Book excerpt: In our urban forests and designed landscapes, trees stand as the most important and resilient green elements. Arboricultural Practices by Lindsey Purcell is an essential guide for all green professionals—including arboricultural consultants, arborists, urban foresters, landscape architects, landscape contractors and tree owners and managers—offering comprehensive insights into aligning arboricultural practices with urban forestry initiatives and sustainability goals. Drawing from over 40 years of experience and an extensive body of work, Purcell shares practical knowledge and best practices for the industry, distilled from his career as a tree-care professional and educator. This textbook is especially tailored for instructors and students, covering a wide range of topics essential for the next generation of arborists and urban foresters. The book covers all aspects of arboriculture from the fundamentals of tree growth and development to essential management practices. It follows the tree from selection in the nursery to planting and aftercare through such routine practices as pruning, fertilization, support systems, and plant health care. Arboricultural Practices is a comprehensive resource for academic and professional applications.