Identification, Diagnosis and Tree Biology

The applicant should:

1. Be able to identify all common trees found in the region in their summer and winter condition, including but not limited to, those listed below.
2. Know the normal healthy form of the tree, and its appearance and rate of growth under normal and abnormal conditions. Know the suitability of trees to different sites.
3. Know the factors involved in maintaining tree health and appearance and how to anticipate and control or prevent damage from various causes.
4. Understand the functions of the various parts of the tree, such as leaves, bark, wood, roots, etc. Be able to determine if these functions are being properly performed.
5. Recognize the symptoms and causal agents responsible for injuries, abnormalities and weaknesses, including, but not limited to, those listed below.
6. Know the relative susceptibility of different tree species to injurious agents. 

Treatment

The applicant should be able to determine and perform the correct and proper treatment to improve the conditions of any tree.  The applicant should know the currently accepted standard practices of arboriculture. This requires knowledge of: 

1. Tree surgery. The applicant should know the currently accepted standard practices for pruning, bracing, cabling, treating cavities, treatment of girdling roots and other disorders. The applicant should know the tools used for treatment, as well as the strength of such materials as synthetic fiber ropes, steel cable, eyebolts and lag hooks.

2. Tree nutrition.   The applicant should know the essential chemical elements for tree growth and survival, whether they are obtained from the air or soil, how the tree takes them up, those that are likely to be deficient and the factors affecting deficiencies.  Knowledge of tree fertilization is also required, including how to determine deficiencies of essential elements and how, when, and in what amounts to apply treatments if needed. The applicant should know the significance of soil pH; how it affects nutrient availability and tree growth and how to modify pH in the soil if necessary. The applicant should have a basic understanding of the association of mycorrhizae fungi with tree roots.

3. Control of insects, diseases and disorders.   The applicant should know precisely when and how to control and treat the insects, diseases and disorders listed in the above tables.  When pesticides are to be applied, an applicant should know the proper use and type of material to use consistent with state and federal pesticide laws. An applicant must know the basic safety and handling rules for pesticide use contained in the Pesticide Applicator Training Manual, as well as restrictions on pesticide use imposed by the Department of Environmental Protection.  The applicant should know the basic principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and how to apply these principles to plant health care in arboriculture. 

Operational Practice

The applicant should know:

1. Safety rules to be followed in tree work to protect workers, the public, and the environment.
2. How to recognize electrical hazards and what safe working distances are from them.
3. Types of insurance that protect tree workers, the public, property and the environment.
4. Connecticut laws pertaining to arboriculture and commercial pesticide application.

Other Uses of Pesticides  

The arborist license authorizes the application of fungicides, insecticides, miticides and tree growth regulators to fruit, shade and ornamental trees only.  Additional certification is required for commercial application of pesticides to control diseases, weeds, insects and related pests, in turf, ornamental shrubs, or any other crop or site.  For example: ornamental and turf certification (category 3a) is required for tick applications; right-of-way certification (category 6) is required for control of brush and weeds along roadsides or right-of-ways; aquatic pest control (category 5) is required for control of vegetation in any water bodies within the state.

Useful Phone Contacts:

Poison Control Center:  1-800-222-1222
DEP 24-hour Emergency Spill Reporting:  (860) 424-3338

Sample Examination Questions

1.  An arborist license is necessary to do which of the following for hire?

2.  What are objectives of pruning tall shade trees?

3.  Which of the following would likely cause a tree to become more sickly over a period of years, to produce smaller leaves and an open crown? The trunk is without basal flare but soil moisture is adequate to sustain the tree.

4.  The numbers such as 5-10-10 or 10-6-4 on the analysis label of a fertilizer bag indicate

5.  Cedar Apple Rust attacks

6.  Cedar Apple Rust appearance:

7.  Cedar Apple Rust treatment:

8.  Cedar Apple Rust when: