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What is What is Arboriculture?Arboriculture?

Horticulture is “the Horticulture is “the art and science of art and science of cultivating plants.”cultivating plants.”

Arboriculture is “the Arboriculture is “the art and science of art and science of cultivating trees.”cultivating trees.”

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Who and What Are Who and What Are Arborists?Arborists?

““Specialists in the planting and Specialists in the planting and maintenance of trees.”maintenance of trees.”

-Webster’s Dictionary-Webster’s Dictionary

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Who and What Are Who and What Are Arborists?Arborists?

The International Society of Arboriculture The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) describes arboriculture as a broad field (ISA) describes arboriculture as a broad field with several areas of specialization:with several areas of specialization:

Municipal arboristsMunicipal arborists (urban foresters) are involved (urban foresters) are involved in the management of publicly owned trees, in the management of publicly owned trees, particularly in cities, towns and other public particularly in cities, towns and other public agencies. They are commonly employed by public agencies. They are commonly employed by public agencies either directly or on a contract basis.agencies either directly or on a contract basis.

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Who and What Are Who and What Are Arborists?Arborists?

Commercial arboristsCommercial arborists operate businesses that operate businesses that provide tree care services such as pruning, provide tree care services such as pruning, fertilization, health care, fertilization, health care, plantingplanting and tree and tree removal on a fee basis. Clientele include removal on a fee basis. Clientele include public agencies, private firms and individuals.public agencies, private firms and individuals.

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Who and What Are Who and What Are Arborists?Arborists?

Utility arboristsUtility arborists are involved in the management of are involved in the management of trees along utility rights-of-way. Their primary trees along utility rights-of-way. Their primary management goal is to prevent power outages. To management goal is to prevent power outages. To that end, utility arborists are involved in; assessing that end, utility arborists are involved in; assessing the need for and scheduling tree selection, pruning, the need for and scheduling tree selection, pruning, applying growth regulators and tree removal. They applying growth regulators and tree removal. They may be employed by the utility itself or by may be employed by the utility itself or by contractors who provide vegetation management contractors who provide vegetation management services.services.

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Who and What Are Who and What Are Arborists?Arborists?

Consulting arboristsConsulting arborists provide technical provide technical expertise including; problem diagnosis, expertise including; problem diagnosis, management programs, tree appraisal and management programs, tree appraisal and litigation support rather than performing litigation support rather than performing service work. Although most consulting service work. Although most consulting arborists operate on a commercial basis, arborists operate on a commercial basis, employees of some government institutions employees of some government institutions may also provide consulting expertise.may also provide consulting expertise.

-Arboriculture, 4-Arboriculture, 4thth ed. Harris, Clark, Matheny ed. Harris, Clark, Matheny

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Licensing and CertificationLicensing and Certification Licensing is generally a state(?) or local designation. Licensing is generally a state(?) or local designation.

There is no federal licensing of arborists.There is no federal licensing of arborists. Pesticide application is governed by licensing at the Pesticide application is governed by licensing at the

state level. (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, state level. (Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Plant Industry)Bureau of Plant Industry)

Certification is provided by The International Society Certification is provided by The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Consulting Arborists may of Arboriculture (ISA). Consulting Arborists may obtain the title of Registered Consulting Arborist obtain the title of Registered Consulting Arborist through The American Society of Consulting through The American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA).Arborists (ASCA).

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CertificationsCertificationsISA Certified ArboristISA Certified Arborist – “These professional – “These professional arborists have a minimum of three years arborists have a minimum of three years experience in some aspect of tree care and have experience in some aspect of tree care and have passed an exam developed by an international passed an exam developed by an international panel of experts. The exam extensively covers panel of experts. The exam extensively covers every aspect of tree care and the individuals every aspect of tree care and the individuals must have an acceptable level of knowledge in must have an acceptable level of knowledge in all areas of arboriculture.” There are all areas of arboriculture.” There are approximately 19,000 nationwide.approximately 19,000 nationwide.

-International Society of Arboriculture, 2008

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CertificationsCertifications

ISA Board Certified Master ArboristISA Board Certified Master Arborist… Requires … Requires passing score on an additional, more in depth passing score on an additional, more in depth exam and double the annual requirement for ceus. exam and double the annual requirement for ceus. There are approximately 200 nationwide.There are approximately 200 nationwide.

ASCA Registered Consulting ArboristASCA Registered Consulting Arborist…Requires …Requires completion of a 3 day consulting academy, completion of a 3 day consulting academy, passing score on final exam, passing score on passing score on final exam, passing score on several case study reports and additional annual several case study reports and additional annual ceu requirements. There are approximately 220 ceu requirements. There are approximately 220 nationwide.nationwide.

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CertificationsCertifications ISA Certified Tree WorkerISA Certified Tree Worker… These … These

credential holders have a minimum of credential holders have a minimum of 18 months experience professionally 18 months experience professionally climbing trees in a safe and efficient climbing trees in a safe and efficient manner to perform tree care. They manner to perform tree care. They have knowledge in the major aspects have knowledge in the major aspects involved in tree care including; involved in tree care including; pruning, removal, cabling and safety. pruning, removal, cabling and safety. They must pass a knowledge exam They must pass a knowledge exam and a skills exam conducted by and a skills exam conducted by trained evaluators. trained evaluators.

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What Can Arborists Do What Can Arborists Do For You?For You?

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What Can Arborists Do For What Can Arborists Do For You?You?

PruningPruning RemovalsRemovals PlantingPlanting FertilizationFertilization Pest management/IPMPest management/IPM Specialized servicesSpecialized services

Lightning protectionLightning protection Root collar excavationRoot collar excavation Growth regulationGrowth regulation

Problem diagnosisProblem diagnosis Tree preservationTree preservation Remediation of Remediation of

construction damageconstruction damage Tree inventories & Tree inventories &

appraisalsappraisals Risk assessmentRisk assessment Tree management plansTree management plans Crew trainingCrew training