While there are some similarities between an Arborist and a Tree Surgeon, there are also some vital differences. A properly trained and skilled Arborist has the expert knowledge to effectively evaluate the overall health and structural integrity of trees, as well as the long term effects of any work which may be carried out on each particular species. They have the knowledge to determine the minimum amount of work needed to satisfy both client’s needs and the health requirements of the tree, and find the perfect balance between the two. Ultimately, this will save the client money in unnecessary tree work, or tree work that will be detrimental to the long-term health of the tree, creating problems later on that would need additional expensive remedial work to rectify.
The life-cycle of a tree can span into decades or centuries. When compared to this sort of time scale, the length of the career of a tree surgeon is barely a moment, making it impossible for a single individual to fully understand the growth and life cycle of a tree, or the long term effects of work carried out. A full understanding such as this can only be handed down over generations, and for this reason there is simply no substitute for the proper training in both the theoretical knowledge and its practical application that an Arborist gains through ongoing professional development and study of Arboriculture.