overall organic demand contracted by roughly 20% from late 2022 to late 2025, Ross Tree did not merely preserve position—it expanded its share of a shrinking market.

Marketing Prescriptions for Online Success

Downs Digital uses advanced AI tools available today — including ChatGPT and Claude — to analyze and understand the Denver tree service market at a depth that was not possible a few years ago. These insights reveal how top tree companies rise to the #1 spot online and the specific steps required to build a dominant, revenue-producing web presence.

With AI-driven analysis, Downs Digital provides precise, data-backed marketing prescriptions that increase visibility, generate qualified leads, and drive long-term online revenue growth. We understand the competitive landscape — and we know how to win in it. We welcome the chance to meet with you, learn your goals for 2026, and outline a custom web strategy designed to achieve them.

The first meeting is complimentary and carries no obligation. Call 303-748-5851 to schedule a consultation — and see firsthand what advanced AI-powered marketing can do.