You know why you should hire an arborist, “Arborists are knowledgeable about the needs of trees and are trained and equipped to provide proper care. […] Proper tree care is an investment that can lead to substantial returns[…]and can add considerable value to your property. Poorly maintained trees can be a significant liability.” But do you know what goes into becoming a Certified Arborist/Licensed Tree Expert?
Both accreditations require a minimum of 3 years of experience in the industry, the written exams are similar, however the NJ State License Tree Expert is slightly more rigorous. Part of that rigor is the field test, where the arborist working towards his/her expert license must correctly identify the species of the trees and then detail any problems the specimen may have in addition to a corrective course of recommendation. This is not dissimilar from the process of proposing what kind of tree care should be applied to a potential client’s trees. In a way, it is exercising and reinforcing the professional and scientific approach to servicing the people when it comes to tree care.
The educational process that an individual undergoes to get to this level is a challenging one, but it is also rewarding. An arborist’s time is devoted in the form of accredited courses, field walks, and personal study. The material is reinforced throughout the day to day operations of tree care and made into a working knowledge on the job and in the field! An example of this is how to make proper pruning cuts, when to prune, where to prune, and actually when NOT to prune. A field arborist that learns this also learns the public relations side of the business. When an arborist learns how to make science based recommendations of tree care during the public relations/estimation process, it is to the direct benefit of both the arborist and their customers, as the correct course of action is made in the most effective and (cost) efficient way.
There are many subject matters that an arborist must master to become a true professional in order to better help their clients in this way. Some of those subjects include but are not limited to: tree biology, soil science, water management, fertilization, installation/planting, plant health care, diagnosis/disorders, and tree identification, assessment, and risk management. That doesn’t even include the skilled labor aspect of tree care/removal and the worker safety. An accredited arborist and tree expert takes all of these areas into consideration before they even step foot onto a property to perform any aspect of tree care service.
The bottom line is when you hire a certified arborist or licensed tree expert you know with confidence that you’re going to get a properly informed individual and level of professionalism on par with any premier service industry, there is simply no faking it.
