Archive #60 from Online Seminars for Municipal Arborists – January / February 2015
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Sections
Click on the green words for more information
Big Trees
Edited by Len Phillips
What makes some trees grow tall and others do not? Why are the leaves on the tallest trees all about the same size, and why aren’t those tall trees even taller? It all has to do with basic scientific principles at work in nature. The explanation is in the physics of the tree’s vascular system that nourishes the tree from leaf, to trunk, to roots and its ability to hoist water hundreds of feet into the air. How does the maximum tree height vary with the environment and what limits the height of trees?
Genetics
Genetics plays an important role in determining tree size. This fact is obvious. Each species and cultivar of species has a very narrow range of sizes. However, what causes one tree out of a group of the same species to grow taller than the others is the focus of this article. Often it is variations caused by genetics, but more likely it is caused by leaf size and climate.
Leaf Size
Researchers found that tree leaves among all trees vary in size between one inch and four feet, and as much as one inch within a single species or cultivar. All the tallest species of trees, however, have leaves that fall in the range of 4 to 8 inches long.
This is because like most plants, trees fuel their growth and development through photosynthesis. This process uses water, carbon dioxide, minerals, and sunlight energy to produce carbohydrates as a sugar-rich fluid. There is an advantage for a tree to have larger leaves. It can produce more of this sugar-rich fluid that will flow quickly toward the trunk and roots via the phloem system. The faster and more efficiently it flows, the larger the tree can grow. If the tree’s leaves are small, the fluid moves too slowly to be beneficial for a tree to have exceptional growth. As the sugar-rich fluid passes through the leaf phloem toward the stem, it gathers speed as more and more water is pulled in from the leaf through osmosis. Consequently, the longer the leaf, the faster the fluid flows.
When the fluid reaches the tree trunk, however, no more sugar is collected in the phloem, and only water is drawn in from the surrounding tissue. The trunk phloem is longer and consequently, presents more resistance to the fluid’s flow as it travels down the trunk to the roots.
Tree Height
We do know that fast growing trees are able to capture more sunlight and also more energy through photosynthesis and can out-compete other species. Although increased height might provide some trees with better access to sunlight, it also will increase the length and thus flow resistance of the trunk phloem, slowing the movement of nutrients toward the roots. So there comes a point where the optimal limits on leaf size and tree height intersect, indicating the point at which it is no longer advantageous for the tree to become taller or produce larger leaves. This point is slightly more than 300 feet or approximately 100 meters, about the size of the tallest existing trees.
Other Factors
Other factors also play a role in determining tree height such as soil fertility, the frequency of wildfires, and the length of the growing season. However, these factors have only a minor influence on tree growth.
Climate
How does the maximum tree height vary with the environment? Does the photosynthetic energy that trees devote to produce new leaves alter the ability to hoist water hundreds of feet up the trunk of the tree? A recent study determined that tree height, resource allocation, and physiology vary with climate, so climate is likely to be the reason trees grow as high as they do.
The tallest of the flowering trees on record is a Eucalyptus regnans, mountain ash, which has grown to 374 feet (114 m) tall, and it is found in southern Australia. Sequoia sempervirens, the coastal redwood or California redwood is the tallest living tree in the world with one at over 379 feet (115.5 m) tall. It is found in northern California. The climate in both locations is similar with high rainfall, high humidity, and low evaporation rates. The tallest and oldest trees are found in deep valleys and gullies, where year-round streams can flow, and fog drip is a regular occurrence. Cool coastal air and fog drip keep these forests consistently damp year round and the trees do not suffer from evaporation stress. The trees above the fog layer are shorter and smaller due to the drier, windier, and colder climate. The moisture supply is obviously very important in growing extremely tall trees.
Researchers found a relationship between maximum tree height and the ratio of annual rainfall to evaporation. As the ratio increased, so did the maximum tree height. One explanation for this is that the constant supply of soil water allows the trees to allocate fewer resources to growing roots in search of water. Another factor deals with the high humidity that increases the rate of photosynthesis. This causes the stomata to open and take in more carbon dioxide that encourages greater growth by building more wood.
To summarize all this information, among a single species, the tree with the largest leaves and full access to water in the soil and humid air, will grow the tallest.
Sources
* Maciej Zwieniecki, “Tree Physics”, UC Davis News and Information, January 11, 2013.
* Givnish, Thomas, “New Analysis Links Tree Height to Climate”, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ecology, 2014.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Edited by Len Phillips
What makes some trees grow tall and others do not? Why are the leaves on the tallest trees all about the same size, and why aren’t those tall trees even taller? It all has to do with basic scientific principles at work in nature. The explanation is in the physics of the tree’s vascular system that nourishes the tree from leaf, to trunk, to roots and its ability to hoist water hundreds of feet into the air. How does the maximum tree height vary with the environment and what limits the height of trees?
Genetics
Genetics plays an important role in determining tree size. This fact is obvious. Each species and cultivar of species has a very narrow range of sizes. However, what causes one tree out of a group of the same species to grow taller than the others is the focus of this article. Often it is variations caused by genetics, but more likely it is caused by leaf size and climate.
Leaf Size
Researchers found that tree leaves among all trees vary in size between one inch and four feet, and as much as one inch within a single species or cultivar. All the tallest species of trees, however, have leaves that fall in the range of 4 to 8 inches long.
This is because like most plants, trees fuel their growth and development through photosynthesis. This process uses water, carbon dioxide, minerals, and sunlight energy to produce carbohydrates as a sugar-rich fluid. There is an advantage for a tree to have larger leaves. It can produce more of this sugar-rich fluid that will flow quickly toward the trunk and roots via the phloem system. The faster and more efficiently it flows, the larger the tree can grow. If the tree’s leaves are small, the fluid moves too slowly to be beneficial for a tree to have exceptional growth. As the sugar-rich fluid passes through the leaf phloem toward the stem, it gathers speed as more and more water is pulled in from the leaf through osmosis. Consequently, the longer the leaf, the faster the fluid flows.
When the fluid reaches the tree trunk, however, no more sugar is collected in the phloem, and only water is drawn in from the surrounding tissue. The trunk phloem is longer and consequently, presents more resistance to the fluid’s flow as it travels down the trunk to the roots.
Tree Height
We do know that fast growing trees are able to capture more sunlight and also more energy through photosynthesis and can out-compete other species. Although increased height might provide some trees with better access to sunlight, it also will increase the length and thus flow resistance of the trunk phloem, slowing the movement of nutrients toward the roots. So there comes a point where the optimal limits on leaf size and tree height intersect, indicating the point at which it is no longer advantageous for the tree to become taller or produce larger leaves. This point is slightly more than 300 feet or approximately 100 meters, about the size of the tallest existing trees.
Other Factors
Other factors also play a role in determining tree height such as soil fertility, the frequency of wildfires, and the length of the growing season. However, these factors have only a minor influence on tree growth.
Climate
How does the maximum tree height vary with the environment? Does the photosynthetic energy that trees devote to produce new leaves alter the ability to hoist water hundreds of feet up the trunk of the tree? A recent study determined that tree height, resource allocation, and physiology vary with climate, so climate is likely to be the reason trees grow as high as they do.
The tallest of the flowering trees on record is a Eucalyptus regnans, mountain ash, which has grown to 374 feet (114 m) tall, and it is found in southern Australia. Sequoia sempervirens, the coastal redwood or California redwood is the tallest living tree in the world with one at over 379 feet (115.5 m) tall. It is found in northern California. The climate in both locations is similar with high rainfall, high humidity, and low evaporation rates. The tallest and oldest trees are found in deep valleys and gullies, where year-round streams can flow, and fog drip is a regular occurrence. Cool coastal air and fog drip keep these forests consistently damp year round and the trees do not suffer from evaporation stress. The trees above the fog layer are shorter and smaller due to the drier, windier, and colder climate. The moisture supply is obviously very important in growing extremely tall trees.
Researchers found a relationship between maximum tree height and the ratio of annual rainfall to evaporation. As the ratio increased, so did the maximum tree height. One explanation for this is that the constant supply of soil water allows the trees to allocate fewer resources to growing roots in search of water. Another factor deals with the high humidity that increases the rate of photosynthesis. This causes the stomata to open and take in more carbon dioxide that encourages greater growth by building more wood.
To summarize all this information, among a single species, the tree with the largest leaves and full access to water in the soil and humid air, will grow the tallest.
Sources
* Maciej Zwieniecki, “Tree Physics”, UC Davis News and Information, January 11, 2013.
* Givnish, Thomas, “New Analysis Links Tree Height to Climate”, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Ecology, 2014.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Tree Preservation Ordinance By Len Phillips
Tree preservation ordinances have been developed to protect trees on private property. They are developed as a city ordinance, by-law, zoning article, or subdivision regulation.
Advantages
These ordinances are particularly useful in cities that are rapidly growing and have at least several subdivisions per year being built. The purpose of this ordinance is to:
Disadvantages
Many people, planners as well as environmentalists, feel that a tree preservation ordinance is one step too far toward “Big Brother” control and it hinders a person’s right to develop their land as they wish. However, where a tree preservation ordinance does exist, the majority of the citizens in the city have voted to allow their government the power to control development on private land in the interests of all its citizens usually through the city’s zoning regulations.
Zoning regulations set the precedent of a government’s desire to protect the community with controlled land development. Zoning controls land use, while the tree preservation ordinance is intended to protect the natural resources of a site during the construction period. If a site developer is willing to accept zoning regulations pertaining to the use of his land, the developer should also be willing to accept tree preservation regulations because they pertain to environmental protection during the development process and often save the developer time and money during the construction process as well as landscaping costs after construction.
Tree Ordinance
Tree Preservation Ordinances can vary from the very simple to very complex plans. A simple ordinance is similar to the ordinance used by the Village of Lake Grove, New York, which pertains to the removal of trees on a single lot. The Lake Grove law indicates that the building inspector must issue a permit to remove trees larger than a 4 inch caliper. This permit can be issued only when a tree is within a building area and interferes with construction. No other trees on the site can be removed unless approval has been obtained from the Planning Board.
Other ordinances can be quite complicated. The following sample tree preservation ordinance was written to serve as an amendment to a municipality’s zoning by-law or city ordinance.
Sample Ordinance
This sample was originally written for Fulton County, Georgia, but has been edited slightly to make it more universally acceptable.
Tree Preservation Ordinance
1 – Intent:
It is the intent of these regulations to provide standards for the preservation of trees as part of the land development and building construction process for the purpose of making City Name (hereafter called the City), a more attractive place to live, to protect the watercourses and ecology, provide a healthy living environment, and to better maintain control of flooding, noise, glare, and soil erosion. Any development requiring the removal of trees, any grading, and all clearing operations requires a Land Disturbance Permit before any work begins.
2 – Benefits of Trees:
Trees provide beneficial oxygen while reducing the levels of harmful carbon dioxide. They reduce air pollution, purify water, and stabilize the soil. Trees provide wildlife habitat and shade, cool the land, reduce noise, and provide an aesthetic value to the land.
The protection of trees throughout this City is vital to the survival of our residents.
3 – Definitions:
As used in this ordinance, the following words shall have their respective meanings:
4 – Applicability:
The terms and provisions of the ordinance shall apply to any activity on real property sites of one acre or larger and any activity that requires the issuance of Land Disturbance Permit, wetlands protection or conservation permit, building permit, or subdivision permit, within the City, but excluding the construction of individual single family detached and duplex dwellings. No Land Disturbance Permit shall be issued by the City without it being determined that the proposed development is in conformance with the provisions of these regulations.
5 – Permit Procedure:
Any person wishing to develop a site in the City shall conform to the following procedures:
A. All applications for a Land Disturbance Permit shall provide a landscaping plan or other documentation as required below and applicable for all areas of the parcel being developed within a protected zone as part of an application for a Land Disturbance Permit submitted to the City.
B. All plans should contain the following information: shape and dimensions of the lot and proposed structures; precise location of all trees correctly identified, trees to remain, to be transplanted, and to be removed; procedures or techniques for the protection of existing trees during construction; location of setbacks according to Sec 6C; proposed grade changes; and all erosion control devices, site runoff control and drainage problems.
C. All landscape plans and related documentation shall be reviewed by the Municipal Arborist for conformance to the provisions of this regulation and either approved, returned for revisions, or denied within 30 days of receipt. The Municipal Arborist should also have a set of guidelines or standards available to judge all plans and documents in a fair and reasonable manner. If denied, the reasons for denial shall be annotated on the landscape plan or otherwise stated in writing.
D. Issuance of the Land Disturbance Permit shall constitute an approval of the required landscape plan and conformance to the provision of these regulations.
E. Fees shall be set by the City to oversee the administrative costs and shall be submitted with the application.
6 – Removal of Trees and Replacement Landscaping:
A. The first priority is to protect all trees on the site whenever possible. The trees to be saved should be protected with fences, boards, signs, ropes, etc., to protect the root zones as well as the tree trunks and branches. Transplantable trees in the non-protected zone should be moved into the protected area either permanently or during the construction period for later moving to their permanent sites back in the construction area.
B. Trees are not to be removed from within the protected zone unless the owner/developer documents an economic hardship if the trees in the protected zone were to be preserved. Said documentation shall be submitted as part of the application for a Land Disturbance Permit. Diseased or damage trees and trees that pose a safety hazard to pedestrians, vehicles, buildings, utilities, or block access to the site may be removed. Nothing in these regulations shall be construed to allow the removal of vegetation in a natural, undisturbed buffer required by zoning regulations.
C. When no trees are present in the protected zone, or the exiting trees are unhealthy and not worth saving, or when it is proposed that any portion of the protected zone be disturbed, it shall be the responsibility of the owner/developer to plant these areas where improvements are not planned, with trees or other plant materials subject to zoning regulations, or in lieu thereof, administrative standards established by the City. The extent of landscaping shall be established by the City in terms of trees or shrubs per 1,000 square feet, or per parking space, or building square feet, etc.
D. When grading is to occur outside of the buildable area on a parcel or where the buildable area leaves no protected zone adjacent to a property line, landscaped areas shall be established along the peripheral property lines unless zoning regulations require more. The landscape areas shall be landscaped pursuant to zoning regulations or in lieu thereof, administrative standards established by the Municipal Arborist. Hay bales and/or siltation fences shall be used to protect all disturbed areas from soil erosion. The disturbed areas shall be seeded as soon as possible after disturbance to prevent erosion.
E. Notwithstanding any of the other requirements of these regulations, it shall be unlawful to remove a specimen tree without the express written permission of the Municipal Arborist. Administrative standards may be established by the arborist for the identification, preservation, and protection of specimen trees.
F. This regulation does not apply to trees less than two inches in diameter, hazardous species as defined by the Municipal Arborist, government employees operating in a declared emergency, nurseries growing trees and tree farms; nor does it require permits from public agencies and utility companies.
G. Prior to removal, all trees must be flagged and the clearing areas identified for field inspection by the Municipal Arborist or other approved representative of the City.
H. A “tree bank” may be set up by the City to receive any surplus trees that maybe desirable but have to be removed from the disturbed areas. These trees will be dug and replanted at City expense within 30 days of the date of the approved plan.
7 – Enforcement:
It shall be the duty of the Municipal Arborist to enforce this ordinance. The arborist shall have the authority to revoke, suspend, or void the Land Disturbance Permit and shall have the authority to suspend all work on a site or any portion thereof.
8 – Violation and Penalty:
No person shall remove any wood, trees, bushes, or other flora from any property within the City limits without the express written consent of the fee owner of the property. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a $1,000 fine. Each day’s continuance of a violation and each tree removed shall be considered a separate offense. The owner of any property wherein a violation exists, and any builder, contractor, or agent, who may have assisted in the commission of any such violation, shall be guilty of a separate offense. In addition, to the fine and/or one year in jail, the City would also have the ability to deny that applicant any application for land use, development, or other activity on this site for a period of five years.
9 – Appeal:
Any person aggrieved or affected by any decision of the Municipal Arborist related to the application of these regulations may appeal to the City Zoning Board or City Council for relief or reconsideration. The appeal by the person aggrieved or affected by any decision of the Municipal Arborist related to the application of this regulation may be filed within 30 days of the decision.
Appeals shall only be granted for errors of interpretation or where the unique natural features of the site are such that application of these regulations would create an undue hardship to the property owner and in other instances where an undue hardship is created for the owner of the property
Sources
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Tree preservation ordinances have been developed to protect trees on private property. They are developed as a city ordinance, by-law, zoning article, or subdivision regulation.
Advantages
These ordinances are particularly useful in cities that are rapidly growing and have at least several subdivisions per year being built. The purpose of this ordinance is to:
- insure that a given percent of forest is retained in new development projects,
- prevent the clear cutting of blocks of land that are useful for buffers, screening, or view enhancements,
- control runoff, soil erosion, and drainage problems flowing onto abutting land,
- minimize temperature elevation, decrease air pollution, and lower carbon dioxide levels on land that could become defoliated by development,
- protect and enhance the aesthetic values of a city on developable sites,
- enhance the value of the land and all its trees,
- educate developers as to the value of trees and how to protect and preserve them during construction,
- protect any mature and significant trees,
- define the permits, fees, penalties, and other legal requirements necessary to preserve the forest during the construction phase of a site development project.
Disadvantages
Many people, planners as well as environmentalists, feel that a tree preservation ordinance is one step too far toward “Big Brother” control and it hinders a person’s right to develop their land as they wish. However, where a tree preservation ordinance does exist, the majority of the citizens in the city have voted to allow their government the power to control development on private land in the interests of all its citizens usually through the city’s zoning regulations.
Zoning regulations set the precedent of a government’s desire to protect the community with controlled land development. Zoning controls land use, while the tree preservation ordinance is intended to protect the natural resources of a site during the construction period. If a site developer is willing to accept zoning regulations pertaining to the use of his land, the developer should also be willing to accept tree preservation regulations because they pertain to environmental protection during the development process and often save the developer time and money during the construction process as well as landscaping costs after construction.
Tree Ordinance
Tree Preservation Ordinances can vary from the very simple to very complex plans. A simple ordinance is similar to the ordinance used by the Village of Lake Grove, New York, which pertains to the removal of trees on a single lot. The Lake Grove law indicates that the building inspector must issue a permit to remove trees larger than a 4 inch caliper. This permit can be issued only when a tree is within a building area and interferes with construction. No other trees on the site can be removed unless approval has been obtained from the Planning Board.
Other ordinances can be quite complicated. The following sample tree preservation ordinance was written to serve as an amendment to a municipality’s zoning by-law or city ordinance.
Sample Ordinance
This sample was originally written for Fulton County, Georgia, but has been edited slightly to make it more universally acceptable.
Tree Preservation Ordinance
1 – Intent:
It is the intent of these regulations to provide standards for the preservation of trees as part of the land development and building construction process for the purpose of making City Name (hereafter called the City), a more attractive place to live, to protect the watercourses and ecology, provide a healthy living environment, and to better maintain control of flooding, noise, glare, and soil erosion. Any development requiring the removal of trees, any grading, and all clearing operations requires a Land Disturbance Permit before any work begins.
2 – Benefits of Trees:
Trees provide beneficial oxygen while reducing the levels of harmful carbon dioxide. They reduce air pollution, purify water, and stabilize the soil. Trees provide wildlife habitat and shade, cool the land, reduce noise, and provide an aesthetic value to the land.
The protection of trees throughout this City is vital to the survival of our residents.
3 – Definitions:
As used in this ordinance, the following words shall have their respective meanings:
- Buildable area – That portion of a lot wherein a building may be located, not the portion of a lot which is located within any minimum required front, rear, or side yards, landscape areas, or buffer zones.
- City – The City known as Name .
- Land Disturbance Permit (development permit or vegetation removal permit) – A permit issued by the City that regulates and authorizes the commencement of development on a given tract of land.
- Landscape Plan – A plan that identifies areas of tree preservation and methods of tree protection within the no-build zone, as well as all areas of replanting. Within replanting areas, the common and botanical names of the proposed species, the number of plants of each species, the size of all plant materials, the location of all plant materials, and any unique features of the plant materials shall be indicated.
- Municipal Arborist (or other title appropriate for this City) – The agent for the City having primary enforcement responsibilities under this ordinance and charged with the responsibility for approval of all landscape plans for Land Disturbance Permits in the City required pursuant to this ordinance.
- Protected Zone – All lands that fall outside of the buildable area of a parcel, all areas of the parcel required to remain in open space, and all areas required as landscaping strips according to the provisions of the City ordinance, zoning regulations, conditions of zoning approval, or the City‘s subdivision rules and regulations.
- Protected Tree – Any tree which has been determined by the Municipal Arborist to be of high value because of it’s type size, age, or other professional criteria, and has been so designated.
- Tree – Any self-supporting wood perennial plant which has a trunk diameter of 2 inches or greater measured a point 6 inches above the ground level and which normally obtains a height of at least 10 feet at maturity. Certain species (defined by the City), shall also be protected regardless of the size.
- Zoning Regulations (ordinance or subdivision rules) – The City’s Zoning Regulations as amended or such other regulations subsequently adopted by the City Council, inclusive of conditions for zoning approval established by the City’s development review staff.
- All other terms – All other words or phrases as appropriate to the context of their uses shall be interpreted as defined elsewhere within the City’s regulations.
4 – Applicability:
The terms and provisions of the ordinance shall apply to any activity on real property sites of one acre or larger and any activity that requires the issuance of Land Disturbance Permit, wetlands protection or conservation permit, building permit, or subdivision permit, within the City, but excluding the construction of individual single family detached and duplex dwellings. No Land Disturbance Permit shall be issued by the City without it being determined that the proposed development is in conformance with the provisions of these regulations.
5 – Permit Procedure:
Any person wishing to develop a site in the City shall conform to the following procedures:
A. All applications for a Land Disturbance Permit shall provide a landscaping plan or other documentation as required below and applicable for all areas of the parcel being developed within a protected zone as part of an application for a Land Disturbance Permit submitted to the City.
B. All plans should contain the following information: shape and dimensions of the lot and proposed structures; precise location of all trees correctly identified, trees to remain, to be transplanted, and to be removed; procedures or techniques for the protection of existing trees during construction; location of setbacks according to Sec 6C; proposed grade changes; and all erosion control devices, site runoff control and drainage problems.
C. All landscape plans and related documentation shall be reviewed by the Municipal Arborist for conformance to the provisions of this regulation and either approved, returned for revisions, or denied within 30 days of receipt. The Municipal Arborist should also have a set of guidelines or standards available to judge all plans and documents in a fair and reasonable manner. If denied, the reasons for denial shall be annotated on the landscape plan or otherwise stated in writing.
D. Issuance of the Land Disturbance Permit shall constitute an approval of the required landscape plan and conformance to the provision of these regulations.
E. Fees shall be set by the City to oversee the administrative costs and shall be submitted with the application.
6 – Removal of Trees and Replacement Landscaping:
A. The first priority is to protect all trees on the site whenever possible. The trees to be saved should be protected with fences, boards, signs, ropes, etc., to protect the root zones as well as the tree trunks and branches. Transplantable trees in the non-protected zone should be moved into the protected area either permanently or during the construction period for later moving to their permanent sites back in the construction area.
B. Trees are not to be removed from within the protected zone unless the owner/developer documents an economic hardship if the trees in the protected zone were to be preserved. Said documentation shall be submitted as part of the application for a Land Disturbance Permit. Diseased or damage trees and trees that pose a safety hazard to pedestrians, vehicles, buildings, utilities, or block access to the site may be removed. Nothing in these regulations shall be construed to allow the removal of vegetation in a natural, undisturbed buffer required by zoning regulations.
C. When no trees are present in the protected zone, or the exiting trees are unhealthy and not worth saving, or when it is proposed that any portion of the protected zone be disturbed, it shall be the responsibility of the owner/developer to plant these areas where improvements are not planned, with trees or other plant materials subject to zoning regulations, or in lieu thereof, administrative standards established by the City. The extent of landscaping shall be established by the City in terms of trees or shrubs per 1,000 square feet, or per parking space, or building square feet, etc.
D. When grading is to occur outside of the buildable area on a parcel or where the buildable area leaves no protected zone adjacent to a property line, landscaped areas shall be established along the peripheral property lines unless zoning regulations require more. The landscape areas shall be landscaped pursuant to zoning regulations or in lieu thereof, administrative standards established by the Municipal Arborist. Hay bales and/or siltation fences shall be used to protect all disturbed areas from soil erosion. The disturbed areas shall be seeded as soon as possible after disturbance to prevent erosion.
E. Notwithstanding any of the other requirements of these regulations, it shall be unlawful to remove a specimen tree without the express written permission of the Municipal Arborist. Administrative standards may be established by the arborist for the identification, preservation, and protection of specimen trees.
F. This regulation does not apply to trees less than two inches in diameter, hazardous species as defined by the Municipal Arborist, government employees operating in a declared emergency, nurseries growing trees and tree farms; nor does it require permits from public agencies and utility companies.
G. Prior to removal, all trees must be flagged and the clearing areas identified for field inspection by the Municipal Arborist or other approved representative of the City.
H. A “tree bank” may be set up by the City to receive any surplus trees that maybe desirable but have to be removed from the disturbed areas. These trees will be dug and replanted at City expense within 30 days of the date of the approved plan.
7 – Enforcement:
It shall be the duty of the Municipal Arborist to enforce this ordinance. The arborist shall have the authority to revoke, suspend, or void the Land Disturbance Permit and shall have the authority to suspend all work on a site or any portion thereof.
8 – Violation and Penalty:
No person shall remove any wood, trees, bushes, or other flora from any property within the City limits without the express written consent of the fee owner of the property. Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a $1,000 fine. Each day’s continuance of a violation and each tree removed shall be considered a separate offense. The owner of any property wherein a violation exists, and any builder, contractor, or agent, who may have assisted in the commission of any such violation, shall be guilty of a separate offense. In addition, to the fine and/or one year in jail, the City would also have the ability to deny that applicant any application for land use, development, or other activity on this site for a period of five years.
9 – Appeal:
Any person aggrieved or affected by any decision of the Municipal Arborist related to the application of these regulations may appeal to the City Zoning Board or City Council for relief or reconsideration. The appeal by the person aggrieved or affected by any decision of the Municipal Arborist related to the application of this regulation may be filed within 30 days of the decision.
Appeals shall only be granted for errors of interpretation or where the unique natural features of the site are such that application of these regulations would create an undue hardship to the property owner and in other instances where an undue hardship is created for the owner of the property
Sources
- ACRT, “Street Tree Inventory and Management Plan for Huntsville, AL”, Ohio, 1989.
- Village of Lake Grove, NY, ‘Village Ordinance”, 1990.
- “Fulton County Tree Preservation Ordinance and Administrative Guidelines”, January 2003.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Tree of the Seminar #60 - Crimson Spire Oak By Len Phillips
The Crimson Spire™ Oak is a hybrid that is a perfect mix of dark green color and privacy screening all summer. This tree is a fast-growing, hardy, columnar tree that’s a great fit for streetscapes and landscape settings. This tree is so important and suitable for city life that it has its own website. This information has been gathered from the personal observations of the author, living in Massachusetts, Zone 6, and information provided by J. Frank Schmidt & Son nursery.
Trade Name: Crimson Spire™ Oak
Botanical Name: Quercus robur x Q. alba ‘Crimschmidt’
Plant Patent: PP # 9103
Parentage: Introduced by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
Family: Fagaceae
Year of Introduction: 2004
Height: 45’
Spread: 15’
Form: Columnar, tightly fastigiated
Bloom Period: Early spring just before leaves emerge
Flower: Catkins
Fruit: Solitary acorn, 1” long including the cap
Summer Foliage: Dark green to bluish green
Autumn Foliage: Rusty red
Winter Color: Bark provides winter interest
Bark: Dark gray, deep fissures and narrow ridges
Habitat: Eastern half of the United States
Culture: Excellent mildew resistance
Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8
Growth Rate: Fast, full size in 20 years Pest Resistance: Many pests but none serious
Storm Resistance: Good
Salt Resistance: Good
Planting: B&B is best, bare root in fall only, suitable for CU-Structural Soil planting
Pruning: Prune damage at planting time and 3 years later to form
Propagating: Budded or grafted
Design Uses: Specimen for lawn or park, street, and residential locations
Companions: Use with evergreen shrubs planted the year after planting the tree
Other Comments: A good choice for anchoring newer landscapes
Photo: J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
The Crimson Spire™ Oak is a hybrid that is a perfect mix of dark green color and privacy screening all summer. This tree is a fast-growing, hardy, columnar tree that’s a great fit for streetscapes and landscape settings. This tree is so important and suitable for city life that it has its own website. This information has been gathered from the personal observations of the author, living in Massachusetts, Zone 6, and information provided by J. Frank Schmidt & Son nursery.
Trade Name: Crimson Spire™ Oak
Botanical Name: Quercus robur x Q. alba ‘Crimschmidt’
Plant Patent: PP # 9103
Parentage: Introduced by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
Family: Fagaceae
Year of Introduction: 2004
Height: 45’
Spread: 15’
Form: Columnar, tightly fastigiated
Bloom Period: Early spring just before leaves emerge
Flower: Catkins
Fruit: Solitary acorn, 1” long including the cap
Summer Foliage: Dark green to bluish green
Autumn Foliage: Rusty red
Winter Color: Bark provides winter interest
Bark: Dark gray, deep fissures and narrow ridges
Habitat: Eastern half of the United States
Culture: Excellent mildew resistance
Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8
Growth Rate: Fast, full size in 20 years Pest Resistance: Many pests but none serious
Storm Resistance: Good
Salt Resistance: Good
Planting: B&B is best, bare root in fall only, suitable for CU-Structural Soil planting
Pruning: Prune damage at planting time and 3 years later to form
Propagating: Budded or grafted
Design Uses: Specimen for lawn or park, street, and residential locations
Companions: Use with evergreen shrubs planted the year after planting the tree
Other Comments: A good choice for anchoring newer landscapes
Photo: J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Working Fungi By Mike Amaranthus Ph.D.
Considering its critical importance to tree care, it is no surprise that arborists have an increased understanding of the living soil. This includes knowing that microscopic bacterium, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and a wide variety of soil arthropods and worms all work together to support a healthy tree. Their numbers in healthy soils are nothing less than staggering. A teaspoon of forest soil can contain miles of fungal filaments and several billion bacteria.
Exudates (ooze) from tree roots contain carbohydrates, proteins, and other compounds to wake up, attract, and feed specific beneficial bacteria and fungi. These sticky compounds form the basis of the soil food web. At the foundation of the food web, bacteria and fungi consume tree root exudates and, in turn, are eaten by bigger microbes such as nematodes and protozoa. Nematodes and protozoa themselves enter the food chain, providing sustenance for a wide variety of other larger microorganisms in the soil.
Bacteria and Fungi
Bacteria and fungi are like small bags of fertilizer, retaining in their bodies nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients that are assimilated from root exudates. These beneficial soil organisms are critical to a wide variety of functions beyond nutrient cycling. They also perform essential roles in maintaining healthy root systems, good soil structure, drought protection, salt tolerance, and protection against a wide variety of environmental extremes.
The organisms in the soil food web will do much of the work in maintaining tree health. These billions of soil microorganisms work continuously throughout the year supplying nutrients and water, loosening the soil, and building defense systems below ground.
Mycorrhizae
To get trees firmly established in landscapes, it is important to know about a special relationship that exists between tree roots and certain types of fungi called mycorrhizae. These microscopic fungi are an integral component of sustainable tree communities where the organisms form a symbiotic relationship; meaning that both the tree and the fungus benefit from each other. Mycorrhizal fungal filaments use a variety of specific enzymes from the tree to extract tightly bound minerals from the soil, that tree roots themselves cannot hope to capture. Nearly all trees, and approximately 95% of all higher plants, depend on mycorrhizal relationships for their health and vigor.
Until recently, fungi, including some 5,000 mycorrhizal species, were nearly always treated as botanical objects. The truth is that fungi have little in common with plants. Fungi do not photosynthesize. They reproduce, breathe, and build themselves in ways far different than the world of plants. Structurally their cells are built with chitin, the same material in the claws of mammals and shells of insects. In fact, recent DNA results indicate that fungi share a common ancestry with insects, not plants.
Water Conservation
Mycorrhizal fungi are involved with a wide variety of activities that benefit tree establishment and growth. For example, the same extensive networks of fungal filaments important to nutrient uptake are also important in water uptake and storage. In non-irrigated conditions, mycorrhizal trees are under far less drought stress than non-mycorrhizal trees. Landscapes containing healthy populations of mycorrhizal fungi require less water because tiny fungal hyphae can access reservoirs of water in small spaces within the soil that roots themselves are too thick to enter. As water in landscapes becomes more limiting, there has never been a better time to utilize fungi for water conservation.
Mycorrhizae Location
Like air and water, the soil is a precious resource. However, the quality and quantity of soil in any one location can change markedly in a relatively short distance and time span. Such changes may result from human activities. Events that seriously disturb the soil can substantially reduce or eliminate the beneficial microbes.
Soils from natural and undisturbed forest areas generally contain robust and diverse populations of mycorrhizal fungi. Research shows, however, that compaction, erosion, grading, topsoil removal, overgrazing, and the use of soil-less mixes in nursery operations often eliminate mycorrhizae completely. Many of the top-performing mycorrhizal fungi do not disperse their spores in the wind and move instead by growing root-to-root or by having their spores consumed and relocated by wildlife species.
In a disturbed habitat, the effectiveness of the natural return of mycorrhizae is dependent on the quality and proximity of undisturbed habitats containing suitable fungi and their associated animal vectors. Many cases have been documented where plants in disturbed urban and suburban environments have not formed mycorrhizae many years after planting and are surviving only through intensive care and maintenance.
Mycorrhizal Inoculants
Mycorrhizal inoculants are another tool available to arborists. Inoculums containing mixtures of species of mycorrhizal fungi often provide an excellent response when applied to a disturbed urban environment. Mycorrhizal inoculum comes in tablet, powder, gel, liquid, and granular forms. Look for products that have many species of mycorrhizal fungi present. This improves performance across a wide range of trees, soil, and climatic conditions. An important factor is to get the mycorrhizal propagules near the root systems of the target trees. Using gels, the inoculum can be directly dipped onto bare root trees. Inoculum can also be incorporated into the planting hole at the time of transplanting, or watered-in after planting. They can also be injected into the soil profile near the roots of existing trees.
The form and application of the mycorrhizal inoculum depends upon the needs of the tree as determined by the arborist. Most mycorrhizal propagules will stay dormant until root activity stimulates the mycorrhizae.
Using Mycorrhizal Populations
Establishing trees on disturbed sites requires an understanding of the many soil processes important in facilitating uptake, storage, and cycling of nutrients and water by the target tree species. In natural forests, these activities are largely performed by a diversity of fungi, working hard below the living soil surface. In past decades, clearing of natural areas and disturbances in suburban and urban environments have substantially reduced mycorrhizal populations.
Getting trees established in disturbed soil is often a great challenge. After construction, numerous tight or tenuous links between trees and soil microorganisms are broken. These linkages include fungi that have allowed trees to survive and thrive in natural environments for millions of years without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. As arborists gain increased appreciation of the living soil, they are more frequently incorporating mycorrhizal considerations into their specifications and practices.
Dr. Mike Amaranthus is president and chief scientist for Mycorrhizal Applications, Inc.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Considering its critical importance to tree care, it is no surprise that arborists have an increased understanding of the living soil. This includes knowing that microscopic bacterium, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and a wide variety of soil arthropods and worms all work together to support a healthy tree. Their numbers in healthy soils are nothing less than staggering. A teaspoon of forest soil can contain miles of fungal filaments and several billion bacteria.
Exudates (ooze) from tree roots contain carbohydrates, proteins, and other compounds to wake up, attract, and feed specific beneficial bacteria and fungi. These sticky compounds form the basis of the soil food web. At the foundation of the food web, bacteria and fungi consume tree root exudates and, in turn, are eaten by bigger microbes such as nematodes and protozoa. Nematodes and protozoa themselves enter the food chain, providing sustenance for a wide variety of other larger microorganisms in the soil.
Bacteria and Fungi
Bacteria and fungi are like small bags of fertilizer, retaining in their bodies nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients that are assimilated from root exudates. These beneficial soil organisms are critical to a wide variety of functions beyond nutrient cycling. They also perform essential roles in maintaining healthy root systems, good soil structure, drought protection, salt tolerance, and protection against a wide variety of environmental extremes.
The organisms in the soil food web will do much of the work in maintaining tree health. These billions of soil microorganisms work continuously throughout the year supplying nutrients and water, loosening the soil, and building defense systems below ground.
Mycorrhizae
To get trees firmly established in landscapes, it is important to know about a special relationship that exists between tree roots and certain types of fungi called mycorrhizae. These microscopic fungi are an integral component of sustainable tree communities where the organisms form a symbiotic relationship; meaning that both the tree and the fungus benefit from each other. Mycorrhizal fungal filaments use a variety of specific enzymes from the tree to extract tightly bound minerals from the soil, that tree roots themselves cannot hope to capture. Nearly all trees, and approximately 95% of all higher plants, depend on mycorrhizal relationships for their health and vigor.
Until recently, fungi, including some 5,000 mycorrhizal species, were nearly always treated as botanical objects. The truth is that fungi have little in common with plants. Fungi do not photosynthesize. They reproduce, breathe, and build themselves in ways far different than the world of plants. Structurally their cells are built with chitin, the same material in the claws of mammals and shells of insects. In fact, recent DNA results indicate that fungi share a common ancestry with insects, not plants.
Water Conservation
Mycorrhizal fungi are involved with a wide variety of activities that benefit tree establishment and growth. For example, the same extensive networks of fungal filaments important to nutrient uptake are also important in water uptake and storage. In non-irrigated conditions, mycorrhizal trees are under far less drought stress than non-mycorrhizal trees. Landscapes containing healthy populations of mycorrhizal fungi require less water because tiny fungal hyphae can access reservoirs of water in small spaces within the soil that roots themselves are too thick to enter. As water in landscapes becomes more limiting, there has never been a better time to utilize fungi for water conservation.
Mycorrhizae Location
Like air and water, the soil is a precious resource. However, the quality and quantity of soil in any one location can change markedly in a relatively short distance and time span. Such changes may result from human activities. Events that seriously disturb the soil can substantially reduce or eliminate the beneficial microbes.
Soils from natural and undisturbed forest areas generally contain robust and diverse populations of mycorrhizal fungi. Research shows, however, that compaction, erosion, grading, topsoil removal, overgrazing, and the use of soil-less mixes in nursery operations often eliminate mycorrhizae completely. Many of the top-performing mycorrhizal fungi do not disperse their spores in the wind and move instead by growing root-to-root or by having their spores consumed and relocated by wildlife species.
In a disturbed habitat, the effectiveness of the natural return of mycorrhizae is dependent on the quality and proximity of undisturbed habitats containing suitable fungi and their associated animal vectors. Many cases have been documented where plants in disturbed urban and suburban environments have not formed mycorrhizae many years after planting and are surviving only through intensive care and maintenance.
Mycorrhizal Inoculants
Mycorrhizal inoculants are another tool available to arborists. Inoculums containing mixtures of species of mycorrhizal fungi often provide an excellent response when applied to a disturbed urban environment. Mycorrhizal inoculum comes in tablet, powder, gel, liquid, and granular forms. Look for products that have many species of mycorrhizal fungi present. This improves performance across a wide range of trees, soil, and climatic conditions. An important factor is to get the mycorrhizal propagules near the root systems of the target trees. Using gels, the inoculum can be directly dipped onto bare root trees. Inoculum can also be incorporated into the planting hole at the time of transplanting, or watered-in after planting. They can also be injected into the soil profile near the roots of existing trees.
The form and application of the mycorrhizal inoculum depends upon the needs of the tree as determined by the arborist. Most mycorrhizal propagules will stay dormant until root activity stimulates the mycorrhizae.
Using Mycorrhizal Populations
Establishing trees on disturbed sites requires an understanding of the many soil processes important in facilitating uptake, storage, and cycling of nutrients and water by the target tree species. In natural forests, these activities are largely performed by a diversity of fungi, working hard below the living soil surface. In past decades, clearing of natural areas and disturbances in suburban and urban environments have substantially reduced mycorrhizal populations.
Getting trees established in disturbed soil is often a great challenge. After construction, numerous tight or tenuous links between trees and soil microorganisms are broken. These linkages include fungi that have allowed trees to survive and thrive in natural environments for millions of years without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. As arborists gain increased appreciation of the living soil, they are more frequently incorporating mycorrhizal considerations into their specifications and practices.
Dr. Mike Amaranthus is president and chief scientist for Mycorrhizal Applications, Inc.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Are We Doing Enough to Save the Planet? Edited by Len Phillips
The answer is … not yet, because we really need to know more. Trees around the world are dying. It's not only the changes brought by a warmer world; it is also because we have treated the world's trees poorly for centuries and without regard to the ecological consequences. Forests have been fragmented into tiny slivers because we have wiped out large forests for lumber and paper. We have no regard for reforestation or the fitness of those trees that were left behind. Air pollution and soil abuse caused by mankind have also taken a toll on trees around the world.
What we do know!
We do know that trees are the planet's heat shield because they cool the temperatures beneath the trees by 18°F (10°C) degrees. Trees also block cancer-causing ultraviolet rays. Trees filter our air and water, and soak up climate-warming carbon dioxide. Forests slow the runoff of rainfall. Many of the world's damaging floods are becoming more frequent and more powerful, and they are usually caused by deforestation upstream.
Hiking through the forest has been shown to reduce stress chemicals in the human body and to increase natural killer cells in the human immune system that fight tumors and viruses. Researchers have demonstrated that anxiety, depression, and even crimes are less of a concern in neighborhoods with trees.
A marine chemist in Japan has discovered that as the leaves from trees decompose, humic acid leaches into the ocean and helps fertilize plankton, a critical food for many other forms of sea life. Japanese fisherman began an award-winning campaign called Forests Are the Lovers of the Sea, and planted trees along the coasts and rivers that rejuvenated fish and oyster stocks.
Hundreds of different kinds of chemicals are emitted by trees and forests, many beneficial to mankind. Many tree compounds are proven to be antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and even cancer prevention compounds. Among them, Taxol from the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia), is a powerful cancer fighting drug. The active ingredient of aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, another example, comes from the bark of willow trees (Salix alba).
Forests can lower stress and make people feel at ease. Humans have lived in harmony with nature for 5 million years. We were made to fit into a natural environment, so we feel stress when we are placed in an urban area.
Trees are also used in the US to prevent soil erosion and shade certain crops. Trees can be used to clean up the toxic waste sites containing explosives, solvents, and organic wastes by using a process known as phytoremediation.
What we do not know!
Scientists admit that trees, forests, and soils are poorly studied. Trees are greatly underused as an eco-technology to make natural systems, as well as the world's cities, more resilient. More work is needed to improve watershed management. Phytoremediation, mentioned above, works but has to go a long way before it is accepted by all people as an acceptable alternative for dealing with pollution.
Still uncertain is the question of what to plant to withstand the challenges of a changing world to assure a world with more trees. On a local level many arborists have a difficult time deciding what is the right tree for the right place and for the right reason. If arborists have a tough time with this, how are the typical landowners able to make these decisions correctly?
Many nurseries are propagating trees that are pest resistant and tolerant of urban sites as well as the changing climate. Other nurseries are selecting the best trees, or the longest living trees, or trees that have other highly desirable features and breeding these trees to survive into the next century. But it is still not enough and much more work and study needs to be done. We also need trees that can soak up carbon and store it in the soil.
Many forests across the length and breadth of the Rocky Mountains have thinned out or died in the last decade. Most of the mature forests of British Columbia are gone, from a combination of climate and insects, and we do not know how to stop the process as the devastation is creeping across Canada toward the East Coast.
The bristlecone pines (Pinus aristata) in the U.S. are the most ancient trees in the world, with some more than 4,000 years old. But they will die in the coming years because of a combination of bark beetles and a fungal disease, enabled by a warmer climate. Tree-ring studies on the bristlecone show that the last 50 years are the warmest half century in the last 3,700 years.
It is time to act. When is the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago! When is the second-best time? Today!
Source
Robbins, Jim, “Trees, our life savers are dying”, The Guardian, July 2013
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
The answer is … not yet, because we really need to know more. Trees around the world are dying. It's not only the changes brought by a warmer world; it is also because we have treated the world's trees poorly for centuries and without regard to the ecological consequences. Forests have been fragmented into tiny slivers because we have wiped out large forests for lumber and paper. We have no regard for reforestation or the fitness of those trees that were left behind. Air pollution and soil abuse caused by mankind have also taken a toll on trees around the world.
What we do know!
We do know that trees are the planet's heat shield because they cool the temperatures beneath the trees by 18°F (10°C) degrees. Trees also block cancer-causing ultraviolet rays. Trees filter our air and water, and soak up climate-warming carbon dioxide. Forests slow the runoff of rainfall. Many of the world's damaging floods are becoming more frequent and more powerful, and they are usually caused by deforestation upstream.
Hiking through the forest has been shown to reduce stress chemicals in the human body and to increase natural killer cells in the human immune system that fight tumors and viruses. Researchers have demonstrated that anxiety, depression, and even crimes are less of a concern in neighborhoods with trees.
A marine chemist in Japan has discovered that as the leaves from trees decompose, humic acid leaches into the ocean and helps fertilize plankton, a critical food for many other forms of sea life. Japanese fisherman began an award-winning campaign called Forests Are the Lovers of the Sea, and planted trees along the coasts and rivers that rejuvenated fish and oyster stocks.
Hundreds of different kinds of chemicals are emitted by trees and forests, many beneficial to mankind. Many tree compounds are proven to be antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral and even cancer prevention compounds. Among them, Taxol from the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia), is a powerful cancer fighting drug. The active ingredient of aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, another example, comes from the bark of willow trees (Salix alba).
Forests can lower stress and make people feel at ease. Humans have lived in harmony with nature for 5 million years. We were made to fit into a natural environment, so we feel stress when we are placed in an urban area.
Trees are also used in the US to prevent soil erosion and shade certain crops. Trees can be used to clean up the toxic waste sites containing explosives, solvents, and organic wastes by using a process known as phytoremediation.
What we do not know!
Scientists admit that trees, forests, and soils are poorly studied. Trees are greatly underused as an eco-technology to make natural systems, as well as the world's cities, more resilient. More work is needed to improve watershed management. Phytoremediation, mentioned above, works but has to go a long way before it is accepted by all people as an acceptable alternative for dealing with pollution.
Still uncertain is the question of what to plant to withstand the challenges of a changing world to assure a world with more trees. On a local level many arborists have a difficult time deciding what is the right tree for the right place and for the right reason. If arborists have a tough time with this, how are the typical landowners able to make these decisions correctly?
Many nurseries are propagating trees that are pest resistant and tolerant of urban sites as well as the changing climate. Other nurseries are selecting the best trees, or the longest living trees, or trees that have other highly desirable features and breeding these trees to survive into the next century. But it is still not enough and much more work and study needs to be done. We also need trees that can soak up carbon and store it in the soil.
Many forests across the length and breadth of the Rocky Mountains have thinned out or died in the last decade. Most of the mature forests of British Columbia are gone, from a combination of climate and insects, and we do not know how to stop the process as the devastation is creeping across Canada toward the East Coast.
The bristlecone pines (Pinus aristata) in the U.S. are the most ancient trees in the world, with some more than 4,000 years old. But they will die in the coming years because of a combination of bark beetles and a fungal disease, enabled by a warmer climate. Tree-ring studies on the bristlecone show that the last 50 years are the warmest half century in the last 3,700 years.
It is time to act. When is the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago! When is the second-best time? Today!
Source
Robbins, Jim, “Trees, our life savers are dying”, The Guardian, July 2013
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Cultivars of Hawthorn Edited by Len Phillips
Hawthorn is an old-time favorite that does well in the city, once it becomes established. Most of the species and cultivars have thorns, transplant with difficulty, and grow slowly. Despite these problems it is often one of the only trees that will do well in urban sites. The description that follows provides a summary of similarities that all the species and cultivars possess. The bottom half of this article describes the best of the hawthorn cultivars. This information has been gathered from personal observations of the author, living in Massachusetts, Zone 6, and information provided by J. Frank Schmidt & Son.
Botanical Name: Crataegus sp.
Common Name: Hawthorn
Family: Rosaceae
Bloom Period: Spring
Fruit: Very showy, red, somewhat persistent
Summer Foliage: Glossy green to bluish green
Autumn Foliage: Variable
Bark: Silvery gray
Hardiness Zone: 4 or 5 to 8 depending on species
Growth Rate: Slow to medium
Pest Resistance: Susceptible to many foliage diseases and various insects
Salt Resistance: Some tolerance
Planting: Difficult to transplant B&B, bare root is better especially with fall planting, slow to establish, suitable for planting in CU-Structural Soil
Pruning: Prune for clearance because of thorns
Design Uses: Excellent for street trees and trees in small yards, good as a specimen or in groupings unless thorns will be a concern
The following cultivars or species are considered by this author to be the best for planting in an urban environment.
Cockspur Hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli – Height: 25'; Spread: 30'; Shape: dense and rounded with horizontal spreading branches; Foliage: leathery, deep green, and glossy; Fall Color: bronze orange to scarlet; Flower: white; Fruit: red, up to ⅜" diameter, and persistent in winter. This tree is outstanding as a specimen because of its distinctive horizontal branch pattern and its attractive glossy foliage. It can also be sheared into a dense, thorny hedge. Fact Sheet
Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli ‘Inermis’ – Height: 25'; Spread: 25'; Shape: rounded and spreading; Foliage: leathery, deep green, glossy leaves; Fall Color: orange or rusty orange; Flower: small, white in 2" clusters; Fruit: dark red, up to ⅜" diameter, and persistent in winter. This small adaptable tree has the excellent foliage of Crataegus crus-galli while completely lacking the dangerous thorns. Fact Sheet
Crimson Cloud Hawthorn Crataegus laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’ – Height: 25'; Spread: 18'; Shape: oval with upright spreading wavy branches; Foliage: small glossy green leaves; Flower: bright red with white centers; Fruit: bright red; Disease Resistance: no leaf spot. This tree is distinctive for its wavy branch habit and unusual flowers. Fact Sheet
Lavalle Hawthorn Crataegus × lavallei – Height: 28'; Spread: 20'; Shape: Irregular vase shape; Foliage: dark green, leathery leaves; Fall Color: bronze; Flower: white blooms in large clusters; Fruit: orange, ⅝" in diameter. Lavalle increases its landscape interest as the season progresses. Foliage intensifies from bright glossy green in summer to the bronze-green color of fall, which complements its persistent orange to orange red fruit. Its form has a strong impact on the winter landscape, with smooth dark bark and an irregularly vase shaped growth habit. Fact Sheet
Paul's Scarlet Hawthorn Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ – Height: 22'; Spread: 20'; Shape: dense, upright spreading, oval; Foliage: small, deeply lobed, green leaves; Flower: double, scarlet to rose; Fruit: sparse, deep red. The brilliant colored flowers make this tree the showiest of all the Hawthorns in the spring. This selection is susceptible to leaf spot. Fact Sheet
Snowbird Hawthorn Crataegus x mordenensis ‘Snowbird’, Copyright by the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation – Zone: 3 – 8; Height: 22’; Spread: 20’; Shape: upright oval to rounded; Foliage: dark green glossy leaves; Flower: small, double white clusters; Fruit: bright crimson, ⅜” diameter. Snowbird was introduced by the Morden Research Station in Canada where it originated as a seedling of Toba. It is hardier than Toba and has a glossier, more handsome leaf. Fact Sheet
Toba Hawthorn Crataegus × mordenensis ‘Toba’ – Zone: 3 – 8; Height: 20’; Spread: 20’; Shape: upright, round; Foliage: dark green leaves; Flower: double white clusters, fading to pink, fragrant; Fruit: red, ⅜” diameter. Another selection from the Morden Research Station in Canada, Toba is a hardy tree with a well behaved branch pattern. Fact Sheet
Washington Hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum – Height: 25’; Spread: 20’; Shape: broadly oval to rounded; Foliage: deep green, very glossy leaves; Fall Color: orange to scarlet and reddish purple leaves; Flower: white clusters; Fruit: bright, glossy red, ⅜” diameter, and persistent. The small attractive fruits blend beautifully with the autumn leaves. Many people rate this as the best North American hawthorn. This tree is very useful in both multi-stem and tree form. Fact Sheet
Winter King Hawthorn Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ – Height: 20’; Spread: 25’; Shape: widely vase shaped and angular branch pattern; Foliage: dark green; Fall Color: yellow leaves; Flower: white clusters; Fruit: bright red and ⅜” diameter. Winter King is an attractive hawthorn with silvery bark that contrasts nicely with the dark green, glossy leaves. The strong, angular lines of its branching pattern give it a bold appearance in the winter. Fact Sheet
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Hawthorn is an old-time favorite that does well in the city, once it becomes established. Most of the species and cultivars have thorns, transplant with difficulty, and grow slowly. Despite these problems it is often one of the only trees that will do well in urban sites. The description that follows provides a summary of similarities that all the species and cultivars possess. The bottom half of this article describes the best of the hawthorn cultivars. This information has been gathered from personal observations of the author, living in Massachusetts, Zone 6, and information provided by J. Frank Schmidt & Son.
Botanical Name: Crataegus sp.
Common Name: Hawthorn
Family: Rosaceae
Bloom Period: Spring
Fruit: Very showy, red, somewhat persistent
Summer Foliage: Glossy green to bluish green
Autumn Foliage: Variable
Bark: Silvery gray
Hardiness Zone: 4 or 5 to 8 depending on species
Growth Rate: Slow to medium
Pest Resistance: Susceptible to many foliage diseases and various insects
Salt Resistance: Some tolerance
Planting: Difficult to transplant B&B, bare root is better especially with fall planting, slow to establish, suitable for planting in CU-Structural Soil
Pruning: Prune for clearance because of thorns
Design Uses: Excellent for street trees and trees in small yards, good as a specimen or in groupings unless thorns will be a concern
The following cultivars or species are considered by this author to be the best for planting in an urban environment.
Cockspur Hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli – Height: 25'; Spread: 30'; Shape: dense and rounded with horizontal spreading branches; Foliage: leathery, deep green, and glossy; Fall Color: bronze orange to scarlet; Flower: white; Fruit: red, up to ⅜" diameter, and persistent in winter. This tree is outstanding as a specimen because of its distinctive horizontal branch pattern and its attractive glossy foliage. It can also be sheared into a dense, thorny hedge. Fact Sheet
Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn Crataegus crus-galli ‘Inermis’ – Height: 25'; Spread: 25'; Shape: rounded and spreading; Foliage: leathery, deep green, glossy leaves; Fall Color: orange or rusty orange; Flower: small, white in 2" clusters; Fruit: dark red, up to ⅜" diameter, and persistent in winter. This small adaptable tree has the excellent foliage of Crataegus crus-galli while completely lacking the dangerous thorns. Fact Sheet
Crimson Cloud Hawthorn Crataegus laevigata ‘Crimson Cloud’ – Height: 25'; Spread: 18'; Shape: oval with upright spreading wavy branches; Foliage: small glossy green leaves; Flower: bright red with white centers; Fruit: bright red; Disease Resistance: no leaf spot. This tree is distinctive for its wavy branch habit and unusual flowers. Fact Sheet
Lavalle Hawthorn Crataegus × lavallei – Height: 28'; Spread: 20'; Shape: Irregular vase shape; Foliage: dark green, leathery leaves; Fall Color: bronze; Flower: white blooms in large clusters; Fruit: orange, ⅝" in diameter. Lavalle increases its landscape interest as the season progresses. Foliage intensifies from bright glossy green in summer to the bronze-green color of fall, which complements its persistent orange to orange red fruit. Its form has a strong impact on the winter landscape, with smooth dark bark and an irregularly vase shaped growth habit. Fact Sheet
Paul's Scarlet Hawthorn Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ – Height: 22'; Spread: 20'; Shape: dense, upright spreading, oval; Foliage: small, deeply lobed, green leaves; Flower: double, scarlet to rose; Fruit: sparse, deep red. The brilliant colored flowers make this tree the showiest of all the Hawthorns in the spring. This selection is susceptible to leaf spot. Fact Sheet
Snowbird Hawthorn Crataegus x mordenensis ‘Snowbird’, Copyright by the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation – Zone: 3 – 8; Height: 22’; Spread: 20’; Shape: upright oval to rounded; Foliage: dark green glossy leaves; Flower: small, double white clusters; Fruit: bright crimson, ⅜” diameter. Snowbird was introduced by the Morden Research Station in Canada where it originated as a seedling of Toba. It is hardier than Toba and has a glossier, more handsome leaf. Fact Sheet
Toba Hawthorn Crataegus × mordenensis ‘Toba’ – Zone: 3 – 8; Height: 20’; Spread: 20’; Shape: upright, round; Foliage: dark green leaves; Flower: double white clusters, fading to pink, fragrant; Fruit: red, ⅜” diameter. Another selection from the Morden Research Station in Canada, Toba is a hardy tree with a well behaved branch pattern. Fact Sheet
Washington Hawthorn Crataegus phaenopyrum – Height: 25’; Spread: 20’; Shape: broadly oval to rounded; Foliage: deep green, very glossy leaves; Fall Color: orange to scarlet and reddish purple leaves; Flower: white clusters; Fruit: bright, glossy red, ⅜” diameter, and persistent. The small attractive fruits blend beautifully with the autumn leaves. Many people rate this as the best North American hawthorn. This tree is very useful in both multi-stem and tree form. Fact Sheet
Winter King Hawthorn Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’ – Height: 20’; Spread: 25’; Shape: widely vase shaped and angular branch pattern; Foliage: dark green; Fall Color: yellow leaves; Flower: white clusters; Fruit: bright red and ⅜” diameter. Winter King is an attractive hawthorn with silvery bark that contrasts nicely with the dark green, glossy leaves. The strong, angular lines of its branching pattern give it a bold appearance in the winter. Fact Sheet
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Uses For A Dead Tree Edited by Len Phillips
Urban wood is often considered a waste product. It is cut up and fed into a wood chipper and then taken to a dump and left there to rot away into compost. However the public is beginning to realize that urban wood has some value as wood and it should be used in a more sustainable way.
Sometimes we, as arborists, are asked what to do with a dead tree. Here are some creative options to consider instead of just cutting the tree down, having it chipped up, and sent off to the landfill.
The Whole Tree Leave a dead tree standing, if it's not a danger to people or structures. It will become a home to insects. Or:
- Remove the ends of hazardous branches and let the tree become a home for birds and assorted critters.
- Hang bird houses on the branch stubs or nailed onto the trunk.
- It could be turned into yard art by hanging colored bottles from the branches or strung with colored lights that change with the season (as permitted by local ordinances).
- Use a chain saw with a carving bar, after proper training, to create a totem pole if the tree has a straight trunk.
Use Slabs of Wood
If the tree must come down, consider having the wood cut into slabs. The slabs are thick slices of the log cut to length, while the top and bottom surfaces can be left as rough cut wood and the branch stubs and bark can be left on or removed for aesthetic reasons.
- These slabs can be for use as unusual fencing or as a privacy screen. The fence can be painted with giant polka dots or other designs to create an artistic accent or leave the slabs a natural color or stained to make them last longer.
- Think of these slabs as nature's creative works of art.
Use Planks of Wood
Planks would be created if the tree trunk is run through the saw mill to cut the wood into dimensional lumber that has straight sides, top, and bottom. For example:
- The wood planks will have thousands of uses for the handy person to use around the home.
- The wildlife enthusiast will use the wood planks to build a boardwalk through a wetland, a bird nesting box, or to build a swing seat for the garden or the patio.
Use the Big Branches
Branches have value as well. For example:
- They could be used to build a big brush pile at the edge of the woods which will become a fantastic refuge for wildlife.
- Cut long poles for garden stakes that could be used for climbing vegetables, flowers, and vines.
- Build a charming, rough-hewn bench using a plank for the seat and branches for the legs and the back.
- Use long branches to edge garden beds or pathways.
- A gardener would use the long branches and planks to construct a compost bin or other kind of enclosure.
Use the Small Branches
Small branches can be used for:
- Firewood and kindling after the wood has dried out.
- After being clipped into very small pieces with pruners or loppers, they can be used for garden mulch.
- Left over pieces of wood can be glued to create small shapes or letters.
- The branches could be cut into small sticks for garden markers.
- With proper supervision, short pieces can be carved by kids for a stamp set with an ink pad or paints.
Cut the Log into Cross Sections
The cross section "slices" of the trunk can be cut into short pieces and used for:
Use the stump
The stump or large sections of trunk can be carved into many uses such as:
Use Other Pieces of Wood Small blocks cut from the cross sections or planks can be used for many purposes including:
Don’t forget that preserving the wood means that you are sequestering the carbon, which helps to reduce global warming. With all these options, there are lots of reasons to save every dead city tree and given to any home gardener who wants it for environmental enhancement or have the wood used by artists or craftsmen.
Source
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Urban wood is often considered a waste product. It is cut up and fed into a wood chipper and then taken to a dump and left there to rot away into compost. However the public is beginning to realize that urban wood has some value as wood and it should be used in a more sustainable way.
Sometimes we, as arborists, are asked what to do with a dead tree. Here are some creative options to consider instead of just cutting the tree down, having it chipped up, and sent off to the landfill.
The Whole Tree Leave a dead tree standing, if it's not a danger to people or structures. It will become a home to insects. Or:
- Remove the ends of hazardous branches and let the tree become a home for birds and assorted critters.
- Hang bird houses on the branch stubs or nailed onto the trunk.
- It could be turned into yard art by hanging colored bottles from the branches or strung with colored lights that change with the season (as permitted by local ordinances).
- Use a chain saw with a carving bar, after proper training, to create a totem pole if the tree has a straight trunk.
Use Slabs of Wood
If the tree must come down, consider having the wood cut into slabs. The slabs are thick slices of the log cut to length, while the top and bottom surfaces can be left as rough cut wood and the branch stubs and bark can be left on or removed for aesthetic reasons.
- These slabs can be for use as unusual fencing or as a privacy screen. The fence can be painted with giant polka dots or other designs to create an artistic accent or leave the slabs a natural color or stained to make them last longer.
- Think of these slabs as nature's creative works of art.
Use Planks of Wood
Planks would be created if the tree trunk is run through the saw mill to cut the wood into dimensional lumber that has straight sides, top, and bottom. For example:
- The wood planks will have thousands of uses for the handy person to use around the home.
- The wildlife enthusiast will use the wood planks to build a boardwalk through a wetland, a bird nesting box, or to build a swing seat for the garden or the patio.
Use the Big Branches
Branches have value as well. For example:
- They could be used to build a big brush pile at the edge of the woods which will become a fantastic refuge for wildlife.
- Cut long poles for garden stakes that could be used for climbing vegetables, flowers, and vines.
- Build a charming, rough-hewn bench using a plank for the seat and branches for the legs and the back.
- Use long branches to edge garden beds or pathways.
- A gardener would use the long branches and planks to construct a compost bin or other kind of enclosure.
Use the Small Branches
Small branches can be used for:
- Firewood and kindling after the wood has dried out.
- After being clipped into very small pieces with pruners or loppers, they can be used for garden mulch.
- Left over pieces of wood can be glued to create small shapes or letters.
- The branches could be cut into small sticks for garden markers.
- With proper supervision, short pieces can be carved by kids for a stamp set with an ink pad or paints.
Cut the Log into Cross Sections
The cross section "slices" of the trunk can be cut into short pieces and used for:
- Garden stepping stones. When building with these wood stepping stones, sprinkle sand or fine gravel into the space between each wood section to make them non-slip as well as for preventing the wood from rocking or sliding around when they are being walked on.
- While thinking about encouraging birds, use the stump or a thick cross section to make a birdbath. Begin by using a hammer and chisel to make a shallow indentation into the center of the wood. Let the wood dry out for a few weeks, then seal the top of the bird bath with a layer of concrete. Be sure the concrete has cured for at least a day before filling it with water.
- Consider chain saw art. Create a sculpture with the whole log or its pieces.
Use the stump
The stump or large sections of trunk can be carved into many uses such as:
- Rustic garden seats.
- Another option is to clean them up, sand them very thoroughly, varnish them, and bring them indoors.
- Very stylish seats or coffee tables can be created from large stumps.
- Artists will create sculptures, carved from the stump or a large section of the trunk.
- An eye-catching plant container can be carved from a stump or a large section of trunk using a lathe. While making the container, be sure to add a drainage hole or two so there will not be a problem if overwatering occurs.
- Sometimes a log of just the right wood can be made into a bowl by a wood carver with a lathe.
- Don’t forget about simply using the stump or a section of trunk as a rustic pedestal for a container of annuals set in the garden.
- The Victorians actually created stumperies from stumps set on the ground. These stumperies were designed mainly for growing woodland plants and ferns within the Victorian garden. Stumperies in woodlands or gardens look good and are good for wildlife even in a part of the garden where there is a group of tall shrubs or trees.
Use Other Pieces of Wood Small blocks cut from the cross sections or planks can be used for many purposes including:
- Lifting planters and flower pots off
the ground, thereby encouraging proper drainage.
- Make a whimsical "faces" using a smoothed cross section as the face, with small pieces of other tree or yard debris as facial features. For example, pine cones or pine needles for hair, stones for eyes, twigs for a mouth, etc.
- Cut various shapes of wood and hang them from tree branches or a pergola. Add some hanging pieces of thin pipe to turn them into wind chimes.
- Cut small shapes or letters and glue small magnets to the reverse sides for a rustic refrigerator magnet set.
Don’t forget that preserving the wood means that you are sequestering the carbon, which helps to reduce global warming. With all these options, there are lots of reasons to save every dead city tree and given to any home gardener who wants it for environmental enhancement or have the wood used by artists or craftsmen.
Source
- Rixon, Diane, “30 Uses For a Dead Tree”, Homesessive, 2014.
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA management credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
MTOA members must follow the ISA instructions indicated above.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Red-Leafed Trees Edited by Len Phillips
Homeowners love the Crimson King Maple and want one for their yard. Most arborists know that this tree has beautifully colored maroon leaves and it is a very cheap tree to purchase and easy to plant. However, most arborists also know that the Crimson King is actually a Norway maple. That means it has very shallow roots that choke out any grass the homeowner tries to grow under this tree. The shallow roots of this tree can also raise concerns with low cutting lawn mowers and lifting sidewalks. In addition, the Norway maple is a prolific producer of seeds every spring and maple seedlings will pop up everywhere within a hundred feet of the parent tree. This tree is also susceptible to tar spot, verticillium wilt, leaf hoppers, and other diseases and pests that can defoliate this tree in the summer. If the leaves stay on the tree until the fall, they turn brown instead of an attractive fall foliage display like many other maples. Some arborists complain that this tree is also susceptible to storm damage.
So what is the arborist to do when the homeowner pleads for a new Crimson King maple? Consider offering other trees. For example the Royal Frost Birch and Rivers Purple Beech are both more desirable trees that grow 40 feet tall like the Crimson King. They are also a bit more expensive, but if maintenance costs over the life of the tree are considered, these trees are far less costly than the Crimson King. If the homeowner is insisting on a crimson colored maple, there are two new cultivars of Norway maple that are far superior to the Crimson King. They are the Conquest and Crimson Sunset Norway maples. If you are still meeting objections from the homeowner, look at maroon colored trees that mature at less than 30 ft. tall. There are a lot that can be found in crabapples, cherries, plums, Japanese maples, redbuds, and purple-leaved filberts.
Here are more details about the top four trees to consider:
Royal Frost® Birch – Betula ‘Penci-2’ – Zone: 4 – 8; Height: 40'; Spread: 25'; Shape: pyramidal; Foliage: purple bronze; Fall Color: yellow-orange to reddish; Insect resistance: Japanese beetle. A hybrid of Crimson Frost and Whitespire, this tree combines purple bronze foliage with an upright pyramidal growth habit. It maintains a strong leader and shows better caliper development and density than other purple leaf birches. Fact Sheet
Rivers Purple Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’ – Zone: 5; Height: 50’; Spread: 40’; Shape: broadly oval; Foliage: deep purple to purple bronze. The most popular purple leafed beech, Rivers is deep purple in the spring and holds a good purple-bronze color throughout the summer. The smooth silver-gray bark of the trunk is beautiful in winter. Fact Sheet
Conquest™ Maple – Acer platanoides ‘Conzam’ – Zone: 4; Height: 40'; Spread: 20'; Shape: narrow oval; Foliage: reddish purple new growth, matures to bronze green; Fall Color: bronze-orange. This tree has lighter purple foliage color than Crimson King. It form is intermediate between Crimson King and Crimson Sentry. This upright tree grows quickly with a sturdy trunk caliper. It’s narrowly oval shape at maturity is ideal for street use. Fact Sheet
Crimson Sentry Maple – Acer platanoides ‘Crimson Sentry’ – Height: 25'; Spread: 15'; Zone: 4b; Shape: compact and dense, pyramidal to oval; Foliage: deep purple; Fall Color: maroon to reddish-bronze. This bud sport of Crimson King shares the deep purple leaf color of its parent, but matures to a much smaller ultimate size. This is a very compact, heavily branched upright tree. Fact Sheet
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.
Homeowners love the Crimson King Maple and want one for their yard. Most arborists know that this tree has beautifully colored maroon leaves and it is a very cheap tree to purchase and easy to plant. However, most arborists also know that the Crimson King is actually a Norway maple. That means it has very shallow roots that choke out any grass the homeowner tries to grow under this tree. The shallow roots of this tree can also raise concerns with low cutting lawn mowers and lifting sidewalks. In addition, the Norway maple is a prolific producer of seeds every spring and maple seedlings will pop up everywhere within a hundred feet of the parent tree. This tree is also susceptible to tar spot, verticillium wilt, leaf hoppers, and other diseases and pests that can defoliate this tree in the summer. If the leaves stay on the tree until the fall, they turn brown instead of an attractive fall foliage display like many other maples. Some arborists complain that this tree is also susceptible to storm damage.
So what is the arborist to do when the homeowner pleads for a new Crimson King maple? Consider offering other trees. For example the Royal Frost Birch and Rivers Purple Beech are both more desirable trees that grow 40 feet tall like the Crimson King. They are also a bit more expensive, but if maintenance costs over the life of the tree are considered, these trees are far less costly than the Crimson King. If the homeowner is insisting on a crimson colored maple, there are two new cultivars of Norway maple that are far superior to the Crimson King. They are the Conquest and Crimson Sunset Norway maples. If you are still meeting objections from the homeowner, look at maroon colored trees that mature at less than 30 ft. tall. There are a lot that can be found in crabapples, cherries, plums, Japanese maples, redbuds, and purple-leaved filberts.
Here are more details about the top four trees to consider:
Royal Frost® Birch – Betula ‘Penci-2’ – Zone: 4 – 8; Height: 40'; Spread: 25'; Shape: pyramidal; Foliage: purple bronze; Fall Color: yellow-orange to reddish; Insect resistance: Japanese beetle. A hybrid of Crimson Frost and Whitespire, this tree combines purple bronze foliage with an upright pyramidal growth habit. It maintains a strong leader and shows better caliper development and density than other purple leaf birches. Fact Sheet
Rivers Purple Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’ – Zone: 5; Height: 50’; Spread: 40’; Shape: broadly oval; Foliage: deep purple to purple bronze. The most popular purple leafed beech, Rivers is deep purple in the spring and holds a good purple-bronze color throughout the summer. The smooth silver-gray bark of the trunk is beautiful in winter. Fact Sheet
Conquest™ Maple – Acer platanoides ‘Conzam’ – Zone: 4; Height: 40'; Spread: 20'; Shape: narrow oval; Foliage: reddish purple new growth, matures to bronze green; Fall Color: bronze-orange. This tree has lighter purple foliage color than Crimson King. It form is intermediate between Crimson King and Crimson Sentry. This upright tree grows quickly with a sturdy trunk caliper. It’s narrowly oval shape at maturity is ideal for street use. Fact Sheet
Crimson Sentry Maple – Acer platanoides ‘Crimson Sentry’ – Height: 25'; Spread: 15'; Zone: 4b; Shape: compact and dense, pyramidal to oval; Foliage: deep purple; Fall Color: maroon to reddish-bronze. This bud sport of Crimson King shares the deep purple leaf color of its parent, but matures to a much smaller ultimate size. This is a very compact, heavily branched upright tree. Fact Sheet
The test that follows contains 10 questions. Before taking the test be sure you have read the article carefully. The passing grade is 80% on the entire test.
ISA will award .5 CEUs* for a passing grade. SAF members will earn 0.5 Cat. 1-CF for every five passing test scores. The cost for taking this test is $10. If you purchase an annual subscription for 15 credits, the cost per credit is reduced by 50% (see Annual Subscription link below). We will report all passing test scores to ISA and/or SAF. If you are a member of ISA and SAF we will report your passing test scores to both for no additional cost. Please be sure to add both of your certification numbers when you sign in. Tests with passing scores may be submitted only once to each organization.
*Members of ISA may apply the .5 CEUs toward Certified Arborist, Utility Specialist, Municipal Specialist, Tree Worker Specialist, Aerial Lift Specialist, or BCMA science credits.
California UFC members will receive credit for passing the test. Please add your CaUFC number after your ISA and/or SAF certification number.
ASCA members may submit your ISA certification record to the ASCA and receive credits one for one.
To take the test by the pay per test option, click on the 'Pay Now' button below where you can send payment online securely with your credit card or Pay Pal account. After your payment is submitted, click on ‘Return to gibneyCE.com’. That will take you to the test sign in page followed by the test. Members with certifications from both ISA and SAF, please be sure to add both of your certification numbers. These numbers are important for reporting purposes.
To take the test as an annual subscriber with reduced rates, click on Password and enter your test password which will take you to the test sign in page. If you would like to become a subscriber see our Annual Subscription page for details.
When you have finished answering all questions you will be prompted to click ‘next’ to send your answers to gibneyCE.com. You can then click ‘next’ to view your test summary. A test review of your answers is available upon request.
All passing test scores are sent from gibneyCE.com to your organization(s) at the end of every month and they will appear on your certification record 4 to 6 weeks* after that. ISA maintains a record of CEU credits on their website *SAF requires 5 passing test scores before reporting.
Test re-takes are allowed, however you will have to pay for the retake if you are using the pay per test option. You can spend as much time as you would like to take the test but it is important not to leave the test site until you have answered all the questions and see the 'sending your answers' response.