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Tree Trimmers and Pruners - 37-3013.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Using sophisticated climbing and rigging techniques, cut away dead or excess branches from trees or shrubs to maintain right-of-way for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve appearance, health, and value of tree. Prune or treat trees or shrubs using handsaws, hand pruners, clippers, and power pruners. Works off the ground in the tree canopy and may use truck-mounted lifts.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Arborist
  • Climber
  • Grounds Worker
  • Groundsman
  • Laborer
  • Plant Health Care Technician
  • Tree Climber
  • Tree Trimmer
  • Trimmer

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Apply tar or other protective substances to cut surfaces or seal surfaces and to protect them from fungi and insects.
  • Cable, brace, tie, bolt, stake, and guy trees and branches to provide support.
  • Clean, sharpen, and lubricate tools and equipment.
  • Clear sites, streets, and grounds of woody and herbaceous materials, such as tree stumps and fallen trees and limbs.
  • Climb trees, using climbing hooks and belts, or climb ladders to gain access to work areas.
  • Collect debris and refuse from tree trimming and removal operations into piles, using shovels, rakes, or other tools.
  • Cut away dead and excess branches from trees, or clear branches around power lines, using climbing equipment or buckets of extended truck booms, or chainsaws, hooks, handsaws, shears, and clippers.
  • Hoist tools and equipment to tree trimmers, and lower branches with ropes or block and tackle.
  • Inspect trees to determine if they have diseases or pest problems.
  • Load debris and refuse onto trucks and haul it away for disposal.
  • Operate boom trucks, loaders, stump chippers, brush chippers, tractors, power saws, trucks, sprayers, and other equipment and tools.
  • Operate shredding and chipping equipment, and feed limbs and brush into the machines.
  • Plan and develop budgets for tree work, and estimate the monetary value of trees.
  • Provide information to the public regarding trees, such as advice on tree care.
  • Prune, cut down, fertilize, and spray trees as directed by tree surgeons.
  • Remove broken limbs from wires, using hooked extension poles.
  • Scrape decayed matter from cavities in trees and fill holes with cement to promote healing and to prevent further deterioration.
  • Split logs or wooden blocks into bolts, pickets, posts, or stakes, using hand tools such as ax wedges, sledgehammers, and mallets.
  • Spray trees to treat diseased or unhealthy trees, including mixing chemicals and calibrating spray equipment.
  • Supervise others engaged in tree trimming work and train lower-level employees.
  • Transplant and remove trees and shrubs, and prepare trees for moving.
  • Trim jagged stumps, using saws or pruning shears.
  • Trim, top, and reshape trees to achieve attractive shapes or to remove low-hanging branches.
  • Water, root-feed, and fertilize trees.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Clean equipment or supplies.
  • Climb ladders or vehicles to perform duties.
  • Drive trucks or other vehicles to or at work sites.
  • Estimate maintenance service requirements or costs.
  • Inspect landscaping to determine treatment needs.
  • Install equipment to protect or support trees.
  • Instruct staff in work policies or procedures.
  • Irrigate lawns, trees, or plants.
  • Operate grounds maintenance equipment.
  • Plant greenery to improve landscape appearance.
  • Prepare chemicals for work application.
  • Provide information about landscaping services or costs.
  • Remove debris from work sites.
  • Supervise maintenance workers.
  • Treat greenery or surfaces with protective substances.
  • Trim trees or other vegetation.

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • Barracks and Grounds Marine (Marine Corps - Enlisted)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Arborist
  • Tree Surgeon
  • Tree Trimmer (Line Clear)

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Laborer, Brush Clearing
  • Laborer, Tanbark
  • Tree Pruner
  • Tree Surgeon
  • Tree Trimmer
  • Tree-Trimmer Helper
  • Vine Pruner