Providing your trees with the proper care will prevent them from causing damage to your home and property. Well-maintained trees also increase your home value and improve the visual appeal of your landscaping. Some homeowners prefer to care for their trees themselves, but your best approach when it comes to tree care is to hire a certified arborist.
To become a certified arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture, or ISA, an individual must have three years of full-time experience working with trees or the equivalent combination of education and experience. They must also complete continuing education requirements to maintain their certification. Certified arborists are true tree experts.
Here are five reasons to have a certified arborist care for your trees.
1. Arborists Provide Specialized Care for Each Tree
Different varieties of trees have different maintenance requirements. For example, spring-blooming trees are best pruned just after blooming, while conifers are best pruned in late winter, as are trees that bloom in the summer. Some tree varieties must be trimmed back slowly, while others benefit from more vigorous trimming.
Rather than using an approach based on the idea that one-size-fits-all, a certified arborist relies on their knowledge and expertise to provide specialized care for each unique tree. Your trees will grow stronger and more beautiful as their unique needs are met.
2. Arborists Can Recognize Early Signs of Tree Disease
Various fungal diseases can easily overtake a tree if they are not caught and treated early. The early signs of disease, like tiny cankers on the twigs or spots on the undersides of leaves, may go unnoticed by the average eye. However, certified arborists are trained to spot these early signs of disease.
A certified arborist can also tell the difference between serious tree diseases and minor ones. For example, Dutch elm disease and elm yellows cause very similar symptoms, but Dutch elm disease is much more serious. Your certified arborist will ensure your tree is properly diagnosed so that the right approach is taken to its care.
3. Arborists Can Give You Proper Tree Care Advice
Tree care requirements vary widely based on the variety of tree, the quality of soil in your area, the amount of rainfall you've received, and other numerous factors.
Once a certified arborist sees your trees and their growing conditions, the arborist can give you the advice to help you care for each tree. For example, they may recommend one fertilizer for your oak tree and a different fertilizer for your maple. Alternatively, they may recommend mulching around one tree, but not around another.
If you have had problems with a certain tree, then you can discuss those problems with your arborist and get personalized advice.
4. Arborists Have Proper, Effective Equipment
Whether they need to remove a damaged limb or just cut away a few weak branches, certified arborists have the right tools to do the job with minimal damage to your tree and property. They keep their shears sharp and sanitized for clean cuts.
In addition, when you hire a professional to care for your trees, you don't have to worry about buying or storing your own equipment, which will save you money in the long run.
5. Arborists Know How to Perform Their Job Safely
Trimming trees is risky business, especially when you're removing large and damaged limbs. Certified arborists have spent many hours learning tree-trimming safety techniques so that neither they nor anyone else on your property is injured during the trimming process. Certified arborists have harnesses and other safety equipment that enables them to trim away tall branches that are not safe to access by ladder.
If you have trees on your land, then make sure you hire a certified arborist, like our team at
Horton Tree Service , to care for your trees. Give us a call for specialized advice and care for your trees.
