Meet the Arborist: Q&A with STF Program Director Kat Erickson
Behind every thriving tree canopy is a team dedicated to keeping our roots strong, and right at the heart of that mission is Kat Erickson, our Certified Arborist & Programs Director!
Whether she’s leading hands-on educational walks, guiding volunteers, or helping residents expand Chatham County’s canopy, Kat brings unmatched expertise, energy, and heart to everything she does. We sat down with Kat to talk tree care myths, local canopy programs, her spirit tree, and what life looks like outside the urban forest.
Get to know the absolute rockstar behind our green initiatives below!
1. What does being a Certified Arborist mean to you, and what made you want to pursue this path?
I pursued my Certified Arborist credential because education is such a big part of what I do. I wanted to strengthen my own technical knowledge so I could better foster other people’s education, whether that is someone interested in entering the green industry, a volunteer learning how to properly plant and care for a tree, or someone who comes to one of our events and wants to understand the trees around them a little better. For me, being an arborist is about taking that knowledge and making it useful and accessible to other people.
2. What is one common misconception people have about tree care or urban trees?
That once you plant a tree, the work is basically done. The first few years of a tree’s life are incredibly important. Proper planting depth, watering, mulching, and early structural pruning can make a huge difference in the long term health of a tree. A lot of the problems we see in mature trees actually started when they were young.
3. What is your favorite part about working on site or out in the community?
I love getting people excited about something they may have walked past a hundred times without really noticing. Once you start learning how to identify trees and noticing things like bark, buds, leaves, branching structure, and how different species interact with their environment, you start looking at the places around you differently. Seeing that click for someone during an event or program is probably my favorite part.
4. Is there a specific local tree species or project you’ve worked on recently that you’re particularly excited about?
I’m really excited about our Free Yard Tree Program and the opportunity it gives us to expand our impact onto private property. About 95 percent of Chatham County is privately owned, so if we want to meaningfully grow our community’s tree canopy, we cannot accomplish that through parks and other public spaces alone. We need trees in people’s yards and throughout our neighborhoods. I love that the program allows us to work directly with residents to get the right trees planted in the right places while also giving people the knowledge they need to care for them. It makes growing Chatham County’s canopy something the entire community can participate in.
5. What is the number one tip or piece of advice you wish every homeowner or community member knew about caring for trees?
Find the root flare when you plant your tree! Trees are so often planted too deeply. You should be able to see where the trunk begins to widen at the base before the roots enter the soil. Also, please no mulch volcanoes. Mulch is great for trees, but it should never be piled against the trunk.
6. What is your favorite memory or interaction from one of our recent public events?
Some of my favorite moments are during our educational walks when people start asking questions and pointing things out on their own. By the end of a walk, people are noticing things about trees that they probably would have walked right past before. I love seeing people get genuinely curious and realizing how much there is to notice and learn about the urban forest around them.
7. If you had to pick one tree to represent your personality or style, which one would it be and why?
Probably a bald cypress. They are adaptable, water loving, a little weird, and can handle some pretty extreme conditions. I also love that they are a conifer that decided not to follow the rules and drops its needles every year.
8. Outside of trees, what do you do for fun?
I tend to have a lot of hobbies going at once! I spend a lot of time with my two English Springer Spaniels, Konza and Taos, and we go to Zoom Room for training and also have gotten into dog sports and akc conformation. Taos has his first official show this weekend. I’ve recently started doing bungee workouts at Soar Studios, which has been a lot of fun. At home, I love gardening and planting native prairie species in my backyard. I also recently started a small vintage business, so I’ve been having fun finding pieces for that. I spend a lot of my free time with Metro Savannah Rotary as well, and I’m excited for cooler weather so I can spend even more time outside.
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