If you need work done on the trees on your Simcoe County property, you have no shortage of options: tree services, landscaping companies, lawn care operations, and individual operators all advertise tree-related services. But "does tree work" and "is qualified to do tree work" are not the same thing — and the distinction can matter enormously when you're talking about large trees near structures, diseased trees, or trees with structural defects that require an informed assessment.
What Is an ISA Certified Arborist?
An ISA Certified Arborist has passed a comprehensive examination administered by the International Society of Arboriculture — the globally recognized professional body for the tree care industry. The ISA currently has more than 23,000 certified arborists across North America. Achieving and maintaining ISA certification requires a minimum of three years of full-time experience in professional arboriculture, passing a rigorous knowledge exam covering tree biology, diagnosis, pruning, risk assessment, and tree removal techniques, and completing ongoing continuing education units (CEUs) to maintain the credential. In Canada, ISA certification is administered through ISA Ontario, ISA Western Canada, and other regional chapters.
What Is a Landscaper?
Landscaping is a broad profession that encompasses lawn maintenance, garden design, hardscaping, irrigation, and general property aesthetics. A landscaper may have formal horticultural training or may have entered the trade through practical experience. Landscaping companies often perform light pruning, hedge trimming, and shrub maintenance — and many do an excellent job with those tasks. However, the training required for complex structural pruning, hazard tree assessment, and safe removal of large trees is fundamentally different from general landscaping skills.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Capability | ISA Certified Arborist | General Landscaper |
|---|---|---|
| Tree health diagnosis | Yes — trained in disease, pest, and structural assessment | Limited — may recognize obvious problems but not trained in full assessment |
| Hazard tree risk assessment | Yes — ISA TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification) available | No — not a recognized scope of practice |
| Structural pruning (large trees) | Yes — trained in ANSI A300 standards | Not typically — pruning training is often informal |
| Tree removal (large or complex) | Yes — trained in rigging, directional felling, and crane operations | Not recommended — lacks specialized training and equipment |
| Arborist report for permits or insurance | Yes — ISA certification is required for most municipal reports | No — not accepted by most municipalities |
| Hedge and shrub trimming | Yes | Yes |
| Lawn care, planting, hardscaping | Sometimes — depends on the company | Yes — core scope of practice |
When You Need a Certified Arborist
You should always hire an ISA Certified Arborist for any of the following situations: structural pruning of trees over 5 metres in height; removal of any tree that is diseased, structurally compromised, or located near a building, utility line, or structure; hazard tree assessment for insurance or legal purposes; arborist reports required for municipal tree removal permits; diagnosis of suspected pest or disease problems such as Emerald Ash Borer, Dutch Elm Disease, or oak wilt; and cabling and bracing to support structurally weak trees. For these tasks, a general landscaper — however skilled at their own trade — is not the right professional.
When a Landscaper Is the Right Call
A landscaper is entirely appropriate for hedge and shrub trimming, routine lawn maintenance, garden planting and design, mulching and bed maintenance, and light clean-up pruning of small ornamental trees well within their size and training. Many excellent landscaping companies in Simcoe County do this work reliably and professionally.
Insurance and Liability: A Critical Consideration
Tree work carries significant liability risk. An arborist company should carry a minimum of $2 million in general liability insurance and WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) coverage for all workers. A landscaping company may carry liability insurance appropriate for landscaping work — but that policy may explicitly exclude high-risk tree work. If a landscaper without appropriate coverage damages your property or a worker is injured, you may bear some or all of the liability. Always ask to see the specific Certificate of Insurance before any tree work begins.
At Axe & Wedge Tree Works, our team includes ISA Certified Arborists and we carry full liability insurance and WSIB coverage. If you have trees in Simcoe County that need professional assessment or care, call us at 705-540-0760 for a free, no-obligation consultation.
