Tree Doctor

You’ve heard of surgeons, vets and psychiatrists, but have you heard of a tree doctor? Perhaps you know them by another name; arborist or arboriculturist. Does any of these sound familiar? No? Well, let’s venture into this together. An arborist is a professional that practices arboriculture; the study of trees. Basically, a tree doctor focuses on a tree’s health and safety. They do not manage forests or harvest wood. This differentiates a tree doctor, a forester and a logger.

When should you call a tree doctor?

The tell-tale sign of whether a tree doctor is needed are reflected in the leaves. It is best to call for a tree doctor when you start noticing that leaves start appearing later than they should, having leaves drop off the tree branches earlier than they should, leaves that are discoloured or without veins. Besides this, an unhealthy tree can also be spotted by its bark. For example, when it forms bumps, cracked or peeled back. Do you often look up at your trees? Dead branches are also a dead give-away to an unhealthy tree, especially if they are spotted at the top. Another thing to look out for is the location of where fungus is growing. For instance, if they are growing around the trunk, or when twigs start to branch out from the tree trunk.

Why call a tree doctor?

A tree doctor is qualified to diagnose a tree. They often conduct tests, such as soil analysis. For a tree to grow healthily, the soil needs to contain a balance of 15 mineral elements. This includes Nickel, Molybdenum, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Chlorine, Boron, Oxygen, Carbon, Magnesium, Hydrogen, Calcium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Iron. All these elements can be found as salts, in the lower layer of the soil. These elements are then consumed by plants as ions. The tree doctor also tests the pH level of the soil.