The Importance of Hiring Certified Arborists for Your Tree Care Needs
Trees are a beautiful asset to our urban environments. They provide us with beauty to look at, they clean our air, give us shade on a hot summer day, provide fruit to eat and are a habitat for various animals and birds. They do however require proper care and regular maintenance in order to stay healthy and safe. This is where the professional certified arborist comes into play. A certified arborist is a professional tree care provider that has been trained in the proper maintenance of trees and shrubs. Trees are a very valuable asset to one’s property, both in aesthetic and monetary value and their care should be left to a certified arborist, rather than an unskilled worker who can cause irreparable damage. Hiring a certified arborist can be one of the best investments that a homeowner can make when it comes to the care and maintenance of their trees and shrubs.
How does one become a certified arborist? The International Society of Arboriculture (I.S.A.) grants arborist certification to individuals who have worked in the tree care industry for a minimum of 3 years and then pass a rigorous exam conducted by the ISA. The topics of this comprehensive exam include soil management, biology, safe work practices, identification, establishment, pruning, diagnosis and treatment, installation, urban forestry, tree risk and construction. A homeowner can rest easy when hiring an ISA certified arborist, knowing that they have in-depth knowledge when it comes to the maintenance and care of their trees.
There are many benefits when hiring an ISA certified arborist. ISA certified arborists have extensive knowledge when it comes to a tree’s structural integrity, its general health, insects and disease infestations, proper root development and much more. Certified arborists can help to identify various problems and provide the right solutions. They are trained in the use of specialized tree care equipment and the most up to date techniques to care for trees properly. Most certified arborists carry appropriate amounts of insurance and are well versed in the understanding of federal, provincial, and municipal laws and ordinances regarding trees.
Certified arborists offer a wide range of services such as, tree pruning, tree removal, insect and disease diagnosis and management, root zone fertilization, stump grinding, installation of structural support systems, installation of lightning protection systems, tree planting and much more. The services that are offered by ISA certified arborists are essential for maintaining the health, beauty, safety, and longevity of a homeowner’s trees. A certified arborist’s knowledgeable care ensures that trees continue to provide their many benefits.
Here is a brief explanation of the description of some of the many services offer by a certified arborist:
Tree pruning involves the removal of dead, dying and diseased tissue and allows more light air and wind to penetrate the trees canopy. Greater air and light penetration with a tree’s canopy can also help in minimizing insect and disease infestations. Tree pruning is usually performed by certified arborists using an aerial lift, climbing or from ladder, so it is best that a homeowner doesn’t attempt to tackle this job on their own.
Tree removal can be complex and oftentimes it involves the use of specialized tree care such as chainsaws, ropes, complex rigging equipment and even large cranes. Due to the difficult and dangerous nature of this job, it should only be performed by trained professionals.
Structural support systems in the form of metal braces and static or dynamic cabling can add extra support to trees that have poor branch attachments and weak branch unions. When left unchecked, many of these trees with poor structural support can fail in wind, snow, and ice storm events.
Root zone fertilization is one of the most important things that can be done to support the health and beauty of trees. Tree specific formulated fertilizer injected under high pressure adds water and proper nutrients to the place where trees need it the most, the roots!
Stump grinding involves the use of specialized mechanical equipment to actually grind out the stumps that remain when a tree is removed. All that is usually left over from this process is a pile of woodchips which can be used in the garden as mulch.
Lightning protection systems are intricate systems that are installed by certified arborists in large trees in areas that are prone to lightning. These systems protect trees from major damage caused by lightning strikes.
Tree planting is often a service that is done by a landscaper but involving a certified arborist in this job can be very helpful. A certified arborist has a vast knowledge about many different species of trees and climate zones for an area. They can recommend the right type and species of tree for the location, often saving much aggravation down the road.
When a homeowner hires an ISA certified arborist, they can rest assured that their trees and shrubs are being cared for and maintained by a well trained and knowledgeable professional. Working with a professional certified arborist can help the homeowner save money, valuable time, and potential grief in the long run.
Do yourself and your trees a favor, the next time you are in need of tree care look to see if there is an ISA certified arborist for hire in your area. The International Society of Arboriculture (I.S.A.) maintains a list of current ISA certified arborists on their website and there are certified arborists in most major cities in The United States, Canada, and the world.