Dear Davey Tree Shareholder:

We will report on our operations at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, entertain any discussion, vote on the matters identified in this Proxy Statement, and consider other business matters properly brought before the meeting.

The Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and the Proxy Statement describe the matters to be acted upon at the meeting. Regardless of the number of shares you own, your vote on these matters is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting by virtual presence online, we urge you to cast your vote signby following the instructions provided on the Notice of Internet Availability or the proxy card you received by mail to vote via Internet, by telephone or by mailing a completed and returnsigned proxy card. Your vote before the annual meeting will ensure representation of your common shares at the annual meeting. Even if you have given your proxy, card. If you later decide to vote in person at the meeting, you will have an opportunity to revoke your proxy by attending and vote by ballot.

Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2018April 13, 2020 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof.

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider, and we encourage you to read the entire Proxy Statement, and our2019 Annual Report onand the 2019 Form 10-K before voting. In this Proxy Statement, the terms "Davey," "Company," "we," and "our" refer to The Davey Tree Expert Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. The charts below are based on Davey's fiscal year ended December 31, 2017,2019, as well as information for the 20162018 and 20152017 fiscal years.

The chart below shows composite percentage values for theeach element of our NEOs' 20172019 compensation. For more information, please see the Summary Compensation Table on page 3242 of this Proxy Statement.

Our Regulations provide for the annual election by the shareholders of those directors in the class whose terms in office expire at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders that year. Our Regulations also provide that the Board of Directors will be divided into three classes consisting of not less than three directors (including vacancies), each whose terms in office will expire in consecutive years. Further, the number of directors may be fixed or changed by the shareholders at any meeting of shareholders called to elect directors at which a quorum is present.

Our Board of Directors is now composed of eightnine directors, and one vacancy, with twothree directors and one vacancy in theeach class whose terms expire in 2018, three directors in the class whose terms expire in 20192020, 2021 and three directors in the class whose terms expire in 2020.2022, respectively. Each of our directors serves for a term of three years and until a successor is elected. If the shareholders vote to elect the nominees listed, we expect one vacancy will exist after the Annual Meeting due to the May 15, 2018 retirement of J. Dawson Cunningham, a director in the class whose term expires in 2020.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, consisting of John E. Warfel,Sandra W. Harbrecht, Committee chair, Donald C. Brown, Patrick M. Covey, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sandra W. Harbrecht,Alejandra Evans, Charles D. Stapleton and Karl J. Warnke, Chairman of the Board, maintains the ongoing practice of identifying, evaluating and recommending future director prospects who will bring interpersonal skills, integrity and the specific business experience needed to effectively serve as a director for The Davey Tree Expert Company and its shareholders.

Directors are responsible for overseeing our business strategy and objectives consistent with their fiduciary duties to shareholders. The Board believes that each director and nominee for director has unique and valuable individual skills and experience that, when taken as a whole, promote the overall management of the Company for the benefit of our shareholders. Moreover, the individual qualifications, accomplishments and characteristics of each of our directors and nominees for director provide us with the variety and depth of knowledge, diversity, judgment and vision necessary to provide effective oversight in guiding our affairs and direction.

We believe that each director and nominee for director has the requisite experience in a variety of fields, including services delivery, industry, transportation, governmental, regulatory, nonprofit, education, and environmental protection, each of which, we believe, provides a diverse range of perspectives, and valuable knowledge and insight concerning various elements of our business.

All directors play an active role in overseeing our business, both at the Board and Committee level. The directors and nominees for director have demonstrated leadership skills in managing business risk and in various aspects of business, government, education and philanthropy, which contributes significantly to fulfilling their responsibility to us and to our shareholders.

The nominees for election as directors for the term expiring in 2021,2023, as well as present directors whose terms will continue after the meeting, appear below.

We believe the Board should represent a broad and diverse spectrum of experienced and qualified individuals who are able to contribute value to our business. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is responsible for the review of and recommendation to the Board of Directors of nominees for election as directors. The Committee works with the full Board to develop criteria for open Board positions, taking into account the factors that it deems appropriate. These factors may include identifying a nominee whose array and diversity of talents, experiences, qualifications, personal attributes, and skills would complement those already represented on the Board; the level of independence from us; our current needs, business priorities, objectives and goals; and the need for a certain specialized expertise. In applying these criteria, the Committee considers a candidate's general understanding of elements relevant to the success of a service company in the current business environment, the understanding of our business and our risk factors, senior operating experience with a service company, public company, or other organizations, a broad understanding of and direct experience in corporate business and service delivery, as well as the candidate's educational and professional background. The Board believes that diversity of professional experience, professional training and personal accomplishments are important factors in determining the composition of the Board. The Committee considers candidates suggested by other Board members, management and shareholders. The Committee may also retain a qualified independent third-party search firm to identify and review candidates. Mr. Stapleton was referred to the Company by Board member Sandra W. Harbrecht.

The minimum qualifications a director nominee should possess include depth of knowledge in the nominee's field, diversity of experience and background, demonstrated judgment and vision to oversee and guide our business.

Once a prospective nominee has been identified, the Committee will make an initial determination as to whether to continue with a full review and evaluation. In making this determination, the Committee will take into account all information provided to the Committee, as well as the Committee's own expertise and experience. The Committee will then consider the potential candidate to ensure he or she has exhibited the criteria that the Committee has established for the position, as well as the time and desire to effectively carry out their duties and responsibilities.

If the prospective nominee passes the preliminary review, members of the Committee, as well as other Board members as deemed appropriate, will interview the nominee. Upon completion of this process, the Committee will confer and make a recommendation to the Board. The Board, after reviewing the Committee's report, will make the final determination whether to nominate the candidate. Selection for persons identified to be appointed to a Board position will be conducted in the manner described above. Any shareholder who desires to recommend a prospective nominee for the Board should notify our Corporate Secretary in the manner described below in "Shareholder Nominations for Director."

Shareholders may nominate candidates for election as directors by following the procedures and complying with the deadlines specified in our Regulations. Under those procedures, any shareholder who proposes to nominate one or more candidates for election as director must, not less than 30 days prior to the meeting at which the directors are elected, notify the Corporate Secretary of the shareholder's intention to make the nomination and provide the Company with all of the information about each of the candidates as would be required under the rules of the SEC to be included in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of the candidate, including (i) name, age, and business and residence address,addresses, (ii) principal occupations or employment during the last five years, (iii) the number of shares of the Company beneficially owned by the candidate, (iv) transactions between the candidate and the Company, and (v) all other information required under the rules of

the SEC. A copy of the Regulations is available to any shareholder who makes a written request to the Corporate Secretary, and shareholders may submit nominations in writing by sending the submission to the Corporate Secretary, at The Davey Tree Expert Company, 1500 North Mantua Street, Kent, Ohio 44240.

The Board reviews, at least annually, director independence. As part of that review, the Board considers transactions and relationships between each director and any member of his or her family, and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates. Any such relationships are reported under the heading "Transactions with Related-Persons,Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons" in this Proxy Statement. The purpose of this review is to determine whether any relationships or transactions existed or exist that could be considered inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent. Although our common shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") or on any other exchange, with respect to determining if a director or a director nominee is independent, we utilize the SEC approved standards as developed by the NYSE.

The Company also determined by due inquiry that no director has a relationship with our principal independent auditor, ErnstDeloitte & Young LLP.Touche LLP ("Deloitte").

The Membersmembers of each Committee of the Board of Directors are listed in the following table:

The Compensation Committee is composed entirely of independent directors who meet the NYSE's independence standards, which we follow. The Compensation Committee recommends to the Board of Directors the salaries and other compensation of our executive officers, and supervises the administration of our benefit programs.programs and assesses the risk of our compensation policies and practices. As more fully set out in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" in this Proxy Statement, the Compensation Committee does not delegate its authority to set compensation; however, the BoardCompensation Committee does review recommendations from our Chief Executive Officer regarding the compensation of other officers. Furthermore, the Compensation Committee periodically retains outside consultants to review and discuss compensation and benefit plans. The Compensation Committee met two times in 2017.2019.

When utilized, outside consultants are provided with specific instructions relating to the research to be performed. Once engaged to conduct a salary and bonus-level review, the consultants are directed to compare our plans with those of companies of similar size and in similar industries. Similarly, the consultants are directed to compare and contrast benefit plans that are applicable to private and public companies of similar size and with similar governance structures. Findings by the consultants are reviewed by the Compensation Committee and with the full Board, which then makes the final decisions regarding compensation. The Compensation Committee directed the executive officers to engage Pay Governance LLC ("Pay Governance") to review the compensation structure in 2017,2019, which had been previously reviewed and updated in 2015.2017. The next compensation structure review is scheduled to occur in 2019.2021.

Pay Governance has not provided other professional services to date, including advice related to our insurance and employee benefit programs. In order to perform the services that are required of them, Pay Governance does have access to certain confidential information about us; however, they do not participate in the final strategic decision-making process. Further, Pay Governance is compensated on a fee-based structure and no portion of any payment made to them is dependent upon achieving a certain result or is otherwise commission-based.

The Audit Committee is composed entirely of independent directors who meet the independence requirements under the NYSE's listing standards and SEC rules. The Board has determined that Messrs.Mr. Brown and Cunningham qualifyqualifies as an audit committee financial expertsexpert pursuant to the SEC's rules. The Audit Committee met sevenfive times in 2017.2019.

The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities relating to: the integrity of the Company's financial statements and financial reporting process; the Company's systems of internal accounting and financial controls; the performance of the Company's internal and independent auditors; the independent auditors' qualifications and independence; and compliance with the Company's compliance withCode of Conduct and related ethics policies and legal and regulatory requirements. Specifically, the Audit Committee oversees the appointment, engagement, compensation, termination and oversight of the Company's independent auditors, including conducting a review of their independence, reviewing and approving the planned permitted scope of the Company's annual audit, overseeing the independent auditors' audit work, reviewing and preapproving any audit and nonauditpermitted non-audit services that may be performed by the Company's independent auditors, reviewing with management and the Company's independent auditors the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls, and reviewing the Company's critical accounting policies and the application of accounting principles.

In addition, the Audit Committee establishes procedures, as required under applicable law, for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints received by the Company regarding accounting, internal accounting control over financial reporting or auditing matters and the confidential anonymous submission by employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters. The Audit Committee's role also includes meeting to review the Company's annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements with management and the Company's independent auditors. The Audit Committee annually reviews the independence and performance of the independent auditor in connection with any determination of whether to retain the independent auditor or engage another firm as our independent auditor. In the course of these reviews, the Committee considers, among other things, the historical and recent performance, and an analysis of known legal risks and significant proceedings.

Messrs. BrownMr. Stapleton and WarfelMss. Evans and Ms. Harbrecht are independent directors who meet the NYSE's independence standards; the other two Committee members, Messrs. Warnke and Covey, are not. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee screens and recommends candidates for election as directors and recommends committee members and committee chairpersons for appointment by the Board of Directors. The Committee will consider nominees for the Board of Directors recommended by our shareholders.

The Committee also conducts annual performance evaluations of the Board and the committees of the Board.Board and sets and interprets the Board standards for the determination of director independence. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met two times in 2017.2019.

No director has been identified as having a relationship that requires disclosure as a compensation committee interlock.

Non-independent directors may not serve on the Compensation or Audit Committee. Independent directors generally serve on at least two committees.

The Board met fiveeight times in 2017.2019. All incumbent directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the committees on which they served during the period that they served. We encourage our directors to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In 2017,2019, all directors with the exception of Messrs. Cunningham and Ginnour then-serving directors attended the Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The Board recognizes that it is neither possible nor reasonable to eliminate all risk, and that in order to remain competitive, certain risk-taking is an essential element of every business decision and part of our business strategy. However, the Board also understands

Assessing and managing risk is the responsibility of management. It is the responsibility of the Board of Directors to oversee risk management. As part of this responsibility, the Board oversees and reviews certain aspects of our risk management efforts. For example, the Board requires that an annual overall assessment of risk be performed and has delegated this oversight of the process to the Audit Committee. This enterprise-wide risk management assessment is designed to review and identify potential events that may affect us, including cybersecurity risks, manage risks within our risk profile and provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of our objectives. The Audit Committee reviews and discusses with management our major financial risk exposures and the steps management has taken to monitor and control such exposures, including our financial risk assessment and risk management policies. Other strategic and operational risk exposures monitored and assessed by the Board may include regulatory, human capital and reputation risks. In addition, management and the Board have recently focused on risks relating to, and impact on the Company from, the COVID-19 pandemic, and will continue to do so while the situation remains in flux.

We are aware that cybersecurity is an integral part of our risk analysis and discussions. While all entities are at some risk of a cybersecurity attack, the Company has taken steps deemed appropriate by the Company to detect and limit the severity of a cybersecurity attack. These measures include, among other things, robust password requirements, firewalls, and limiting access to sensitive information. To date, the Company is not aware of any successful system-wide cybersecurity attack. The Company maintains employee and customer information and has developed contingencyresponse plans butin the event such information is compromised due to a cybersecurity attack. The Company also has not developed a system-wide cybersecuritythird party on a retainer to assist with forensics and remediation should an attack cost matrix.occur.

Company representatives meet annually in executive session with the Audit Committee. The Manager of Internal Audit and the Chief Financial Officer review with the Audit Committee each year's annual internal audit plan, which focuses on significant areas of financial, operating and compliance risk. The Audit Committee also receives regular reports from management on the results of internal audits.

In addition, each year, our management team conducts an assessment of potential risks facing us and reports its findings to the Audit Committee. Risks are rated as to severity and the likelihood of threat, and management outlines the mitigation efforts associated with each risk. To the

extent management identifies mitigation efforts that were not in place, management identifies the initiative to address the particular situation. The Audit Committee then reports these findings to the full Board to assist in its oversight of risk. The Audit Committee also has oversight of the Company's Compliance Program, which includes regular reports from the General Counsel and Compliance Officer on compliance strategy and management.

As further described under "Compensation Risk Analysis," the Compensation Committee is responsible for the oversight of risks relating to employment policies and our compensation and benefits arrangements. To assist in satisfying these oversight responsibilities, the Committee may retain a compensation consultant and meets regularly with management to understand the financial, human resource and shareholder implications of compensation decisions that are made by the Board. The philosophy, process and rationale the Compensation Committee utilizedutilizes as part of its responsibilities is discussed in detail in the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" included in this Proxy Statement beginning on page 20.27.

Mr. Warnke is theCovey, our President and Chief Executive Officer assumed responsibility as Chairman of our Board of Directors andeffective March 6, 2020 from Mr. Covey isWarnke who retired as chairman but remains on the Board. Mr. Warnke retired in 2017 as our President and Chief Executive Officer. In anticipation of Mr. Warnke’s retirement on July 21, 2017, our Board undertook a detailed reviewOfficer and assessment of our current leadership structure. As part of this assessment, given his long history of leadership within the Company and close working relationship with Mr. Covey, who succeeded Mr. Warnke as Chief Executive Officer, the Board decided it was in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders to have Mr. Warnke continue serving as Chairman of the Board following his retirement as Chief Executive Officer. While this results induring a separation of the roles of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, the Board believes it is appropriatetransition period to separate the positions at this time in order to facilitate a smooth transition to a new Chief Executive Officer and to provideallow Mr. Covey with the opportunity to focus on the day-to-dayday-to day leadership of the Company in his new role as Chief Executive Officer.

Historically, we have combined the positions of chief executive officer and chairman. We believe this is appropriate because we are an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) company and combining the chairman and chief executive officer positions gives our employee-owners a clear leader and improves efficiencies in the decision-making process. Further the newwe have benefited from having a single person setting our tone and direction and having primary responsibility for managing operations. This structure has also provides bothallowed the Board and Mr. Coveyto carry out its oversight responsibilities with the opportunity to draw upon the skills and experiencefull involvement of Mr. Warnke who, as Chairman, continues to provide strategic oversight. our independent directors.

Although the Board has not and does not intend to appoint a lead independent director, the Board believes that it is able to effectively provide independent oversight of our business and affairs, including risks facing the Company, through the composition of our Boardboard of Directorsdirectors and the strong leadership of our independent directors.

OurThe Board continues to believe that no single leadership structure is the most effective in all circumstances and will continue to retain the authority to evaluate and modify the Company’s leadership structure at such times as it deems appropriate. The Board’s role in risk oversight has not impacted our leadership structure.

We have established procedures to permit communications with the Board of Directors regarding the Company. Interested parties may communicate with the Board of Directors by contacting the Chairman, the chairs of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees of the Board, or any independent Directordirector by sending a letter to the following address: The Davey Tree Expert Company, Corporate Secretary, 1500 North Mantua Street, Kent, Ohio 44240.

"Corporate Policies," or by contacting the Corporate SecretaryLegal Department at The Davey Tree Expert Company, 1500 North Mantua Street, Kent, Ohio 44240.

All communications directed to our Board of Directors or Board Committees are reviewed by management and communicated with the appropriate Board member or members.

Our Board of Directors has adopted a written policy regarding related party transactions. Under that policy, all transactions with or involving a related person must be disclosed to and approved in advance by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Further, each officer and director is requested, on an annual basis, to confirm the existence of any related person transaction. Each such transaction must have a legitimate business purpose and be on terms no less favorable than that which could be obtained from unrelated third parties. Related party transactions are considered when determining if a director is deemed to be an independent director.

In 2017,2019, no executive officer, director or director nominee was indebted to us or was a party to any transaction in which any related person would have a direct or indirect material interest. Further, no related person has proposed such a transaction. For purposes of this discussion, a related person is a director, a nominee for director, an executive officer, an immediate family member (including nonrelated persons sharing the same household) of any of these persons, or any entity controlled by any of these persons.

In 1979, the Company was sold to its employees by the family and descendants of the Company's founder. At that time, in addition to the employees purchasing common shares of the Company, the Company formed an Employee Stock Ownership Trust ("ESOP"),ESOP, which was later converted to the 401KSOP and ESOP Plan. The Company has remained largely employee-owned since the sale in 1979, and employee ownership remains a hallmark of the Company. Currently, the Company is one of the largest and oldest ESOP service firms in the United States.

In addition to offering employees a means to earn a paycheck and obtain employee benefits, employees have the opportunity to become shareholders of the Company. This has allowed the Company to grow and become a stable yet progressive institution. Our decisions regarding our business, our growth, and our compensation plans are directly influenced by our employee ownership nature.

The Company provides its shareholders with a process to submit shareholder proposals for consideration at the annual shareholder's meeting. Any shareholder who wishes to submit a proposal to be considered for a vote must follow the requirements set out in SEC Rule 14a-8, which include a shareholder owning at least $2,000 in market value or 1% of Company common stock for at least one year by the date the proposal is submitted. Further, the proposal must be limited to 500 words.