1|Page
2025/2026 LOUISIANA ARBORIST EXAM WITH ALL
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED) FOR GUARANTEED PASS
TOP-RATED A+.
ARBORIST
Pass your Louisiana Arborist Exam with confidence. This
comprehensive resource. It includes practice questions, explanations,
and key topics on tree biology, pruning, and safety aligning with
Louisiana’s licensing requirements. Perfect for mastering arboriculture
knowledge to individuals seeking state arborist certification.
Discuss the differences between "flush cuts" and proper cuts
made to outer portions of branch collar. How do "flush cuts"
affect growth? ...... ANSWER ....... A proper cut leaves
the branch bark ridge, branch collar, and swollen collar in
tact. It enables the cut to close in a circular fashion. Flush
cuts remove it and opens the tree to decay by removing
dead wood which branch defense zones form.
Explain thinning cut and describe how they will affect the
tree. ...... ANSWER ....... It is removing the branch
back to the lateral branch, large enough to assume terminal
role. It opens the tree, reduces weight, reduces height, and
retains its shape.
Discuss Shingo's theory of walling off infections in trees
called CODIT (Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees).
,2|Page
...... ANSWER ....... 1) Trees are highly
compartmentalized.
2) If the tree is wounded, it will heal itself by walling itself
off from injury.
What is the program Plant Health Care used to manage?
...... ANSWER ....... The appearance, structure, and
health of plants.
What does the mortality spiral describe? ...... ANSWER
....... The cumulative effects of stress causing decline of a
plant over time.
By definition, a tree cannot pose a risk if there is no what?
...... ANSWER ....... Target
What do trees produce to provide stability to compensate for
lean. ...... ANSWER ....... Reaction wood
What does brown rot fungi decay, leaving behind the stiff
lignin and thereby reducing the bending strength of the tree?
...... ANSWER ....... Cellulose
What is decay located in the lower trunk and/or base of the
tree called? ...... ANSWER ....... Basal rot (butt rot)
What is the general term given to the process of reducing risk
potential. ...... ANSWER ....... Mitigation
,3|Page
Current research indicates that filling cavities may do more
harm than good because decay can develop in the interface
between filler and tree. ...... ANSWER ....... True
What is the Standard of Care? ...... ANSWER ....... The
gauge against which acts are judged as reasonable.
Which type of decay primarily affects the lignin within and
between the cell walls in the wood, reducing the tree's
compressive strength? ...... ANSWER ....... White rot
Trees that lean because of ground failure or root injury have
a high potential to fail. ...... ANSWER ....... True
What can be used as a technique to reduce soil compaction
around trees on a construction site? ...... ANSWER .......
Spread a temporary, thick layer of mulch.
The overriding objective of an arborist involved in a
development project is to save every tree on the site. ......
ANSWER ....... False
What is the difference between arborculture and urban
forestry? ...... ANSWER ....... Arboculture focuses on
the tree while urban forestry focuses on the forest.
What occurs when trees take up CO2 in the atmosphere and
"store" it in the form of wood and other carbon-based tissues?
...... ANSWER ....... Carbon sequestration
, 4|Page
List 4 types of data that are typically collected in a tree
inventory. ...... ANSWER ....... Species
Diameter
Location
Condition codes
Maintenance codes
Notes
What is the process of decomposition of organic matter by
microorganisms? ...... ANSWER ....... Composting
What is the proper acknowledgement a climber must hear, in
response to "Stand clear," before proceeding? ......
ANSWER ....... All clear
Name 3 types of notches used in tree felling? ......
ANSWER ....... Open face
Traditional (45 degrees)
Humboldt
A felling notch should not generally exceed a depth of how
much? ...... ANSWER ....... 1/3 the diameter of the
tree.
What is critical in controlling the direction of a tree falling?
...... ANSWER ....... The hinge
What is it called when a tree is leaning in the direction of a
fall or has internal faults, and splits upward from the back
2025/2026 LOUISIANA ARBORIST EXAM WITH ALL
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED) FOR GUARANTEED PASS
TOP-RATED A+.
ARBORIST
Pass your Louisiana Arborist Exam with confidence. This
comprehensive resource. It includes practice questions, explanations,
and key topics on tree biology, pruning, and safety aligning with
Louisiana’s licensing requirements. Perfect for mastering arboriculture
knowledge to individuals seeking state arborist certification.
Discuss the differences between "flush cuts" and proper cuts
made to outer portions of branch collar. How do "flush cuts"
affect growth? ...... ANSWER ....... A proper cut leaves
the branch bark ridge, branch collar, and swollen collar in
tact. It enables the cut to close in a circular fashion. Flush
cuts remove it and opens the tree to decay by removing
dead wood which branch defense zones form.
Explain thinning cut and describe how they will affect the
tree. ...... ANSWER ....... It is removing the branch
back to the lateral branch, large enough to assume terminal
role. It opens the tree, reduces weight, reduces height, and
retains its shape.
Discuss Shingo's theory of walling off infections in trees
called CODIT (Compartmentalization of Decay in Trees).
,2|Page
...... ANSWER ....... 1) Trees are highly
compartmentalized.
2) If the tree is wounded, it will heal itself by walling itself
off from injury.
What is the program Plant Health Care used to manage?
...... ANSWER ....... The appearance, structure, and
health of plants.
What does the mortality spiral describe? ...... ANSWER
....... The cumulative effects of stress causing decline of a
plant over time.
By definition, a tree cannot pose a risk if there is no what?
...... ANSWER ....... Target
What do trees produce to provide stability to compensate for
lean. ...... ANSWER ....... Reaction wood
What does brown rot fungi decay, leaving behind the stiff
lignin and thereby reducing the bending strength of the tree?
...... ANSWER ....... Cellulose
What is decay located in the lower trunk and/or base of the
tree called? ...... ANSWER ....... Basal rot (butt rot)
What is the general term given to the process of reducing risk
potential. ...... ANSWER ....... Mitigation
,3|Page
Current research indicates that filling cavities may do more
harm than good because decay can develop in the interface
between filler and tree. ...... ANSWER ....... True
What is the Standard of Care? ...... ANSWER ....... The
gauge against which acts are judged as reasonable.
Which type of decay primarily affects the lignin within and
between the cell walls in the wood, reducing the tree's
compressive strength? ...... ANSWER ....... White rot
Trees that lean because of ground failure or root injury have
a high potential to fail. ...... ANSWER ....... True
What can be used as a technique to reduce soil compaction
around trees on a construction site? ...... ANSWER .......
Spread a temporary, thick layer of mulch.
The overriding objective of an arborist involved in a
development project is to save every tree on the site. ......
ANSWER ....... False
What is the difference between arborculture and urban
forestry? ...... ANSWER ....... Arboculture focuses on
the tree while urban forestry focuses on the forest.
What occurs when trees take up CO2 in the atmosphere and
"store" it in the form of wood and other carbon-based tissues?
...... ANSWER ....... Carbon sequestration
, 4|Page
List 4 types of data that are typically collected in a tree
inventory. ...... ANSWER ....... Species
Diameter
Location
Condition codes
Maintenance codes
Notes
What is the process of decomposition of organic matter by
microorganisms? ...... ANSWER ....... Composting
What is the proper acknowledgement a climber must hear, in
response to "Stand clear," before proceeding? ......
ANSWER ....... All clear
Name 3 types of notches used in tree felling? ......
ANSWER ....... Open face
Traditional (45 degrees)
Humboldt
A felling notch should not generally exceed a depth of how
much? ...... ANSWER ....... 1/3 the diameter of the
tree.
What is critical in controlling the direction of a tree falling?
...... ANSWER ....... The hinge
What is it called when a tree is leaning in the direction of a
fall or has internal faults, and splits upward from the back
