An arborist is a tree specialist. Similar to a doctor, they can diagnose and provide treatments to improve the health of trees and shrubs.
They play an important role when trees are being attacked by pests or various diseases.
Long story short: You should hire an arborist for both general and emergency care for your trees.
Situations where you may need to hire an arborist
Sometimes, an arborist may be hired to identify a problem where a tree looks sickly or has unsightly, bare branches. They will have helpful recommendations for tree care to get to the root cause of the problem and potentially save the tree before it gets worse.
When a tree is suffering from a disease, it can very quickly become unsafe. This can also lead to property damages or potential injuries if it falls. In some cases, the arborist will let you know that the tree needs to be removed to prevent possible damages in the future.
The right equipment to get the job done
A professional arborist will have both the equipment and training required to deal with any tree job. Inspecting a tree can present many challenging situations, especially when involving heights or hard to access areas. Safety should be the top priority, and an arborist will be familiar with addressing the various risks involved.
When necessary, an arborist may bring in a crane or bucket truck that allows them to assess a tree without the risk of falling due to a broken branch.
Ask about their past experience
It is important to work with an experienced arborist who is fully certified and understands best practices when dealing with the health of trees.
Before hiring an arborist, it’s a good idea to get a sense of the type of work they have completed in the past. Ask them about similar jobs they have done and equipment they use to get a sense of what will be involved in the job.
You’ll also want to take the time to see if they have a good reputation and positive reviews from their past work. This can also give clues to their general demeanour and communication skills, in addition to their knowledge of trees.
Do you have any questions you’ve wanted to ask?
If you’re here, that probably means you have a question or two about a tree on your property. You can reach out to our team of Ottawa arborists at VS Tree for a consultation, and we’d be happy to give you some friendly advice and a path forward!