ARBORISTS

WHAT THEY DO AND WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE ONE

If you have trees on your property, you know the many benefits they can bring: they provide shade, they help keep your home private, and they require very little input from you to grow tall and majestic. However, because they grow without input, they can sometimes get out of control. Trees are no respecters of property lines, nor of health and safety concerns. As such, you sometimes need to intervene and trim the branches or, in extreme cases, to cut the tree down the tree entirely.

When you do need to cut down a tree, there is the enduring question of whether you should hire a professional arborist to do so. A professional will not only have all the tools and equipment, as well as the expertise but will also be far safer at completing the job than an amateur. Working with trees can be extremely dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.

According to OSHA, there are over 100 landscape and tree fall fatalities in the United States each year.

This guide will walk you through other reasons why you should hire an arborist, as well as giving an overview of the tasks that arborists can help you with.

WHAT IS
AN ARBORIST?

The Latin word arbor means tree, and this gives us the root of the word ‘arborist.’
An arborist is someone who studies the structure and function of trees. This includes the following aspects:

Growth

Cultivation

Pruning

Tree diseases

Tree decay

Tree surgery

You can therefore think of an arborist as a tree doctor (or a tree veterinarian).

Essentially,

if you have a problem with a tree, an arborist is the person to call. The big difference between a tree service technician and an arborist is that an arborist can help to keep a tree healthy rather than simply cutting it down. Arborists may also be able to consult on shrubs, vines, and other woody plants.

If you suspect your tree has a disease, an arborist will not only be able to diagnose the disease but advise how best to save the tree and to prevent the disease from spreading.

An arborist is more than just a self-designated label; it is a recognized profession, with a certification exam. The arborist exam is well known for being a rigorous examination of tree knowledge.

In addition, in order to become qualified as an arborist, an individual needs a minimum of three years of field experience. Qualified arborists are required to stay abreast of the latest developments in tree technology. Hiring an arborist means you are getting a true professional to work on your trees.

WHAT DO
ARBORISTS DO?

As mentioned above, arborists are generalists, tasked with aiding and consulting on all tree-related issues.

However, their role generally can be grouped into the following tasks:

Tree Pruning

Tree pruning is probably the most common task an arborist will do. When a tree has grown unchecked, it often needs a little pruning. This can involve small parts of the tree all the way through to entire limbs and large branches. Pruning promotes healthy growth for a tree, as it can remove deadwood. It’s also a great way to protect the tree as it can prevent a tree from becoming infested with insects or disease. An arborist will not only be able to advise on pruning but will be able to prune the tree themselves.

Tree Removal

The role of an arborist is usually to save a tree, and do whatever it takes to prevent a tree from needing to be removed. However, in some circumstances, a tree may be beyond saving and you will need tree removal service. Alternatively, you may simply want the tree to be removed. An arborist is trained on how to remove a tree in the safest and most efficient manner possible.

Tree Planting

Having a professional plant a tree for you in the first place is a great way to ensure that you have the right tree for the conditions, that it is planted in the right place, and that you give it every chance to grow into a strong and healthy tree. An arborist will be able to advise on every step of the process (including actually doing the planting themselves). Arborists are also able to advise on how to grow trees and plants symbiotically, therefore ensuring a healthy ecosystem on your property.

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Emergency Tree Care

The vast majority of an arborist’s role is covered by the list above. However, they also offer relatively niche services related to trees. Some of which you may not have suspected fall under an arborist’s remit.

These tasks include the following:

  • Insect control
  • Fertilization (and fertilization advice)
  • Cabling
  • Aeration
  • Lightning protection
  • Identification of disease and parasites
  • Providing support to trees
  • Removing damaging invasive plants
As a rule, if you have a problem related to trees – even tangentially – you can call in an arborist. Even an initial contact with an arborist will determine whether this is a problem they can help you with. However, because their remit is broad, it is likely they will be able to offer support and guidance for your tree-related problems.

WHY HIRE
AN ARBORIST

The best reason to hire an arborist is that they are trained professionals who can advise on a wide range of tree-related problems. You can learn about finding an arborist near you here.

However, there are wider reasons why it is important to take care of your trees, rather than leaving them relatively neglected.

These include the following:

1

Proper tree care can be an investment. There are two ways to see this: firstly, if you spend the money to hire an arborist so that your trees grow healthily, your property is more likely to increase in value. Secondly, if you don’t spend the money, and the trees on your property are unhealthy, a prospective buyer will view the trees as a liability, and it will reduce the value of your property.

2

Safety: Even minor work on a tree can be dangerous. Pruning branches requires you to climb the tree, which is a risk. On top of that, falling branches can cause damage to property and pose a risk to nearby people and animals. As such, it’s simply not worth the money saved.

3

Aesthetics: Well-cared-for trees look nicer and therefore provide a greater boost to mental health and the overall look of your home. Living in a nicer environment is a very intangible thing to put a price on, but it’s difficult to argue that it’s not worth spending money on.

CERTIFIED
ARBORISTS

There are many people who will undertake arborist-type work without having the qualifications an arborist may have.

They will often be able to do this work at a cheaper price than a professional arborist. However, cutting corners here is a false economy, and is not recommended. There are many reasons why hiring a certified arborist is important.

These include the following:

Insurance

Hiring a certified arborist ensures you hire someone who is insured. This protects you financially against any damage they may incur while on your property (either injury leading to medical costs, or direct damage to property). Licensed arborists must carry workplace safety insurance as well as liability insurance. Ask to see any certificates before work starts.

Training

The International Society of Arboriculture is one of the certifying bodies for arborists. They not only require an arborist to pass a qualifying exam but provide ongoing training in the latest techniques and knowledge. This ensures that an arborist will be able to safely work on your property based on the most up-to-date knowledge.

Hiring someone unlicensed or unqualified means you don’t get someone trained or insured, and there are myriad things that can go wrong. It’s simply not worth the savings.
According to the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), for arborists, the fatal accident rate is roughly 10 times the average for all industries.
For loggers, the fatal accident rate is 30 times higher than the average. The biggest argument for choosing to work with an arborist, therefore, is safety.
Having someone efficiently and safely remove parts of your tree is well worth the expense. After all, you can’t put a price on safety.
ON TOP OF THIS,

an arborist will be able to advise as to what your tree actually needs - acting as a consultant is an important role. If you do decide to hire an arborist, you can use our guide to help you pick the right person for the job. Hiring an arborist can be pricey, but it’s far less expensive than if you don’t and something goes wrong.

Hiring an arborist can be pricey, but it’s far less expensive than if you don’t and something goes wrong.