Becoming an arborist

Spend as much time in a Botanical/Arboretum as possible.
Every tree has story to tell and learn them and read them carefully.

Pruning, cutlural requirements for and planting trees will be the three most important things imo. and will set you apart from the rest.

Best book to start is Harrisons Arboriculture Intergrated Management of Trees

Climbing, rigging etc is the easy part and a year with a good arbclimber will show just about everything you need to see what can and can't be done.

Remember the body isn't going to last forever so start planning for 10 yrs ahead of your next 10.
Cheers
 
Hello there Peter. First piece of advice is don't listen to Maui and palm. Second piece of advice is be selective in who you're working with in the industry if that's an option. There are a lot of guys out there who are "tree guys" who do not have the slightest clue. Find someone who is active in the industry associations and knowledgeable on proper pruning and also in rigging practices. There's a lot of good people in the industry that if you just shut up and listen and become a sponge can absorb a lot of knowledge. The industry is tight and is quite like a family and if you're respectful and show the passion and drive, guys will show you the way. There's a lot of learning tools and opportunities out there and books are great but nothing replaces hands on experience. Assume you know nothing of saws, chippers, etc. Don't be some guy who talks about all he knows, and boasts about himself. Ask questions, learn and work hard and respect will be earned.
 
I blindly leaped into trees a few years ago when I got burnt out on residential construction. The work is hard but I like my job a whole lot more. There is so much to learn, so many aspects of the trade to focus on and specialize in, it's a really exciting trade. The more you put in, the more you'll get out.
 
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Hello there Peter. First piece of advice is don't listen to Maui and palm. Second piece of advice is be selective in who you're working with in the industry if that's an option. There are a lot of guys out there who are "tree guys" who do not have the slightest clue. Find someone who is active in the industry associations and knowledgeable on proper pruning and also in rigging practices. There's a lot of good people in the industry that if you just shut up and listen and become a sponge can absorb a lot of knowledge. The industry is tight and is quite like a family and if you're respectful and show the passion and drive, guys will show you the way. There's a lot of learning tools and opportunities out there and books are great but nothing replaces hands on experience. Assume you know nothing of saws, chippers, etc. Don't be some guy who talks about all he knows, and boasts about himself. Ask questions, learn and work hard and respect will be earned.

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Listen to this guy. Dont be a jerk.
 
Keep the faith your not starting that late. I did not start in the industry until after my Marine Corps career. I started at 30 and have been climbing ever since. But do to our short time climbing compared to the young guys coming out of college you will have a lot of studies to catch up on. I am now a grandfather so I spend more of my time teaching younger arborist's since my high production days are slowing. Learn everything you can and learn it well, when your in your 50's you'll want to be able to enjoy the climbs and not worry that your being pushed aside by the new younger model. Join local chapters and you will find the training you are looking for.
 
If you want to become an arborist you need to learn about trees before you start working with them. Read as much as you can and take classes on basic biology or chemistry or plant science if available in your area.

I hope you prosper. This is one of the greatest careers out there IMO; there is opportunity to use your mind and body so take advantage and learn both sides. Good luck!

jp
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Guy, I know there is no set standard way to proper prune every tree. Every tree is going to have different objectives. However there are those improper practices, as far as topping, flush cuts, etc.
 
What is topping?

I'm serious; I gert done pruning some trees, and get told that i toppe dthem, so I don't really know what is meant by that word.
 
Proper pruning used to mean thinning the canopy with a handsaw making very small cuts so the tree's canopy has an even thickness regardless of which direction it's viewed from.

If the tree doesn't sucker out from your pruning? You've done a proper prune.

If it does sucker out? You took too much, and did an improper prune.

Some tree species can be thinned more than others without suckering, some can't. Knowing how much pruning each species can take without triggering the sucker response? Well that's the mark of an experienced arborist who's worth his pay.

I suspect Guy's a butcher at heart!

jomoco
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i could care less about what you have to say in a public forum. you are a lesser person by trying to humiliate me in the public view. its also not verry professional to do so PU climber. i have jesus in my heart and i can bet im enjoying more life then you are.
 
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Proper pruning used to mean thinning the canopy with a handsaw making very small cuts so the tree's canopy has an even thickness regardless of which direction it's viewed from.

If the tree doesn't sucker out from your pruning? You've done a proper prune.

If it does sucker out? You took too much, and did an improper prune.

Some tree species can be thinned more than others without suckering, some can't. Knowing how much pruning each species can take without triggering the sucker response? Well that's the mark of an experienced arborist who's worth his pay.


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Thank you Jon, that's a good description, if by 'sucker out" you mean "uncontrolled and uncontrollable sprouting from newly formed buds, usually near the cut" as opposed to gradual release of preformed buds at nodes, forming sustainable sprouts well interior to the cut.

T was hoping to hear your kind of response from PUC, but he was too busy bashing his brother, who bashed back.
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Lightren up guise; we are too few for fratricide and besides why would a new poster want to hang with arborists who treat each other like that?
 
Thanks Guy.

But note that I said used to mean.

These days it seems to mean ignoring the tree's druthers, whacking the snot out of it with a chainsaw, triggering such a huge sucker response that the client must pay to "prune" it every two years or so to have a decent looking tree.

This of course works out great for the tree whacker who gets paid rent from the client on a regular basis.

What I've described here is particularly true of trees that dare to grow bigger and taller than the tree whacker's bucket lift can reach!

You will conform to our flawed beliefs or be whacked you stupid trees!

Proper pruning of trees every 7 years or so is a dying art in my opinion Guy.

jomoco
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As for being in shape, I'm not concerned. Have you seen Daniel Murphy?
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Sorry, that was too easy. That was some low hanging fruit you left there.

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2nd post and he's already making fun of me... this guy's gonna fit right in....
 
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