An arborist is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants in horticulture.
Arborists generally focus on the health and safety of individual plants and trees, rather than managing forests or harvesting wood (silviculture or forestry). An arborist’s scope of work is therefore distinct from that of a forester.
A forester is a person who practices forest management and forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including ecological restoration and management of protected areas. Foresters manage forests to provide a variety of objectives including direct extraction of raw material, outdoor recreation, conservation, hunting and aesthetics.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) provides the TreesAreGood.org website which brings homeowners and other tree owners with reliable information regarding the benefits of trees, resources for proper care and how to Find an Arborist. This list of certified arborists are professional tree care providers who are knowledgeable in the care needed to sustain a tree’s life and long-term benefits. View the video to “Find an ISA Certified Arborist”.
Find an Arborist
The Find an Arborist tool, located on the Trees are Good website, can help you locate an arborist in your area. View video below as it will walk you through step by step on how to find a certified arborist near you.
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) credential holders have the opportunity to list themselves in this online directory. This is a voluntary listing and may not include all the arborists in your area who hold an ISA credential. If you don’t see your city or state/prov then there isn’t an arborist currently listed. Go to the tool/directory.
Local Tree Companies: (We are not associated with them)
Browning Tree Service – 1305 Cumberland Avenue, Suite 110, West Lafayette, IN 47906
765-428-0589 https://www.browningtree.com/
Arbor Care Tree and Landscaping – 5109 Autumn Lane, Lafayette, IN 47909 (765) 742-0306 https://arborcareservices.net/location/lafayette-indiana/
Wildcat Creek Tree Service – 3007 N 900 E, Lafayette, IN 47905 765-404-0938 wildcatcreektreeservice@gmail.com
There are many other local companies that can assist with tree issues and questions, selecting trees, planting trees, relocating trees, removing trees, etc. See search list of companies.
Where Can You Purchase Trees?
A local nursery: Restoration Nursery – dhurja@faithlafayette.org
(765) 305-5856, Ext. 3 https://www.restorationlafayette.org/nursery
Bennett’s Greenhouse – 3651 McCarty Lane, Lafayette, Indiana 47905 (765) 447-7636 https://bennettsgreenhouse.com/
You may also purchase trees through some local tree companies which could plant them for you. Also stores like Lowe’s, Menards, Home Depot, etc. carry some trees.
Native trees or hybrids of native trees grow better.
A new awareness of ecological and conservation concerns has resulted in a rising interest in growing native trees. Why are native trees important? One of the main benefits of planting native trees is their adaptability to their specific region. Living in their natural habitat means native trees require less water and fewer herbicides and pesticides to keep them healthy. Trees in their natural environments are also hosts to local wildlife, providing them with food and habitat.
Trees growing in their own native areas are not only important for local wildlife, but are also beneficial for those of us who grow them. Native trees in your region have adapted over time to their particular climate and region, which means they grow happily with your particular weather, precipitation level and soil, requiring no chemical support from you to survive and thrive. For more information.
Planting: Right Tree – Right Place.
“Right Tree, Right Place” refers to the practice of choosing a species that is well-suited for a particular site. This placement dictates how well the tree will grow and how it will be managed over time. Healthy trees provide more benefits, so putting the right tree in the right place is essential for the foundation of a healthy community forest. Trees planted without consideration of site conditions—that is, trees planted in the wrong places—will require more frequent and costly maintenance and can become a liability instead of an asset. The principles of Right Tree, Right Place will help you select an appropriate species for your site by matching the species’ environmental requirements with the site’s characteristics.
There are many factors that influence species selection. The highest priority is to ensure the tree’s survival. A tree that requires full sun is not suited for a shady site, and a tree that prefers dry sites won’t do well in an area that foods regularly. Other factors will vary depending on the particular functions you want the tree to fulfill—your purpose for planting. Are you planting for economic benefits, like reducing energy costs? Are you planting for aesthetics, like street beautification? Are you planting for environmental impact, like mitigation of climate change?
Even if a species is native to Indiana, it may not be suited for your particular area. Indiana is composed of ecological regions, or ecoregions. An ecoregion is an area of land (or water) with generally similar environmental conditions – such as climate, geology, and soil – that supports a distinct biological community. Even as urbanization continues to shape the landscape, Indiana is not homogenous; some tree species are widely suitable across the state, while others are only appropriate in a specific part of the state. To understand what thrives in your region, consider consulting local experts and researching the native range of the species you wish to plant.
Finally, you must look up, down, and all around before you plant Follow local regulations for planting underneath or near powerlines. Generally speaking, the larger the tree will be at maturity, the farther away it should be planted from overhead power lines. Call Indiana 811 to have underground utilities marked so that you can avoid any potential conflicts. Local ordinances may dictate planting a certain distance from sidewalks, buildings, and other structures. These are all valuable considerations.
Right Tree, Right Place, and Right Purpose will ensure long-term benefits, beauty, and satisfaction.
Call Before You Dig
