When managing trees, an arboriculturist will be your best friend.
Let’s answer all your questions about finding an arboriculturist near you – from what they can help with to how they differ from tree surgeons.
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Your questions answered about arboriculturists near you
What is an arboriculturist?
An arboriculturist, also known as an arborist, cultivates and manages trees.
They can advise on the overall wellbeing of your trees, help you deal with sick trees and even inform you on how to prevent your trees from becoming ill or infested.
They can also help you understand where trees should be planted. For instance, they can advise you on where a specific tree would be most likely to thrive – or help you to pick out a tree that’s likely to do well in a given environment.
Ultimately, if you have questions related to the health and wellbeing of a tree, an arboriculturist will be able to help.
What is the difference between a tree surgeon and an arboriculturist?
You’ll often find the terms ‘tree surgeon’ and ‘arboriculturist’ used interchangeably. But these job roles aren’t the same – although they do share some overlaps.
A tree surgeon carries out mechanical work on trees, often to do with tree maintenance.
They’re the ones you’ll usually see with a chainsaw high above the ground. They’ll be extremely experienced in things like pruning, crown reduction, removing dead branches and removing trees and stumps.
But while a tree surgeon will be very familiar with tree care and maintenance, they won’t have in-depth knowledge about how to treat trees in certain environments or with specific diseases. In this case, an arboriculturist will have more specialist knowledge in a tree’s wellbeing.
What does an arboriculturist do?
Arboriculturists will usually specialise in a certain area of work – such as tree preservation, planning or surveying and inspection.
Where they work can also vary greatly – from parks to forests and woodlands; rural areas to cities.
That said, as a rough guide, they’ll often:
- Identify hazards and safety concerns
- Produce reports for clients, councils, insurance companies and mortgage companies
- Help to plan where trees should be planted
- Cut, thin and potentially remove trees
- Keep informed on different tree types and potential issues
What is an arboricultural assessment?
An Arboricultural Impact Assessment is a technical report that an arboriculturist can create during the early stages of a building project.
The report assesses the potential impact of a building project on nearby trees. It may identify valuable trees near a construction site and help mitigate any risks to them.
Arboricultural Impact Assessments can be used to support planning applications and are often requested by town planners.
Why hire an arboriculturist?
Hiring an arboriculturist near you comes with tons of benefits. Here are some of the main ones.
1. Expertise
Arboriculturists have to undertake rigorous training to become qualified. They also have to spend a minimum of four years working as a tree surgeon first.
With that in mind, you can be confident that your arboriculturist has a wealth of expertise and knowledge that it would take years for you to develop.
2. Environment
Trees are wonderful things that help fight global warming, support biodiversity and even improve our physical and mental health. So, caring for them is of the utmost importance.
Arboriculturists are specialists in tree health and wellbeing. Hiring one is a fantastic way to safeguard the green, friendly giants in your garden.
3. Save money
An arboriculturist will take the guesswork out of caring for your trees.
Whether you hire a professional to help you care for a poorly tree or to pick out trees for your garden that have the best chance of thriving, they won’t just improve your trees’ wellbeing. They’ll also potentially prevent you from having to fork out on expensive removal and replacement costs down the line.
How do I find a reliable arboriculturist in my area?
Convinced you need the help of one of these wonderful professionals? Then you’re probably wondering how to find a reliable arboriculturist near you. Here are our top tips.
Read reviews
Always check to see what other homeowners have to say about arboriculturists in your area.
That way, you can make sure to choose someone that others rate.
Get multiple quotes
It’s best to get at least three quotes for arboriculturists near you.
This will allow you to get a feel for a range of different professionals. Plus, you’ll be able to check that you’re getting a fair and competitive price for the work.
Check their specialisms
Arboriculturists often specialise in a given area.
Be sure to check that any arboriculturists you’re considering have previous experience carrying out work similar to your project.
Ask about insurance
It’s safest to check that any arboriculturists you’re considering have the right insurance in place. This will give you confidence that you’re protected in case things go wrong.
You’ll be pleased to hear that all our tradespeople must have up-to-date public liability insurance to get listed on the Checkatrade directory.
Get recommendations
Know a friend or family member who’s recently hired an arboriculturist? Why not ask if they would recommend their services?
Make sure to cross-reference any recommendations on Checkatrade, so you know they’ve also been checked and vetted by us.
Use Checkatrade!
At Checkatrade, you’ll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass our quality checks on Checkatrade
Plus, when you contact a trade through Checkatrade, our guarantee will cover their work for up to 12 months. You can claim up to £1,000 (exclusions and T&Cs apply).