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Why Hire an Arborist? - TreesAreGood · Why Hire an Arborist? Learn about services that arborists provide, criteria for selecting an arborist, and the benefits of hiring an ISA Certified

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Page 1: Why Hire an Arborist? - TreesAreGood · Why Hire an Arborist? Learn about services that arborists provide, criteria for selecting an arborist, and the benefits of hiring an ISA Certified

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,ordecayedandpose unacceptablerisk

• arediseasedorinsect-infested• havebeendamagedbystorms• willincreaselightpenetrationandreducewindresistance withinthecanopyuponremoval(thinning)

Otherpruningtechniquesareusedtomaintainproperstructureinyoungtrees,improvetreeshapeorform,andreducethelikelihoodoffuturedamage during storm events.

Tree Removal Althoughtreeremovalisalastresort,therearecircumstanceswhenitisnecessary.Anarboristcanhelpdecidewhetheratreeshouldbe removed.Removalisrecommendedwhenthetreeis:

• deadordying • consideredanunacceptablerisk • causinganobstructionthatisimpossibleto correct through pruning

• crowdingandcausingharmtoother, more desirable trees • tobereplacedbyamoresuitablespecimen • locatedinanareawherenewconstruction requires removal

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• cablingorbracingforaddedsupporttobrancheswithweak

attachments

• soilaerationtoimproverootgrowth• installationoflightningprotectionsystems• applicationstomanagecertaininsectanddiseaseproblems• consultingandlegalexpertservicesrelatingtotrees

Selecting the Right Arborist for the Job • Checkformembershipinprofessionalorganizationssuchasthe

InternationalSocietyofArboriculture(ISA),theTreeCareIndus-tryAssociation(TCIA),ortheAmericanSocietyofConsulting

Arborists(ASCA).Suchmembershipdemonstratesawillingnessonthepartofthearboristtostayup-to-dateonthelatest techniques and information.

Page 2: Why Hire an Arborist? - TreesAreGood · Why Hire an Arborist? Learn about services that arborists provide, criteria for selecting an arborist, and the benefits of hiring an ISA Certified

www.isa-arbor.com•www.treesaregood.org

• CheckforISAarboristcertification.ISACertifiedArboristsareexperiencedprofessionalswhohavepassedanextensiveexamina-tion covering all aspects of tree care.

• Askforproofofinsuranceandthenphonetheinsurance company if you are not satisfied. A reputable arborist carries personalandpropertydamageinsuranceaswellasworkers’ compensation insurance.

• Checkfornecessarypermitsandlicenses.Somegovernmentalagencies require contractors to apply for permits and/or to apply foralicensebeforetheyareabletowork.

• Askforreferencestofindoutwherethecompanyhasdoneworksimilartowhatyouarerequesting.Don’thesitatetocheckrefer-encesorvisitotherworksiteswherethecompanyorindividualhasdonetreework.

• Getmorethanoneestimate,unlessyouknowandarecomfortablewiththearborist.Youmayhavetopayfortheestimates,anditwilltakemoretime,butitwillbeworththeinvestment.

• Don’talwaysacceptthelowbid.Youshouldexaminethecreden-tialsandthewrittenspecificationsofthefirmsthatsubmittedbidsanddeterminethebestcombinationofprice,worktobedone,skill,andprofessionalismtoprotectyoursubstantialinvestment.

• Bewaryofindividualswhogodoor-to-doorandofferbargainsforperformingtreework.Mostreputablecompaniesaretoobusytosolicitworkinthismanner.

• Keepinmindthatgoodarboristswillperformonlyindustry-acceptedpractices.Forexample,practicessuchastoppingatree,removinganexcessiveamountoflivewood,usingclimbingspikeson trees that are not being removed, and removing or disfiguring livingtreeswithoutjustcauseareimproperpracticesandviolateindustry standards.

• Getitinwriting.Mostreputablearboristshavetheirclientssignacontract.Besuretoreadthecontractcarefully.Don’tbeafraidtoaskquestions,suchas:

What Is a Certified Arborist? Anarboristbydefinitionisanindividualwhoistrainedintheartandscienceofplanting,caringfor,andmaintainingindividualtrees.ISAarboristcertificationisanongovernmental,voluntaryprocessbywhichindividualscandocumenttheirbaseofknowledge.Itoperateswithoutmandateoflawandisaninternal,self-regulatingdeviceadministeredbytheInternationalSocietyofArboriculture.Certificationprovidesameasurableassessmentofanindividual’sknowledgeandcompetencerequiredtoprovidepropertreecare.

Certificationisnotameasureofstandardsofpractice.Certificationcanattesttothetreeknowledgeofanindividualbutcannot guarantee or ensure quality performance.

CertifiedArboristsareindividualswhohaveachievedalevelofknowledgeintheartandscienceoftreecarethroughexperienceandbypassingacomprehensiveexaminationdevelopedbysomeofthenation’sleadingexpertsontreecare.CertifiedArboristsmustalsocontinuetheireducationtomaintaintheircertification.Therefore,theyaremorelikelytobeup-to-dateonthelatesttechniquesinarboriculture.

Be an Informed Consumer Oneofthebestmethodstouseinchoosinganarborististoeducateyourselfaboutsomeofthebasicprinciplesoftreecare.ISAoffersseveralotherbrochuresinthisseries,whichdiscussmanyofthebasicprinciplesoftreecare.Yourlocalgardencenter,extensionagent,orcityarboristsarealsoexcellentsourcesofinformationifyoushouldhavefurtherquestions.TheymayalsobeabletoreferyoutoanISACertifiedArboristinyourarea.

ThisbrochureisoneinaseriespublishedbytheInternationalSocietyofArboricultureaspartofitsConsumerInformationProgram.Youmayhaveadditionalinterestinthefollowingtitlescurrentlyintheseries:

AvoidingTreeandUtilityConflictsAvoidingTreeDamageDuring Construction BenefitsofTreesBuyingHigh-QualityTreesInsectandDiseaseProblems

MatureTreeCareNewTreePlantingPlantHealthCareProperMulchingTechniquesPalms

PruningMatureTreesPruningYoungTreesRecognizingTreeRiskTreatmentofTreesDamaged by Construction TreeSelectionandPlacement

TreesandTurfTreeValuesWhyHireanArboristWhyToppingHurtsTrees

E-mailinquiries:[email protected]

©2011(1998,2004)InternationalSocietyofArboriculture.

DevelopedbytheInternationalSocietyofArboriculture(ISA),anon-profitorganizationsupportingtreecareresearcharoundtheworldanddedicatedtothecareandpreservationofshadeandornamentaltrees.Forfurtherinformation,contact:ISA,P.O.Box3129,Champaign,IL61826-3129,USA.

E-mailinquiries:[email protected]

—Whenwilltheworkbestartedandcompleted?—Whowillberesponsible forclean-up?—Isthisthetotalprice?— What are the terms ofpayment?—IfIwouldlikemoreto bedone,whatisyour hourlyrate?