So you wanna be an Arborist...

[Redbull]

where should you start? Tree biology, proper pruning methods, climbing, tree ID, disease ID? Only serious answers please, no BS.

 

[Lumberjack]

Biology seems like a good place to start. It will help you everything else like pruning, ID, and perhaps disease ID.

Also get the Tree Climbers Companion too, great for climbing.

 

[alanarbor]

Draggin' brush. Get into the field, at the same time you're hitting the books. Learn the fundamentals of the job as it gets done, learn the fundamentals of WHY it's done from reading books. You need to have a balance of practical and intellectual to be a good arborist.

 

[Redbull]

Tree Climbers Companion has been an excellent resource for climbing. I'm quite comfortable in the area of climbing and feel that I practice good pruning methods using what little knowledge I do know. I'm really interested in learning more though.

 

[okietreedude1]

Since your in the Kansas area, I think a good place to start would be the KAA Arborist Training course. Unfortunatly, the next regularly scheduled one is not until October.

However, they occasionally have them during other times of the year upon request and interest. I will pmail you the contact information.

 

[Redbull]

I did my share of draggin brush with Asplundh and learned some other valuble lessons there as well. Not quite the work environment I was proud of being a part of. I enjoyed tree CARE a little too much to fit in there. I work full time as a technician for Toshiba right now and operate a very small tree service part time. Low and slow is my theory. I don't take anything I can't handle and I don't lie to the customers about my experience. If I don't know something, I tell them I'm not sure and I'll research their question. They seem to respect my honesty and attention to detail. I would like to be able to provide a better service by being able to respond to some of their questions. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to go back to school (wife and four kids) but I am willing to read. Any suggestions on some educational literature?

 

[Redbull]

Thanks for the info David. I'm in Missouri though. Got any contacts for MO? If not, can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks.

 

[NickfromWI]

I wish when I started I had more of a tree biology base to build on. If done properly, everything builds on that. Climbing a tree is worthless (unless it's recreation) if you don't know what to do once you get up there. The only way you know what to do is with a modest understanding of how a tree survives, flourishes, and heals.

love
nick

 

[Redbull]

I agree Nick. I have a basic understanding of those concepts but I would prefer to have a more detailed understanding. I want to provide my customers with tree care, not just the guy who trims trees.

 

[clearance]

Redbull-go and do some side jobs with your buds from Asplundh. Doing line clearance work with anyone is something to be proud of if you worked hard, even if you just dragged brush. Line clearance guys get a lot of abuse on this website, but they keep the power on, something everyone here should respect. A lot of guys from Asplundh can climb trees in a productive manner. You can learn from them. Safety and then production, get good then get fast. Be a working arborist, not some textbook hero-workplace zero.

 

[Redbull]

Clearance, I respect your enthusiasm for line clearance and I can relate to the thrill of knocking out several spans of primary with a good, hard-working crew. The only problem I had with doing side-work with these guys is this: it was just side work. Get in, cut, cut , cut, and get out. I was interested in learning about what I could do to keep the customer happy and do the least amount of damage to the tree. I want start a business, they want to make a buck. I don't want this to become a line clearance v. residential debate. Just lettin you know where I'm coming from. I have much respect for utility arborists. And I have no interest in being a text book hero, but... to be a working arborist requires knowledge outside of moving around a tree and running a saw.

 

[clearance]

Thanks a lot Redbull. You are right, all the sidework that utility guys get is cutting stuff down, not really treecare.

 

[Brendonv]

dont forget to study your pests and diseases even if your not going to be using any treatments , i agree with others, once you know the biology it helps in understanding how the tree actually functions, heals itself, etc.

 

[treeseer]

Wife and four kids, no (more) time for school, boy does THAT sound familiar.

www.treesaregood.com has great free basic info for you and your clients.

mquinn used to post here a lot; she worked for the U at Columbia MO. Look her up if you can for local connections.

 

[Matt Follett]

Yep, as said... Basic Biology.

It doesn't need to be university level, particularily at first. Get a basic understanding of things like cell division, meristimatic growth, where and why it occurs. Basic chemical interactions, etc.

If you're a reader, or are just waiting till school... books like Stern "Introductory Plant Biology",
Richard Harris, "Arboriculture",
Agrios "Plant Pathology",
(don't laugh at the next one it's really good!) Mattheck "Stupsi explains the Tree"
any of Gilmans books.

There's some good starter material. I don't have a clue about your area, but I'm sure you would be able to find some college night classes in plant biology, and perhaps pathology. Remember when your getting started,that even the herbaceous stuff you are learning will have some significance to the field.. so don't fall asleep!

BUGS, try to find some entomology classes... something I feel asleep alot in (or got grossed out and closed my eyes!), and am now regreting it!

on the job... keep you eyes open, and return on a regular basis to jobs you have done to see the response... Always look for interesting things! even in the wierdest places (like as you're feeding pruned limbs in the chipper, study the structure.

Okay rambling now...

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Hendrickson Tree care is in OP and are one of the better companies in the area. It's owned by Brandon(treegeek)Hendrickson's uncle Joe.

 

[Redbull]

Thanks for the replies guys. You all pretty much confirmed my initial intuition that tree biology should be a priority.

 

[Dan R Porter]

Wow!

dont forget to study your pests and diseases even if your not going to be using any treatments , i agree with others, once you know the biology it helps in understanding how the tree actually functions, heals itself, etc.

Where are you from? My trees here in missouri never heal. (Just messin around.)

 

[jmack]

Thanks for the replies guys. You all pretty much confirmed my initial intuition that tree biology should be a priority.

isa has a study guide that is available for the test, the prereq on feild experience is verifiable 3 years in the biz, go for it red!