When needing to get work done on a tree, it can sometimes be challenging to decide what tree service to go with. While there are many great tree services out there, some may unfortunately lack the proper tree knowledge to back up their work.
This is not the case with Lewis Pruning Services. As Certified Arborists, our credentials separate us from our competitors. In this post, we will go over what exactly a Certified Arborist is and what to expect when working with one.
What is a Certified Arborist?
Merriam Webster's definition of an arborist is someone who "specialize[s] in the care and maintenance of trees." Most tree services title themselves as arborists. An arborist can cover a variety of services and protocols:
Pruning
Removals
Soil testing
Etc.
Since Lewis Pruning's credentials are through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), an ISA Certified Arborist is someone who is a "tree care professional who has attained a generally-accepted level of knowledge in areas such as tree biology, diagnosis, maintenance practices, safety, and other subject and practice areas within the tree care profession as identified through periodic job task analyses."
While this credential is not required to own a tree service, it does prove its worth in proper assessment of your trees, including at times arborist reports, investigations, and tree-care operations.
There are also a variety of other credentials arborists can acquire such as Certified Tree Worker, Municipal Arborist, Consulting Arborist, Tree Risk Assessor, Master Arborist, etc. The list goes on!
What to Expect When Working with a Certified Arborist
Tree care comes in many different forms. Sometimes, tree care is hardly noticeable (see image 2). Other times, it is dreadfully apparent (see image 3).
Certified Arborists are held to a higher standard than non-credentialed individuals. They are given the knowledge to distinguish between good and bad practice and are expected to perform tree care accordingly. The ISA has a code of ethics, which includes upholding local laws, recognizing arboriculture standards, being truthful about experience and knowledge, and referring competent professionals if one can't provide assistance themselves.
A Certified Arborist should perform quality services while balancing interests of clients, trees, the greater ecosystem, and the safety of the public.
It is also worth mentioning that in order to keep one's credential, a Certified Arborist must also acquire 30 CEU's (continuing education units) every 3 years. This ensures that members are up to date with standards, practices, and scientific discoveries, which are happening all the time!
Trees are truly amazing and should be managed with upmost stewardship. Next time a tree project is in order, working with a Certified Arborist is a great decision that your trees will appreciate!
Disclaimer:
While we are very proud of the credentials we hold, I also want to acknowledge that there are many arborists/tree workers who are incredibly talented at their jobs and do not hold certifications. My intention with this article is not to minimize anyone's knowledge or experience but to clarify to homeowners/non-industry individuals the distinction of being a Certified Arborist.
References
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Arborist. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved May 26, 2023, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arborist
Why Hire an Arborist?. TreesAreGood.org. (n.d.). https://www.treesaregood.org/treeowner/whyhireanarborist
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