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When to Hire an Arborist
14 Nov, 2008 By: Janet Aird Get Growing Photo courtesy of Warren Jacobs. |
Anyone can remove a small tree, as long as he knows how to do it safely, says Michael Grimm, owner of Michael Grimm Landscape and Tree Services in Syracuse, NY. “It’s only when you get into larger trees, or trees that have insect and disease problems that you need to look for someone who has the necessary technical skills and knowledgeable solutions. Then it’s best to engage the services of a certified arborist.”
Grimm’s company has three ISA-certified arborists, including himself. Having an arborist on staff is usually best for landscapers who do a lot of tree work. Others can subcontract to an arborist, such as Warren Jacobs, owner of Jacobs Tree Surgery in Perkiomenville, PA, who is also certified by ISA (International Society of Arboriculture).
Subcontracting simplifies landscapers’ jobs, Jacobs says. They don’t have to deal with liability and Workers Compensation insurance for tree workers, or worry about being sued if an uninsured or underinsured worker is injured or causes property damage.
“It’s in the best interests of the landscaper if he has an arborist he can trust, a go-to guy he can call when he has a question,” Jacobs says. “There are landscapers who call me when it’s beyond their capabilities or diagnostic skills.”
Arborists increase landscapers’ ability to treat their clients’ trees, he says. They provide a variety of services, including recommending the best trees for a site, proper planting and transplanting, and preventative maintenance, which includes pruning, fertilizing and monitoring for pests and diseases. They’re skilled in identifying causes of tree health problems and treating sick trees as well as evaluating when it’s time for them to come out.
Much of their work is pruning. “A pruning cut doesn’t look complex,” Jacobs says, “but the biology of the tree is complex. A person who doesn’t know how trees respond to pruning is going to do more harm than good.”
Finding Good Arborists
“There are people who call themselves arborists because they work on trees,” Grimm says, “But there’s a difference between an arborist and a good arborist.” One way to find a good arborist is to get to know people, he says. Join a local trade association. Take continuing education courses.
You can also ask people you know for recommendations. If you’re looking in the phone book or on the Internet, check them out very carefully.
Part of being a good arborist comes from experience, Grimm says, but the rest comes from taking courses and attending conferences. Look for someone who belongs to a professional organization. It doesn’t guarantee that the work will be done well, but it does indicate professionalism and show that they’ve satisfied their organization’s requirements for education, training and continuing education.
The websites of two national arborist organizations, ISA and Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), list their members’ contact information. Many of these arborists have their own websites, where you can find out their approach to trees as well as see photos of their work.
For more information on hiring an arborist, check out the January/February 2009 issue of Livescapes.
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