Jones Brothers Tree Surgeons – In the Tree Business for 50 Years

Back in the early 1960’s , Hank Smith started his tree surgeon business in Statesboro, Georgia. As a young entrepreneur he left the house in his old station wagon with the tall ladder strapped to the roof, on his way to trim trees. He was a hardworking man who took pride in his work. His business soon grew to the size where he needed more employees, so he hired and trained a couple country boys to help him.

In 1973, Uncle Hank expanded his business to the Savannah and Hilton Head areas. He recognized the growth in these areas and knew there was a market for a good tree surgeon business. To this day, we still have clients that used Uncle Hank way back then. I always enjoy hearing stories from those homeowners about him. He was well-liked, a man of his word, and people trusted him.

In 1991, Hank contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite and his health soon deteriorated. Al Jones, retired from the Air Force in 1995, after 26 years of service, came home to help Hank run the business in Hilton Head. The company changed its name to Smith and Jones Tree Surgeons.

Hank passed away in June of 1999 and Al decided to continue operating the business. He bought Hank’s shares and began growing the business. Through his hard work and dedication, the company (Al Jones Tree Surgeons, LLC) grew rapidly. That’s when James Jones joined the company. In 2000, we became Jones Brothers Tree Surgeons, Inc. We purchased more equipment and expanded our workforce as our business continued to grow.

We were the first on the island to add laptops, printers, and internet access to our trucks giving us the ability to print estimates on the spot and e-mail photographs to property owners who live out of state.

We take pride in doing the best job possible for our customers. When we get calls and notes from our clients complimenting our crew’s work, we know that we have done our job. We are here to serve you and we want to be the best at what we do. It’s just that simple.

Clay Jones joined our company in 2013 and is the current owner. Clay has a background in investments as a stock broker. He began as a crew member learning the business and has incorporated his knowledge in business and accounting to Jones Brothers growing business.

Dylan Bakels, an islander of 10+ years, joined our team in 2022. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in Environmental Studies. Dylan has earned his certification as an ISA arborist and in Tree Risk Assessment Qualification. He serves customers on the south end of the island and as our licensed Spray Technician.