What Does a Consulting Arborist Do?

Arborists are experts in the care and maintenance of trees. They know that the health of a tree is incredibly important to its structure and function. Arborists also understand the impact of a tree’s location on the surrounding property and can provide advice regarding placement and planting of trees to improve a home or business’s landscape and value. In addition to caring for trees, consulting arborists often have to navigate the legal aspects of working with trees and the intricacies involved when obtaining permission for a tree work project.

Consulting arborists are highly sought after for their expertise and knowledge of tree problems. These professionals have extensive education in arboriculture, including completing at least an associate’s degree and demonstrating experience in the field. Additionally, they are required to maintain their certification through continuing education. The ISA certifies two levels of professional arborists, and both include the ability to perform a variety of services, such as performing risk assessments, assessing health and hazard potential, and preparing reports. Growing Earth Tree has one of the highest ratios of ISA Certified Arborists among companies in the industry, and we only use consultants to help with complex issues that require the unique skills of a qualified and experienced professional.

What is the difference between a Consulting Arborist and a Commercial Arborist?

While both are ISA Certified Arborists, the consulting arborist goes into more detail with their work, especially when creating a plan for a site or individual tree. They also have additional training and experience in the areas of planning, horticulture, and report writing. This makes them an invaluable resource to many clients.

As a consultant, a tree specialist can also serve as the liaison between NYC Parks and developers when applying for a permit to do a construction project near an existing tree. This requires advanced technical knowledge, diverse graphic skills, and thorough administrative thoroughness to obtain permits as quickly as possible for clients.

Tree Preservation Plans are another common assignment for a consulting arborist. These involve the detailed evaluation of a property’s existing tree canopy and an assessment of the effects of proposed development on these trees. This helps prevent the need for a costly removal of a healthy and valuable tree later.

Another large part of a Consulting Arborist’s job is providing expert testimony in a court of law. This can be for a legal case, zoning board hearing, or other dispute related to trees and lands. This work requires a great deal of research, analysis, and presentation skills to provide clear and convincing evidence in support of the client’s position. It is an extremely rewarding aspect of being a consulting arborist.