Understanding Tree Care Professionals and Arborists
If you are worried about the potential damage or other problems that trees on your property may be causing or the lack of visual appeal that the trees may bring, hiring specialists is a must. This is where the value of hiring an arborist stems from.
However, what are arborists and how are they useful and why should I hire an arborist as opposed to any other specialist? For the trees to outlive the majority of the other plants on your property and to remain in your landscape, hiring a certified arborist is definitely the preferred option.
What is an Certified Arborist?
An arborist is a professional, specialized in the art and science of planting and caring for individual trees. That is like being a doctor for trees. The best arborists get certifications. Getting a certification is not easy. It involves taking and passing an extensive test created by leading authorities on tree care to become a certified arborist.
The leading certifying organization is the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), and having their credentials indicates a certain degree of arboriculture expertise.
In order to sit for the ISA exam, an applicant must possess either three or more years of continuous, hands-on experience working in the tree care industry or hold a degree in arboriculture, horticulture, landscape architecture, or forestry from an accredited institution.
After completing this experience, the test-taker must be familiar with the complexities of trees at the biological level, as well as the best management strategies for working with trees. For this reason, when searching for tree care providers, always check for their credentials. A certified arborist has entered this profession with an unparalleled knowledge base.
Why should you hire an arborist?
Although unqualified individuals may offer tree care services, certified arborists stand out from the rest by being tree specialists. This important distinction should be noted. A general landscaper integrates services like lawn mowing and shrub trimming, while an arborist focuses solely on the care of trees. The training an arborist undergoes covers tree biology, soil science, disease diagnosis, pruning and removal, and safe works practices. This is specialized knowledge for which a handyman or general gardener does not have a frame of reference.
Thinking of tree care as an investment is a great viewpoint to have. If their trees are well taken care of, people can have an increase in property value, in some cases, as much as 15%. Trees are great to have, giving shade, bettering air quality, and improving the look of a place.
For example, a fully grown Oak, like the Pin Oak, can be a great centerpiece to have. Pin Oaks are loved for their beautiful plaster but fall color and are also known for having a disease called iron chlorosis that occurs in alkaline soils. If this is the case, an arborist can examine the tree and, if it is determined that there is a nutrient deficiency, suggest soil treatments to make the tree healthier.
However, trees that are neglected can become a huge liability. If a tree becomes diseased or is weak, it is a danger as it can fall, breaking limbs and causing property damage or personal injuries. These risks can be very serious. An arborist can spot these risks and offer a way to remove or lessen the danger.
The Core Services an Arborist Provides
Every arborist has their own unique set of skills that give them the ability to service a tree for the entire life cycle with care. Knowing these skills can help someone know when it is the right time to reach out.
Pruning
For a tree to be healthy and look good, getting it pruned is important. An arborist knows best when it comes to dead wooding, improving the structure of the tree, and encouraging growth. They know that tree topping is a bad practice that causes more harm than good. Rather, they make their own selective cuts to achieve what they want to aim for without losing the tree's goals.
Tree Removal
Removal of a tree is usually a last resort, but is sometimes necessary. An arborist must step in when a tree is dead, dying, deadweight, or in the way of planned construction. They have been trained to remove a tree in a safe and stepwise manner, often having to use a piece of equipment to take apart the tree and to do so without breaking anything around the tree.
Emergency Tree Care
After storms hit, trees can leave a huge mess of broken branches and fallen trees. Hanging broken branches can be very dangerous and might require the help of an arborist to make the situation safe. Arborists have the skills and equipment to reduce risk to the surrounding property.
Plant Health Care and Disease Management
Does your favorite maple tree seem sick? An arborist can be your plant sleuth. They can problem solve things like bug infestations and plant-destroying sickness. For example, many Dogwood trees suffer from anthracnose, a sickness that causes ugly leaf spots and dying twigs. An arborist can tell you what kind of sickness it is and take measures like applying fungicides, watering, and fertilizing to create a tree care program to strengthen the tree's defenses.
Planting
Long term success starts with the right tree and location. An arborist can give you guidance and suggestions on what tree species to plant based on what will thrive where you are, the type of soil, sun exposure, and your climate. They can offer a great variety of choices such as fast growing privacy trees like the Thuja Green Giant or flowering trees like the Crape Myrtle.
How to Find the Most Suitable Arborist
Before hiring someone to take care of your trees, you must make sure you have the right expert for the job. The most reliable method of hiring an arborist is also the most sure way, which is getting references from friends or neighbors who have hired an arborist before.
If you want to make sure your arborist is correctly certified, you can go to the ISA website and use their ‘Find and Arborist’ tool. When hiring an arborist, you should ask for proof of their certification and insurance, and worker's compensation insurance. This way you can use their insurance if anything should happen to be damaged on your property.
Trees increase the aesthetic value of the home and the property in general, and to take the investment even further, you should care for your trees. The partnership will increase the value of the trees and, at the same time, make the property look even more beautiful.
Finding the Right Trees for Your Property
If you are looking to add some trees to your property, you will need to find the right ones. Depending on the other trees you choose or the privacy you need to add, you might choose a fast-growing privacy tree, flowering dogwoods, or a great oak tree.
It is essential to purchase high-quality specimens to make the other trees you choose last. The TN Nursery has the best selection of flowering and hardwood trees, as well as other healthy plants to help you start your landscaping project.
FAQs
What does an arborist do?
An arboreal specialist is a professional in the care of individual trees, shrubs, and other plants. Their work is in planting, pruning, removal, and post-removal care including the diagnosis of the trees' diseases.
What is the best pay for an arborist?
Depending on experience, certification, location, and field, arborist earnings will differ. Those with higher-level certificates will be more likely to earn the six-figure range, especially if they own a consulting arborist business.
What is the difference between a tree service and an arborist?
Most of the basic cutting and removal of trees is offered by tree services. Certified arborists provide services based on extensive education, while also studying the tree's health for the long term to ensure trees are safe.
Is being an arborist a hard job?
Yes, it is quite hard. Arborists have to climb, use a lot of different tools, and can work in all weather. That is why it takes a lot of training and is physically and mentally demanding.
How do arborists make money?
Arborists can provide a lot of different kinds of services to make money. Some of these services include; trimming and removing trees, grinding stumps, offering plant health care, and diagnosing plant diseases. There is also emergency work during storms.
Do arborists cut trees?
Yes, but arborists have a reason for it. Removing unhealthy trees and bettering the health of the remaining trees by pruning is the overall goal of an arborist.
