When in Doubt, Get the Advice of an Arborist

Many homeowners whose established landscapes include mature trees find themselves questioning whether their trees need expert attention.  Most of the issues involve either disease or branches that pose a threat to the tree during a storm.  Such cases may require the advice of an arborist Seattle expert or a certified arborist in your area.

There are certainly a few things that a homeowner can do before calling an arborist.  Self-education is important and the first step you can take on your own is to identify the tree. There are many ways to gain knowledge about trees.  Your local library should have books for identification with pictures of the main components of the tree, like the bark and leaves and flowers.  In many counties throughout the U.S. there are horticulture offices sponsored by the state college with volunteers who are happy to help with identification and disease management.

In Pennsylvania, where I live, we have many Master Gardeners in these offices that are trained by Penn State's Agricultural Science Department.  They provide a service whereby the homeowner can send a sample of tree disease to the Penn State Agricultural Lab for identification and possible treatments.  As a follow-up to disease management, an arborist would be able to treat the disease and provide pruning and other necessary care.

To learn more about contacting a certified arborist visit this Seattle arborist website.