Find ISA Certified Arborists to Care For Your Trees

When searching for a tree care professional, look for up-to-date ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) credentials, or Ontario qualified credentials.

ISA credential holders must: have experience, pass an exam, renew their certificate every three years, continue their education and training, and sign a Code of Ethics.  You can find an ISA Certified Arborist in your area here. Or verify if someone is a currently ISA certified here.

When hiring a professional also: ask for proof of insurance, references, and a written contract. See more tips for hiring an arborist here.

Leave it to the pros!

​The danger in arboriculture cannot be underestimated and you should know that most tree care isn’t a DIY activity. Arborists have one of the most dangerous jobs in Ontario.

ISA Certified Arborists are extensively trained in many aspects of arboriculture including, general hazard identification, safety, communication, electrical awareness, climbing, machinery operation and so much more.

Get a professional arborist to care for the health and beauty of your trees.

Pruning is the most common tree maintenance procedure. Trees that are properly pruned while they are young will develop a strong structure, desirable form and will require less corrective pruning as they mature.

An ISA Certified Arborist will establish a strong overall structure, maintain a dominant leader, and select permanent, structural branches for your young tree. They will prune your large, mature trees to help maintain tree health, safety and aesthetics.

With the proper care, your trees will continue to bring value to your property.

Most routine pruning to remove weak, diseased, or dead limbs can be accomplished at any time during the year with little effect on the tree. Pruning must be done with an understanding of tree biology and an understanding of tree pests and diseases.. Improper pruning can create lasting damage and even shorten the tree’s life.

Prepare your trees for future storms.

While it’s impossible to prevent all storm-related damage to trees, an ISA Certified Arborist can help identify potential areas of concern and help prepare your tree for inclement weather.​

Preventative storm damage tree care services may include:

• Training young trees to improve their form
• Identifying and recommending ways to manage branch, trunk and root defects that may weaken a tree
• Removing dead or defective branches
• Adding arboriculture cables or bracing to provide aging trees with extra support

When a storm hits, resist the urge to do it yourself!

Consider the hazards and risks associated with working on and around storm damaged trees. It isn’t worth additional property damage, injury or death to do the work yourself! If large limbs are broken or hanging, or you think a ladder or overhead chainsaw work is required, it’s really a job for a professional arborist.

ISA Certified Arborists have the experience and equipment to safely and efficiently remove or prune severely damaged trees and haul away unwanted woody debris.

Don’t be held liable!

Confirm that the tree care company you are considering hiring, has the right credentials, liability insurance and WSIB documents. This will reduce the risk for you, the homeowner, if an accident should occur while they’re working at your property.

Safety should be the top priority

Your buildings, utilities, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and the surrounding area will be part of an arborists’ safety checklist. Following risk assessment protocols, ISA Certified Arborists review trees for major defects, load bearing issues and stability concerns before pruning or removal is underway to reduce the risk of injury or damage.

Some arborists plant trees and most can recommend species that are appropriate for a particular location. The wrong tree in the wrong location will lead to future problems as a result of limited growing space, insects, diseases, or poor growth.

See more on ISA Certification and types of ISA credentials here. 

Note that membership in ISA Ontario does not mean that someone is ISA Certified. You can check to see if someone is ISA Certified online here (you can check by name or by certification number).