The Benefits of Professional Tree Care Services From ISA-Certified Arborists

When your trees need pruning, rootwork, or insecticide and fungal treatments, you want to be absolutely certain you’re choosing the right team for the job. After all, tree work itself is inherently dangerous, involving heavy equipment, great heights, and the unpredictability of nature, and if it’s not performed correctly, the consequences could be catastrophic, leading to property damage, personal injury, or the irreversible decline of a beloved tree.

This is precisely why you will see certain tree care companies advertising their ISA credentials. These credentials, awarded by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), are gained on a voluntary basis and demonstrate a professional’s commitment to performing tree care at the highest possible level of safety and expertise. The certification helps them stand out from the average Joe offering tree trimming and provides homeowners and businesses with the peace of mind that their tree work will be completed carefully.

So, the next time you need tree work, don’t just hire a general landscaper; choose a company with ISA-certified arborists on staff, like All About Trees in Springfield, MO.

What Does It Mean to Be ISA Certified?

The International Society of Arboriculture is the world’s leading professional organization dedicated to advancing the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. To become an ISA-certified arborist, a professional must demonstrate a comprehensive and expert-level understanding of the field.

Candidates must first meet stringent eligibility requirements, which typically involve a combination of formal education in arboriculture and a minimum of three years of full-time, practical work experience in the field. This prerequisite ensures that only individuals with substantial, hands-on experience can even attempt to earn the credential. Once eligible, the candidate must sit for a comprehensive examination that covers a vast range of topics. The exam tests their knowledge on everything from tree biology, soil science, and plant identification to proper pruning techniques, disease and pest diagnosis, safe work practices, and tree risk assessment. Passing this exam is a significant achievement that proves the arborist possesses a well-rounded foundation for their work.

But the demands of the credential don’t end once the certificate is earned. To maintain their certified status, an arborist must participate in a program of continuing education, earning a specific number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) every three years. This requirement is crucial because it ensures they remain up-to-date on the latest research, cutting-edge techniques, and evolving safety standards within the industry. After all, arboriculture is a dynamic field, with new discoveries about tree health and new threats from invasive pests emerging regularly.

Suffice it to say, a professional who is committed to ongoing learning is an arborist who can provide the best possible care for your trees.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring an ISA-Certified Arborist for Tree Care?

The benefits of hiring an ISA-certified arborist extend far beyond simply improving the aesthetics of your trees. In fact, hiring a credentialed professional to perform tree care can impact everything from your property’s value to the long-term survival of your trees.

Let’s take a closer look at why it’s best to partner with a certified arborist:

Tree Care Solutions Based on Scientific Knowledge

An ISA-certified arborist has the deep-seated knowledge of tree biology, entomology, and pathology required to make an accurate diagnosis of tree problems. For example, what might look like simple yellowing leaves to an untrained eye could be a sign of anything from a nitrogen deficiency in the soil to a serious fungal infection like oak wilt, and a certified arborist will be able to detect what the exact problem is for effective treatment.

Of course, certified arborists don’t simply know how to diagnose different ailments correctly; they also understand the complex relationships between trees and their environment, how different species react to stress, and the most effective methods for promoting health and vigor. This level of understanding prevents misdiagnoses that can lead to ineffective or even harmful treatments and ensures your trees receive the precise care they need to thrive.

A Fervent Commitment to Safety

Tree care is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous professions in the world. This is because working at great heights, operating powerful equipment, and dealing with the immense weight of tree limbs present significant risks. An ISA-certified arborist is rigorously trained in the industry’s best safety practices and knows how to properly use and maintain their equipment, from chainsaws and chippers to aerial lifts and cranes. They are even trained in advanced rigging techniques to safely lower heavy limbs without damaging homes or surrounding property. This focus on safety protects you, your family, and your property from preventable accidents.

Mastery of Proper Pruning Techniques

Have you ever seen a tree that looks like it was given a flat-top haircut, with all its main branches bluntly chopped off? This harmful practice is known as tree topping, and it is one of the most destructive things you can do to a tree.

While it may seem like a quick fix for a tree that has grown too large, topping creates long-term structural problems, invites decay, and can ultimately kill the tree. Because of this, an ISA-certified arborist will never top a tree. Instead, they follow ANSI A300 pruning standards, which involve making precise, strategic cuts that enhance the tree’s natural structure and promote its long-term health.

A properly certified and trained arborist will understand how to perform different types of tree pruning, such as crown cleaning to remove dead or weak branches, crown thinning to improve light and air circulation, and crown reduction to decrease a tree’s size while maintaining its structural integrity. You will not see these same safe practices from a company offering tree trimming.

Advanced Diagnostics and Modern Treatment Options

Often, a tree’s problems aren’t immediately visible and are, instead, located deep within its trunk or root system. Fortunately, certified arborists are equipped with the knowledge and tools to conduct advanced diagnostics to uncover these complex issues. They can identify subtle signs of internal decay, assess the stability of the root system, and diagnose diseases that may not yet be obvious.

Once they’ve pinpointed the problem, their continuing education allows them to make use of the latest and most effective treatment options. Whether it’s a targeted micro-injection to combat an insect infestation, deep-root fertilization to correct a nutrient imbalance, or the installation of a cabling and bracing system to support a weak branch, they have a full toolbox of solutions to draw from. 

Adherence to a Strict Code of Ethics

Finally, ISA certification requires arborists to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics. This code mandates that they will provide honest, competent, and professional service to their clients. It means they are committed to providing truthful and accurate information, to making recommendations based on the tree’s best interest, and to practicing their craft with the highest degree of integrity. This ethical standard gives you confidence that you are not being sold unnecessary services and that the advice you receive is reliable and trustworthy.

All About Trees — Your Clear Choice for Tree Care in Springfield, MO

When you consider the immense benefits of hiring an ISA-certified arborist, the choice becomes clear: you shouldn’t settle when it comes to the health of your trees. Demand the best from your tree care company and receive the best results.

At All About Trees, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of tree care services in Springfield, MO, and we achieve that by hiring ISA-certified arborists. No matter if you need pruning services to enhance the growth of your tree, plant health care solutions to treat complex insect infestations and diseases, or complete tree removal when a tree has reached the end of its life or poses too great of a risk, you can count on our team having the knowledge and experience to handle it all.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our ISA-certified arborists and let us get to work improving the health of your trees.