Most people know that a tree surgeon cuts and cuts trees, but several other terms seem to be used interchangeably with this one. Some arborists call themselves tree surgeons, others use the term arborist, while others use arborists. Some even use a combination of all three. But what's the difference and what should you look for to take care of pruning, felling, and the overall health and well-being of your trees? You don't want to choose the wrong one and have to do second-rate work.
The Arborist An arborist is something very different, a set of skills complementary to those of the tree surgeon. When a tree surgeon is responsible for maintenance, an arborist is the tree management expert. There are degrees they must obtain before considering themselves as arborists, and their training and experience in the sector are focused on advising on the general well-being and health of their trees. They are able to identify conditions that could infect or damage your tree, they will know where to best place a tree or which tree would work best in a particular environment, location or soil pH.
They will also know the best way to treat a sick tree and will advise you on ways to prevent your trees from becoming victims of diseases or infestations. Basically, they are the masters of tree management. It is estimated that around 15 billion trees are cut down each year, equivalent to the felling of approximately 41 million trees per day. In the U.S.
Cutting down trees or parts of trees on public land without proper authorization is illegal in the United States. An example of this is cutting the tops of trees, pruning or splitting hats, where the entire crowns of trees or main stems are removed, usually cutting the main stems or leaders transversely, leaving large and unsightly trunks. Professional tree cutters are trained to deal with difficult situations, from cutting branches located near power lines to cut down trees after a storm causes damage.