What is the primary role of an arborist in landscape horticulture?

The primary role of an arborist in landscape horticulture is centered around managing and caring for trees to promote their health. This involves a variety of tasks, including pruning, planting, diagnosing tree diseases, and providing recommendations for maintaining tree structure and health. Arborists possess specialized knowledge about different tree species, their biological needs, and the environmental factors that impact their growth and vitality.

By focusing on tree care, arborists play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance within landscapes, ensuring that trees thrive and continue to provide benefits such as shade, habitat for wildlife, and improved air quality. The expertise of an arborist is essential for implementing practices that enhance tree longevity and resilience against pests and diseases, making them integral to successful landscape horticulture.

While the other roles mentioned may be important in landscape horticulture—such as flower cultivation, landscape design, and pest control—they do not encapsulate the specialized focus on tree health and maintenance that defines the work of an arborist.