Also known as a ‘tree doctor’, an arborist is committed to the cultivation of healthy trees. They also diagnose and treat tree disorders relating to nutrition, pollution, disease and soil contamination. Our Certificate of Advanced Arboriculture follows on from our introductory course and is ideal for gardeners, tree doctors, farmers, horticulturalists, or anyone with a tree-focussed career or hobby.

In this in-depth and comprehensive course, you will learn how to strengthen weak trees, perform tree surgery, and fell diseased or unsafe trees. You will also study how to select the appropriate trees for certain conditions; plant, stake, water and fertilise different varieties; and prune, cable and brace damaged tree limbs. Make tree-hugging your career!

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking an arborist course include:

• Gaining an understanding of soil, water and watering methods
• Studying climate and slope serration
• Gaining insights into planting techniques and planting at the right time
• Understanding how to transplant trees including large trees and deciduous trees
• Learning about direct and spray seeding and pruning at planting
• Exploring wattling, pocket planting and planting on arid sites
• Studying local regulations and how to match a tree to the site
• Gaining insights into temperature and acclimatisation
• Understanding fire damage, fire-resistant trees and how to treat foliage burn
• Learning about air pollution and tree growth, and pollutant tolerant and intolerant trees
• Exploring soil contamination, soil chemical composition and pollution and toxic reactions
• Studying wet and dry soil tolerant trees and the symptoms of drought-stressed trees
• Gaining insights into the biological controls of pest and disease and using pesticides safely
• Understanding tree nutrition and fertilisers
• Learning how to strengthen weak trees including trimming techniques
• Exploring thinning, bracing and temporary props
• Studying bolting, guy wires, cabling and the rodding technique
• Gaining insights into how to control damage caused by plants
• Understanding tree damage and tree root problems
• Learning about trees that cause problems with drains
• Exploring how to limit root problems including root pruning
• Gaining an understanding of trees and aquifers
• Studying poisonous trees and trees and power lines
• Gaining insights into tree felling and stump removal
• Understanding tree evaluation systems and how to calculate a tree’s value
• Learning about tree felling methods and saws, axes, winches and chain saws
• Exploring the different methods of removing stumps
• Gaining an understanding of how to protect trees and national tree registers
• Studying risk assessment, duty of care and how to keep a worksite safe
• Learning about the tolerant plant species and what to plant where
• Exploring species suitability, and the influence of trees on buildings
• Studying harsh environments, and how to protect trees from sun, frost and wind
• Gaining insights into fencing and mulching
• Understanding soil degradation and saline, lime and acid-tolerant trees
• Learning how to design and establish a tree plantation
• Exploring windbreaks, windbreak design and how to choose a windbreak species
• Studying how to produce drawings to scale

… and more!

The 10 Tallest Trees in the World

Trees get the best of both worlds — their roots taste the soil, while their upper reaches soak up the sun and sometimes touch the sky. And although they are far from the lofty heights of Jack’s beanstalk, these beauties are still pretty impressive … and not just to an arborist!

#10 – King Stringy

This brown top stringybark (Eucalyptus oblique) is located in Tasmania and stands at over 86 metres tall.

#9 – Unnamed Alpine Ash

This 87.9-metre-tall Eucalyptus delegatensis is located in the Florentine Valley in southern Tasmania.

#8 – Neeminah Loggorale Meena

Also known as the Mother and Daughter Tree, this Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) is over 90.7 metres tall.

#7 – White Night

Standing at over 91 metres tall, this manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) has called the Evercreech Forest Reserve in Tasmania home for over 300 years.

#6 – Unknown Yellow Meranti

Located in Borneo, this Shorea faguetiana is over 94.1 metres tall and found in the Danum Valley Conservation Area.

#5 – General Sherman

At over 95.7 metres tall, this giant Sequoiadendron giganteum can be found in California’s Sequoia National Forest.

#4 – Raven’s Tower

Located in California’s Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, this Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) towers to a height of over 96.7 metres.

#3 – Doerner Fir

Vying for 2^nd spot, this coastal Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) can be found in Coos County in Oregon and is over 99.7 metres tall.

#2 – Centurion

The world’s tallest known Eucalyptus regnans tree (at over 99.82 metres), can be found in the Arve Valley in Tasmania.

#1 – Hyperion

The granddaddy of all lofty trees, this remarkable Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is over 115.92 metres tall and is found in Redwood National Park, California. It is so tall that you can’t actually see its top!

Six Fascinating Facts about Trees

For almost 400 million years, trees have provided us with food, shelter and shade, however, they are often taken for granted. Here are six fascinating facts that may elevate your appreciation of them … and perhaps even inspire you to become an arborist!

1. Trees like to live locally

Across the planet, over half of all tree species come from the one country, and the countries with the highest number of local tree species are Columbia, Brazil and Indonesia. However, Australia also has its fair share, with over 800 different species of Eucalypt native alone. Some of the other more common natives include emu bushes, acacia and grevillea.

2. Trees really aren’t that old

Although the Great Basin bristlecone pine (Methuselah) found in California is over 4851 years old, trees have only existed for the last 90% of our planet’s history. In fact, the first plants only flourished around 470 million years ago. And while this seems extraordinary, earth has been around for over 4.5 billion years!

3. Although, some trees are pretty old!

The earliest known tree was called Wattieza and was found in the region we now know as New York. Existing around 385 million years ago, it was a leafless, fern-like plant that was around eight metres tall. The oldest known tree in Australia is found in Tasmania. Named King’s Holly, it’s been around for over 43,000 years.

4. Tree roots can go deep

Generally, tree roots only go as deep as the first 45 centimetres of soil. However, hickory, pine and oak trees can grow roots longer than six metres in the right conditions. One wild fig tree discovered in South Africa had roots that reached over 121 metres deep.s

5. Some trees repel enemies

 Some tree species emit chemicals into the air to attract the predators of their enemies. For example, apple trees under attack from caterpillars will often release chemicals into the environment to attract hungry birds. Some can even send airborne signals to other trees in the area to alert them to an incoming insect attack.

6. Trees can save you money

Trees provide shade as well as releasing up to 400 litres of water into the air every day. This can impact the costs of heating and cooling by as much as 50%. So, hire an arborist to look after your trees — you’ll be saving cash and the planet at the same time!

Famous Arborists

Noteworthy ‘tree doctors’ are found throughout history and in a variety of countries. Here are some of the more famous ones worth researching for your upcoming career as an arborist!

• John Chapman. Born in 1774, pioneering orchardist and nurseryman Chapman introduced apple trees to large parts of regional America. He is more commonly known as Johnny Appleseed.
• Francis A. Bartlett. Bartlett graduated from the Massachusetts Agricultural College before founding his scientific tree and shrub care company, the Bartlett Tree Expert Company, in 1907.
• Alex Shigo. Known as the father of modern arboriculture, Shigo was a biologist with the United States Forest Service. His studies of tree decay have advanced many modern-day arboricultural practices.
• Sebastian Junger – Before becoming a journalist and filmmaker and penning his book, The Perfect Storm in 1997, Junger was an arborist in Massachusetts.
• Chuck Leavell. Author of the children’s book, The Tree Farmer, Leavell was appointed to the Georgia Land Conservation Council in 2006. He has also been the keyboardist for the Rolling Stones since 1982!
• Cass Turnbull. An author of gardening and pruning books, Turnbull was also the founder of Plant Amnesty, an advocacy group that educates the public about harmful pruning techniques.
• Ben White. White became an environmental activist and a ship’s officer for the Sea Shepherd Conversation Society after falling from a tree while working as an arborist.
• Mark Hartley. Actively involved in the forming of the Australian National Arborist Association, Hartley was instrumental to the introduction of the Standards Australia AS 4373-1996.
• Callum David Michael Grant Peck. Peck is an expert in the field of arboriculture and is credited with the eradication of the invasive plant, gorse, in the remote north and northwest Tasmania.

 

Expand your knowledge of tree care and maintenance with our Certificate of Advanced Arboriculture and watch your career flourish!