Eric Putnam BCMA

02/06/2026

Pine bark beetles are small, but the damage they cause can be severe and fast-moving.

As we enter peak activity season, pine trees that looked healthy just weeks ago can begin showing sudden decline. These insects attack beneath the bark, disrupt the tree’s ability to move water and nutrients, and can place nearby pines at risk when conditions are favorable.

Watch for these warning signs:

• Popcorn-like pitch tubes on the trunk
• Fine boring dust in bark crevices or around the base
• Needles fading from green to yellow, then red-brown
• Bark loosening or flaking
• Rapid decline in one pine followed by stress in nearby pines

Do not wait to see if the tree improves. Bark beetle problems can progress quickly, and early diagnosis is often the difference between preservation and removal.

Eric Putnam BCMA Inc. provides Pine Bark Beetle inspections, treatability assessments, and targeted Plant Health Care recommendations for valuable pines.

Schedule a pine bark beetle inspection here:
https://www.ericputnambcma.com/plant-health-care/pine-bark-beetle-treatment

📞 (832) 385-1836

Pine bark beetle evaluation and targeted treatment recommendations based on host condition, activity level, and practical site context.

27/05/2026

PHC & IPM Spray Technician

Starting at $20/hr | Full-Time | Year-Round Position | Hiring Immediately
Click here to apply:
https://www.ericputnambcma.com/join-our-team/phc-ipm-technician

Are you dependable, interested in tree care, comfortable working outdoors in a physically active role, and eager to deepen your knowledge of the trees and landscapes around you? Eric Putnam BCMA Inc. is a specialized tree care and plant health care company serving the Greater Houston Area, known for expert-level arboriculture, science-based treatments, and professional client care.

We are seeking a PHC & IPM Spray Technician to join our Plant Health Care team. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys hands-on field work, can follow detailed instructions, takes safety seriously, and wants to grow in the tree care and plant health care industry.

About the Role:

As a PHC & IPM Spray Technician, you will be responsible for completing scheduled plant health care treatments in the field based on predefined work orders. Treatments are prescribed in advance by Consulting Arborists, and your role is to complete the work safely, accurately, efficiently, and exactly as written.

This is a production-focused field position. PHC technicians do not diagnose tree problems or prescribe treatments. Your responsibility is to properly execute the assigned scope of work, document treatment details, maintain equipment, and represent the company professionally while working on residential and commercial properties.

A typical day includes preparing materials, loading and checking equipment, driving a company vehicle on a scheduled route, completing treatments at multiple properties, documenting application details, and returning equipment in clean, working condition.

Key Responsibilities:

Complete scheduled plant health care treatments based on assigned work orders

Apply treatments such as foliar sprays, soil injections, root-zone treatments, fertilization, and nutrient applications

Follow all treatment instructions exactly as written by Consulting Arborists

Mix, measure, and handle products safely and accurately according to label requirements, safety procedures, and company standards

Operate spray rigs, tanks, pumps, hoses, chainsaws, loppers, and other application equipment

Maintain clean, organized, and functional work trucks and equipment

Drive to multiple properties across the Greater Houston Area on a route-based schedule

Work efficiently while maintaining accuracy, safety, and professionalism

Document all treatment information through the company’s cloud-based ERP system

Position Requirements:

Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record

Willingness to pursue continued education and industry certifications

Ability to work outdoors in heat, humidity, rain, and changing weather conditions

Reliability, consistency, and pride in completing work correctly

Ability to work independently in the field while staying accountable to the team

Comfortable with physically demanding work, including handling equipment and materials throughout the day

Receptive to training, feedback, coaching, and redirection

Self-motivated, safety-minded, and able to maintain pace across multiple stops

Preferred Experience:

Prior spray technician, pest control, landscaping, nursery, agriculture, or tree care industry related experience

Experience operating spray equipment, tanks, pumps, hoses, chainsaws, loppers, or other hand held equipment.

Familiarity with plant health care, fertilization, pest control, or IPM practices

ISA Certified Arborist Certification and Texas Department of Agriculture applicator license are strongly preferred but not required to start. Candidates must be willing and committed to obtaining these credentials as part of the position.

Why Join Us?

At Eric Putnam BCMA Inc., we don’t just provide tree services, we set the standard for arboriculture and plant health care in the Greater Houston Area. Our company is built around expert-level tree care, science-based treatments, honest client education, and a commitment to doing the job the right way.

We are a family-oriented team that values hard work, clear communication, accountability, safety, and personal growth. As part of our PHC team, your work directly contributes to the health of trees and landscapes across the region.

At Eric Putnam BCMA Inc., you will be part of a workplace that values quality over shortcuts, education over guesswork, and teamwork over ego. If you want a hands-on field role with structure, training, and a clear path into the tree care industry, this is a great place to grow.

Join our team as a PHC IPM Technician and help deliver science-based plant health care, pest management, and arborist-led service in Greater Houston.

27/05/2026

Onboarder
$25/hr starting | Full-Time | Hiring Immediately
Click here to apply:
https://www.ericputnambcma.com/join-our-team/office-onboarder

Are you highly organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about creating a smooth, professional client experience? Eric Putnam BCMA Inc. is a specialized tree care and consulting company serving the greater Houston area, known for our expert-level arboriculture expertise, plant health care, and client education. We are seeking an Onboarder to join our office team and help create a smooth, professional experience for every client. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment, communicates clearly, works well with a team, and takes pride in handling details accurately so clients are guided to the right services with confidence.

About the Role:

As our Onboarder, you’ll be the first point of contact for clients and play a key role in scheduling, communication, and ensuring every customer receives a professional experience. You’ll manage the inbox, coordinate estimator schedules, and work closely with our Expeditor to keep projects on track. This roles combines independent work with cross-team coordination to ensure seamless customer experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Answer phone calls and emails promptly with professionalism
• Collect and accurately enter customer information into company systems
• Manage and organize the company inbox, responding quickly to emails when necassary
• Schedule appointments for estimators, balancing urgency, customer needs, and travel time
• Coordinate with the Expeditor to ensure a smooth client journey from first contact to job completion
• Provide onboarding support and clear communication throughout the client experience
• Step in to support other office functions and administrative tasks as needed

• Uses down time productively

What We’re Looking For:

• Professional written and verbal communication skills

• Excellent attention to detail and a strong sense of organization

• Receptive to feedback, coaching, and redirection

• Thrives in a high-volume and high-stress work environment

• Problem-solving mindset with quick decision-making skills

• Self-motivated and takes initiative

• Comfort with technology and fluency in software platforms (training provided)

• Team-oriented with the ability to collaborate across departments

Why Join Us?

At Eric Putnam BCMA Inc., we don’t just provide tree services, we set the standard for arboriculture in the Greater Houston Area. Our company is built around expert-level tree care, plant health care, honest client education, and a commitment to doing the job the right way. As part of our team, you’ll be joining a respected, growing company with a reputation for professionalism, knowledge, and high-quality service.

We are a family-oriented team that values hard work, clear communication, accountability, and personal growth. We want our employees to feel supported, challenged, and proud of the work they do each day. Whether you are helping a client schedule their first appointment, organizing important details behind the scenes, or supporting our field team, your role matters and directly contributes to the client experience.

At Eric Putnam BCMA Inc., you will be part of a workplace that values quality over shortcuts, education over guesswork, and teamwork over ego. We care about creating positive experiences not only for our clients, but also for the people who help our company run every day. If you want to be part of a professional, purpose-driven company where your attention to detail, communication skills, and work ethic are genuinely valued, this is a great place to grow.

Apply for our Office Onboarder role. Join a tree care team focused on client communication, scheduling, onboarding, and office support.

19/05/2026

When done correctly, mulch helps retain moisture, moderate soil temperature, improve soil structure, and protect the tree’s critical root zone. When done incorrectly, especially when piled against the trunk, mulch can encourage girdling roots that grow around the tree instead of away from it. Over time, those roots can restrict the tree’s vascular system and contribute to decline.

Thank you to Texas A&M for sharing this helpful visual.

When it comes to mulch, think wide and flat. Not deep and piled high and NOTHING touching the trunk.

One simple way to support tree health is proper mulching. A layer of mulch helps retain moisture, reduce competition from grass and protect trees from damage caused by lawn equipment.

Over time, mulch also breaks down and improves soil conditions around the tree.

Proper care now can help trees stay healthier through the hotter months ahead.

Learn more about mulching: https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/trees/tree-care/mulching/

14/05/2026

The cheapest tree work quote is not always the best value.

A low price may feel like a win today, but poor pruning, rushed cuts, lack of insurance, or unqualified work can cost far more later. Damaged trees, safety risks, property damage, and expensive removals are often the real price of cutting corners.

Your trees are living assets. They provide shade, beauty, curb appeal, and long-term value to your property. They deserve more than the cheapest option.

Before choosing a tree company, ask what is included, who is doing the work, whether they are insured, and whether a Certified Arborist is involved.

Read our latest blog to learn why the lowest bid may not be the best deal for your trees or your property:
https://www.ericputnambcma.com/why-the-cheapest-tree-work-quote-is-not-always-the-best-value

Before choosing the cheapest tree service, learn how proper pruning, insurance, training, safety practices, and arborist expertise protect your trees and property!

12/05/2026

Even experienced arborists still encounter cases that make them stop, look closer, and investigate.

Our founder and Board Certified Master Arborist, Eric Putnam, recently noticed something unusual happening with two red oak group trees in his own front yard. While surrounding oaks across the neighborhood were leafing out normally, these trees showed delayed growth, deadwood, abnormal leaves, and scattered branch flagging.

At first, the symptoms appeared to point toward long-term herbicide stress. But after a closer inspection by multiple generations of arborists in the family, the real culprit was found hidden inside the twigs: Black Twig Borers, a type of ambrosia beetle known to attack stressed trees.

This case was a strong reminder that tree decline is rarely as simple as it first appears. Stress, soil conditions, herbicide exposure, insect activity, and environmental factors can all overlap, which is why proper diagnosis matters.

If you have noticed random branch flagging, delayed leaf development, or unexplained canopy decline, it may be worth taking a closer look.

Read more on our Liriope’s Muse blog.

Even the professionals can sometimes be 'stumped.' Check out this week's blog, where we discuss how we came to a diagnosis at family dinner!

24/04/2026

Tree care is not just about showing up with a chainsaw, sprayer, or truck. It is about understanding what a tree needs, what it can tolerate, and how today’s decisions affect its long-term health and safety.

At Eric Putnam BCMA, we are proud to have a team built around professional arboricultural knowledge. Our staff includes one ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and five ISA Certified Arborists, giving our clients access to a deeper level of experience, training, and science-based tree care.
We are proud of the team we have built, and even more proud of the standard of care they bring to the field every day.

Meet the certified arborists behind our work:

Get to know the ISA-certified arborist team at Eric Putnam BCMA, led by Eric Putnam, serving clients with expert tree care guidance.

17/04/2026

Some tree deaths are not accidents.

Our arborists have seen cases of trees intentionally poisoned with herbicides, from drilled trunks to suspicious landscape sabotage. This blog shares real stories from the field that read like true crime, but they are very real, and very costly.

If you think a tree on your property is suddenly declining for no clear reason, this is a must-read.
https://www.ericputnambcma.com/death-by-herbicide-true-crime-stories-from-our-arborists

This blog covers 3 real accounts given by our arborists, detailing real tree murders they’ve witnessed. Reader discretion advised.

09/04/2026

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of planting 6 more Florida Sabal Palms at Pier 6 in San Leon, along Galveston Bay. These palms were shipped directly from the fields in Florida, and this installation was a special one because each tree had to be set with extreme precision to line up perfectly with the 6 Florida Sabal Palms we planted two years ago on the opposite side of the bulkhead.

Projects like this take more than just equipment and manpower. They take planning, patience, and attention to every detail. From unloading and staging the palms to setting each tree in place, our crew worked carefully to make sure the spacing, alignment, and overall presentation came together exactly as intended.

These sabal palms will enhance the waterfront setting and create a clean, symmetrical waterfront view for years to come. We are proud to be part of bringing this vision to life, and we appreciate the opportunity to continue building on the work we started here at Pier 6.

Here are a few photos from the process and the finished result.

03/04/2026

Thinking about hanging a tree swing this season?

Before you throw a rope over the nearest branch, take a minute to make sure you are doing it safely, both for your family and for the tree. In the latest Liriope’s Muse post, we break down how to choose the right branch, what warning signs to avoid, and why proper hardware matters.

Read it here:

A practical guide to choosing the right backyard tree for a swing and installing it in a way that protects long-term tree health.