In Denver, we talk a lot about restaurants, real estate, and the mountains, but rarely about the people caring for the trees that frame it all. For Ben Howard, owner of Howard Tree Care, that work is more than a job. It’s a hands-on profession blending endurance, technical skill, and respect for the landscape we live in.
Howard’s path into arboriculture wasn’t linear. During a stint at Harlequin's Gardens, he met longtime arborist Mikl—“I just didn’t know that was a job,” Howard admits. “I didn’t know that was a way you could make a living, getting to be outside and interacting with nature.” At the same time, the uncertainty of the COVID era forced a pivot. With his background as a rock climber—“I was pretty familiar with working at heights and rope work”—the pieces fell into place.
A friend with a tree company needed help, and Howard stepped in. As a contractor, he had to incorporate and carry insurance. He began taking on his own jobs. “I’d gotten the skills, I’d gotten a lot of the equipment. It just kind of snowballed from there.” What started as contract climbing evolved into a full-service company grounded in education and long-term care.
Ask Howard what keeps him motivated, and his answer is immediate: variety. “As a small company, I’m learning how to run a business and understand marketing, but I get to work with clients and meet interesting people.” Then there’s the physicality. “It’s a very rewarding job. You can see the fruits of your labor.”
And then, more quietly, the deeper pull. “Without getting too hippie on you,” he says with a laugh, “it’s a great way to connect with the world around us.”
That educational piece is especially critical in Denver. “We’re in the high desert, people forget that,” Howard explains. Limited rainfall and poor soils challenge non-native species. “Fifty, sixty years ago, people planted a bunch of maples because they’re beautiful. But they've outgrown their water source, and the nutrients they need aren’t common in our soil. People think there are quick fixes, but real solutions take effort.
One of the biggest misconceptions homeowners have? “That it’s an all-or-nothing escapade,” he says. “They think it’s tens of thousands of dollars for a removal.” In reality, early intervention can prevent major decline. “Usually a little bit goes a long way in terms of education and management.”
Howard’s client base ranges from devoted gardeners to budget-conscious property managers. His approach remains consistent. “We’ll work within their constraints, but we still do right by the tree.” That means proper cuts that allow a tree to compartmentalize wounds. “Trees don’t necessarily heal,” he notes, “but they recover more appropriately if you make the right cut.”
Looking ahead, Howard is expanding into plant health care, earning his pesticide license and investing in equipment for fertilization and pest monitoring. “If we can monitor earlier, we can treat cheaper, faster, more successfully."
When asked about the risks of tree work he notes that safety and longevity matter in a profession that can be dangerous. “Climbing trees is not easy. Everybody we work with wants to be doing it as long as they can.” Howard and his team ensure safety is top of mind every step of the way.
At its core, the legacy he hopes to build is simple: care. “Care for ourselves, for the homeowner, for the property, and for the tree.”
“There have been times at the top of an elm or cottonwood where you can see over the city and the mountains,” he says. “You recognize how lucky you are. You pause, take a breath, and look at the world around you.”