Advice on learning material

T

Troutbum

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Northeastern
Hey guys! Thanks in advance for all the answers I've already recieved from these forums! Anyway, I'm a relatively new climber looking to invest more into arboriculture and was wondering what the best books/ DVDs/ online courses are for beginners. I'm somewhat experienced with climbing but very green with pruning procedures, tree anatomy, soil, ext. I've only had my hands on the Tree Climbers Companion. Thanks!!
 
I think beraneks material is good, Lawrence Shultz has the definitive resource for SRT, climbing arborist is a good free resource.


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The ISA Certified Arborists' Study Guide gives a pretty good overview and will also prepare you to sit for the exam, should you ever wish to do so. It covers the topics you mentioned in your post, as well as many others.
 
Shigos "tree basics" started me off. I actually found it in my yard where we parked the trucks when I first started in a random container where tons of trash ended up. 6 years later I still go back into it. Also jack Phillips "soul of a tree. Conversations with alex shigo on the nature of tree care" gave a unique perspective. But as said the arborist certification guide will give you just about all you need to know without getting too detailed
 
Art and science of practical rigging book and DVD serious by rip Tompkins and ken palmer was huge for my rigging education
 
Second vote for Gilman's "Illustrated Guide to Pruning". (as well as his online stuff - search "UF Ed Gilman" and you'll hit a jackpot)

Also +1 for Shigo materials - "A New Tree Biology" isn't so "new" any more, but still very good...really essential.

Beranek's "Working Climber" DVD series is very good.

Jim Urban's "Up By Roots" has a lot of good information about soils - especially urban soils. It is a little heavy, but worth plugging through.

Pascal Pirone has a good book on diseases and pests

UC's Abiotic Disorders of Landscape plants is good too.

Are you an ISA member? If not, join. Arborist News and Journal of Arboriculture are both good publications...maybe not every article, but there is plenty there to keep anybody learning - far less intimidating when it is digested a few pages at a time.

Go to educational seminars put on by local ISA units, Extension offices, State Forestry agencies, etc....
 
Thanks for the responses everyone! I haven't entered the world of ISA yet but apparently that is the direction I need to take. How good are their online courses? Also I've read about Gilmans book but that is a pretty penny, should I invest in that over Shigos?
 
Shigos and Gilmans are 2 different books...

Exhaust online materials first then think about where you need more. See if you library has the books or if they can get them from another library...Ohio has an exchange network where I can put a request in at local library and they will find it at another Ohio library and have it within a week.

Haven't done ISA's online courses...so can't comment on those.

One opportunity I forgot to mention:. Ohio State Extension has a weekly Buckeye Yard and Garden Line (or BYGL). Even if you aren't in Ohio, I think this is worth following...lots of good tidbits on pests and their control. The Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association also has a great biweekly publication that I have learned a lot from over the years (and one of the other members here has taken over recently....). You need to be an ONLA member to read that though.
 
Ohio Chapter ISA Members also get member pricing for the ONLA newsletter. Perhaps other Chapters might be granted reciprocity?

Anyway, anyone can subscribe to it but it won't start up again until late winter 2018.
 
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All great recommendations. Ill give another one for Gilman. His pruning practices focus more on pruning for the longevity of the tree and not just pruning for aesthetics. We need more of that so take that one seriously. Happy studying and never stop learning!
 
The ISA online courses/CEU articles are pretty good but check and make sure it isn't one(s) you've already done from Arborist News or JoAaUF. Sometimes packages of them go on sale and they're and easy way to get CEUs if you cant get to a conference/tradeshow and deadlines are approaching.
 
We are going to ramp our Webinar Series in the next twelve months so there are free CEUs there too.

Doing a live webinar w/ Taylor Hamel from a tree in November too!


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Will the webinars be available for recorded viewing (live webinars never seem to fit my schedule!)? Thanks for getting those going!
 
"Illustrated guide to pruning" is great but a little intense, his book "Structural Pruning a Gide for the Green Industry" (http://www.isa-arbor.com/store/product.aspx?ProductID=500) is cheaper and easier to get through. I recently bought several copies to pass around my crew. The former is better for developing a deep understanding of tree biology, growth and pruning techniques, the latter is better if you just want to be able to power through something on a Sunday afternoon that will help you be a better pruner.
 
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