Hold on........step Back!
I just want to start of by stating that I am in my last week of a four year program and will be graduating on Saturday. My major was and always will be Urban Forestry. This included classes such as Arboriculture, Dendrology, Pathology, Soil Science, amongst many others.
However, while completing my degree, I also took the full Turfgrass Management Degree as well as a Landscape Design Degree. Yes, the majority of the Arboristsite regulars work with trees everyday of their lives. And they love it! Who wants to be bothered by herbacious plants or grasses.................after all they are just over-prices weeds, right? Well perhaps turfgrass management is not for everyone, but there are not to many tree care professionals that will disagree with the following, which is a quote that I am giving, therefore, I suppose I will have to take heat from those that disagree:
"Today's urban landscapes consist of trees, shrubs, and vines (ya, I know the fun stuff), but also turfgrasses and herbacious plants. They are all desired parts of the working landscape, therefore, we as trained arborists/consultants must look out for not only the health of the trees, shrubs, and vines, but everything else growing under the various driplines. We have to be able to understand the differences in pH, fertilizer, and moisture requirements. We have to understand why the grass died after the pH or fertilizing practice is altered to better the growing conditions of the tree. For if we don't, there will be an increasing number of unsatisfied customers, that will most-likely never call you again or recommend you to their neighbors. We have to be able to educate the various homeowners on the benefits of mulch; not merely for the sake of the trees water retention, temperature control, and erosion prevention, but as a way to reduce the competition taking place between the trees and underlying turf. We should understand why a certain species may inhibit the growth of turfgrasses due to the presence of allelopathic chemicals, which are naturally released to prevent outside species from invading the trees space. The list is endless, but the fact remains, present day urban forests are constructed with more than trees in mind. Therefore, we really should actively attempt to educate ourselves in all aspects of the landscape."
I could go into far greater detail, but I am sure that everyone is getting where I'm headed with this.
The more education that a person receives the better prepared that individual will be in the field. Not only will you as the arborist be able to sleep easier at night due to a job well done, but you will create a stronger relationship with your clientel due to demonstrated knowledge of the entire landscape. Yes, perhaps arboriculture will be the arborists forte, but the extra pieces of paper hanging on your wall, will definitely come in handy more than once!
Shane Freeman
"...insight from North of the border!"
