Arborists Vs Tree Surgeons: What’s the Difference?

If you need tree care, you might wonder whether to call an arborist or a tree surgeon. While both work with trees, their roles are different. Knowing who to hire can help you get the right services, such as tree removal, tree pruning, tree hedging, or stump grinding.

Arborists Vs Tree Surgeons - What Does an Arborist Do?

An arborist is a tree expert who focuses on tree health and long-term care.

They provide services like:

• Diagnosing and treating tree diseases

• Tree pruning to encourage healthy growth

• Advising on tree selection and placement

• Creating maintenance plans to help trees thrive

Arborists are great for assessing tree health and preventing future problems.

An arborist wearing safety gear trims a tree branch using a chainsaw.

Arborists Vs Tree Surgeons - What Does a Tree Surgeon Do?

A tree surgeon specializes in the physical maintenance and removal of trees.

Their tasks include:

• Tree removal for dangerous or dead trees

• Pruning to maintain tree shape and structure

• Tree hedging for neat and healthy growth

• Stump grinding to remove leftover stumps

Tree surgeons handle heavy-duty work like cutting, climbing, and using machinery.

An Tree Surgeon skilfully uses a chainsaw for pruning high in the tree canopy, equipped with safety gear and focused on his task.

When to Call an Arborist vs. a Tree Surgeon

Call an Arborist If:

• Your tree looks unhealthy or diseased

• You need expert advice on tree care

• You want to improve tree health through pruning

• You need help planning long-term tree maintenance

Call a Tree Surgeon If:

• A tree needs to be removed for safety reasons

• Large, hazardous branches need cutting

• You need tree hedging for a tidy landscape

• You want stump grinding to clear out an old tree stump

Which One Do You Need?

Arborists Vs Tree Surgeons, which one do you need? If you need help with tree health assessments or long-term care, an arborist is your go-to expert. For immediate physical work—like tree removal, hedging, or stump grinding—a tree surgeon is the right choice.

For complete tree care, you may need both. Arborists focus on keeping trees healthy, while tree surgeons take care of cutting and removal. Whether you live in Kingsley, Victoria Park or Wembley, there are plenty of professional companies in Perth, Western Australia offering both arborist and tree surgery services. If you're unsure which you need, a local tree care service can help guide you.