New techniques and products are more helpful to trees and less damaging to the environment. An arborist must keep up with improving techniques. It is well known that topping is very damaging to trees. Information is available to the homeowner on pruning from the Missouri Department of Conservation. A professional would not use spurs to climb a healthy tree.
Spurs wound the tree and often carry diseases from trees previously taken down.
Wounds and improperly made pruning cuts attract insects and diseases and lead to decay and death. An arborist cannot undo an old, bad pruning wound, but he or she may be able to help your tree acquire the necessary nutrients to defend itself against progressive decay. Urban trees are frequently living with infections from old wounds. An arborist can monitor insect and disease problems and prescribe practices that can help the tree defend itself. He or she can advise you if you plan physical changes to the environment that will impact the trees and their root systems.