We know we’ve been throwing around the term “arborist” a lot but our preferred noun is actually “supertreero.” You know, tree-heroes? Like the Avengers but with more leaves. And chainsaws.

Anyway, since you asked, an arborist is a tree service professional, also sometimes referred to as a tree surgeon.

If you require tree work on your property, be it pruning, tree removal, felling or stump removal, it’s important to hire a (certified utility) arborist to ensure your tree work is done properly. 

How do you know you’re dealing with a professional supertreero? Ask if they have a valid certified utility arborist (CUA) or ISA certified arborist ticket. They should. Ask this question before allowing anyone to advise you and work on your trees.

“Utility arborist” means they’re trained and certified to work in proximity to utilities or other energized electrical structures. This type of work could include clearing tree branches from utility lines or removing trees, which could come into contact with power lines.

Those who have the certification have completed a training program as well as over 2,000 hours of on-the-job experience.

A CUA is *slightly* more qualified to assist with your tree service needs than the random guy with a chainsaw who lives down the street and will work for beer.

ISA stands for “international society of arboriculture” and these credentials differentiate tree care professionals from hobbyists. This is a voluntary step but it demonstrates arborists have the proper skills as well as the dedication to their profession.

Arborists take great pride in selecting the correct course of action for the trees on your property. And you should take great pride in the fact that you’ve settled for nothing but the best tree service professionals.