The word “arborist” comes from the Latin word arbor (“tree”) + the suffix –ist (ultimately from the Greek word istos, “one who does”). An arborist, then, literally means “someone who does something with trees,” a derivation that is somewhat unhelpful. More specifically, an arborist is a professional who looks after the care and management of trees.
Anyone with a chainsaw and pruning shears can claim to be an arborist, but not everyone has a base of knowledge and experience to be able to provide the best kinds of “care”. For those who want to look after their trees and keep them alive, the best kind of arborist to hire is an ISA-certified arborist. Certified arborists, in fact, can provide a wide range of tree-related services.
Why is an ISA-certified arborist the best person to provide these services? And what services do they provide?
What is a certified arborist?
A certified arborist is someone who has been certified by an organization called the ISA (International Society of Arboriculture). This body is essentially a guild of tree professionals that bestows its certification only on people who have significant work experience (typically three years of full-time work) or a combination of such experience and education (a college degree with at least four courses in arboriculture counts as the equivalent of two years of work, so another year of experience must be undertaken). To become certified, candidates must also take an extensive examination, covering such topics as
- Tree Biology
- Diagnosis and Treatment
- Tree Protection
- Tree Risk Management
- Soil Management
- Installation and Establishment (planting of trees)
- Safe Work Practices
- Pruning
Certified arborists must also maintain these credentials over time; every three years a certified arborist must either retake the examination or show evidence they have taken 30 units of continuing education coursework.
Certified arborists, therefore, have a scientific understanding of how best to care for trees, and they have work experience doing exactly that. This means they are highly qualified to help with nearly all tree-related matters. Most of these matters involve the care of living trees.
Tree care
Trees can be beautiful, but there are times when this beauty can be reduced. This includes when a tree is diseased, infected with insects, malnourished, and damaged by storms.
Certified arborists are experts in tree biology, so they can diagnose a tree disease and know the best, most up-to-date method to treat it. They can also recognize signs of insect infestations and can remove them from the tree. Arborists can also recognize signs of a tree not getting enough water or problems with the soil. They can provide aeration services to benefit both trees and lawns.
An important element of tree care is pruning, which not only serves to beautify the tree but also to aid in its healthy growth, especially by the removal of dead limbs and branches. Incorrect pruning techniques, such as cutting too close to the trunk, making vertical cuts to the end of branches (often called “tipping”), and worst of all cutting a horizontal swathe off the top of a tree (called “topping”) can hurt and even kill the tree. Arborists know how to cut to preserve the visual appeal and health of the tree.
Furthermore, arborists can provide expert counsel and can implement techniques that will protect trees and the lawn from the dangers of heavy equipment if homeowners have pending construction projects.
Tree removal and addition
Sometimes trees need to be removed: ones damaged beyond repair, for example, or planted in the wrong soil or in a dangerous place. Arborists can first and foremost offer the best guidance on whether removal is necessary, including potential legal issues that might arise from either the tree’s removal (some states have laws that govern how trees can be removed with massive fines for those who do it illegally) or non-removal, such as liability from tree-related property damage. Certified arborists have the right equipment and the right know-how to remove trees safely and efficiently, which includes cleaning up leaves, branches, and bark remaining, and grinding the stump.
If, on the other hand, a tree is to be planted, certified arborists are the best people to assist in this process. They know important facts like whether the soil is best for the potential new tree, whether it is the right season for the planting, what types of pollen it has, and the allergic reactions it might trigger, etc.
Safety first
Caring for trees can be dangerous. Such actions as preventing limbs from reaching power lines, cutting down trees to prevent the fallen tree from damaging property or people, grinding stumps, and pruning limbs at the very height of a tree’s crown can all involve hazards from operating machinery or climbing high. Certified arborists know this (“safe work practices” is a section on their examination) and will have the right skills and equipment to perform these tasks without risking the life and limb of either the tree or a person.
The certified arborists at Promier Tree can furnish all these services to those in the Tri-Cities. In fact, Promier Tree offers a wide range of landscaping and arboricultural services. For a consultation, fill out the form on the website or call (423) 872-2988 for help in creating or maintaining beautiful and healthy lawns and trees.