What Is An Arborist And How Can They Help you

Back in highschool, I took an aptitude test to try and discover the ideal career path for me. The results of my aptitude test projected that my ideal career path would be one of two things: a forest ranger, or a tree surgeon. 

Needless to say, I didn’t follow either career path, however, I was quite intrigued by the idea of being a tree surgeon and it was a profession I looked into a great deal of consideration. 

The first thing I looked into is: what is a tree surgeon?

WHAT IS A TREE SURGEON?

A tree surgeon, or arborist as it is more commonly called, is essentially a tree expert. An arborist is your go-to when it comes to all the information you need with regards to trees and other woody plants such as shrubs, bushes and the like.

WHAT CAN AN ARBORIST DO FOR YOU?

TREE PLANNING AND CONSULTATIONS

An arborist is able to provide you with a detailed tree consultation. A tree consultation can cover a lot of different things including: recommendations for planting; diagnose tree-related issues such as disease and pests; provide advice for treating trees with disease and ridding them on pests; appraise existing trees to help determine if they pose any sort of hazard; assist in planning the planting of trees and shrubs as part of landscaping; offer treatments and advice for trees and shrubs to keep them healthy; and more.

As part of a tree planning consultation, an arborist will typically provide you with a detailed report offering information and advice. Additionally, there are some cases where their report will also need to be supplied to Council as well. 

TREE PLANTING AND TRANSPLANTING

Planting mature trees is a project best left to the experts and arborists are the experts in this area.

Working with an arborist provides you with information about the best area in your yard to plant specific trees and shrubs to ensure they are given the best chance to thrive while also being a safe distance from your home and other structures.

Arborists also have professional equipment that allow then to safely plant and transplant trees and shrubs.

Transplanting an existing tree is particularly tricky and a project best left to an arborist. Working with an arborist will ensure all of the correct roots are transplanted along with the tree and the unnecessary ones are left behind.

TREE REMOVAL

There are some instances where the best course of action is to remove a tree. This might be required if the tree is diseased, or posing a safety concern.

While removing small trees or saplings, a large, mature tree is more of an issue and its removal poses a significant safety concern. An arborist typically has the training and equipment necessary to safely and effectively remove trees.

TREE STUMP AND ROOT REMOVAL

Removing the stump of a formerly large tree is difficult. Arborists have specialised equipment and training that allows them to easily and skillfully remove tree stumps and roots without causing damage to foundations or sewage pipes below the earth’s surface.

TREE PRUNING AND TREE SURGERY

Pruning trees and shrubs is important to keep them healthy. It is also necessary to remove dead branches as they will eventually fall off and could pose a safety risk.

Additionally, trees and shrubs are subject to disease. In instances of disease, removal of sections of the tree is required to save the life of the healthy sections of the tree. In these instances, a arborist will be able to expertly prune or operate on your tree.

Pruning trees and bushes is also necessary around powerlines.

HOW TO CHOOSE AN ARBORIST

Unlike many other trades, arborists do not require a licence. While this might make choosing the right arborist to work with a little more difficult, there are a number of ways you can work to ensure you are choosing wisely when you choose an arborist to work with.

ENSURE YOUR ARBORIST HAS THE RIGHT INSURANCE

Before contracting any arborist to work with you, it is important to ensure your arborist is properly insured. They should have both personal accident insurance and public liability insurance.

CHECK THEIR QUALIFICATIONS

A suitable arborist should have, at minimum, a certificate II in Arboriculture. A certificate III or higher is even better.

CHECK REVIEWS AND ASK FOR REFERENCES

If you are still unsure about the arborist you are considering working with, conduct a quick Google search to see if your arborist has any reviews for their services. If their online presence is lacking, your potential arborist should feel comfortable providing you with reference to support their skills.

When it comes to working with an arborist for landscaping projects in your yard, Squarepegs Handyman can help with the selection process.

SQUAREPEGS HANDYMAN DOES LANDSCAPING

Are you looking to complete a landscaping project? Squarepegs Handyman is here to help. We will work with you to choose the best plants for your yard and help you design the perfect outdoor space for you and your family.

Contact us here for more information and to book your free, in-person estimate with one of our friendly and skilled handymen. We cannot wait to work with you.

WHERE WE WORK

You’ll find Squarepegs Handyman in and around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, the Hunter and beyond. Contact us to find out if we service your area. 

We cannot wait to work with you!

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