Urban Forest Urban Forest Hurricane Recovery Hurricane Recovery

ProgramProgramhttp://treesandhurricanes.ifas.ufl.edu

Gettingthe right tree care

professional

Eliana Kampf, Astrid Delgado,

Mary Duryea

Why hire an

This pecan tree broke during Hurricane Rita due to unseen internal decay. The house damage may have been

prevented with proper diagnosis from a certified arborist.

Could this have been avoided?

• After a storm not all trees need to be removed, like in the picture

• A qualified arborist can advise on which trees to remove, which can be saved, and recommend a course of treatment for remaining trees

Why hire a certified arborist?

• Some trees can be saved with proper treatment

Why hire a certified arborist?

• Trees are a long-term investment for property owners and managers and like any other investment, trees require effort to keep their value

• Not taking the time to hire a reputable tree service after a storm may:– create greater problems in the future– be more costly in the long run

Unsafe

Vs.

Homeowner Certified arborist

Safe

Storm damage cleanup is extremely dangerous, even for professionals!

Why hire a certified arborist?

Homeowners• Do not use a chain saw if you are not

experienced in operating it or if you are not physically fit

• If you must use a chain saw, seek training, work only on the ground and always use the proper personal protective equipment:

– never do any tree work that involves felling trees, climbing of any kind or using ladders and/or ropes

– never cut above shoulder height. If you have to hold the saw higher than your shoulder, the branches are too high and you should not be using a chain saw.

• Call a professional to handle all other situations

• Professional tree workers are required by law to use the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Homeowners should wear the same protection as the professional or NOT do the work at all!

Photo courtesy of Kevin Eckert

Just wear the PPE!

Certified arboristsThese situations require advanced training and should be handled by ISA certified arborists:

• Removing a leaning tree or broken limb that is near a target

• Reaching limbs that require climbing

• Restoring a damaged tree that could be saved

• Pruning to promote good structure

Watch for hanging limbs,

leaning trees or limbs near

or on a power line

Beware of electrocution!

• Call the power company to report electric wires in, on, or under trees

• Assume all power lines are energized and do not touch!

They are the only professionals allowed to remove trees and branches near electrical wires

Treat any power

line as ‘live’!

Qualified line-clearance arborists

• Take trees down in open areas and away from structures

• Remove dead or down limbs

• Remove debris

Other tree care professionals

Other tree care professionals with adequate equipment and insurance should only:

How to hire the right tree care professional

•Insurance

•Certification

•Estimates

Use the following questions to help

you find a qualified arborist:

Are you insured for property damage, personal liability, and worker’s compensation?

Question 1.

– Ask for proof of insurance.

– Call the insurance company listed to verify if the policy is current.

Question 2. Are you certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)?

– Being certified requires professional experience and knowledge of the best techniques in the industry

– Arborists attend training courses and continuing education classes to learn the latest tree care research

– Some states require a license to operate

- ANSI Z133.1 represents safety standards for pruning, repairing, maintaining or removing trees in the United States

- ANSI A300 represents the best management practices in the industry for pruning and other tree care operations

What are the guidelines arborists should follow for tree safety and management practices?

Question 3.

What are the procedures involved, equipment used, price, and time frame?

Question 4.

Get a written estimate that includes:

– a thorough description of the work, e.g. “prune all dead, diseased and weak branches one inch or greater in diameter”

– the phrase “all work to be carried out accordingly to ANSI A300 standards”

How do you make your pruning cuts?

Question 5.

Good pruning cuts avoid cutting into the collar.

Additional tips for hiring an arborist:

• Beware of an arborist who is too eager to remove a living tree– but keep in mind that a living tree

is not always equal to a healthy or structurally sound tree

•Avoid arborists who:

– say they routinely top trees

– use spurs or spikes to work on a living tree

Additional tips for hiring an arborist:

•Ask for a client or reference list– this could be neighbors who have used the tree

service and/or arborist after the hurricane

•Avoid arborists who:– demand payment in advance

– offer a bargain such as “if you sign today you can save 20% off the price”

– do not provide a written estimate

Beware of scams after a

storm!• Unqualified individuals wanting to make a

quick dollar may bring chain saws and equipment to help cleanup after a storm.

• However, certified arborists from around the country also come to help in recovery efforts.

• Learning to identify certified arborists is the best way to avoid liability and irreparable damage to trees.

To find a certified arborist in your area, contact:

• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)http://www.isa-arbor.com (888) 472-8733

in Florida: http://www.floridaisa.org (941) 342-0153

• Florida Cooperative Extension Service County Officeshttp://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/map/

• Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA)http://www.tcia.org