A Forester for City Trees
An arborist or urban forester works with individual trees and knows the essentials for their surviving and thriving in different environments. The arborist has extensive knowledge on an individual tree level and is a micro-manipulator of single trees in a forest or landscape. The arborist practices the science of arboriculture.
Interestingly enough, many arborists are trained foresters. Urban forestry is a growing sub-discipline of the modern forestry school and graduates are often hired by municipal governments that have aggressive tree progams.
Most traditional foresters, on the other hand, tend to see trees as a group and manages from that perspective. Foresters practice the art and science of silviculture.
Arboriculture is mainly concerned with the planting and care of trees and more peripherally concerned with shrubs, woody vines, and ground-cover plants. It is a branch of horticulture within the plant sciences.
You need to find help from the most experienced professional available to you when dealing with any project or problem associated with shade trees In most cases either an arborist or an urban forester will be the professional of choice when working with single or small groups of trees.
These professionals should be accredited through a major arboriculture or urban forestry society. The International Society of Arboriculture represents one such group and you should pick your professional from an organization like this.
If you want to do some tree work yourself, the Internet has several sites that can assist. TreeLink.org has an extensive and well developed site that explains community and urban forestry on both a layman and professional level. You can also joint the American Association of Amateur Arborists. They describe themselves as a small but growing group of people and organizations. Their aim is both to learn more about trees and to be environmentally aware.
ANNUAL U.S. TREE CARE STATISTICS
*23 million trees are cared for by arborists in the United States.
*13 million trees are pruned by arborists.
*3 million trees are fertilized by arborists.
*6 million trees are treated for insects by arborists.
*2 million trees are treated for disease by arborists.
(Gallup Survey)
