The terms tree surgeon and arborist are often used interchangeably, and while there are similarities between these titles, there are also key differences. A tree surgeon plays an important role in the health and vitality of your trees, and one such way is diagnosing and creating a care plan for dying trees, which are hazardous for anyone who comes onto your property. Removing trees requires precision and careful execution, and that is where tree surgeons come in. Ensuring that the person who removes trees from your yard is a certified arborist, a.k.a. a tree surgeon, is essential for you to be confident that the job is done safely and correctly.
What Is a Tree Surgeon?
So, what exactly does it mean to be a tree surgeon? A tree surgeon is an arborist who has been certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). In addition to being required to complete a tree trimming comprehensive exam, a certified arborist must earn continuing education credits, ensuring they stay in the know about changes in the industry.
What Do Tree Surgeons Do?
A tree surgeon and arborist share some job functions, but the difference is like that between a medical doctor and a surgeon. An arborist provides basic tree care and maintenance, while a tree surgeon capably cares for trees in the following specialized ways.
- Planting
- Removing
- Treating
- Pruning
- Post-storm cleanup
- Tree bracing
- Stump grinding and removal
For newly planted trees, tree surgeons can help construct bracing or cabling needed for stabilization. They also knowledgeably assess and diagnose the health of your mature trees to see if any limbs or branches are diseased and subsequently create an effective treatment plan that will return your trees to good health.
What Skills Does a Tree Surgeon Need?
Tree surgeons are also experts in arboriculture, providing them with the particular knowledge needed to cultivate, manage, and inspect trees and other plants. They have the relevant skills to use the equipment necessary to perform the dangerous tasks of pruning and removing trees and limbs as well as stumps. This equipment includes harnesses, chainsaws, axes, ladders, and rigging kits.
Why Should I Use a Tree Surgeon?
A tree surgeon can inspect your trees and determine which limbs and branches should be removed and whether the tree can be salvaged or if it should be totally removed. If the latter is decided and knowing how much can go wrong with tree removal, attempting it without a tree surgeon would be a mistake.
A tree surgeon is responsible for ensuring that there is a strategic plan in place detailing where the cut tree will fall to keep everyone on the property safe, with considerations made for how heavy tree limbs are and how hard they are projected to fall. Even just pruning the tree requires the skill of a certified arborist, as it will still be necessary that the arborist scale the tree while avoiding any electrical lines or interferences they may encounter.
Trust Your Trees to Gaston’s
It can be tempting to think that you can perform the same tasks as a tree surgeon yourself. But hiring an experienced team, with certified arborists on staff, who can help you keep your trees as healthy as possible is the best thing to do for them in the long run. If you are ready to experience the difference of using certified arborists who have comprehensive knowledge of how to best care for all of your trees, contact the trusted team at Gaston’s Tree Service. Our experts are ready to help you assess, diagnose, and treat your trees to keep your entire lawn healthy and beautiful for your year-round enjoyment.