Career Change to Arboriculture: Reality vs Romanticism

J

jesselangdon

Location
Edmonds
Hello All,

Please excuse the long post... I am currently working as a programmer/data analyst in the natural resource management field, but I've been dreaming of making a career change and possible becoming an arborist. I'm sick of working in front of a computer, and I have always had a keen interest in trees. I am 44 years old, and while I have spent plenty of time redesigning and working on the landscaping in my own property, I have never worked professionally in the horticulture/arboriculture domain.

I have spent a considerable amount of time researching the arboriculture field and what it would mean as a career, but much of this research has been done through the Web, i.e. forums like this (treebuzz, arboristsite, etc), YouTube videos, online articles, etc. There is a great 2-year college program in horticulture offered at a nearby community college (Edmonds Community College, just north of Seattle), that I am considering starting this year (part time).

I have a tendency to daydream and romanticize, and I'm worried that I am probably not being realistic about this career change idea, so I was hoping to get some feedback from all of you fine folks here at TreeBuzz.

Based on the (admittedly limited) research I've done so far, professional arborists seem to spend a lot of time doing "tree removal" vs. "tree care", at least more than I had originally anticipated (this isn't a criticism, just the impression I get). I envisioned climbing around big beautiful heritage-type trees, focused on keeping them healthy, with the occasional removal. But the general feeling I get is that there's a lot of focus on just removing trees. While I don't have a problem removing dying, diseased, damaged, or hazardous trees, I know myself well enough to know that I'm going to get bummed out by taking out a mature tree just because a land owner wants to improve their view, or because the tree is inconvenient for them somehow (i.e. drops too many seeds on their patio, etc.)

Am I just being too idealistic about this? Maybe I'm too much of a "tree-hugger" to enjoy being a real-world arborist?

Any thoughts or feedback on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
Welcome to the buzz! Most of what you are saying about PHC vs. removals is dependent on who you work for, the other portion is that a youtube video of a guy injecting a tree, or climbing and making a few small but proper cuts isn't going to get the same amount of hype or views as the big removal so it's not something the helmet cam goes on for. See who's around you and talk to them, see if you can do some part time weekend work - that will give you an idea what hey do and if it's right for you.
 
Jesse welcome. Might suggest you try https://www.youtube.com/user/arboristBlairGlenn and https://www.youtube.com/user/PruneLikeAPro for another side of things.
For couple of years now, more and more, I've been repairing storm damaged spruce tops, tree splits (cable and brace at height), general pruning and also pruning for getting rid of black knot, fertilizing and doing what I will call "tree restoration" - one of these was an epoxy job/ bolts done on a "peg" of a stump so the whole thing wouldn't fall over - finished and painted so it's an invisible fix - it was that or lose the tree. It is now my pride and joy - it is in a family friend's yard - she has fallen prey to early onset alzheimers after only two years of retirement and the backyard space under this tree is her favourite to sit in for what time may be left. It was actually an honour to work on their tree - propping, pruning, getting rid of decayed wood, bracing, fertilizing and removing half a ton of rocks and four layers of landscape fabric the "landscaper" had placed there years earlier - the tree is now exploding with blossoms and new growth. I have done lots of work for retired folks on fixed incomes, folks from the church, some folks just down on their luck a bit (our city is an economic deadzone in the oil and gas business) etc., now a lot of whom have become friends of the family. There's other ways to get into this business other than laying out cash right away for a forestry lift truck/ chipper/ stump grinder etc. Climbing and removals are fun but so is the look on client's face when you get their favourite tree back from the brink. My take on the whole shebang. Trees are awesome. All the best on your adventure - if you're not a climber though, get some instruction - work at height is a rough classroom - permanent like.
Also meant to add this link - they use the arborist study book from ISA as a text and do a really good job in my opinion - you can take it on-line (but not the final exam although you may be able to get it proctored off campus):
http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/afs/arborists/
 
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jesselangdon said:
Am I just being too idealistic about this?
Click to expand...

Probably not. It might just be a perspective problem! There's certainly a dark underbelly of the industry, and in some areas trees are viewed with no more consideration than an old outhouse at the back of the property... don't need that, anymore, knock the smelly thing down. But, that's not going to change until more people become proactive about educating folks about the value of their trees. That doesn't require chaining yourself to them or forming a picket line in front of their house... sometimes all it takes is for them to see your enthusiasm for saving mature trees and making them easier for the homeowner to understand and live with. Most doctors would rather see a cure for cancer than treat it with chemotherapy or radiation. But, in the meantime, you still have to deal with the problem.

Also, a tree in the wrong place can be more of a liability... you'd be surprised how many people will get behind the idea of planting a couple of new trees in a better location to make up for one that needs to be removed. I try to get folks to let me do a major reduction and deadwooding, take off any branches that they're afraid will crush the house, etc. as a precursor to removal a few years later... after getting a new tree or two planted to take its place. A mature tree isn't going to fall over dead in that time frame, from a harsh reduction, and if the replacement trees are a more suitable species in a better location, there will be an improvement over the existing condition.

My point is, arboriculture involves tree removal as well as preservation... whether the removals result in a net loss of biomass is largely a matter of how well you can convince clients that leaving a positive legacy will benefit them, as well as their grandchildren.

Is there a local arboretum in your area? Offer a discount to clients who agree to donate a tree for planting, or in some other way support the arboretum. There's always a way to keep the job interesting and fulfilling. Sometimes you just have to look at it from a different angle to squeak a little sunshine out of the dark days.
 
jesselangdon said:
Hello All,

Please excuse the long post... I am currently working as a programmer/data analyst in the natural resource management field, but I've been dreaming of making a career change and possible becoming an arborist. I'm sick of working in front of a computer, and I have always had a keen interest in trees. I am 44 years old, and while I have spent plenty of time redesigning and working on the landscaping in my own property, I have never worked professionally in the horticulture/arboriculture domain.

I have spent a considerable amount of time researching the arboriculture field and what it would mean as a career, but much of this research has been done through the Web, i.e. forums like this (treebuzz, arboristsite, etc), YouTube videos, online articles, etc. There is a great 2-year college program in horticulture offered at a nearby community college (Edmonds Community College, just north of Seattle), that I am considering starting this year (part time).

I have a tendency to daydream and romanticize, and I'm worried that I am probably not being realistic about this career change idea, so I was hoping to get some feedback from all of you fine folks here at TreeBuzz.

Based on the (admittedly limited) research I've done so far, professional arborists seem to spend a lot of time doing "tree removal" vs. "tree care", at least more than I had originally anticipated (this isn't a criticism, just the impression I get). I envisioned climbing around big beautiful heritage-type trees, focused on keeping them healthy, with the occasional removal. But the general feeling I get is that there's a lot of focus on just removing trees. While I don't have a problem removing dying, diseased, damaged, or hazardous trees, I know myself well enough to know that I'm going to get bummed out by taking out a mature tree just because a land owner wants to improve their view, or because the tree is inconvenient for them somehow (i.e. drops too many seeds on their patio, etc.)

Am I just being too idealistic about this? Maybe I'm too much of a "tree-hugger" to enjoy being a real-world arborist?

Any thoughts or feedback on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I tend to be wordy and this is my favorite topic to rant about. I'm just going to say that if anyone wants you to do something that you aren't comfortable with, you can just not do it. It doesn't make you less of a professional. Emotional investment does not make one a poor arborist in either sense of the word.
 
Thank you all for the great feedback. I do definitely have the "career change jitters", and I appreciate your perspectives. I suspected that I was probably getting an unbalanced view of the profession through the internet.

Evo, I will PM you. Thanks!
 
I made the career change at 43 so age isn't an issue. You can steer your work towards tree care, Guy at Historic Tree Care is a excellent example of someone who does very little in the way of removal work if any at all. That's a business decision that will inform what you need to do to market services and grow your business.
 
I really appreciate the responses everyone. You all are definitely motivating me to "get off the fence" about this! I am planning on attending the conference in Lynnwood (thanks again for that Evo!), and I'm signing up for hort classes at Edmonds Community College starting in fall. I'm getting the sense that if I want to head more in a 'tree care/management' direction, I need to be pretty careful about who I train with.
 
jesselangdon said:
Based on the (admittedly limited) research I've done so far, professional arborists seem to spend a lot of time doing "tree removal" vs. "tree care", at least more than I had originally anticipated (this isn't a criticism, just the impression I get). I envisioned climbing around big beautiful heritage-type trees, focused on keeping them healthy, with the occasional removal. But the general feeling I get is that there's a lot of focus on just removing trees.

Am I just being too idealistic about this? Maybe I'm too much of a "tree-hugger" to enjoy being a real-world arborist?
Click to expand...


Most people don't have world class heritage trees. Most people have green things in summer. If its brown in summer, it gets their attention.

Some markets have much more value in preservation. Some have zero value in preservation.

Arborist is something someone is, tree work is something people often do for work.

Trees don't need you climbing around them for their health. They've got that figured out. Poor structure, and storm-firmness is one thing. Keeping dead wood from hitting a house has nothing to do with tree health. That's roof health, gutter health, etc.


PNW has a lot more people valuing trees, and preservation.

Some people only do pruning work/ preservation, with zero removals. It works for some. Usually smaller companies, much smaller. Pick-up and 6" chipper. Unload without a dump truck. Pruning/ preservation work doesn't take as much equipment, either. Lower risk.
 
southsoundtree said:
Arborist is something someone is, tree work is something people often do for work.

Trees don't need you climbing around them for their health. They've got that figured out. Poor structure, and storm-firmness is one thing. Keeping dead wood from hitting a house has nothing to do with tree health. That's roof health, gutter health, etc.


PNW has a lot more people valuing trees, and preservation.

Some people only do pruning work/ preservation, with zero removals. It works for some. Usually smaller companies, much smaller. Pick-up and 6" chipper. Unload without a dump truck. Pruning/ preservation work doesn't take as much equipment, either. Lower risk.
Click to expand...
Word up! Unfortunately in my experience Sean is right on. How in the hell is cutting off the organs which make food, and defense chemicals heathy? Sure there are better ways of doing so, a proper cut is certainly better than a flush cut. Trees don't need us, but we need them. Other than planting, young structural pruning, and correcting safety conserns we work for the tree manager. When they want the impossible, we use language to speak for the tree.
It might be just my micro area, working 80% native trees but people around here tend to view the trees as obstacles.
"We want these trees reduced for view by 20', but don't want to hurt them because our bluff might slide into the sound"
I once asked a arborist who has a consulting business in the pnw and also in the mid west on what demographic values trees more. With out a blink of the eye she said the Midwest. We are surrounded by trees, and frequently take them for granted.
I choose to get into root work, because I truly feel that most tree health concerns that can be permanently corrected happens below our feet.

Often the cause may be decades old, due to root loss, compaction, infrastructure changes, hydrology issues, etc. The tree then gets stressed, defenses goes down, and that is when all the bugs crud try to finish it off.

I do some smaller removals, but I am pruning/preservation based. However, when I get called out for tree 'x' it's for the clients needs, and tree 'y,z' are the ones that need the work. I'm about 6 years in business for myself (part time) and been running full time since December. This is out of a total of 10 years, while working for some amazing, supportive arborist, not to mention learning as much as I can in the "off" hours. There certainly is a niche market for true preservation work, but you need to pay your dues first. It takes more work to get it off the ground than typical "tree service" businesses, where one storm can be enough to jump start you into full time.

While I think is well within reason to have a company specializing in heritage tree preservation, you need to climb that ladder first. The Edmonds program is a good starting point, but you need to become the expert to be sought after.
 
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southsoundtree said:
Most people don't have world class heritage trees. Most people have green things in summer. If its brown in summer, it gets their attention.

Some markets have much more value in preservation. Some have zero value in preservation.

Arborist is something someone is, tree work is something people often do for work.

Trees don't need you climbing around them for their health. They've got that figured out. Poor structure, and storm-firmness is one thing. Keeping dead wood from hitting a house has nothing to do with tree health. That's roof health, gutter health, etc.


PNW has a lot more people valuing trees, and preservation.

Some people only do pruning work/ preservation, with zero removals. It works for some. Usually smaller companies, much smaller. Pick-up and 6" chipper. Unload without a dump truck. Pruning/ preservation work doesn't take as much equipment, either. Lower risk.
Click to expand...


Those are really great points, regarding "tree health" vs. "roof and gutter health". I've been assuming that working on heritage trees would be a "gee, that would be cool if I could get to do that, but it will probably be pretty rare" type of thing. NOT something I would do every day.
 
evo said:
Word up! Unfortunately in my experience Sean is right on. How in the hell is cutting off the organs which make food, and defense chemicals heathy? Sure there are better ways of doing so, a proper cut is certainly better than a flush cut. Trees don't need us, but we need them. Other than planting, young structural pruning, and correcting safety conserns we work for the tree manager. When they want the impossible, we use language to speak for the tree.
It might be just my micro area, working 80% native trees but people around here tend to view the trees as obstacles.
"We want these trees reduced for view by 20', but don't want to hurt them because our bluff might slide into the sound"
I once asked a arborist who has a consulting business in the pnw and also in the mid west on what demographic values trees more. With out a blink of the eye she said the Midwest. We are surrounded by trees, and frequently take them for granted.
I choose to get into root work, because I truly feel that most tree health concerns that can be permanently corrected happens below our feet.

Often the cause may be decades old, due to root loss, compaction, infrastructure changes, hydrology issues, etc. The tree then gets stressed, defenses goes down, and that is when all the bugs crud try to finish it off.

I do some smaller removals, but I am pruning/preservation based. However, when I get called out for tree 'x' it's for the clients needs, and tree 'y,z' are the ones that need the work. I'm about 6 years in business for myself (part time) and been running full time since December. This is out of a total of 10 years, while working for some amazing, supportive arborist, not to mention learning as much as I can in the "off" hours. There certainly is a niche market for true preservation work, but you need to pay your dues first. It takes more work to get it off the ground than typical "tree service" businesses, where one storm can be enough to jump start you into full time.

While I think is well within reason to have a company specializing in heritage tree preservation, you need to climb that ladder first. The Edmonds program is a good starting point, but you need to become the expert to be sought after.
Click to expand...

Really great insight and info Evo. Thanks so much!
 
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