Arborist vs Tree Surgeon

If you’ve got an overgrown Oak blocking your light or a sickly-looking Ash tree in your garden, you’ve probably jumped online to find some professional help. In very little time, you will likely notice two titles: Tree Surgeon and Arborist.

While many understandably believe that the terms “tree surgeon” and “arborist” are simply two different words for the same profession, the reality is that they are two significantly different roles within the same industry.

In this article, we discuss the two roles and when you’ll need an arborist, a tree surgeon, or, in some cases, both.

Is there a difference between an arborist and a tree surgeon?

To put it directly: A tree surgeon focuses on the hands-on, mechanical aspects of tree care, such as pruning, felling and removal. An arborist can provide the same services as a tree surgeon, with the added benefit of broader arboricultural knowledge, including tree health, biology, and management.

More simply, a tree surgeon knows how to perform tree surgery and maintenance, whereas an arborist has a deeper understanding of why it’s required and the long-term effects.

Let’s break down exactly what each role involves on a day-to-day basis.

What is a Tree Surgeon?

If arboriculture were a medical field, tree surgeons would be the highly skilled surgeons in the operating theatre. They are the “boots on the ground” professionals who execute the heavy-duty physical work.

Being a tree surgeon is an incredibly demanding, dangerous, and skilled profession. Tree surgeons spend their days suspended in the canopy, using complex rope-and-harness systems, wielding heavy chainsaws, and safely dismantling multi-ton sections of timber over delicate targets such as glass conservatories or busy London roads.

A Tree Surgeon’s core skills include:

• Precision crown reductions, thinning, and lifting.
• Complex rigging and the safe sectional dismantling of dead or dangerous trees.
• Operating heavy machinery like wood chippers and stump grinders.
• Understanding cutting techniques to ensure the tree heals correctly.

A qualified tree surgeon won’t necessarily hold a university degree, but they will hold rigorous, industry-standard practical certifications (such as NPTC and LANTRA) to prove they can operate safely at height with hazardous equipment.

What is an Arborist?

If the tree surgeon is performing the operation, the Arborist (or Arboriculturalist) is the consultant diagnosing the illness and writing the treatment plan.

Arborists study the science, biology, and biomechanics of trees. Their work is largely academic and diagnostic, and is heavily involved in the legal and environmental management of trees within an urban landscape. Instead of a chainsaw, an arborist’s primary tools are usually a laptop, a PiCUS Sonic Tomograph, and a soil testing kit.

To call yourself a consulting arborist, you usually need higher-level academic qualifications, such as a Level 4 Diploma or a BSc in Arboriculture.

An Arborist’s core skills include:

• Diagnosing fungal infections, pests, and soil deficiencies.
• Conducting detailed tree surveys for planning permission, construction sites, and mortgage applications.
• Writing comprehensive tree safety reports to protect property owners from liability.
• Advising on Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) and conservation area law.

The Crossover: Why the Best Companies Have Both

Here is the secret of the trade: The very best tree care companies draw on the skills and expertise of both tree surgeons and arborists.

In reality, successful tree care requires a partnership between arborists and tree surgeons. An arborist assesses the tree’s overall health and determines the best course of action to ensure its long-term vitality. A tree surgeon then applies their specialised, practical skills to safely and efficiently execute that plan. By uniting these disciplines, you ensure the work is carried out to the highest arboricultural standard, giving your trees the very best chance of thriving for years to come.

At London Tree Surgeons, we operate effectively by combining some of the very best tree surgeons and arborists in the business. Our highly certified arborists assess the health and legal standing of your trees and draw up the specifications, while our elite, NPTC-qualified tree surgeons execute the work flawlessly and safely. To learn more about our London tree professionals, you can visit our Meet the team page.

Who Should I Hire?

Still unsure who you need to contact? Here is a quick cheat sheet to help you decide.

Call a Tree Surgeon if:

• A tree is dead, dying, or dangerous and needs removing.
• Your boundary hedges have grown entirely out of control.
• A tree’s canopy is blocking light into your property and needs professional thinning or reduction.
• You need an old, stubborn stump ground out of your lawn.

Call an Arborist if:

• You are buying a new house and the mortgage lender demands a tree report due to proximity to the foundations.
• A beloved tree is dropping leaves out of season, oozing sap, or growing strange fungi on its trunk.
• You are planning an extension or construction project near established trees.
• You need legal advice regarding a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) before any cutting can take place.

Need both an arborist and a tree surgeon in London?

Our highly qualified London arborists and tree surgeons provide a comprehensive range of arboriculture services, from BS5837 tree surveys through to BS3998-compliant crown reduction, and everything in between. So rest assured, whatever your project demands, London Tree Surgeons can deliver. Contact our friendly, knowledgeable team for expert advice and a free, no-obligation quote.

Article written by: Mike Fielding (Certified UK Arborist – Level 4 Diploma in Arboriculture)

Article source: Arborist vs Tree Surgeon