What is an Arborist?

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What is an Arborist

and what do they Do?

We are often asked this simple question: what is an arborist and what do they do?

An easy way to describe the role of an arborist is to say they are doctors for your trees.

Arborists have a full working knowledge and experience necessary for all tree-related issues. They can analyse and discuss everything from a simple initial consultation to discuss your best backyard tree practices, to a 'full on' case of tree surgery.

How Do You Become An Arborist In Australia? 

Becoming an arborist is like any specialised profession.  You are required to have the right training and qualifications.

As well as requiring years of personal experience, an Arborist has to understand the intricacies of the various local species of plants and trees. This knowledge and experience allows the Arborist to correctly diagnose and treat any issues that they might come across.

The basic entry requirement to become an Arborist in Australia is the completion of Year 10. They can then enroll into an Arboriculture or Horticulture traineeship.

Although becoming an arborist in Australia doesn’t require an undergraduate or graduate degree, a degree can enhance your career prospects into a more advanced research position.

Arborists who have been trained or educated overseas must have completed an apprenticeship, or have a minimum of 3 years experience in arborist work.

What does an Arborist Do? 

With the experience and knowledge to maintain and tend plants and trees, Arborists are considered the tree doctors of the professional world.

They specialise in diagnosing and solving any minor or major issues such as nutritional problems, disease, or plant structure.

An arborist should be able to quickly distinguish the presence of decay or damage just by examining a plant or tree’s key points, such as its texture or colour.

They should also know when to involve a lab examination for the possibility of tree infections.

However, an arborist does more than simply diagnosing and curing trees of any issues. They are also directly involved with the maintenance of living trees through pruning, trimming, and cutting.

Arborists are educated in the safest practices to climb trees properly, and are equipped with the proper climbing gear and, if necessary, mechanical lifts for taller trees.

When working with an arborist, you might have to deal with two separate branches of arborists: practical arborists or “linies”, who are involved with trees and their engagement with surrounding infrastructure and power lines; and purist arborists, who are more focused on the aesthetic values of pruning trees and gardens.

Arborist Services 

Here's a list of services generally offered by an arborists:

Consulting and Advice:

Most homeowners begin with needs for consulting and advice before deciding on any other work for their trees. This consultation can be about:

• Types of trees best suited for your area
• Possible diseases your trees might have (and how to treat them)
• Possible hazards or other risks
• Any permissions you might need for your trees or yard
• How to write official reports and more
• 
  

Tree Felling and Removal: There are times when a tree needs to be “felled” or cut down and subsequently removed, generally when they become too big or have experienced too much structural damage and are now a hazard to your home and your neighbours.

Tree felling and removal from a team of professional arborists is an easy way to get rid of a problem before it causes much bigger issues.

Tree Lopping and Pruning: Tree lopping and pruning is the removal of branches and the general “downsizing” of trees.

This can be done for aesthetic or safety purposes.

When done by an amateur, you risk killing the tree, as the more you remove from a tree, the more danger there is of disturbing it too much or not cutting properly.

An arborist can ensure that a tree is lopped and pruned with the required skill.

Palm Cleaning and Removal:

When your palm trees have dying fronds or hanging fruit, it’s recommended to have your palm tree cleaned and the palms removed (Phoenix Palms and Cocos Palms require the most maintenance of palm trees).

Doing it yourself can leave you with a messy situation, and in some cases, a dangerous one.

24-Hour Emergency Tree Services:

You can never predict when you might have a tree fall on your roof, your driveway, your powerlines, or any other issue involving a tree that needs to be resolved right away. Arborists offer 24-hour emergency tree services to make sure you can get back to normal life as soon as possible. 

Stump Grinding:

After a tree is cut or removed, the left-behind stump can be difficult to deal with, especially with strong roots holding it in place. Unsightly and in-the-way, stumps require proper grinding tools to have them removed without issue. 

Mulch: If you are in need of forest mulch to increase the nutrition of your tree and yard, any well-stocked arborist should be available to provide and apply your required mulch.