Arborists vs Tree Trimmers

Arborists can be tree trimmers, but tree trimmers are seldom arborists. Arborists are tree surgeons, or doctors, who do surgeries on trees and practice arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of trees and other shrubs. A tree trimmer will trim trees and doesn't necessarily need to know the inner workings of the tree.

Tree Health & Local Species

To become a ISA Certified Arborist, one must pass a certification program under the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). This process includes a rigorous certification program that requires passing an examination.

The future arborists are trained in tree biology, tree growth patterns, and ideal growing climates for optimal tree health.

Pruning & Planting

Tree health is drastically affected by how they are pruned and planted.

Pruning

Arborists receive training in proper pruning techniques per ANSI A300 tree-cutting standards, including the following:

• Removing dead branches
• Stimulating tree growth
• Promoting tree health



Several issues can arise from pruning a tree wrong, and arborists are trained to prevent precisely that issue. While tree trimming seems pretty straightforward (and sure, most of the time, they are), accidentally topping a tree can be disastrous for tree health.

Planting

Certified arborists receive training on how to plant trees at the correct depths to provide optimal growing conditions for trees. They understand what it takes to provide a young tree sapling with ideal growing conditions.

Both arborists and tree trimmers likely know when a tree is growing too close to power lines, but arborists are trained in more in-depth tree hazard assessments.

Arborists are trained in:

• Tree hazard assessment
• Identifying disease or decay in trees before they are observable
• Assessing potential risk & personal injury
• Safety & PPE Requirements

Tree Hazards

As mentioned above, arborists are trained in identifying tree hazards. This includes anything from the tree growing incorrectly to root decay/potential toppling of the tree to trees growing too close to power lines or houses. Arborists are trained on individual species of trees and will be able to predict the growth patterns of the specific tree accurately.

Disease & Decay

Only certified arborists can identify disease or decay faster than the layperson or tree trimmer as they are trained to identify specific symptoms before it could be too late for the tree.

Risk & Injury

As mentioned above, arborists are trained in identifying tree hazards. This includes anything from the tree growing incorrectly to root decay/potential toppling of the tree to trees growing too close to power lines or houses. Arborists are trained on individual species of trees and will be able to predict the growth patterns of the specific tree accurately.

Tree Protection & Longevity

Certified arborists are trained to evaluate existing trees and to create tree protection plans if required. They can make the appropriate suggestions for tree planting or pruning to promote tree health.

Certified arborists are the landscape architects for trees. They work with job site contractors, developers, and engineers to create a tree protection plan that ensures tree health and prosperity over the longevity of the tree's life.

Arborists will also know the proper tools to use to trim trees and why. The understand the important behind selecting a bypass lopper versus a hand saw, and what damage or otherwise it could do to the tree.

Tree Trimmers

This post was not meant to denigrate tree trimmers in any way. No! We value and respect tree trimmers as much as anyone, but we wanted to provide the differences between a tree trimmer and a certified arborist. Tree trimmers are more like tree technicians, whereas an arborist is like a tree engineer, or tree surgeon.

A lot goes into tree health—planting, pruning, preventing disease and decay. Tree trimming is just one aspect of optimizing a tree's health. While a tree trimmer knows what the best loppers are, and can lop some branches off a tree, they may not understand the negative aspects of crown reduction pruning.

Now, tree services have the guidance of at least one certified arborist who provides direction to the tree trimmers working under them. If an arborist is something you require for doing work on your trees, then be sure to ask the service you've chosen.

FAQs

Sweet New Earth Final Say on Arborists and Tree Trimmers

SNE always recommends getting a certified arborist for any extensive tree work you plan to do on your property. Complicated tree work can be dangerous, and you may not have the experience required to complete it alone.

Not only that, but you may lack the understanding of how to properly care for a diseased tree, which an arborist is trained to do. Tree surgeons are the ones you need for the job.

If you liked this guide, be sure to check out some of our other extensive guides on trees and tree-trimming tools. If you want to become an ISA Certified Arborist, make sure to check out their website.