Anyone with trees in their yard may wonder if they should hire an arborist to help care for those trees properly. But what is an arborist anyway? And do you really need one or can you just handle your trees' needs on your own? This guide will answer these questions and provide essential tips for hiring an experienced professional arborist when needed.

What Is an Arborist Anyway?

An arborist is a tree care specialist who can help you maintain your trees and keep them healthy. Anyone who works with woody plants (trees and shrubs) can call themselves an arborist. However, not all arborists have the same training or experience, meaning not all arborists are experts.

Professional tree care is both an art and a science. Arborists draw from their years of experience in the field and the experiences of other professionals to determine the best course of action with a tree. Skilled tree professionals have a network of colleagues to share experiences, ask questions, and communicate with.

Why Should You Hire an Arborist?

Caring for the trees on your property is an investment with many benefits. Consider that trees add beauty, provide habitat for beneficial wildlife, sequester carbon, provide cooling shade on hot summer days, and protect your property from damaging winds. Plus, having mature trees on your property can increase the value of your home by as much as 10-20%.

Proper care and management extend the healthy life of a tree. And trees often don't show signs of stress right away. Many problems may not be visible to the untrained eye for several years. Expert arborists are trained to identify concerns before a tree declines and can often intervene before it is too late to save the tree.

When to Hire an Arborist

Call an arborist when you value the health and safety of your trees. An arborist can help you address specific concerns about the health of your trees, and perform pruning work that would be dangerous to do without specialized equipment. An arborist can help you with a range of tree care concerns and questions, such as:

• What is the risk of the tree failing?
• If a tree or limb falls, could it damage property or cause injury?
• Is the tree susceptible to any diseases that are common in the area?
• How do you treat a tree disease?
• Will that insect kill the tree or just eat a few leaves?
• Does the tree need fertilizer?
• Will the roots be a problem for my foundation or driveway?
• Is it safe to prune trees this time of year?

Developing a relationship with an arborist will help keep your trees in top shape for the future. The arborist will work with you to discuss your concerns and define your goals. They will make recommendations in your best interests related to the care and maintenance of your trees.

What to Look for in an Arborist

Some people may call themselves arborists but have little knowledge or experience in plant health care and proper long-term tree maintenance. They may use outdated and inappropriate equipment, ineffective chemicals, and improper pruning methods. An experienced and well-trained arborist can anticipate tree problems and provide the correct options and actions to deal with them. When you are looking for an arborist, it's essential to check their level of expertise and insurance policies.

Expertise

You may mow your lawn dozens of times each year, but this doesn’t make you lawn care professional who's ready to tend the greens at the golf course. Likewise, a person may have years of experience pruning trees, but this doesn’t necessarily mean they have tree care expertise. Expertise comes from practice and study.

Be wary of companies offering door-to-door tree-trimming services. Check their credentials (for example, are they certified by the International Society of Arboriculture) and ask for references. Get a detailed explanation of why they suggest the services they recommend.

Insurance

Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, USA Today reported in March 2023 that “tree trimmer and pruner” is the most dangerous job in America. This is a big reason why extensive training and expertise is so important for an arborist. But there's always a risk of accidents and damage to people and property.

A reputable tree care company knows these risks and carries insurance to manage these concerns. Expect a company to carry personal and property damage insurance (at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate) and at least $1 million workers’ compensation insurance.

These insurances are essential, and the costs are a significant percentage of the operating expenses for the business. Remember, in most cases, homeowners insurance doesn’t cover contractors. Don’t hire a tree care service without adequate insurance.

About the International Society of Arboriculture

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) has over 24,000 members and is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to tree care. It offers multiple professional certifications and qualifications, including the ISA Certified Arborist and Board Certified Master Arborist certifications. The ISA is a community of thousands of tree care experts dedicated to the art and science of tree care.

To take the ISA Certified Arborist exam, a candidate must have “a minimum of three years of full-time experience in arboriculture or a combination of education and practical arboricultural experience.” An ISA Certified Arborist must stay current on tree care science and methodology by earning a required number of continuing education units (CEUs) to maintain their certification.

Some skilled arborists haven’t earned an ISA certification; however, these certifications are an excellent starting point when you're looking for a reputable tree care expert.