An arborist is a trained professional who can cultivate, manage, care for, and rehabilitate trees and shrubs. An arborist trees surgeon, or arboriculturist, is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individuals’ trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants in dendrology and horticulture. arborists generally focus on the health and safety of individuals plants and trees, rather than managing forests or harvesting wood (forestry or silviculture).
Skills need to be an arborist:
Although there are not any set qualifications needed to become an arborist or tree surgeon, with the challenging nature of the role work experience and training are highly recommended and beneficial. An arborist’s work involves monitoring and treating trees to ensure they are safe. With new diseases such as acute oak decline and ash dieback threatening Britain’s ancient species, working as an arborist has become an important yet exciting role. Despite not needing to be qualified, many of those who work in the field are highly skilled. Working at height, using powerful equipment, and understanding and following the safety requirements we must uphold- it’s imperative to be professionally trained. Being unskilled is not an option. Continual education is so important to our industry.
Many arborists believe in only the removal of trees, however, we are often saving them and helping the environment in the process. Being knowledgeable about properly identifying a tree, its needs, and its environment is an all-important aspect of your training.
Stamina and initiative are essential ingredients. Working in all weathers, from biting winter gales to the summer hat, often in heavy-duty clothing is one of the challenges of the job, however, the thrill of climbing makes it all worthwhile.
It is a career for those who thrive in the face of adversity and who are passionate about trees. Working as part of a strong team is a huge part of what we do, being a close team member with unshakable trust in one another and facing every day with a new challenge makes working in arboriculture a unique, thrilling, and rewarding career.
Qualification:
To become a qualified arborist, you will need extensive experience or a certificate III in arboriculture. This course will teach you about tree maintenance and pruning, safe tree felling, tree climbing, installing, cabling and bracing, and preparing and applying chemicals.
Complete a certificate III in arboriculture (AHC30820). You may be able to complete this qualification as part of a traineeship.
Get on-the-job training by working alongside a qualified arborist.
Consider furthering your skills by completing a diploma in arboriculture (AHC50520).
Alternatively, consider completing a degree in horticulture. Although it is not a prerequisite for becoming an arborist, a degree could help you find work in research positions.
Bachelor of Science:
Develop broad skills in science to prepare for opportunities in a range of industries with this qualification.
Tree surgeon:
A tree surgeon is in many respects, an arborist, however, tree surgery is more focused on the maintenance and upkeep of a tree. For example, as a tree surgeon, your job role will likely be geared more towards pruning trees and improving their overall health. An arborist, however, is more of a general term for somebody who works with trees (tree removal/ tree lopping, etc.)
Ultimately, the two trades are one and the same. It just depends on which area of arboriculture interests you the most (rescuing or removing trees).
Skills need to be a tree surgeon:
The skills required for a tree surgeon are the same as an arborist. Although there is a little difference between the two job roles
Often as an arborist will perform tasks such as pruning and tree care, just as a tree surgeon may be called upon to fell and remove a tree.
A tree surgeon will also need to be:
- Good at map reading
- Physically fit
- Able to work under pressure
- Calm and confident
- Excellent problem solvers
- Great communicators
Qualification:
The minimum educational requirement for this role is a high school diploma is equivalent, though most tree surgeons have at least a bachelor’s degree in environmental science, forestry, arboriculture, or a field of study relevant to the job.*
Difference between tree surgeon and arborist:
Two of those jobs, tree surgeon and arborist, are often referred two interchangeably, but they are actually quite different. Arborists require more formal education, while tree surgeon gains their experience out on the field. Both jobs can overlap, depending on the company providing tree services, and both jobs require extensive knowledge and experience working with trees.
A tree surgeon may not have as many requirements as an arborist, but to be a truly effective tree surgeon, does require extensive experience and knowledge.
A tree surgeon often works in difficult or dangerous situations and this job should not be trusted by just anyone.
While a tree surgeon may be viewed as a generalist tree specialist, an arborist works to diagnose your tree issue and the best remedies and solution. Arborists work to diagnose issues with your trees such as bad foliage, fungi, and diseases that may be affecting tree growth and care.
Conclusion:
A practical work ethic, combined with an in-depth knowledge of tree growth and development, is essential if you want to be a good tree surgeon. If you are scared of height and or/ clumsy, you might be barking up the wrong tree with this job.
Because of the often dangerous aspects of the job, a high level of risk awareness and proficiency in using heavy-duty machinery will help to reduce the potential hazards involved.
We hope this article has been helpful for you and has given you some inspiration. Whether you want to become an arborist or a tree surgeon, both require a very similar training and educational route. In either case, whether you decide, we wish you the best of luck. And sope out Broken News for more interesting articles.
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