Ottawa Arborist & Tree Service Blog

A Day in the Life of an Ottawa Arborist

“What’s it like, being an arborist?”

As Ottawa arborists, we get asked this question quite a bit.

Being an arborist isn’t just a job for us, after all, but more of a passion and lifelong interest.

That’s why we decided to put together this article for you, to give a glimpse into the life of an arborist, both the day-to-day arborist duties and highlights as well as what goes into being an arborist.

Whether you’re a homeowner or property manager looking for the services of an arborist in Ottawa, or you’re looking to move up (pun intended) to a career in arborist services, we hope you find this both educational and entertaining.

Why Become an Arborist?

The more obvious answer to the ‘why’ and ‘who’ questions about becoming an arborist involve an interest in and passion for trees – and for arboriculture, as it’s called professionally.

Do some people’s love or passion for arborist work begin with loving to climb trees?

Actually, yes, it often does.

Think back to when you were a kid (if you’re still a kid at heart, even better!). Wasn’t climbing trees a hoot? Did you love getting high (in elevation, not in a mood-altering way!) and enjoying the view from that perch?

If so, that’s a pretty good start right there. Though being an arborist goes well beyond climbing trees.

If you love the outdoors, if you have a keen interest in taking care of plants, trees, hedges, flowers and the like, then there could be a natural step to becoming an arborist.

What Does Being an Arborist Entail?

Beyond a love for natural life, trees and the outdoors, being an arborist also entails serving people.

After all, as much as we enjoy being amongst trees on public lands (such as those found around Ottawa & the Outaouais, e.g. the glorious Gatineau Park), arborists make their living serving people such as homeowners, property managers and anyone who owns or manages land with trees.

Being an arborist in Ottawa and across goes hand in hand with being a people person.

At Croft Tree Experts, we love being able to help people, and it’s our pleasure to serve people in Ottawa and surrounding communities through arborist services such as tree planting, pruning, tree removal, hedge trimming, stump grinding and much more.

On a given day being an Ottawa arborist, from around April through October our schedule is filled with client projects, from tree removal and tree pruning to stump removal and much more. In the winter months it’s slower, of course, but there are still some jobs and we’re also planning for the upcoming busy season.

We take pride in listening to what our clients need, rather than offering some sort of one-size-fits-all prescription. We inspect every site before we offer a quote. Sometimes people think that a tree is beyond saving and tree removal is their only option, for example, but it turns out that (through a site visit) we realize we can save the tree with some TLC.

So as you can see, being an arborist in Ottawa really does mesh people skills with a love of trees.

Becoming a Certified Arborist

Many arborists got their start with a base of education in fields including:

Environmental science
Horticulture
Natural resources
Conservation
Geosciences

… as well as many others.

Whatever your background, the next important step is getting certified as an arborist.

The ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) is the gold standard in earning and maintaining globally recognized standing as a certified arborist.

At Croft Tree Services in Ottawa, arborists are ISA certified, meaning we have been recognized as having the prerequisite education, knowledge and experience necessary to serve clients at the highest level of arborist services in Ottawa.

ISA certified arborists also have to undergo periodic recertification, meaning we’re staying current, up to date and on the (sorry, we couldn’t resist) cutting edge of tree care.

If you’re a homeowner looking for Ottawa arborist services such as tree planting, tree pruning, tree removal or other tree care, please contact us today.

If you are interested in becoming an arborist, we’ve added a few videos below that you may want to watch. Should you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

Here’s a well-produced video from Stihl on a Day in the Life of an Arborist:

Short film entitled The Arborist:

And an episode of Everyday Humans featuring an arborist:

Thanks again for stopping by, and for your interest in Ottawa arborists!

How Ottawa Arborists Help with Tree Care, Tree Removal & More

With the onset of summer, many Ottawa homeowners and property managers are busily tending to their landscaping and property beautification.

Lawns, hedges, bushes and trees get the royal treatment as it’s their time to shine in the sun.

With such a short window not only to enjoy warm weather here in Eastern Ontario but to take care of our homes and property, summer is – as you can imagine – the busiest time of year for Ottawa arborists.Read More

Ottawa Tree Services in Full Swing for the Summer

well pruned tree growing in front of house

We have all faced a great challenge this year, with the COVID-19 global pandemic.

We certainly hope you and your loved ones have stayed healthy and safe through these times.

At Croft Tree Experts in Ottawa, we curtailed our Ottawa tree services this spring until getting the green light from the Province of Ontario to restart operations. We are now returning to our regular operations and getting back to offering our full lineup of tree services, including tree pruning, tree planting, tree removal in Ottawa – and many other arborist services.Read More

When Winter Ends & Trees Are Damaged or Dead

With winter ending, it’s that time of year where we’re all out in our yards and out & about on our properties here in Ottawa and the National Capital Region.

As you inspect the trees on your property, you may have observed that winter took its toll on one or more of your trees. Indeed, Ottawa winters are known to do their fair share of damage to trees, and when everything finally melts and thaws out in the (merciful) spring, tree damage becomes apparent.Read More

Everything You Need to Know About Tree Removal in Ottawa

If you own a home or manage a property in Ottawa, you might find yourself needing tree removal.

While tree removal is a fairly straightforward process, it is definitely something left to tree professionals and arborists. From your end, the important things to decide are
• when to remove a tree (versus when to keep it, prune the branches, etc.)
• whether you will need an Ottawa tree removal permit
• who you will call on to remove the tree(s)

Read on to find out what steps you can take to make sure your tree removal is carried out safely and in compliance with Ottawa bylaws.

How We Cut Down Large Trees in Ottawa

“Tim-berrrrrr!”

That’s usually the sound people associate when they picture a big tree being cut down. How about the image that goes with it? Perhaps you’re imagining a tall tree, redwood type maybe even, and a burly guy in a red plaid shirt, swinging an axe in one fell swoop at the trunk to bring down the whole tree a-fallin’? Tree-cutting cartoons are hilarious, but of course that’s not how professional tree-cutters actually cut down large trees. In this edition of the Croft Tree Experts blog, we’ll take an inside (well, outdoors but from insiders) look at how large trees are cut down.Read More

Am I Responsible To Remove My Tree Or Is The City?

One of the questions we get asked quite a bit here at Croft Tree Experts is in regard to whose responsibility it is to remove a tree from residential property: The homeowner or the city.

To answer this question in short: It is usually your responsibility as a homeowner to remove a tree from your property.

Of course, like just about anything else when it comes to bureaucratic matters, it’s complicated, and there are often contradictions. In this article we’ll take a look at different circumstances in which trees are removed from residential property and who pays.Read More

Croft Tree Experts Are on the Way – “How Do I Ensure I’m Prepared?

Croft Tree Experts arborist using saw to cut tree branches

So you’ve decided to get the services from Croft Tree Experts. Great Choice! Whether its tree removal, stump removal, or hedge trimming; we can provide an unmatched quality of tree services to protect and beautify your property. Our team of Certified Arborists and Forest Technicians bring the skills, knowledge and expertise in examining trees and give you the best advice to protect them. Call Croft Tree Experts and we’ll be there in no time. How do you ensure you’re ready when Croft Tree Experts are on their way? This guide should help you prepare for our tree experts to do what they do best.Read More

Do I Need A Permit To Remove A Tree On My Ottawa Property?

Croft Tree Experts Arborist climbs high to remove section of tree

There are many reasons why you might want to cut down a tree – perhaps it is dead or rotting, has been struck by lightning and is a danger, has an infestation of Emerald Ash Borers, or maybe you just want it gone.

In the last decade, the City of Ottawa has made significant efforts to protect trees from being cut needlessly, especially in urban areas. Anyone looking to cut down a tree on an Urban property must now obtain a permit from the city, but the rules differ depending on the situation. The goal of the the bylaw is to ensure that trees being cut down in the City’s urban areas are diseased or in a state that risks damage to property or person. Cutting down a tree simply because you don’t like it is no longer in the cards

Tree Conservation – Urban (By-law No. 2009-200) is the bylaw that governs the tree felling and removal on private property in Ottawa. This bylaw is complex with many regulations, conditions, and prohibitions. In order to be sure you are safely and legally removing a tree from your property it is essential that these bylaws are understood and followed. Luckily for you, you don’t have to take a deep dive into Ottawa By-Laws, you can trust in our knowledge and expertise as Ottawa’s leading arborist service.

Signs Your Tree May Be Sick

fruit tree in late autumn with bare branches

A sick tree can be tough to deal with. Most of the care comes down to prevention and early detection if you want a good chance at saving it from needing to be removed. Strong healthy trees not only provide you and your property with joy, shade and character, but also stand to increase the property value of your home. Be sure to always have an eye open for signs your tree’s health is compromised, as these symptoms typically develop slowly and the earlier it can be treated the better chance you have to save it. Here is a list of things to look out for:
Read More