What Is a Certified Arborist? Anarboristbydefinitionisanindividualwhoistrainedintheartandscienceofplanting,caringfor,andmaintainingindividualtrees.ISAarboristcertificationisanongovernmental,voluntaryprocessbywhichindividualscandocumenttheirbaseofknowledge.Itoperateswithoutmandateoflawandisaninternal,self-regulatingdeviceadministeredbytheInternationalSocietyofArboriculture.Certificationprovidesameasurableassessmentofanindividual’sknowledgeandcompetencerequiredtoprovidepropertreecare.
Certificationisnotameasureofstandardsofpractice.Certificationcanattesttothetreeknowledgeofanindividualbutcannotguarantee or ensure quality performance.
CertifiedArboristsareindividualswhohaveachievedalevelofknowledgeintheartandscienceoftreecarethroughexperienceandbypassingacomprehensiveexaminationdevelopedbysomeofthenation’sleadingexpertsontreecare.CertifiedArboristsmustalsocontinuetheireducationtomaintaintheircertification.Therefore,theyaremorelikelytobeup-to-dateonthelatesttechniquesinarboriculture.
Be an Informed Consumer Oneofthebestmethodstouseinchoosinganarborististoeducateyourselfaboutsomeofthebasicprinciplesoftreecare.ISAoffersseveralotherbrochuresinthisseries,whichdiscussmanyofthebasicprinciplesoftreecare.Yourlocalgardencenter,extensionagent,orcityarboristsarealsoexcellentsourcesofinformationifyoushouldhavefurtherquestions.TheymayalsobeabletoreferyoutoanISACertifiedArboristinyourarea.
ThisbrochureisoneinaseriespublishedbytheInternationalSocietyofArboricultureaspartofits
ConsumerInformationProgram.
©2011(1998,2004)InternationalSocietyofArboriculture.
DevelopedbytheInternationalSocietyofArboriculture(ISA),anon-profitorganizationsupportingtreecareresearcharoundtheworldanddedicatedtothecareandpreservationofshadeandornamentaltrees.Forfurtherinformation,contact:ISA,P.O.Box3129,Champaign,IL61826-3129,USA.
E-mailinquiries:[email protected]•www.treesaregood.org
Why Hirean Arborist?
Phone: 214.352.6088Email: [email protected]: www.mooretree.com
Printed by your friends at:Moore Tree Care
Why Hire an Arborist?Learn about services that arborists provide, criteria for selecting an arborist, and the benefits of hiring an ISA Certified Arborist.
Arborists specialize in the care of individual trees. They are knowledgeable about the needs of trees and are trained and equipped to provide proper care. Hiring an arborist is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Proper tree care is an investment that can lead to substantial returns. Well cared-for trees are attractive and can add considerable value to your property. Poorly maintained trees can be a significant liability. Pruning or removing trees, especially large trees, can be dangerous work. Tree work should be done only by those trained and equipped to work safely in trees.
Services That Arborists Can Provide Pruning An arborist can determine the type of pruning necessary to maintain or improve the health, appearance, and safety of trees. Pruning techniques include removing limbs that:
• interferewithutilitiesorstructures
• obstructstreetsorsidewalks
• aredead,weak,ordecayedandposeunacceptablerisk
• arediseasedorinsect-infested• havebeendamagedbystorms• willincreaselightpenetration
andreducewindresistancewithinthecanopyuponremoval(thinning)
Otherpruningtechniquesareusedtomaintainproperstructureinyoungtrees,improvetreeshapeorform,andreducethelikelihoodoffuturedamage during storm events.
Tree Removal Althoughtreeremovalisalastresort,therearecircumstanceswhenitisnecessary.Anarboristcanhelpdecidewhetheratreeshouldberemoved.Removalisrecommendedwhenthetreeis:
• deadordying• consideredan
unacceptablerisk• causinganobstruction
thatisimpossibletocorrect through pruning
• crowdingandcausingharmtoother,more desirable trees
• tobereplacedbyamoresuitablespecimen
• locatedinanareawherenewconstructionrequiresremoval
Emergency Tree Care Stormsmaycauselimbsorentiretreestofall,oftenlandingonothertrees,structures,orcars. Theweightofstorm-damagedtreesisgreat,andtheycanbedangeroustoremoveortrim.Anarboristcanassistinperformingthejobinasafemanner,whilereducingfurtherriskofdamagetoproperty.
Planting
Somearboristsplanttrees,andmostcanrecommendspeciesthatareappropriateforaparticularlocation. Thewrongtreeinthewronglocationwillleadtofutureproblemsasaresultoflimitedgrowingspace,insects,diseases,orpoorgrowth.
Other Services Many arborists also provide a variety of other tree care services, including:
• PlantHealthCareorpreventivemaintenancetokeeptreesingoodhealthwhilereducinganyinsect,disease,orsiteproblems
• fertilizationandsoilmodificationforimprovedtreehealth
• cablingorbracingforaddedsupporttobrancheswithweakattachments
• soilaerationtoimproverootgrowth
• installationoflightningprotectionsystems
• applicationstomanagecertaininsectanddiseaseproblems
• consultingandlegalexpertservicesrelatingtotrees
Selecting the Right Arborist for the Job • Checkformembershipinprofessionalorganizationssuchas
theInternational Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), or the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA). Such membership demonstrates a willingness on the part of the arborist to stay up-to-date on the latest techniques and information.
• CheckforISAarboristcertification.ISACertifiedArborists areexperiencedprofessionalswhohavepassedanextensive examination covering all aspects of tree care.
• Askforproofofinsuranceandthenphonetheinsurance company if you are not satisfied. A reputable arborist carries personalandpropertydamageinsuranceaswellasworkers’ compensation insurance.
•
•
Checkfornecessarypermitsandlicenses.Some governmentalagencies require contractors to apply for permits and/or to applyforalicensebeforetheyareableto work.Askforreferencestofindoutwherethecompanyhasdone worksimilartowhatyouarerequesting.Don’thesitateto checkreferencesorvisitotherworksiteswherethe companyorindividualhasdonetreework.
• Getmorethanoneestimate,unlessyouknowandare comfortablewiththearborist.Youmayhavetopayforthe estimates,anditwilltakemoretime,butitwillbeworth theinvestment.
• Don’talwaysacceptthelowbid.Youshouldexaminethe credentialsandthewrittenspecificationsofthefirmsthat submittedbidsanddeterminethebestcombinationof price,worktobedone,skill,andprofessionalismtoprotect yoursubstantialinvestment.
• Bewaryofindividualswhogodoor-to-doorandoffer bargainsforperformingtreework.Mostreputable companiesaretoobusytosolicitworkinthismanner.
• Keepinmindthatgoodarboristswillperformonlyindustry-acceptedpractices.Forexample,practicessuchastoppingatree,removinganexcessiveamountoflivewood,usingclimbingspikeson trees that are not being removed,and removing or disfiguringlivingtreeswithoutjustcauseareimproperpracticesandviolateindustry standards.
• Getitinwriting.Mostreputablearboristshavetheirclientssignacontract.Besuretoreadthecontractcarefully.Don’tbeafraidtoaskquestions,suchas:
—Whenwilltheworkbestartedandcompleted?—Whowillberesponsible
forclean-up?—Isthisthetotalprice?— What are the terms
ofpayment?—IfIwouldlikemoreto
bedone,whatisyourhourlyrate?
