Frequently Asked Questions
WHY HIRE AN ARBORIST?
An arborist is a specialist in the care of individual trees.
Arborist are knowledgeable about the needs of trees and are
trained and equipped to provide proper tree care. Hiring an
arborist is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Proper
tree care is an investment that can lead to substantial returns.
Well cared for trees are attractive and can add considerable
value to your property. Poorly maintained trees can be a significant
liability
SELECTING AN ARBORIST
When selecting an Arborist check for membership in professional
organizations: such as the International Society of Arboriculture
(ISA). Such membership demonstrates a willingness on the part
of the arborist to stay up to date on the latest techniques
and information. check for ISA arborist certification. Certified
Arborist are experienced professionals who have passed extensive
examinations covering all aspects of tree care. Don’t
always accept the low bid. You should examine the credentials
and the written specifications and determine the best combination
of price, work to be done, skill and professionalism to protect
your substantial investment.
Be wary of individuals who go door to door and offer bargains
for performing tree work. Most reputable companies are too
busy to solicit work in this manner. Improper tree care can
take many years to correct itself and in some cases it can
never be corrected. Are you willing to take that risk with
your investment?
Keep in mind that good Arborists will perform only accepted
practices. For example: practices such as topping trees, removing
an excessive amount of live wood, using climbing spikes on
trees that are not being removed, and removing or disfiguring
living trees without just cause are unnecessary.
Most importantly get it in writing. Most reputable Arborists
have their clients sign a contract. Be sure to read the contract
carefully and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
WHAT IS A CERTIFIED ARBORIST?
An Arborist by definition: is an individual who is trained
in the art and science of planting, caring for and maintaining
individual trees through experience and by passing a comprehensive
examination developed by some of the nations leading experts
on tree care. A certification provides a measurable assessment
of an individuals knowledge and competence required to provide
proper tree care. Certified Arborists must also continue their
education to maintain their certification. Therefore, they
are more likely to be up to date on the latest techniques
in arboriculture.
WHY NOT TO TOP TREES
Topping is perhaps the most harmful tree pruning practice
known, yet people keep doing it to their trees. The reason
people have done it, is because it has been around for years.
Their parents had it done and most all tree companies do it.
WHAT IS TOPPING?
Topping, heading, tipping, hat racking and round over is the
indiscriminate cutting of tree branches to stubs or lateral
branches that are not large enough to assume the terminal
role. Lateral branches should be one third the size of its
parent stem to assume dominance.
The most common reason given for topping is to reduce the
size of a tree. Home owners often feel that their trees have
become too large for their property. People fear that the
tall trees may pose a hazard. Topping however is not a viable
method of height reduction and certainly does not reduce the
hazard. In fact, topping will make a tree more hazardous in
the long run.
WHAT EFFECTS DOES TOPPING HAVE ON TREES?
Topping stresses trees
Topping often removes fifty to one hundred percent of the
leaf bearing crown of a tree. Leaves are the food factories
of a tree, removing them can temporarily starve a tree. The
severity of the pruning triggers a sort of survival mechanism.
The tree activates latent buds, forcing the rapid growth of
multiple shoots below each cut. The tree needs to put out
a new crop of leaves as soon as possible. If a tree does not
have the stored energy reserves to do so, it will be seriously
weakened and may die. A stressed tree is more vulnerable to
insect and disease infestations. Large open pruning wounds
expose the sapwood and heartwood to attacks. The tree may
lack sufficient energy to chemically defend the wound against
invasion and some insects are actually attracted to the chemical
signals trees release.
Topping causes Decay and Hazards
Trees can usually compartmentalize or “wall off”
smaller wounds. However when there are multiple large wounds
a tree may not be able to. This exposed tissue will begin
to decay. The decay reaches down into the branch past the
point of attachment of the new branches. As a result of this
you now have several weakly attached branches that can and
usually will fail.
Topping is Expensive
The cost of topping a tree is not limited to what you pay
the guy who mutilated your tree. If the tree survives, it
will require pruning again within a few years. It also will
either need to be reduced or will need storm damage clean
up. If the tree does not survive then it will need to be removed.
Another hidden cost of topping is it reduces the value of
your property. Healthy well maintained trees can add ten to
twenty percent to the value of a property. Disfigured topped
trees are considered an impending expense. Topping also creates
the possibility of a liability expense. Topped trees are prone
to breaking and can be hazardous. Topping is considered an
unacceptable pruning practice and any damage caused by branch
failure of a topped tree may lead to a finding of negligence
in a court of law.
Alternatives to topping
An experienced Arborist can provide many alternatives to topping
that are both healthy for the tree and less expensive in the
long run.
