The origin of arboriculture traces back to ancient times. It was in the Fertile Crescent that the first trees were cultivated in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Owing to migration and trade exchanges, techniques in arboriculture were developed and the profession spread throughout Europe. The date palm tree was the first to be cultivated in the Middle East because of the popularity of its sweet fruit. By 6000 B.C., Asia began cultivating olive trees, which became so popular that they reached North Africa through trade. The discovery of olive trees as producing oil became a vital part of the Rome Empire and is a core piece of Greek and Italian identity today.

In the Middle Ages, fruits became a huge part of societies dietary intake, which contributed to the rise of orchards. By then, arboriculture became a prominent occupation for many locals. Arborists cultivated apple, pear, apricot, and plum trees, which boosted economies in European countries. By the 18th century, “Diderot and D’alembert’s Encyclopédie” introduced more advanced methods of arboriculture in the ‘Arbre’ (tree) section. These techniques were quickly adopted by arborists which contributed to modern-day arboriculture methods still practiced today.

In 1873, John Davey became the first official tree surgeon after planting hundreds of new trees throughout his community in Kent, Ohio. This mass-planting practice is known today as ‘tree surgery.’ By 1878, he built a greenhouse and created a monthly newsletter called ‘Davey’s Floral and Landscape Educator,’ which aimed to educate his community on the importance of tree planting and management.

5 Frequently Asked Questions about the Arborist Trade: