What is an Arborist?
An arborist, also known as an arboriculturist, is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants in dendrology and horticulture. They study the biomechanics of trees. How they grow, cultivate, reactions to pruning, diseases, decay, and all the practical aspects of tree surgery. Much like a family doctor, an arborist cares for the health of the entire tree from roots to leaf.
Arborists focus on the safety and health of individual plants and trees, rather than managing forests (the domains of forestry and silviculture) or harvesting wood. An arborist’s scope of work is therefore distinct from that of either a forester or a logger, though the professions share much in common.
When searching for an arborist, it is imperative to hire an ISA certified arborist. One mistake when trimming can cause irreversible damage and in many cases removal of your tree. The International Society of Arboriculture or ISA is a board of master arborists with decades of combined experience which set the standards for the industry. To qualify to take the ISA exam you need to have a minimum of 3 years in the industry, pass an exam and take continued education classes to make sure your up to date on the latest standards.
Another is to reference the Commercial Contractors Board for an active license to confirm the contractor has insurance and bond coverage. This will also inform you if your desired contractor has any formal complaints or disciplinary actions made over the last 10 years.
To confirm the arborist has a valid ISA Certification or an Active CCB license then refer to the links below to search and be informed.
Jacob – Owner of Jacob’s Ladder Tree Tech
ISA Certification ID is: PN-7960A
CCB License Number: 215949
Jacob’s Ladder Tree Tech Services
You can verify the arborist here:
