What is an Arborist

Accepted by most and miss-understood by many, is the title Tree Surgeon. The term Arborist is frequently confused with tree surgeon, and whilst they undertake similar work, there are significant differences in qualifications.

Tree surgeons are qualified in the practical skills required to plant, prune and remove trees; often using chainsaws from a rope and harness to carry out the work. The tree-care industry standard for measuring these practical skills is the NPTC certification for competence scheme (NPTC)

An arborist has the additional, detailed, arboricultural understanding of why the operations are being undertaken and what results to expect. This knowledge is demonstrated by formal academic qualifications (e.g. RFS Cert Arb, College Diploma). Good arborists will have a working knowledge of tree biology, legislation and current industry health and safety standards.

Most tree work contracting companies will employ both types of operatives, in the case of smaller companies they are often the same person. There are other specialist tree-work operators undertaking dedicated operations for local authorities, rail companies or large public utilities; these companies require quite specific training and qualifications.

Amenity tree care falls under the general umbrella of ‘Arboriculture’; arboriculture also includes also shrub management: the typical operations range from new planting, transplanting, pruning and removal in domestic situations through to large public or private amenity woodland. Not all companies will offer a complete service; concentrating instead on delivering a limited range of high quality services. Tree surgery should not be confused with forestry harvesting or vice versa!

Typical tree surgery operations include:-

Crown clean The pruning out of dead, dying and defective branches, usually in association with a crown-thinning

Crown lift Pruning away lower branches, either wholly or in part, to achieve a specified vertical clearance between the ground and the lower canopy.

Crown reduction A pruning operation, which attempts to reduce the height and lateral spread of a tree’s canopy by a given distance or percentage, by cutting long, terminal shoots back to shorter side shoots.

Crown thin The removal of a stipulated percentage of the small diameter shoots at the periphery of the canopy to provide a uniform reduction in the visual density of the canopy. The operation is usually performed to reduce the wind-resistance of the canopy and thereby improve the stability of the tree/reduce the risk of branch breakage.