Tree Care: Why You Should Hire a Professional Arborist

By Steven Harrisson, December 21, 2021

What Is an Arborist?

An arborist or as some might call them, tree surgeons, are experts in the field of tree maintenance. From choosing the right fertilizer and getting rid of pests, to providing emergency tree removal services, they are professionally trained to handle any tree-related tasks. By having your trees taken care of by these people, you eliminate any possible risks and damage you might face if you leave them unattended or try to do the job yourself. Pruning or removing trees, particularly huge ones, maybe a hazardous job. Only individuals who are trained and equipped properly for the job should perform this type of work.

Services an Arborist Can Provide

Tree Removal

Tree removal is done with the purpose of getting rid of dead and dying trees, as well as trees that have become unsafe to be around. This procedure can also be necessary if the tree is preventing other plants from getting enough sunlight, or causing obstruction of any kind. Since it’s the most dangerous operation an arborist can face, it requires a degree of knowledge that only a professional can provide. Many people have done damage that could’ve been avoided if an arborist has handled the situation.

Tree removal can also be necessary for emergency situations. Storms can bring down branches or entire trees, which often fall on other trees, structures, or cars. Storm-damaged trees are heavy, and removing or trimming them can be risky. Arborists offer emergency tree removal services that can help you safely complete the task while avoiding risking your safety and property damage.

Pruning

With pruning being the most frequent type of tree care, it can be required for various reasons, including improved health, look, and safety of the trees. An arborist can help you figure out just what kind of pruning procedure you’ll need. It usually involves removing branches that

• Interfere with utilities or structures;
• Obstruct the flow of traffic or sidewalks;
• Have been damaged by storms;
• Are rotten or insect-infested.

To keep a mature tree healthy, safe, and appealing, certain pruning techniques may be used.

• Cleaning – the process of removing dead, dying, diseased, poorly connected, or low-vigor branches from the tree;
• Thinning – the removal of individual branches to enhance the structure and allow more sunlight and air into the top;
• Thinning – a tree properly opens the foliage, decreases the weight on heavy branches, and aids in the preservation of the tree’s original shape;
• Raising a tree – this means removing the lowest branches to provide room for structures, cars, and people, as well as providing a better overall look.

Planting

An arborist can offer help by choosing the appropriate type of tree to plant according to your environment. Selecting the wrong tree can cause future problems for your home and property. You may face the risk of your trees dying or not growing properly if they aren’t planted in the correct way. So, by getting the help of experts, you cast out all the time and energy that would’ve been wasted if you tried to do the job by yourself

Proper Tree Care

You might think it cannot be that hard to take care of a tree, well you would be wrong. Taking proper care of a tree is not the same as watering your living room plants every 3-4 days. From choosing the wrong fertilizer or over trimming your branches you could go wrong in many ways and shorten your tree’s lifespan. Using appropriate nutrients, additives, compost, and soil, arborists make sure to give your tree the best possible conditions for growth in its environment. Even if you might think you’ve already gone and killed your tree, with some emergency tree care, they might be able to bring it back to life.

Other Services

While the ones we listed above are the main ones, many arborist services also provide a number of other tree care help, such as:

• Health Care or preventative maintenance to maintain trees healthy while decreasing pest, disease, and location issues;
• dealing with specific insect and disease concerns;
• aeration of the soil to promote root growth;
• cabling or bracing to provide additional support to poorly attached branches;
• lightning protection system installation;
• consulting and legal expert services relating to trees.

Choosing the Right Arborist

Now that you’ve decided to hire an arborist, you should know what to look for when choosing one.

• Make sure they have an ISA arborist certification. ISA Certified Arborists are skilled experts who have completed a thorough evaluation covering all areas of tree care.
• Make sure they have all of the necessary permits and licenses. Before allowing contractors to work, some government agencies may require them to apply for permissions and/or licenses.
• Ask for references to their previous work and confirm they meet your standards.
• Require proof for insurance and double-check with the insurance company for any hidden issues.
• A lower price doesn’t always mean a good deal. Check the specifications and their credibility. Don’t settle with a company that is desperate to get you to buy from them. Most respectable companies won’t knock at your door and offer you their services.
• Be sure to read the contract throughout and don’t be scared to ask any questions related, such as price, time, clean up, etc.

Now that you’ve learned the essentials, plant some evergreen trees in your backyard, they’re good for the environment and they make your space look nicer. You might even get some friendly squirrels, who knows.