What does an Arborist do?

An arborist is a specialized horticulturist with expertise in trees and their maintenance. They consult individuals or organizations on trees on their property and make a plan to ensure safety whilst considering the environment. Arborists can diagnose a tree that may have an issue or problem and then treat that tree by pruning, shearing or spraying treatment solutions.

Arborist skills and qualifications

A successful arborist will have the following skills and qualifications:

• Technical knowledge of trees and their growth pattern.
• Technical knowledge of tree pruning, cutting and spraying equipment and when to use the different techniques.
• Knowledge of different herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and chemical fertilizers.
• Ability to explain and advise clients on tree planting in a variety of environments.
• Ability to work with other horticulturists and landscape designers to come up with the perfect plan for a piece of land.
• Advanced knowledge of biology and environmental science.

Arborist experience requirements

A successful candidate for an arborist position must have experience working with trees and the environment. Having experience consulting clients on which trees to use or on how to treat a tree that is ill or dying is also needed. Another must is having experience working with arborist tools for pruning, shearing or spraying trees. Being able to work with fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides is an asset. They should also be able to work as part of a team and have experience working with other horticulturalists and landscape designers.

Arborist education and training requirements

Arborists work with specialized equipment and need the successful completion of a university or college program in agronomy, arboriculture, horticulture, landscaping or landscape design. Having attended an apprenticeship program is highly recommended. A provincial licence to apply chemical fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides and pesticides may be required. Having a certification from regulatory boards is required in British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario.

Arborist salary expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for an arborist is $26.44 per hour. Salaries for arborists usually depend on experience, location and company.

Job description samples for similar positions

If an arborist’s job description is not quite what you are looking for, check out these similar positions that can be found here.

• Groundskeeper
• Environmental Manager

Arborist Job Description FAQs

What qualities make a good arborist?

A good arborist should have detailed knowledge of trees and the environment. They should be able to see any problems or illnesses that a tree might have and treat that disease properly. They should also have the expertise to take down a tree safely if needed in a highly populated area like a city or town.

What are the day-to-day duties of an arborist?

Arborists work with other horticulturalists and landscape designers to ensure trees are planted in places that are suited to the specific tree species. They spend a lot of time consulting clients on trees and helping them maintain a healthy environment for that trees.

What should you look for in an arborist resume?

When looking at an arborist resume, you want someone with significant experience as this is a very technical job requiring attention to detail. You should look for a candidate with experience working with the type of trees you usually work with, as that will ensure that they have all the knowledge needed for the job.

What makes a good arborist job description?

A good arborist job description should describe the type of environment and types of trees your organization work on. This will ensure that the prospective candidates know if they have the skills you are looking for. This will also hopefully eliminate candidates without the proper experience from applying, which means you will have to spend less time sorting through resumes.