Hart makes tree care a high-flying career

Frankie Hart, owner and operator of Hart Tree Care, provides tree care that benefits both nature and people.

  • Lexington’s Frankie Hart, owner and operator of Hart Tree Care, wears his tree-climbing gear. He used his skills to help clear debris during Hurricane Helene relief efforts in North Carolina. (Emily Adams/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Lexington’s Frankie Hart, owner and operator of Hart Tree Care, wears his tree-climbing gear. He used his skills to help clear debris during Hurricane Helene relief efforts in North Carolina. (Emily Adams/The Oglethorpe Echo)
  • Frankie Hart walks along a limb after climbing a tree to demonstrate his skill aloft. He’s owned and operated Hart Tree Care for slightly more than a year. (Emily Adams/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    Frankie Hart walks along a limb after climbing a tree to demonstrate his skill aloft. He’s owned and operated Hart Tree Care for slightly more than a year. (Emily Adams/The Oglethorpe Echo)
  • As pictured this past winter, Hart assisted with Hurricane Helene relief work in Asheville and Black Mountain, North Carolina. Hart spent around six months contributing to relief efforts. (Submitted Photo)
    As pictured this past winter, Hart assisted with Hurricane Helene relief work in Asheville and Black Mountain, North Carolina. Hart spent around six months contributing to relief efforts. (Submitted Photo)
  • On Friday, Sept. 5, Hart sets up his equipment to ensure a safe climb. Hart wears the proper personal protection equipment for climbs. (Emily Adams/The Oglethorpe Echo)
    On Friday, Sept. 5, Hart sets up his equipment to ensure a safe climb. Hart wears the proper personal protection equipment for climbs. (Emily Adams/The Oglethorpe Echo)

     

    Frankie Hart, owner and operator of Hart Tree Care, offers tree removal, pruning, cabling and bracing, contract climbing, cat rescues and 24/7 emergency services — with the safety of both nature and people in mind.

     

    “He has a vision for the tree, the health of the tree, the landscape, and his protection of not only the surrounding ecosystem, but also the animals and even the insects that live in the tree, he has a concern for protecting those as well,” said Aimee Wheeler, a customer and friend.

     

    Hart’s business has been running for a little over a year, but his interest in becoming an arborist is nearly 2½ decades in the making.

     

    The views from being high in trees, along with the industry’s positive impacts, captivated him. 

     

    “What got me into it was seeing somebody repel down from about 90-foot (tree) the first time,” said Hart, who lives in Lexington. “I just started climbing to the top of trees and coming down as fast as I could, as fast as my rope system would let me.” 

     

    Hart is known for the technical difficulty of his work, beyond the ability of cranes and younger, less-experienced climbers. Proper equipment to achieve tasks of higher levels is key without sacrificing his safety. 

     

    More specifically, his safety equipment includes a foot ascender and a knee ascender in order to climb the tree through a rope system. Hart also wears the proper personal protection equipment and ties the base tie and alpine butterfly knot onto his rope.

     

    Hart, who is working toward earning his International Society of Arboriculture arborist certification, has also used his skills outside Oglethorpe County. He spent around six months contributing to relief efforts in Asheville and Black Mountain, North Carolina, after Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

     

    “That was the most devastation I've ever seen in my life,” Hart said. “So, it just made me keep going.”

     

    With more than 20 years of experience, Hart said he knows both the risks and rewards of tree care. 

     

    “It’s almost like he’s a part of it — a part of the trees — and it’s where he belongs,” Wheeler said. 

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