Arborists are professionals who are responsible for caring for and maintaining trees. Their responsibilities range from planting to pruning and removal of trees in both urban and rural environments. One of the most important tools that an arborist uses is their pair of spurs. These sharp, pointed metal spikes are attached to the arborist’s boots and are used to climb trees safely and efficiently, even in cold weather when the bark is frozen or covered in ice.
In winter, the bark of trees can become frozen or even covered in ice. As a result, pruning trees in cold weather can be particularly dangerous for arborists, as the frozen surface can become slippery. This makes it challenging to climb trees and work on the branches. To reduce the risk of slipping and other dangers, it is essential for arborists to wear spurs when they are working on trees.
Spurs allow arborists to climb trees safely and with greater ease, even in extreme cold. By providing an improved grip on the tree, spurred boots ensure that the arborist can climb the tree safely and work on the branches without slippage. As they are specially designed for climbing, spurs help to maintain a safer distance between the arborist and the tree’s trunk, which reduces the risk of an unsteady surface close to an arborist.
Wearing spurs during pruning not only ensures safety but also makes the job more manageable and efficient. Since spurs allow the arborist to climb the tree quickly and with less effort, they can prune different levels of the tree with ease. Despite the frozen conditions, it becomes more manageable to reach hard-to-reach areas without the burden of extra effort. As a result, it reduces the pruning time while causing minimal damage to the tree itself.
Moreover, pruning a frozen tree with non-spurred boots can cause damage to the tree, as it requires the arborist to exert more pressure on the bark and branches. The result of which can weaken the structure of the tree. In contrast, spurred boots’ sharp points make minimal contact with the surface, allowing the arborist to move around more precisely and causes less damage to the tree. It helps to reduce the risk of creating an open wound on the tree that could provide an entry point for infections or pests.
In addition to wearing spurs, arborists must take other precautions during pruning, particularly when winter tree care is required. It’s essential to assess the tree’s integrity and safety before beginning any work, whether it’s frozen bark or not. In some situations, such as the tree being unstable, it is better to remove it from the ground level. Finally, once the pruning is complete, it’s necessary to clean the tools properly and disinfect them to reduce the risk of spreading infections to other trees that arborists may use the equipment on.
In conclusion, spurred boots provide convenience, safety, and efficiency when arborists are pruning trees, particularly in winter. Wearing spurs improves safety and makes it easier for arborists to climb trees and prune them efficiently while causing minimal damage to the tree. In turn, it increases the lifespan of the tree and ensures that it continues to thrive for years to come. Arborists should always take the necessary precautions and assess the tree’s health before carrying out any pruning work, whether in winter or another season.