Like any living organism, trees need proper care to remain healthy, and they can suffer from injuries and disease. An arborist is a skilled professional specializing in planting, caring for, and maintaining trees and shrubs.

When a tree is damaged, overgrown, diseased, or infested with pests, an arborist can diagnose the condition and recommend the best treatments for the tree’s health and the property’s safety. Arborists are also called upon to provide services like tree pruning, tree cabling, or storm damage assessments.

What an Arborist’s Job Entails

An arborist is responsible for all facets of tree care, from planting new trees and providing plant healthcare to tree removals when no other options are available. The position requires large amounts of education, training, and experience.

An arborist can recommend the best trees for a given location, determine the best areas for planting, and provide a full maintenance plan to keep the tree in great condition. Some of the services an arborist provides can include:

• Tree Planting: Planting a tree requires more than just digging a hole. For the tree to be sturdy and healthy, it needs the right amount of sun and shade, soil with the appropriate nutrients, water, and plenty of space to expand as it ages. 
• Tree Pruning: Proper pruning techniques help create a healthier, better-looking tree by removing overgrown, dead, or damaged branches. An arborist has the skill and experience to prune properly while protecting the health and beauty of the tree.
• Plant health care: When a tree is stressed, diseased, or damaged, an arborist can recommend the best treatment solutions for the tree’s health and the available budget.
• Emergency care: If a tree is damaged by a storm or an accident, an arborist can provide the pruning or care necessary to protect the tree’s health while keeping nearby people and buildings safe.
• Tree removal: When a tree is dead, damaged beyond repair, or poses a risk to people and property, an arborist can be brought in to remove the tree safely.

When You Should Hire an Arborist

Trees provide shade and beauty for your home and habitats for many species of birds and animals. For these reasons, it is vital to protect and preserve the trees on your property.

You should call an arborist when you notice any problems with your trees, such as:

• Damage to the branches or trunk
• Signs of disease like discoloration or dead limbs
• Excessive leaning or falling over
• Overgrown or unhealthy-looking leaves and branches
• Insect infestations
• Dropped limbs

What It Means To Be ISA Certified

Many arborists receive on-the-job training sufficient for entry-level positions requiring only basic tree care like pruning, identifying species, or using maintenance tools.

But becoming a professional adept at tree care and maintenance is vital to becoming an ISA Certified Arborist®. Many employers prefer those with ISA certification because it shows you have the skill and experience necessary to care for a tree throughout its entire life cycle.

Becoming an ISA Certified Arborist

To become an ISA Certified Arborist, you need to have the right combination of education, experience, and training. Three years of experience is typically necessary as an arborist before you qualify for certification.

That time can be reduced to two years with an associate’s degree in an appropriate field or one year with a bachelor’s degree. Then, the applicant must pass a 220-question credentialing degree on topics like:

• Soil management
• Tree identification
• Tree planting
• Tree pruning
• Disease diagnosis and treatment
• Tree risk management
• Safe work practices
• And more!

Choose Bratt Tree Company’s ISA Certified Arborists

When you need a skilled team to care for your trees in the Twin Cities area, talk to our experts at Bratt Tree Company. From pest infestations and disease to storm damage, our ISA Certified Arborists are here to help.

We offer tree pruning, emergency care, tree removal, and more, and our goal is to keep your trees looking beautiful and growing correctly. We have served Minnesota homeowners for over 30 years, and we feature trained technicians, upfront pricing, and guaranteed satisfaction with all our services.

Give us a call today at 612-721-4153 or contact us online for tree services from ISA Certified Arborists in the Twin Cities area.