Professional Fruit Tree Trimmer?

[ceresone]

I've ran a ad on several of the local yahoo groups I belong to, to try to find a trimmer for my fruit trees, after they go dormant.
What should I look for, in the person? As far as determining if they actually know what they're doing? And--any suggestions on what would be a fair price?
These are semi-dwarf, and dwarf trees.

[Randy Rooster]

why dont you trim your own? It isnt rocket science- I did it to help pay my way through school working for one of the local orchardists.

[ceresone]

Well, to start with, I dont really know what I'm doing--and I'd like to get them into the correct shape.
Secondly--LOL-I'm afraid to climb too far onto a ladder, with my 71 st birthday next week-and some of the tress will need a step ladder.

[neolady]

Just a note on the stepladder - you do not need to climb a ladder to prune trees the size you are describing, all you need is a pole trimmer. You can reach approximately 16 feet with one of the smaller units.