As a homeowner, you’ll find yourself learning about many new subjects you never thought about before. One of these topics may be trees.

You must consider tree care services and maintenance in many different situations: a fallen tree, a damaged tree, or an unsightly tree stump. You may want to hang a swing from a tree. Or you might just want the trees on your property to look nice.

As with many things, you can find different levels of expertise for different types of projects.

Anybody with a chainsaw and a truck can deal with removing a tree stump from your lawn. But that person you found through a friend of a friend may not be able to help you develop a long-term care plan for your trees.

That’s where a certified arborist comes into play.

Arborists, certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), specialize in tree art, science, and care. Sometimes referred to as “tree surgeons,” they are trained experts in planting, caring for, and maintaining trees. They must pass exams to remain certified and continue their education to stay up-to-date on current techniques and practices in arboriculture.

While some jobs involving general maintenance of trees can be taken care of by your standard tree service or landscaper, others are best serviced by a true, certified arborist.

An arborist can be much more proactive and forward-thinking regarding your trees. You may see a damaged tree that needs to be removed, but an arborist may see a tree that can be rescued and improved with some work.

Arborists can help you by:

• Determining the type of pruning needed to maintain or improve the health and appearance of trees
• Advising on when a tree should be removed
• Providing emergency tree care
• Recommending (and planting) tree species that are appropriate for specific places
• Installing lightning protection systems
• Consulting on legal issues related to trees

You can learn more about arborists and their specific jobs on ISA’s TreesAreGood.org website.

If you want to be sure you are hiring an arborist and not just a “tree guy,” there are some specific topics you can ask about:

• Is the arborist a member of ISA, and are they certified?
• Do they have the licenses and insurance required in your state or province?
• Do they have references from people who needed similar work done?

Similarly to any contractor you hire to work in your home or on your property, you’ll want to get multiple estimates (but don’t automatically go with the lowest one) and get all estimates and expected work detailed in writing.

 

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