Certified Arborists have the knowledge and training required to properly care for all kinds of trees.

Hiring an arborist should be viewed as an investment which can yield a substantial return.

Trees can add great beauty and value to your property, but injury, disease, and safety concerns can quickly turn an asset into a liability - as well as an eyesore.

Pruning or removing trees, especially large or diseased trees, is dangerous work and it requires specialized training and equipment to minimize the impact to the rest of your landscape and reduce the potential for personal injury or property damage.

What is a Certified Arborist?

By definition, an arborist is an individual who is trained in the art and science of planting, caring for, and maintaining individual trees, but not all arborists are the same.

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) promotes the professional practice of arboriculture to foster a greater awareness of the benefits of trees. Achieving ISA Certification is a voluntary process that demonstrates that you have the knowledge and skills to properly care for trees, as well as a high level of dedication to your craft. ISA Credential holders understand the importance of continued education.
ISA credentials help consumers identify qualified, knowledgeable tree care professionals.

How to choose the right arborist?

When hiring an arborist, ensuring that they are ISA Certified, insured, and with good references will almost guarantee a good outcome.

1. ISA Certification guarantees that the company has the knowledge required to perform tree care at the highest level and that they are trained in the necessary safety procedures.

2. Tree maintenance is dangerous work. If a company does not carry their own insurance, the homeowner is liable for any accidents. Ask for proof of insurance before hiring an arborist.

3. Ask for references from similar jobs in your area.

What are some signs that your trees are in trouble?

• Large dead branches hanging from the tree
• Cavities or rotten wood along the trunk or in major branches
• Mushrooms present at the base of the tree
• Cracks or splits in the trunk or where branches attach
• If the trunk has developed a strong lean
• If the roots have been broken, injured, or damaged

Sarasota Arborist offers a full range of professional tree services include pruning & trimming, tree removal, and stump grinding as well as consulting services for people seeking a tree removal permit, property developers, homeowners associations, and realtors.

Over-pruning, specifically when it comes to Areca palms, could be the culprit.

Many people believe that all the new growth on Areca palms should be trimmed away. Unfortunately, all these open cuts make Arecas an easy target for many palm diseases like the deadly Ganoderma butt rot pictured here.

Ganoderma is so contagious that it can easily be transferred to other palms through landscaping tools like pruning shears and, once a diseased palm is removed, you should wait at least 4 years before planting another palm in its place because the disease could be still present in the soil.

If you see the telltale conk of Ganoderma butt rot or you suspect that any of your palms have become infected with Ganoderma or any other disease, call Sarasota Arborist at 941-923-5051 before the problem spreads to healthy palms in your property.