You may be wondering why it is important to hire an Arborist. Anyone with a chainsaw can prune a tree, right? Well, ask yourself this question. Would you go to a doctor that had little understanding of the human body?

Hiring a certified Arborist will:

1. save you money in the long term.
2. help you preserve your valuable trees.
3. increase the safety of your property.

A certified Arborist will be able to:

1. listen to your needs and desires.
2. clearly communicate the maintenance process.
3. correctly identify your trees.
4. understand the physical changes of your trees.
5. safely utilize the proper pruning and plant health care techniques.

Arborist - A specialist in the care of woody plants, especially trees.
Arboriculture - The planting and care of woody plants; especially trees.
Arbor Day - An unofficial holiday for the public awareness of trees observed in all 50 states, most often on the last Friday in April.

A certified Arborist has acquired certification when they have passed a written test covering many different subtopics of Arboriculture. There are varying degrees of certification on both the State and National levels. Among practicing Arborists in the Kansas City area, you may see:

ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) Certified Arborist
KAA (Kansas Arborist Association) Certified Arborist

This is where certification gets a bit tricky. For instance, a person may be a member of the Kansas Arborist Association by paying a fee and attending some workshops. They may even display the logo. However, this does not mean they are certified. Certified arborists must also be properly insured, but you may have insurance and not be certified. These stipulations can be very confusing to the consumer. The best thing you can do is ask questions. Properly certified Arborist will have no problem providing this information for you. 

 

The ISA certification strictly adheres to a set of national bylaws and standards.  Aside from passing the written test, there are on-going requirements. To keep certification one must earn 30 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) within three years. The ISA and other professional organizations offer these courses periodically.   

The KAA Certification also honors the national bylaws and standards. KAA certification is a week-long course composed of daily tests and a final. The KAA has put a good deal of energy behind improving our industry. We have attended some very impressive conferences hosted by the KAA over the last decade. These conferences have been lead by experts in the field from around the country. This road of knowledge can be the first path in an ever- expanding field of Arboriculture.

 

Gaining certification is the beginning. Arborists are not all equal in their knowledge and understanding of how trees work. Think of it like a doctor that just graduated from medical school. Will that doctor be more experienced in five years? We all hope so.

As with any business, more experience should equate to more knowledge, but not always. If a person is taught by a mentor who had no quest for knowledge, they will gain none. It could result in a cycle of bad knowledge passed from one generation to the next. Individuals that are certified have proven a quest for knowledge which allows them to further their understanding of proper tree care.

 

There are many things that make an outstanding Arborist. The combination of knowledge, skills, and ability make for a reliable Arborist. How many Continuing Education Units (CEUs) has your Arborist received over the last three years? This is a question you will want to ask when seeking a qualified Arborist. To give you an example and outline our knowledge base, click here to see a list of CEUs our president has received over the last few years.

Knowledge is not the only factor to consider when hiring an Arborist. Each member of the company should have received training to perform specific abilities. We train our Arborists with the latest techniques in climbing, rigging, and grounds work. Together, the crew works as a team, safely performing each task in a controllable and efficient manner.

The ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) is one of two of the largest organizations in the world dedicated to the field of Arboriculture.  Click here for ISA tips on selecting the right Arborist for the job. The second is TCIA (Tree Care Industry Association)  geared to helping private tree care companies and organizations. Everything from pruning standards to lobbying in Washington for employer rights have been established by these dedicated organizations. They have made great strides for Arboriculture by coordinating efforts. Please visit the links above to discover more about these notable groups.