Arlene Taus Salomon, Arborist

Arboriculture Is An Art And A Science

Science is an orderly process of collecting, connecting and recording information about natural systems. Science is understanding. Science is mind.
Art is a process requiring skills to produce a product or performance considered attractive or pleasing. Art is doing. Art is muscle.
Arboriculture is the cultivation of trees. To cultivate healthy, attractive and safe trees both mind and muscle must be used. Arboriculture is an art and a science.

Arboriculture emerged primarily as a skill, or art form, done by strong, working class people who were not afraid of hard work.  It is time now to add science to the cultivation of trees.

Biology as a science means an understanding of the chemicals and chemistry of life. Trees are not only living systems, but they are the most massive, longest living and tallest living systems ever to grow on earth. They support more communities of other living systems than any other organism. The cultivation of such superior living systems must start with an understanding of tree biology.
Modern Arboriculture is tree cultivation based on an understanding of tree biology. The more you know about the way the system works, the better you can work on it.

Trees are the most forgiving living systems on earth. They have been mutilated and injured by humans in countless ways, yet they continue to grow and to provide many benefits for humans, and countless communities of other living organisms. However, as forgiving and as superior as they are in many ways, they do have their limits for survival.

Ignorance of tree biology has been, and still is, the major cause of tree problems worldwide.
It is time for some changes. It is time for modern arboriculture.

~Dr. Alex Shigo