The Comprehensive Education of Tree Service Technicians: Cultivating Expertise in Arboriculture and Environmental Stewardship
In the sprawling realm where nature and urban landscapes intersect, the vital role of tree service technicians becomes apparent. These skilled professionals undertake the essential task of preserving, caring for, and maintaining trees and shrubs in various environments, contributing significantly to the health, safety, and aesthetics of properties and communities. A career as a tree service technician is not merely a job; it’s a dedication to environmental well-being and customer satisfaction.
The Evolution of a Tree Service Technician’s Role: From Roots to Canopy
The career of a tree service technician has expanded over the years, evolving from rudimentary tree care practices to a highly specialized field requiring a diverse skill set. The intricate balance between nature, property, and human interaction has elevated the significance of their role, prompting the need for comprehensive education and training.
Formal Education and Training Programs
The journey to becoming a proficient tree service technician begins with a foundation in formal education. Many professionals in the field start with a high school diploma, the gateway to pursuing more advanced educational pathways. Aspiring technicians can choose from a range of degree programs, including forestry, environmental science, horticulture, and urban forestry.
Local colleges and universities often offer associate and bachelor’s degree programs tailored to arboriculture and related disciplines. Institutions like Murray University offer specialized programs that combine classroom instruction with practical experience, preparing students for the challenges of the industry. These programs cover a wide array of subjects, from tree biology and health to equipment operation and safety protocols.
On-the-Job Training: Nurturing Skills Amidst the Leaves
While formal education lays the groundwork, on-the-job training is the crucible where theoretical knowledge transforms into practical expertise. Tree service technicians often undergo extensive training with established companies or under the guidance of experienced professionals. This hands-on experience equips technicians with the ability to operate specialized equipment, assess tree health, diagnose diseases, and execute safe tree removal and pruning techniques.
The pivotal nature of on-the-job training is exemplified by Truco Services, Inc., a reputable tree service company in Murray, Utah. Under the tutelage of industry veterans like Michael Sands, aspiring technicians gain insights into the nuances of tree care, customer service, and environmental preservation.
A Multifaceted Skill Set: Beyond Chainsaws and Climbing Harnesses
The modern tree service technician is a versatile individual, requiring a diverse range of skills to excel in their role. Technical aptitude in equipment operation, from chainsaws to cranes, is paramount. However, effective communication and customer service skills are equally crucial, as technicians frequently interact with property owners to provide expert advice and ensure client satisfaction.
Safety also takes center stage in a tree service technician’s skill set. Handling heavy machinery, working at heights, and navigating potentially hazardous situations demand a keen awareness of health and safety protocols. Arborists must be well-versed in assessing the risks posed by power lines, unstable branches, and other potential hazards.
The Arboreal Academia: Beyond Traditional Education
The tree service technician’s pursuit of knowledge extends beyond formal education and on-the-job training. The dynamic nature of the field requires technicians to stay abreast of the latest industry advancements, safety regulations, and environmental practices. Continuing education opportunities, workshops, and seminars provide avenues for professionals to enhance their expertise and adapt to evolving industry standards.
Diverse Specializations: Branching Out in the Tree Service Industry
The realm of tree service is not limited to tree removal and pruning. Tree service technicians can specialize in various niches, each with its unique demands and challenges. Urban forestry, for instance, focuses on managing trees in urban environments to enhance air quality, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and foster green spaces within cities. Greenhouse technicians specialize in nurturing trees and shrubs within controlled environments, ensuring their optimal growth and health.
The Green Investment: A Tree Service Technician’s Worth
The value of a proficient tree service technician extends beyond immediate tasks. These professionals contribute to the overall worth of a property by enhancing its visual appeal, creating a safer environment, and maintaining the health of trees and shrubs. The economic benefits of tree care are often underestimated, with studies indicating that well-maintained trees can increase property values by as much as 10%.
Moreover, the environmental impact of tree service technicians is immeasurable. Their dedication to preserving and nurturing trees contributes to a sustainable ecosystem, improving air quality, and fostering biodiversity. By playing a pivotal role in carbon sequestration and mitigating the effects of climate change, tree service technicians become unsung heroes of environmental stewardship.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Tree Service Education
As the field of tree service continues to evolve, education and training will remain fundamental. The integration of technology, such as drone-assisted tree assessments and advanced diagnostic tools, will redefine the way technicians approach their tasks. Additionally, increasing awareness of environmental issues and the benefits of urban green spaces will drive demand for skilled professionals who can navigate the complex intersection of nature and urbanization.
In conclusion, the education of tree service technicians encompasses a diverse array of subjects, from formal degrees in forestry to hands-on training in the field. These professionals play a pivotal role in preserving the environment, enhancing property values, and ensuring the safety and beauty of our surroundings. As trees continue to stand as stars in our natural world, tree service technicians will stand as the guardians of their health and well-being, leaving an enduring legacy for generations to come.
An arborist (Tree Doctor), tree surgeon, or (less commonly) 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.
Arborists generally focus on the health and safety 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.
The following are signs that a tree should be examined by a Tree Doctor Specialist:
• Leaves appearing later than usual
• Leaves falling off earlier than normal
• Discolored leaves or leaves without veins or with odd nodules
• Bark that forms bumps or is split, cracked or peeling
• Dead branches near the top of the tree
• Fungus growing around the trunk, mushrooms forming around roots or twigs growing from the trunk
An arborist may conduct a variety of tests to determine the best course of action, including a soil analysis. For proper growth, trees need soil that contains a particular balance of 15 mineral elements. The arborist (Tree Doctor) may also test soil acidity or alkalinity. Fertilizer or soil amendments may make the soil a healthier tree environment.
If you’re thinking of hiring an arborist, contact well-reviewed local tree service companies and ask if they have an arborist on staff. Consider the individual’s level of education, certification and experience, as well as the company’s online reputation with other consumers.
An arborist, tree surgeon, or (less commonly) 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.
Arborists generally focus on the health and safety of individual plants and trees, rather than managing forests or harvesting wood (forestry or silviculture). An arborist’s scope of work is therefore distinct from that of either a forester or a logger.
Scope of work
In order for arborists to work near power wires, either additional training is required or they need to be certified as a Qualified Line Clearance Arborist or Utility Arborist (there may be different terminology for various countries). There is a variety of minimum distances that must be kept from power wires depending on voltage, however the common distance for low voltage lines in urban settings is 10 feet (about 3 metres).
Arborists who climb (as not all do) can use a variety of techniques to ascend into the tree. The least invasive, and most popular technique used is to ascend on rope. There are two common methods of climbing, Single Rope System (SRS) and Moving Rope System (MRS). When personal safety is an issue, or the tree is being removed, arborists may use ‘spikes’, (also known as ‘gaffs’ or ‘spurs’) attached to their chainsaw boots with straps to ascend and work. Spikes wound the tree, leaving small holes where each step has been.
An arborist’s work may involve very large and complex trees, or ecological communities and their abiotic components in the context of the landscape ecosystem. These may require monitoring and treatment to ensure they are healthy, safe, and suitable to property owners or community standards. This work may include some or all of the following: planting; transplanting; pruning; structural support; preventing, or diagnosing and treating phytopathology or parasitism; preventing or interrupting grazing or predation; installing lightning protection; and removing vegetation deemed as hazardous, an invasive species, a disease vector, or a weed.
Arborists may also plan, consult, write reports and give legal testimony. While some aspects of this work are done on the ground or in an office, much of it is done by arborists who perform tree services and who climb the trees with ropes, harnesses and other equipment. Lifts and cranes may be used too. The work of all arborists is not the same. Some may just provide a consulting service; others may perform climbing, pruning and planting: whilst others may provide a combination of all of these services.
Qualifications
Arborists gain qualifications to practice arboriculture in a variety of ways and some arborists are more qualified than others. Experience working safely and effectively in and around trees is essential. Arborists tend to specialize in one or more disciplines of arboriculture, such as diagnosis and treatment of pests, diseases and nutritional deficiencies in trees, climbing and pruning, cabling and lightning protection, or perhaps consultation and report writing. All these disciplines are related and some arborists are very well experienced in all areas of tree work, but not all arborists have the training or experience to properly practice every discipline.
Arborists choose to pursue formal certification, which is available in some countries and varies somewhat by location. An arborist who holds certification in one or more disciplines may be expected to participate in rigorous continuing education requirements to ensure continuous improvement of skills and techniques.
In Australia, arboricultural education and training are streamlined countrywide through a multi-disciplinary vocational education, training, and qualification authority called the Australian Qualifications Framework, which offers varying levels of professional qualification. Government institutions including Technical and Further Education TAFE offer Certificate III or a diploma in arboriculture as well as some universities. There are also many private institutions covering similar educational framework in each state Recognition of prior learning is also an option for practicing arborists with 10 or more years of experience with no prior formal training. It allows them to be assessed and fast track their certification.
In France, a qualified arborist must hold a Management of Ornamental Trees certificate, and a qualified arborist climber must hold a Pruning and Care of Trees certificate; both delivered by the French Ministry of Agriculture.
In the UK, an arborist can gain qualifications up to and including a master’s degree. College-based courses include further education qualifications, such as national certificate, national diploma, while higher education courses in arboriculture include foundation degree, bachelor’s degree and master’s degree.
In the US, a Certified Arborist (CA) is a professional who has over three years of documented and verified experience and has passed a rigorous written test from the International Society of Arboriculture. Other designations include Municipal Specialist, Utility Specialist and Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA). The USA and Canada also have college-based training which if passed will give the certificate of Qualified Arborist. The Qualified Arborist can then be used to offset partial experience towards the Certified Arborist.
Tree Risk Assessment Qualified credential (TRAQ) designed by the International Society of Arboriculture was launched in 2013. At that time people holding the TRACE credential were transferred over to the TRAQ credential.
In Canada, there are provincially governed apprenticeship programs that allow arborists’ to work near power lines upon completion. These apprenticeship program have to meet the provincial regulations (for example in BC WorkSafeBC G19.30), and individuals must ensure they meet the requirements of the owner of the power system.
Cultural practices
Arborists may use specialized vehicles to gain access to trees, such as this Unimog equipped with a power take-off driven wood chipper.
Trees in urban landscape settings are often subject to disturbances, whether human or natural, both above and below ground. They may require care to improve their chances of survival following damage from either biotic or abiotic causes. Arborists can provide appropriate solutions, such as pruning trees for health and good structure, for aesthetic reasons, and to permit people to walk under them (a technique often referred to as “crown raising”), or to keep them away from wires, fences and buildings (a technique referred to as “crown reduction”). Timing and methods of treatment depend on the species of tree and the purpose of the work. To determine the best practices, a thorough knowledge of local species and environments is essential.
There can be a vast difference between the techniques and practices of professional arborists and those of inadequately trained tree workers who simply “trim trees”. Some commonly offered “services” are considered unacceptable by modern arboricultural standards and may seriously damage, disfigure, weaken, or even kill trees. One such example is tree topping, lopping, or “hat-racking”, where entire tops of trees or main stems are removed, generally by cross-cutting the main stem(s) or leaders, leaving large unsightly stubs. Trees that manage to survive such treatment are left prone to a spectrum of detrimental effects, including vigorous but weakly attached regrowth, pest susceptibility, pathogen intrusion, and internal decay.
Pruning should only be done with a specific purpose in mind. Every cut is a wound, and every leaf lost is removal of some photosynthetic potential. Proper pruning can be helpful in many ways, but should always be done with the minimum amount of live tissue removed.
In recent years, research has proven that wound dressings such as paint, tar or other coverings are unnecessary and may harm trees. The coverings may encourage growth of decay-causing fungi. Proper pruning, by cutting through branches at the right location, can do more to limit decay than wound dressing.
Chemicals can be applied to trees for insect or disease control through soil application, stem injections or spraying. Compacted or disturbed soils can be improved in various ways.
Arborists can also assess trees to determine the health, structure, safety or feasibility within a landscape and in proximity to humans. Modern arboriculture has progressed in technology and sophistication from practices of the past. Many current practices are based on knowledge gained through recent research, including that of Alex Shigo, considered one “father” of modern arboriculture.
Legal issues
Depending on the jurisdiction, there may be a number of legal issues surrounding the practices of arborists, including boundary issues, public safety issues, “heritage” trees of community value; and “neighbor” issues such as ownership, obstruction of views, impacts of roots crossing boundaries, nuisance problems, disease or insect quarantines, and safety of nearby trees.
Arborists are frequently consulted to establish the factual basis of disputes involving trees, or by private property owners seeking to avoid legal liability through the duty of care. Arborists may be asked to assess the value of a tree in the process of an insurance claim for trees damaged or destroyed, or to recover damages resulting from tree theft or vandalism. In cities with tree preservation orders an arborist’s evaluation of tree hazard may be required before a property owner may remove a tree, or to assure the protection of trees in development plans and during construction operations. Carrying out work on protected trees and hedges is illegal without express permission from local authorities, and can result in legal action including fines. Homeowners who have entered into contracts with a homeowner’s association may need an arborist’s professional opinion of a hazardous condition prior to removing a tree, or may be obligated to assure the protection of the views of neighboring properties prior to planting a tree or in the course of pruning. Arborists may be consulted in forensic investigations where the evidence of a crime can be determined within the growth rings of a tree, for example. Arborists may be engaged by one member of a dispute in order to identify factual information about trees useful to that member of the dispute, or they can be engaged as an expert witness providing unbiased scientific knowledge in a court case. Homeowners associations seeking to write restrictive covenants, or legislative bodies seeking to write laws involving trees, may seek the counsel of arborists in order to avoid future difficulties.
Before undertaking works in the UK, arborists have a legal responsibility to survey trees for wildlife, especially bats, which are afforded particular legal protection. In addition, any tree in the UK can be covered by a tree preservation order and it is illegal to conduct any work on a tree, including deadwooding or pruning, before permission has been sought from the local council.
Organizations
Australia Limited, a non-profit organisation, is the peak national organisation promoting and representing tree workers, arborists, professional tree management and urban forestry throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region.
The Tree Care Industry Association, formerly the National Arborist Association, is a public and professional non-profit organization for the arboriculture field. It has more than 2,000 member companies representing over a dozen countries. TCIA’s Accreditation program certifies that tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on adherence to industry standards for performance and safety; maintenance of trained, professional staff; and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices. In addition, they provide safety and educational programs, guidelines for tree service operations, ANSI A300 tree pruning standards, and consumer resources.
The International Society of Arboriculture, a non-profit organization, maintains a list of ISA Certified Arborists who have passed a written exam and demonstrated a basic level of knowledge in arboriculture. There are also additional classifications of certified arborists with Certified Arborist/Utility Specialist for those who work near power lines, and Certified Arborist/Municipal Specialist for those who deal mostly with community trees. Other certifications exist for Certified Tree Workers, and the highest level of certification, the Board Certified Master Arborist.
The American Society of Consulting Arborists Is an organization whose membership is exclusive to those with either a certain level of industry experience, plus higher educational experience or continuing education; some members may achieve a higher status by fulfilling the requirements to become a Registered Consulting Arborist. Consulting arborists generally specialize in the areas of ethics, law, land planning and development, and tree valuation, among others. Consulting arborists are often called on for legal testimony and report writing in various instances where a particular authority on trees is necessary for consequent actions.
In the UK, the professional body representing the sector is the Institute of Chartered Foresters. The trade body representing arborists is the Arboricultural Association. The association maintain a register of consultants who have demonstrated a high level of technical arboricultural knowledge, and operate an Approved Contractor scheme. This scheme assesses both the technical competence and business practices of arboricultural contractors.
The European Arboricultural Council is a European group of arboriculture organizations from various countries.
Plant Amnesty is a public education and advocacy group, based in Seattle, dedicated to promoting proper pruning methods. Founded in 1987, Plant Amnesty became an international resource for arborists and their clients in the mid-1990s.
