You need an arborist when a decision depends on how healthy or safe a tree is. That means a tree showing warning signs, a big tree over a house or a carpark, building works near a tree, or deciding whether to keep a tree at all. For a small tree you can trim from the ground, a gardener will do.
- Warning signs need a trained eye. A worsening lean, cracks in the trunk, fungus at the base or lifting roots. See when to call us.
- Big trees need trained pruning. A cut in the wrong place leaves a wound that can rot for years. See whether you need one to trim.
- The certification belongs to a person. You can check it online in a minute. See how to check.
- A photo is the first step. WhatsApp us two photos and we tell you whether the tree needs a visit.
Most trees in a garden or a condo never need an arborist. A few do, and they are usually the big ones standing over something that matters.
This post explains when to call one, when a gardener will do, and how to check that the arborist you hire is certified.
When should I call an arborist?
Call us when the answer depends on the tree's health or safety. These are the usual cases.
- The tree shows warning signs. A lean that has got worse, dead branches high in the crown, cracks in the trunk, fungus at the base or roots lifting out of the ground.
- You are deciding whether to keep it. We can tell a tree that only needs cutting back from one that has to come out.
- It stands over something that matters. A house, a carpark, a walkway, a playground or a road.
- There will be building works nearby. Digging near the roots can harm a tree that looks fine today.
- A storm has damaged it. A torn branch or a split trunk changes how safe the rest of the tree is.
- You look after many trees. For condominiums and commercial grounds we run scheduled checks, so problems are caught early.
Our post on when a tree needs pruning or removing explains which signs mean a tree can be saved.
What does an arborist do that a tree cutter does not?
An arborist decides what the tree needs before anyone cuts it.
Arborists are trained in how trees grow and how they fail. They look at the roots, the trunk and the crown, judge how likely the tree is to fail, and choose where each cut should go so the tree can recover.
Cutting a tree safely is a separate set of skills. Our arborists are ISA-certified, and our workers hold certifications for chainsaw work, tree climbing, work at height and crane operation. A good tree job needs the judgement and the skills together.
ISA is the International Society of Arboriculture. Its Certified Arborist credential is the best-known arborist qualification in Singapore.
The site visit and the quotation are free. For one or two trees, our arborist usually tells you the answer on the spot. If you need it in writing, for an MCST meeting or an insurer, we prepare a report with photos and a recommendation for each tree. A written report is charged, and we tell you the price before we start.
Do I need an arborist just to trim a tree?
Not for a small tree you can reach from the ground. A gardener can trim that.
For a large tree, yes. The cut decides how the tree heals. A cut in the wrong place leaves a wound the tree cannot close, and rot can spread from there for years. Cutting the whole top off a tree, which the trade calls topping, makes it grow back weaker.
Call us when the tree needs a ladder or a climber, when it is close to a house, or when you want it smaller without harming it. Our post on pollarding and crown reduction explains the two ways to make a tree smaller.
How do I check that an arborist is certified?
Ask for the name of the person who will look at your tree, then check it online.
ISA certification is held by a person. A company cannot hold it. ISA runs a search at treesaregood.org where you can check whether someone holds an ISA credential. NParks' training arm, CUGE, points people to the same search.
Check two things.
- The person who will actually look at your tree holds the credential.
- It is current. ISA certification lasts three years and has to be renewed.
Ask us for the names of our arborists and check them the same way. Our guide to choosing a tree contractor lists the other questions worth asking.
What should I send you?
WhatsApp us two photos on 9169 3221. One of the whole tree, from far enough back to fit it all in, and one of the base of the trunk.
Add a line on where the tree is, what you have noticed and what sits under it. That is often enough for us to tell you whether the tree needs a visit. If it does, we arrange one within three working days.
We usually reply on the same working day.
If a tree has already come down or a trunk has split, call us on 6844 0938 instead. See emergency tree removal for what happens next.
