The Value Of A
Certified Arborist

We don’t want to speak ill of anyone in particular. At the same time, we want you to get the best tree care for your hard-earned money. Are there people out there calling themselves “arborists” but lacking in credentials of any sort? Sadly, yes, there are. That’s why it’s important to look at their website to see which arborist organization(s) they are members of or certified by. Never hesitate to ask questions about the credentials and experience of the arborist or tree care company you’re looking to hire. Someone who has just written an arborist exam this year versus someone who’s been working full-time for many years as an arborist, well you can imagine what a difference that can make.

Speaking for ourselves here, we’re going to ask a few questions first. First off, there’s the matter of permits. The City of Ottawa requires a tree removal permit to remove trees. There are exceptions to this bylaw. Knowledgeable and experienced Ottawa arborists, such as the certified arborists here at Croft Tree Experts in Ottawa, are familiar with the City of Ottawa tree removal bylaws, and once we make a site visit we’ll advise whether you need a tree removal permit or if you’re god to go on that tree removal now. In general, we are proponents of trees and like to see trees maintained or new trees planted as Ottawa continues its path of growth and expansion. There are circumstances where tree removal is necessary, such as the health of the tree, or the development of property, etc.

Most definitely! Certified Arborists have achieved a level of knowledge in the science of tree care, gaining years of experience and passing arborist exams developed by leading tree care experts. Arborists must continue their education to maintain certification. Arborists study the science of tree care which involves biology, chemistry, arboriculture, horticulture… even physics (yes physics! Imagine trying to fell a tree, not understanding physics and being the unfortunate though self-inflicted victim of a tree falling the wrong way!). Arborists need to know where and when to prune trees to promote healthy growth. Ottawa Arborists also need to be well versed in the various disease and fungi that affect trees in Eastern Ontario.

You’ll find that there are situations that call for hiring an arborist, while other times you can do a number of things around your property on your own. Let’s start with the basics. For things like lawn mowing, leaf raking, yard cleanup and yard waste removal, those are things that most homeowners or property managers either do on their own or hire a lawn care company to manage. For small tasks like clipping shrubs and hedges (“trimming” by definition), you can take these on yourself and do a little here, a little there, keeping that shrubbery manicured nicely. So, for all that, we’re not really talking about trees per so. Now we can tackle the trees. When it comes to tree pruning – not to be confused with tree trimming – we’re talking about cutting branches off trees to (a) promote growth and/or (b) avoid safety hazards, that’s when you’ll want to hire an arborist. Then for any kind of tree felling, tree removal and cutting down trees, stump removal, etc. – for sure it’s best to hire an arborist to stay safe and avoid any hazards and pitfalls.

The ISA, or International Society of Arborists, is a non-profit organisation which regulates arborist certification throughout the world. ISA certified arborists must meet stringent requirements, have extensive work experience, and pass a comprehensive exam before becoming a certified arborist. Certified arborists are trained in how to properly care for and remove trees as well as identify potential diseases, damage, and more. Only certified arborists can fill out arborist reports which are essential for distinctive tree permits needed to remove a tree.