An arborist is an expert responsible for tasks like cutting down trees, pruning them, and stump removal.
Consulting arborists do tree inspections, arborist reports, risk assessments, pest and disease treatments, and a whole host of other more technical tree-related tasks.
We will walk you through the cost, and how to hire a consulting arborist.
Both types are certified arborists and have taken the same courses up until Certificate III in Arboriculture, but consulting arborists have furthered their education to the level of a Diploma (Cert. V) and are equipped to do a more in-depth assessment of trees.
Most consulting arborists run regular tree services businesses and do tree consulting on the side as needed, though there are more and more arborists specializing in just tree reports and more consulting-type work.
Practicing arborist tasks
A practicing arborist near you can perform all the physical aspects of managing trees in an urban landscape. Those tasks include but are not limited to:
- Tree removal
- Tree trimming
- Stump removal
- Tree safety inspections
- Root pruning or removal
- Tree injections
Consulting arborist tasks
A consulting arborist is more of an office job than a physical one. They do need to be out in the field quite a bit taking photos and inspecting trees, but the bulk of their work is putting together plans and reports.
You should consider hiring an arborist if you have one of the below tasks.
A consulting arborist’s main tasks are:
- Write tree reports
- Tree hazard and risk inspections/ reports
- Tree inspections
- Advice on Tree Protections Zones on construction projects
- Tree identification
- Pest identification and control
- Tree ordinance development for municipals
- Management of nurseries
- Tree planting programs
What do consulting arborists charge?
Consulting arborist fees vary by the job, as arborists don’t charge by the hour. If you have a single tree that needs an arborist report to satisfy the council, it will cost $350 – $500 for a detailed report and recommendation.
The cost of an arborist for tree trimming and removal is a totally different kettle of fish as you are talking about much larger undertakings. We have an arborist cost guide here that goes into a little more detail.
The price for reports for several trees on a property depending on the size and number of the trees would be $500 – $1000.
Reports vary in scope so it does depend on quite a bit of the specific requests by the council.
How to find a consulting arborist near me
Finding a local consulting arborist1 in your area is a little trickier than finding a regular arborist or tree service.
As mentioned above a lot of the time they are one and the same, but if you want to just get a registered consulting arborist you are best going to the Arboriculture Australia site or ISA to see the list of consulting arborists they recommend in your area.
What is a level 5 arborist
A level 5 arborist is a consulting arborist. Level 5 is the Diploma for the arboriculture course, so it is just another term to use to describe a consulting arborist.
I have noticed some cities or councils will stipulate in their request for an arborist report2 that it must be prepared by a level 5 arborist.
Consulting arborists society
There are a couple of bigger arborist industry societies in the United States.
American society of consulting arborists
Started in 1967 they are a training facility for arborists.
International society of arboriculture
This is probably one of the most famous arbor tree service societies. They too do training in person as well as online. They also hold regular events.
- International Society of Arboriculture, (2018) Find an Arborist Service <https://wwv.isa-arbor.com/certification/benefits/findtcslisting> Accessed: 29-02-2024
- International Society of Arboriculture, (2018) Tree Owner Information. <https://www.treesaregood.org/treeowner/arboristreports> Accessed: 29-02-2024
