Our Role as Arborists

– image courtesy of pacifichorticulture.org

“An arborist’s career is centered around maintaining the health and beauty of trees.”

In my opinion, our role as arborists is to be committed to all aspects of tree conservation, preservation, and environmental stewardship.

I believe that the benefits of trees to the urban landscape are unmistakable, yet trees take so long to grow that they cannot simply be replaced if damaged or removed. I believe that any “tree service” can cut trees down, but it takes a true professional to provide for the long-term health and well being of our cherished landscape trees. Our role as “Green Industry” professionals is to help educate homeowners on how best to preserve and protect the natural heritage of our modern urban ecosystem.

Since finishing my own apprenticeship, my business has been built around helping my customers make more informed decisions about their trees and landscape. Nowhere is this more evident than in my own commitment to helping customers visualize solutions to tree issues and being able to provide workable compromises to tree removal. Yes, sometimes trees will be need to be removed, but in my experience, pruning and other measures can often be used systematically to save trees from removal. In this way, we both, accomplish the goals of those involved, while also acting as good stewards of the urban environment, our natural heritage.

Look, let’s be honest. I do a lot of removals. That is just part of the trade. There is a very real concept of ‘wrong tree, wrong place’. I get it. All I’m saying, is that our primary focus as professional arborists, ought to be on trimming and preservation, rather than on removals. There are untold numbers of ‘tree guys’ out there, who go around cutting trees down for cutthroat prices, with no consideration for the future of the neighborhoods that they operate in. But the reality is this: trees take an incredibly long time to grow. You can lose your entire lawn, call a sod guy, and within a few hours, you can have a brand new lawn. It just doesn’t work that way with trees. Trees are a long-term investment. Trees are the elder statesmen of the urban landscape. They are unlike all man-made structures, and different than all of the other aspects of landscape design. Trees are unique, and they deserve our utmost respect and admiration. I love trees, but I’m not a tree-hugger. If you can understand that contradiction, then you can start to understand how I see our unique role in the community at large, both as professional arborists, and as business and thought leaders.

So, there it is. Thoughts? Opinions? Let’s continue the conversation….

Climb high, Work smart, Read more.
– TreeMuggs