
April 28, 2025
Imagine walking through a neighborhood and spotting a big tree leaning precariously toward a house, its branches laden with disease.Though a tree may appear harmless, neglecting its health can lead to costly damage or even serious safety risks. Indeed, an estimated 30% of tree-related injuries result in some form of inappropriate tree care or a failure to maintain trees.
Arborists are tree care experts. They know how to care for trees so they’re healthy, safe, and maintained. Whether it’s identifying disease, pruning limbs or removing species that pose a threat, arborists have the skills required to take care of it all. This article will outline why it’s crucial to hire a certified arborist, when people need and how they can help to maintain the health and safety of both trees and the property.
An arborist is a person who is specialized in the care of individual trees. They learn about tree biology, diseases, growth patterns and how to safely prune or remove trees. Arborists can perform the most rudimentary of tree trims to the more complex of problems such as diagnosis of tree health and problems involving hazardous trees.
While an arborist specializes in trees and the care of them, others work in similar fields for different reasons.
Aspect | Arborist | Landscaper | Forester |
---|---|---|---|
Focus | Specializes in the care and maintenance of trees. | Primarily focuses on general yard work, lawns, and shrubs. | Manages large areas of forests for commercial purposes. |
Training & Expertise | Extensive knowledge of tree biology, diseases, and growth patterns. | Basic knowledge of plant care, including trees, but not in-depth tree expertise. | Trained in managing forests, timber production, and land conservation. |
Tree Care Services | Tree trimming, pruning, health inspections, removal, and disease management. | May trim trees, but does not specialize in complex tree care or health issues. | Focuses on large-scale tree management, often for timber and conservation. |
Certifications | Often certified by organizations like the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). | Typically not certified in tree care, focuses on landscaping certifications. | May hold forestry-related certifications but not specific tree care certifications. |
Primary Role | Ensures the health, safety, and longevity of individual trees. | Maintains overall aesthetics and functionality of outdoor spaces. | Manages forests and natural woodlands, focusing on land management. |
When to Hire | When tree health is in question, or there is a need for specialized care or removal. | For general yard and garden maintenance. | When managing large wooded areas or for timber-related services. |
Certification is a sign that an arborist is more confident about what they know and has better skills. One of the most well-known certifiers is the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). ISA arborists pass exams that evaluate their knowledge in tree care and safety. Certification guarantees the arborist is working based on the industry standards and is current on best business practices and useful tree care measures. When they hire a certified arborist, homeowners can feel more comfortable knowing that their trees are in good hands especially for more complicated jobs such as diagnosing illness, shaping large trees and the safe removal of trees.
Arborists provide a variety of tree-related services to maintain their health, safety and beauty, including inspection and emergency care.
Trees on your property are crucial elements; however, they need to be well taken care of and monitored. Although some people believe that trees are easy to take care of, there are major signs that show when it’s time to call an arborist to get proper help. Some common scenarios when hiring an arborist is a must are:
Trees can be affected by a number of problems that affect their overall health and aesthetics. Obvious indicators of trouble are droopy leaves, dying, or discolored limbs and fungal growth around the trunk or on the bark. Drooping leaves, especially during the growing season, may be an indication of water stress, disease, or pests.
Dead branches or bark with the appearance of a fungal growth could mean a larger problem, like tree diseases or an unstable structure. If spotting these signs of bad health, an arborist can diagnose the issue and advise the proper treatment, whether it is disease management, pest control, or tree trimming.
One of the best reasons to hire an arborist is safety. When trees are close to buildings, driveways, or power lines, they can become dangerous projectiles especially during storms or high winds. Hanging branches can cause damage to electrical wires, a house or vehicle and create unsafe conditions. Trees can sometimes become unstable if they’re being pushed by a root or if a tree is diseased and weak.
Only an arborist is qualified to determine the stability of a tree and if a tree is a danger. They can even take down an unsafe tree or trim potential hit-hazard branches that may threaten the dwelling.
The condition of the trees can have a big effect on the property value. Beautiful trees add beauty to the front of a home and improve property value. In contrast, unhealthy or overgrown trees can make a property look like it hasn’t been looked after and can make it less appealing to anyone considering buying it.
An arborist can protect the visual aspect of the garden with scheduled pruning and design solutions for trees’ visual signs of age or injury. Regular tree maintenance can also save money in the long run by minimizing serious damage that could lead to expensive repairs or tree removal.
There are ordinances in many local communities that mandate professional tree service in some circumstances. For starters, there are many places where people need to get a permit to remove a tree, particularly if this tree is of a protected species or it grows on public land. Furthermore, some municipalities have periodic check-ups to cut down unsafe trees in public roads or public places for safety reasons.
Arborists understand local laws and can guide people through any paperwork or permissions they need to make sure they follow the law. Hiring an arborist for these jobs will save time and possibly fines or legal issues.
Homeowners receive several benefits from hiring a certified arborist to ensure the health, appearance and safety of their trees. Below are a few of the main advantages of hiring one of these certified professionals:
Certified arborists have specialized education in tree biology, disease, pest control, and tree maintenance. They know so much about how trees grow, do well and react to the elements that they can diagnose problems that aren’t readily apparent. Arborists rely on their expertise to provide specific solutions for keeping trees healthy, whether it’s recognizing obscure diseases or advising on the proper pruning for a tree.
Some tree care roles, especially when large branches are pruned or a tree is taken down, are hazardous. Licensed arborists are equipped with proper tools and methods to perform such tasks safely. They also understand how to evaluate other threats, such as trees close to electrical wires or weak branches, and can deal with these challenges in a safe manner that does not put property, people, or the environment at risk. Arborists have the necessary experience to get the job done safely and correctly.
For maintaining trees’ long-term health, preventive care is also key. Arborists can develop care plans to deal with potential problems before they develop into serious concerns. Over time, many problems with root damage, pests or overgrowth can be avoided with scheduled inspections, trimming or pest control. Certified arborists help preserve the life of the tree and keep it strong and healthy through proper care.
Most municipalities have ordinances regarding tree care in general, and tree removal in particular, and are responsible for public trees. Hired arborists are aware of such laws and work in accordance with local laws, ensuring compliance and avoiding potential issues.
Property owners who don't choose an arborist can risk getting slapped with fines or facing legal consequences for chopping down a tree species that may have been classified as protected, but they didn't realize it. An arborist’s familiarity with local ordinances can help ensure that tree care is safe and legal.
Keeping your trees healthy and safe starts with finding a certified arborist you can trust locally. Here are some ways to find a reliable professional:
Tree care service costs may fluctuate based on tree size, location and complexity of the job. Here’s a breakdown on what to think about:
The cost of tree services by arborists can depend on several factors:
Prices may differ situationally and based on the tree itself, but these offers are a starting point to give a feel for general pricing for the most common arborist tree services:
Here are tips to help control the costs in planning out the costs of tree care:
What does an arborist do?
An arborist is an expert in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees and other plants, and other perennial woody plants.
When to use an arborist?
You should hire an arborist for tree trimming, removal, health inspections, or any professional tree care needs.
What are the qualities of an arborist?
An arborist must possess boundless knowledge, certification, safety consciousness, and be an expert in tree biology, pruning and general tree care.
Like people, trees need professional care to ensure they live and grow up to be strong and healthy as can be. They can help with needs like determining what might be causing diseases of the trees, trimming them and eliminating hazardous trees. The beneficial effects of hiring an ISA certified arborist to examine and care for the trees go far beyond home protection. They also offer significant benefits to the trees themselves.
Understanding when to bring in an arborist and what they do can help homeowners better care for their trees. Regular care can save money in the long run because of the money one avoids spending on big problems later on.
When it comes to professional tree care, Growcycle is the best bet because they provide dependable arborist services that help to keep the trees happy and healthy.
Disclaimer: This material is for informational purposes only and should not be relied on for legal, medical, financial, or any other form of professional advice.