Healthy well-maintained trees are one of the most important elements of any landscape. Mature shade or evergreen trees beautify the neighborhood and provide shelter for wildlife, but they have monetary benefits, too. Trees have a positive impact on property values, they help improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff and help with energy savings.

So why would you trust your landscape’s most valuable asset to just anyone with a chainsaw?

Dangerous Work That Requires In-Depth Training

Proper tree care isn’t a DIY job or a job for someone without the training and know-how to safely work on, in, and around trees. Tree work can be dangerous, and not all tree care workers are trained and equipped to handle the work. Injuries can happen when workers aren’t equipped with the correct safety gear or if they don’t know how to safely use ladders, chain saws, stump grinders, wood chippers, and aerial lifts.

It also takes a trained eye to spot potential hazards before starting work. This important assessment prevents permanent damage to the tree, as well as damage (and potential lawsuits) from trees and branches falling where they shouldn’t.

While safety (of you, your property, and your trees) isn’t the only reason why it’s important to hire a certified tree professional, it should be a primary consideration.

Beyond that, a certified arborist is truly a tree expert and can make a huge difference in the success of a project when it’s time to plant, prune, treat or remove the trees around your home.

About Certified Arborists

The first question you should ask before hiring a tree care company is whether there is at least one ISA Certified Arborist on staff. An arborist is someone with special tree care knowledge and training. A Certified Arborist, especially one certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), always follows the best industry practices for tree care.

To become certified, arborists need to have a combination of tree care knowledge and experience. They also have to pass a written test that demonstrates their advanced training and professional skills.

In addition, certified arborists abide by a code of ethics that assures they’ll comply with applicable laws, regulations and professional tree care standards.

A certified arborist will be able to tell you what type of pruning your trees need to maintain their health and appearance, and can provide preventive maintenance when it comes to insect pests and tree diseases. If a tree is in poor health, a certified arborist will be able to help you decide whether the tree should be removed and then plan for safely removing it without causing any property damage.

What To Ask Before Hiring a Tree Care Company

In addition to asking for the arborist’s credentials (you can verify our credentials through the ISA website here), here are other questions to ask before hiring anyone to work on your trees:

  • Are you licensed by the state and/or the city?
  • What special training have you received?
  • Do you have verifiable proof of insurance covering personal and property damage, as well as Workers Compensation insurance? Ask to see those insurance certificates.
  • What special equipment do you plan to use?
  • Is the crew equipped with proper safety equipment?
  • How much time will the work take?
  • Do you provide a detailed written estimate and a contract for services?
  • Do you have recent local references?

Because your trees do so much for you, it’s only right for you to provide the best care possible by hiring a certified arborist to help you care for them.

If you have any questions about what it means to be a Certified Arborist or what a Certified Arborist can do for you, please feel free to give us a call at (937) 233-4118 and one of our Certified Arborists will be happy to speak with you.

Posted in Tree Care Tips