Why Hire an Arborist?

Arborists are experts in the care and maintenance of trees. They have formal education in arboriculture, urban forestry, biology, ecology, horticulture or environmental science and are certified by an internationally recognized organization (ISA). Consulting arborists have gone beyond basic certification and adhere to strict standards in the field of arboriculture. They offer a wide range of services and provide valuable advice to property owners, architects, contractors, developers, cities, and municipalities.

Consulting Arborists can be hired for a variety of reasons including:

Pre-Construction Work

Arborist consultations with designers, engineers and contractors are a critical step in ensuring that existing mature trees are preserved during construction projects. During this phase, an arborist can recommend tree protection strategies and take inventory of the trees on site. This will allow the project to be planned around the trees and avoid costly tree removals or modifications later on in the process.

During Construction

Arboriculture services that are performed during construction can be complex and often have significant impacts to the integrity of the existing trees. An expert arborist can provide guidance and recommendations to construction managers, superintendents, and subcontractors on how to best manage the risk of construction impacts on the trees and how to protect them during the project.

Post Construction Services

After a development project is complete, a consulting arborist can continue to be a resource by providing ongoing consultation services for the maintenance and health of the trees on the property. This can include pruning, insect and disease management, root zone mapping, and hazard assessment. It’s important for the consultant to visit the project site regularly so that unanticipated issues can be addressed early on and avoided.

Formal Tree Risk Assessments

Few issues elicit as much passion and resentment among neighbors as disagreements about tree maintenance and hazard potential. Often, a consulting arborist can mediate these disputes and help property owners find common ground to resolve the issue.

Expert Witness

When a dispute cannot be resolved through negotiation, an expert witness is called upon to provide testimony at trial. A professional consulting arborist can serve as an expert witness in cases involving tree damage or injury, trespass, and unauthorized work.

Increasingly, clients are seeking out the services of a Registered Consulting Arborist (RCA). This designation is earned through the American Society of Consulting Arborists and requires more years of experience, formal education, and rigorous reporting requirements. It is also a requirement for RCA’s to be credentialed with the ISA’s Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, which provides even more value by demonstrating an in-depth knowledge of assessing the risk of a tree’s presence on managed properties.

The arborists at A Plus Tree have the RCA distinction and can offer these additional services. We provide high-value tree consulting to private and public property owners in NYC and can be an asset on your next project. Get in touch with us to learn more about our services or to schedule an inspection of your property by one of our experienced consulting arborists.

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