Listen/view my recent radio interview on this topic here.

As we take stock of our losses from Hurricane Helene, many questions will arise about our trees, whether limbs broke, small branches shed, whole trees toppled, or we are already thinking about the next storm. Trees are instrumental in forming our opinion of our landscapes. We feel connected to them, enchanted by the life they support but also intimidated by decisions related to their care. Due to their longevity, trees need support in their younger years to avoid structural or health issues as they age. Some of us have the advantage of planting trees that we may never see in their mature glory, while others have inherited existing trees in our landscape. Whether you are concerned about the structure of your tree, whether it might be risky, what those weird mushrooms are or just need to plan for its long-term care, a certified arborist is your best bet to an answer.  

Certified arborists go through a rigorous training process and are held to a professional code of ethics. These individuals are certified and registered by an international organization known as the International Society for Arboriculture (ISA). Within Florida, the Florida Chapter of the ISA manages certification, education and professional development for certified arborists. To find local certified arborists, you can visit treesaregood.org and use the ‘Find an Arborist’ tool. Simply enter your zip code and you will find a list of certified arborists for your area.  

When considering who to hire to trim, plant or diagnose your trees you should consider the following;  

• Are they certified? You can check an arborists certification by going to the treesaregood.org website and either typing in their name or certification number. This will show you where they are based and any additional qualifications they have earned.  

• What additional qualifications do they hold?  

• TRAQ, means that they have taken additional training on Tree Risk Assessment. This qualification is essential for arborists asked to determine potential tree risk.  

• PPQ means that they have an additional qualification specifically in pruning. The Prescription Pruning Qualification is a new qualification which provides detailed pruning instructions given to the workers conducting the pruning and the tree owner. This allows for ease of communication and determination of pruning expectations. 

• BCMA, is a Board-Certified Master Arborist. This individual has shown through experience and additional training that they have ‘mastered’ their knowledge of arboriculture. Most BCMAs work as consulting arborists rather than functional tree trimmers.  

• Other qualifications include certified tree climber, certified tree worker, aerial lift specialist, utility specialist, and municipal specialist. Each additional qualification shows a level of expertise in their given area of focus.  

• What work have they conducted on similar trees? Can they show you photos?  

• What recommendations do they have for ensuring the health of your tree?  

• What professional development or training have they attended recently?  

• Do they have any references you can call?  

In all cases, you should be sure to discuss all tree care and protection options with your arborist, talk to a few before deciding and rely on the input of those in your community with experience. Remember that trees, if cared for properly, will outlive us and provide a broad range of valuable ecosystem services throughout their lives.  

If you have questions about how to select, plant, prune or generally care for the trees in your landscape or community, feel free to reach out via email to Alyssa Vinson, the Urban Forestry Agent in Hillsborough County at alyvinson@ufl.edu.

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