Seminar #62 from Online Seminars for Municipal Arborists – May / June 2015
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Tree Planting Checklist
Edited by Len Phillips
What are the steps required to ensure that the new trees we plant will thrive and grow to maturity? If the list below is followed precisely, every new urban tree should survive and thrive.
1. pre-planning to determine:
a) reason to plant – tree advisory board, political decision, society value, or professional directive
b) diversify tree plantings with no more than 10% of any species, 20% of any genus
c) the amount of growing soil volume available to match tree size at maturity
d) sufficient budget for planting and maintenance
2. examine site
a) study soil – dry bulk density, texture, topography, volume of quality soil, pH
b) utility locations – overhead and underground
c) good drainage, ample soil moisture, test for drainage rate
d) amount of sun & shade
e) space necessary for tree at mature size and canopy coverage
f) USDA Hardiness Zone
3. stock selection
a) species – select the right tree for the right place, its growth habit and ultimate size
b) purchase good quality stock
c) select pest and disease resistant trees
d) select digging method most suitable for the tree – bare root, B&B, container, tree spade
e) must be non-invasive unless it is the only tree suitable for the site
f) size – smaller planting size provides more rapid growth and less transplant shock than larger size trunk
g) select trees with fibrous roots and root flare at the soil surface
h) plant native trees in native soil; plant improved cultivars in our cities
4. shipping
a) properly dug from the nursery and handled according to American Standards for Nursery Stock
b) keep roots moist at all times
c) bare root trees should have roots dipped in hydrogel and placed in a large plastic bag at the nursery
d) branches should be tied up to prevent breakage during shipping
e) trunk should be wrapped on thin-barked trees only – unwrap at planting site to check for injuries
f) upon arrival at the city, the trees should be stored in shade and where the trees can be frequently watered
5. Planting correctly
a) dig a planting pit in saucer shape, 3 times the root ball diameter and only as deep as the root ball
b) loosen and aerate any compacted soil 3 to 5 times the root ball diameter
c) set tree on firm but not compacted soil
d) if the tree has a thin bark, orient the tree same as at nursery, so the largest branches are facing southwest
e) with the tree in the hole, carefully remove all containers, wire, rope, and burlap from root ball
f) inspect roots for deformities and arrange all roots to grow away from the trunk
g) remove broken, dead, damaged, or diseased branches and roots
h) root flare should be at one or two inches above finished grade
i) label tree on plan or map if long-term remembrance is necessary
j) remove all tags, tape, and trunk coverings from the branches and trunk
k) if soil conditions warrant, add amendments such as mycorrhizae, compost, biochar, fertilizer, etc.
l) backfill with soil removed from the hole
m) properly stake and fence only if necessary – remove at the end of the first growing season
6. water
a) add water when tree is half planted and jiggle tree to be sure soil contacts all roots
b) when all remaining soil has been added, build a small berm around the entire planting area to hold water
c) water again when berm is completely finished, then add mulch
d) water 2 more times in first 24 hours
e) water daily for first 2 weeks, depending on rainfall
f) water weekly to the end of first growing season, depending on rainfall
g) large caliper trees may need weekly watering through dry periods in the next several growing seasons
7. maintenance
a) add organic mulch starting 6 inches from trunk and covering the entire excavated area 3 inches deep
b) weed as necessary
c) water as necessary
d) weekly inspections for first year
e) annual inspections as necessary
f) at 5 years remove one end of any co-dominant leaders that appeared after planting
8. establishment defined
a) determine survival rate in 5, 10, or 20 years
b) evaluate species selections
c) measurement of root colonization in surrounding soil
d) measure growth rate of twigs
e) evaluation of planting program
Source
LinkedIn’s Urban Forestry Discussion Group, “Tree planting process”, October to November 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 practice 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 are the steps required to ensure that the new trees we plant will thrive and grow to maturity? If the list below is followed precisely, every new urban tree should survive and thrive.
1. pre-planning to determine:
a) reason to plant – tree advisory board, political decision, society value, or professional directive
b) diversify tree plantings with no more than 10% of any species, 20% of any genus
c) the amount of growing soil volume available to match tree size at maturity
d) sufficient budget for planting and maintenance
2. examine site
a) study soil – dry bulk density, texture, topography, volume of quality soil, pH
b) utility locations – overhead and underground
c) good drainage, ample soil moisture, test for drainage rate
d) amount of sun & shade
e) space necessary for tree at mature size and canopy coverage
f) USDA Hardiness Zone
3. stock selection
a) species – select the right tree for the right place, its growth habit and ultimate size
b) purchase good quality stock
c) select pest and disease resistant trees
d) select digging method most suitable for the tree – bare root, B&B, container, tree spade
e) must be non-invasive unless it is the only tree suitable for the site
f) size – smaller planting size provides more rapid growth and less transplant shock than larger size trunk
g) select trees with fibrous roots and root flare at the soil surface
h) plant native trees in native soil; plant improved cultivars in our cities
4. shipping
a) properly dug from the nursery and handled according to American Standards for Nursery Stock
b) keep roots moist at all times
c) bare root trees should have roots dipped in hydrogel and placed in a large plastic bag at the nursery
d) branches should be tied up to prevent breakage during shipping
e) trunk should be wrapped on thin-barked trees only – unwrap at planting site to check for injuries
f) upon arrival at the city, the trees should be stored in shade and where the trees can be frequently watered
5. Planting correctly
a) dig a planting pit in saucer shape, 3 times the root ball diameter and only as deep as the root ball
b) loosen and aerate any compacted soil 3 to 5 times the root ball diameter
c) set tree on firm but not compacted soil
d) if the tree has a thin bark, orient the tree same as at nursery, so the largest branches are facing southwest
e) with the tree in the hole, carefully remove all containers, wire, rope, and burlap from root ball
f) inspect roots for deformities and arrange all roots to grow away from the trunk
g) remove broken, dead, damaged, or diseased branches and roots
h) root flare should be at one or two inches above finished grade
i) label tree on plan or map if long-term remembrance is necessary
j) remove all tags, tape, and trunk coverings from the branches and trunk
k) if soil conditions warrant, add amendments such as mycorrhizae, compost, biochar, fertilizer, etc.
l) backfill with soil removed from the hole
m) properly stake and fence only if necessary – remove at the end of the first growing season
6. water
a) add water when tree is half planted and jiggle tree to be sure soil contacts all roots
b) when all remaining soil has been added, build a small berm around the entire planting area to hold water
c) water again when berm is completely finished, then add mulch
d) water 2 more times in first 24 hours
e) water daily for first 2 weeks, depending on rainfall
f) water weekly to the end of first growing season, depending on rainfall
g) large caliper trees may need weekly watering through dry periods in the next several growing seasons
7. maintenance
a) add organic mulch starting 6 inches from trunk and covering the entire excavated area 3 inches deep
b) weed as necessary
c) water as necessary
d) weekly inspections for first year
e) annual inspections as necessary
f) at 5 years remove one end of any co-dominant leaders that appeared after planting
8. establishment defined
a) determine survival rate in 5, 10, or 20 years
b) evaluate species selections
c) measurement of root colonization in surrounding soil
d) measure growth rate of twigs
e) evaluation of planting program
Source
LinkedIn’s Urban Forestry Discussion Group, “Tree planting process”, October to November 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 practice 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.
Make Planting Funds go further
By Len Phillips
Arborists have pondered this concern many times in recent years. Listed below are several successful ideas for planting more trees with your limited municipal funds.
Cost Sharing Programs
The first step the municipal arborist must do is talk to the city budget director or treasurer to see if gifts can be accepted for use by the tree department to purchase and plant trees within the city. The gifts should be tax deductible and specifically for planting trees on municipal property. With that set up, you can become very creative in ways to get more tree planting dollars.
Many states and philanthropic organizations have funds available that can be used for planting trees. Sometimes these funds require a match with the funds in your budget or funds already in the gift fund. Local citizens are sometimes willing to make donations for a specific planting project and will match city funds. Also, don’t be afraid to ask local corporate and civic organizations to contribute to your municipal tree planting fund especially if you can tie a tree planting effort into one of the organization’s projects.
Alternative Funding Sources
Sometimes there are other city, state, or federal programs as well as private corporations who have set aside funds that are not directly related to tree planting, but may require landscaping as part of a development project. Be aware of these projects and be prepared to request that funds be available for planting street trees as a requirement for approval of the project.
Local groups such as garden clubs and other civic organizations are often raising funds for local beautification projects. Be involved with these groups to participate in the beautification effort so municipal trees become part of the project. Often simply mentioning the existence of a municipal tree planting fund will encourage private or corporation donations.
When an auto accident or large fire in the city has damaged public shade trees, you should seek insurance claims for reimbursement of the tree’s value. The funds can then be added to the tree planting fund for tree replacements during the next planting season.
By working with the planning board and other municipal departments, you can have a local code approved that will require that every tree removed for a development project be replaced elsewhere in the city. In a similar way, the city should require all local utility companies to replace all trees removed for line maintenance, near where the trees were removed. Alternative to this would be a cash donation from the utility to the municipal tree planting fund.
Many people also like to have a tree planted in memory of a loved one who was involved with the city. Sometimes the donor is willing to have an engraved stone or a bronze plaque placed at the base of the tree. Other times the donation should be noted in a gift acceptance book that is kept on public display. Publicizing this gift or dedicating the tree as part of the annual Arbor Day ceremony is a great way to encourage additional donations.
Once you have completed your tree inventory and prepared a street tree master plan, develop a 10 year environmental improvement plan to plant “x” number of trees. By making this a justifiable capital project in the master plan, you should be able to convince the city leaders to approve and fund this long term project.
Resident Options
By considering any of the following options, not only is there a chance of freeing up funds for additional tree purchases, but you can also build positive public relations with your city’s residents.
By Len Phillips
Arborists have pondered this concern many times in recent years. Listed below are several successful ideas for planting more trees with your limited municipal funds.
Cost Sharing Programs
The first step the municipal arborist must do is talk to the city budget director or treasurer to see if gifts can be accepted for use by the tree department to purchase and plant trees within the city. The gifts should be tax deductible and specifically for planting trees on municipal property. With that set up, you can become very creative in ways to get more tree planting dollars.
Many states and philanthropic organizations have funds available that can be used for planting trees. Sometimes these funds require a match with the funds in your budget or funds already in the gift fund. Local citizens are sometimes willing to make donations for a specific planting project and will match city funds. Also, don’t be afraid to ask local corporate and civic organizations to contribute to your municipal tree planting fund especially if you can tie a tree planting effort into one of the organization’s projects.
Alternative Funding Sources
Sometimes there are other city, state, or federal programs as well as private corporations who have set aside funds that are not directly related to tree planting, but may require landscaping as part of a development project. Be aware of these projects and be prepared to request that funds be available for planting street trees as a requirement for approval of the project.
Local groups such as garden clubs and other civic organizations are often raising funds for local beautification projects. Be involved with these groups to participate in the beautification effort so municipal trees become part of the project. Often simply mentioning the existence of a municipal tree planting fund will encourage private or corporation donations.
When an auto accident or large fire in the city has damaged public shade trees, you should seek insurance claims for reimbursement of the tree’s value. The funds can then be added to the tree planting fund for tree replacements during the next planting season.
By working with the planning board and other municipal departments, you can have a local code approved that will require that every tree removed for a development project be replaced elsewhere in the city. In a similar way, the city should require all local utility companies to replace all trees removed for line maintenance, near where the trees were removed. Alternative to this would be a cash donation from the utility to the municipal tree planting fund.
Many people also like to have a tree planted in memory of a loved one who was involved with the city. Sometimes the donor is willing to have an engraved stone or a bronze plaque placed at the base of the tree. Other times the donation should be noted in a gift acceptance book that is kept on public display. Publicizing this gift or dedicating the tree as part of the annual Arbor Day ceremony is a great way to encourage additional donations.
Once you have completed your tree inventory and prepared a street tree master plan, develop a 10 year environmental improvement plan to plant “x” number of trees. By making this a justifiable capital project in the master plan, you should be able to convince the city leaders to approve and fund this long term project.
Resident Options
By considering any of the following options, not only is there a chance of freeing up funds for additional tree purchases, but you can also build positive public relations with your city’s residents.
- Offer trees to be planted in front of a
resident’s home on a 50/50 cost share with the city. This means that the resident will pay for the
tree and maintain it, while the city will purchase and plant the tree. One option to this concept would be that a
resident can add funds if they want a tree larger than what is being provided
by the city. This option will also work
even if the city is paying the entire cost, but the resident wants a larger
tree.
- Some cities will allow residents to
volunteer to plant trees and perform maintenance duties, so municipal labor
funds can be used to purchase additional trees.
Some of these volunteer programs have become very popular. In every case, the volunteer must attend a
Saturday morning training session, so they know how to properly plant a
tree. This is especially important if
the volunteers are planting “light weight and easy to plant” bare root
trees.
- The cities that offer pruning programs
for volunteers require a whole day training session, including hands on
pruning. These pruning programs do not
allow any tree climbing. The focus is on
trimming trees that were planted within the past 5 years. The intent is to be sure the trees have a
proper structure for a long term vigorous tree that requires very little
maintenance as it matures.
Tips for Getting a Lower Cost
By taking advantage of quantity discounts you may have to reduce the number of varieties you want, but the lower price allows the purchase of more trees. If you are coming up short in the numbers, try to combine your order with other departments and other cities to earn the quantity discounts. If you have a good relationship with the nurseries you often do business with, you might be able to take advantage of nursery overstock and accept trees as gifts or at a very low cost.
Try new varieties to learn about better and sometimes less expensive trees. Every once in a while a tree comes along that does very well in your city and you are able to purchase them at better prices than what you usually spend. Sometimes you find a new tree that turned out to not be popular, but the nursery grew more that it could sell. You may get them at a lower than normal cost.
Nurseries are also willing to offer discounts if they know they can sell a particular tree when it reaches the right size. So, if your city and local laws allow, write a long-term growers contract with a nursery to provide your list of trees in 3 or 4 years. Even if a bid is necessary, have 3 nurseries bid on the contract and select one.
One major cost saving tip is to plant bare root trees, which are half the cost of B&B trees. Bare root trees are easy for the volunteer to plant as well. Contractors will charge half to one-third the cost of planting B&B if they are planting bare root.
Planting smaller trees are less expensive than large trees, not only in the purchase price, but the planting price as well. Plus the smaller trees will recover from the transplant shock much faster than the larger tree. Many times I have seen a 1-1/2 inch diameter tree, out-grow a 4 inch tree in 4 years.
If watering is included in the tree planting cost, use water bags to reduce watering time and the cost after planting. The water bags not only provide water at the desirable slow drip, they fill up in a few minutes. Keep track of how many trees a person can water in a day and then see how much time is saved with the water bags. Plus the water bags can be reused for several years. Depending on your budget system, if the watering is paid out of the tree planting fund, then the money saved is available to plant additional trees.
Most cities require all purchases to be made by bidding. However there is usually a quote system that applies to small purchases. If each tree is considered a separate item, you may be able to obtain quotes for each tree separately and each size of tree quoted by the planting contractor. For more information on this program see “A Tree Planting Program That Works” in Topic #7 of these Seminars.
Long Term Ideas
One long term idea requires the use of a vacant lot to plant a diverse forest of trees using low cost whips from a wholesale nursery. This idea will require a minimal level of municipal staff or volunteers until the trees reach a size that will survive transplanting onto the city streets. When transplanting the trees over a series of years, be sure to leave enough growing on the vacant lot to create a long-term forest filled with a diversity of species.
A couple of ideas will require a new policy. The first idea will require residents wanting a public tree removed to provide funds to replace the tree elsewhere in the city. The second idea is similar but pertains to trees on private property. This would be a law or regulation that requires a permit to remove trees on private property. A fee system for the permit would provide some funds for additional tree planting somewhere else or the law could require tree replacement one for one on another property.
Finally, many cities have chosen to sell their urban wood, wood chips and composted leaves generated by the tree department. The revenue from the sales can be placed in the tree planting fund to be used for purchasing additional trees.
Source
Special thanks to the members of LinkedIn’s Urban Forestry Discussion Group for providing many of these ideas.
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, Municipal 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.
By taking advantage of quantity discounts you may have to reduce the number of varieties you want, but the lower price allows the purchase of more trees. If you are coming up short in the numbers, try to combine your order with other departments and other cities to earn the quantity discounts. If you have a good relationship with the nurseries you often do business with, you might be able to take advantage of nursery overstock and accept trees as gifts or at a very low cost.
Try new varieties to learn about better and sometimes less expensive trees. Every once in a while a tree comes along that does very well in your city and you are able to purchase them at better prices than what you usually spend. Sometimes you find a new tree that turned out to not be popular, but the nursery grew more that it could sell. You may get them at a lower than normal cost.
Nurseries are also willing to offer discounts if they know they can sell a particular tree when it reaches the right size. So, if your city and local laws allow, write a long-term growers contract with a nursery to provide your list of trees in 3 or 4 years. Even if a bid is necessary, have 3 nurseries bid on the contract and select one.
One major cost saving tip is to plant bare root trees, which are half the cost of B&B trees. Bare root trees are easy for the volunteer to plant as well. Contractors will charge half to one-third the cost of planting B&B if they are planting bare root.
Planting smaller trees are less expensive than large trees, not only in the purchase price, but the planting price as well. Plus the smaller trees will recover from the transplant shock much faster than the larger tree. Many times I have seen a 1-1/2 inch diameter tree, out-grow a 4 inch tree in 4 years.
If watering is included in the tree planting cost, use water bags to reduce watering time and the cost after planting. The water bags not only provide water at the desirable slow drip, they fill up in a few minutes. Keep track of how many trees a person can water in a day and then see how much time is saved with the water bags. Plus the water bags can be reused for several years. Depending on your budget system, if the watering is paid out of the tree planting fund, then the money saved is available to plant additional trees.
Most cities require all purchases to be made by bidding. However there is usually a quote system that applies to small purchases. If each tree is considered a separate item, you may be able to obtain quotes for each tree separately and each size of tree quoted by the planting contractor. For more information on this program see “A Tree Planting Program That Works” in Topic #7 of these Seminars.
Long Term Ideas
One long term idea requires the use of a vacant lot to plant a diverse forest of trees using low cost whips from a wholesale nursery. This idea will require a minimal level of municipal staff or volunteers until the trees reach a size that will survive transplanting onto the city streets. When transplanting the trees over a series of years, be sure to leave enough growing on the vacant lot to create a long-term forest filled with a diversity of species.
A couple of ideas will require a new policy. The first idea will require residents wanting a public tree removed to provide funds to replace the tree elsewhere in the city. The second idea is similar but pertains to trees on private property. This would be a law or regulation that requires a permit to remove trees on private property. A fee system for the permit would provide some funds for additional tree planting somewhere else or the law could require tree replacement one for one on another property.
Finally, many cities have chosen to sell their urban wood, wood chips and composted leaves generated by the tree department. The revenue from the sales can be placed in the tree planting fund to be used for purchasing additional trees.
Source
Special thanks to the members of LinkedIn’s Urban Forestry Discussion Group for providing many of these ideas.
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, Municipal 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 62
By Len Phillips
Metasequoia glyptostroboides commonly known as Dawn Redwood was known only from paleo-botanical records or fossils dating back to the Mesozoic times. In 1945, a man known as T. Wang found this tree to exist in the form of single living species in northeastern Szechuan, near the Hupeh border in China. The live Metasequoia trees were found confined to 3 individual trees scattered along small streams. It is also extraordinary that only four years after the Metasequoia was actually described from the fossil records, that living species of the genus should be found in China. Even more extraordinary is that when found, this living species, the sole surviving representative of a former widely distributed genus, was apparently on the verge of extinction as a living entity in its native habitat.
Fortunately this tree has excellent germination and is now established in various parts of the United
States and other locations around the globe.
Botanical Name: Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Common Name: Dawn Redwood
Parentage: Prehistoric tree found in China and introduced in 1948 by Arnold Arboretum
Height: 70’ – 100’
Spread: 25’ – 30’
Form: Narrow pyramidal, flat topped when mature
Bloom Period: Spring
Flower: Male flowers in racemes, female flowers are solitary
Cone: 1” pendulous cones, seed like arborvitae
Summer Foliage: Bright medium green, ½” long needles
Autumn Foliage: Rusty orange brown and tan in autumn
Winter Color: Deciduous, bark provides winter interest
Bark: Reddish brown in youth, fissured and exfoliated long strips with age
Habitat: Without any natural enemies, tree grows pest free throughout the world within the preferred temperature range Culture: Moist, well-drained soil, tolerates urban pollution, prefers slightly acid soil, full sun
Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8
Growth Rate: Vigorous, 60’ in 30 years
Pest Problems: None except Japanese Beetles may feed on the needles
Storm Resistance: Excellent
Salt Resistance: Good
Planting: Transplants easily B&B
Pruning: Prune at planting and 3 years later to mature form, seldom needs pruning after that
Propagating: Seed or softwood cuttings in late summer
Design Uses: Excellent specimen, good landscape tree, excellent as a screen or planting in groves, good street tree if lower branches are pruned
Companions: Use with ground covers such as Vinca and Pachysandra to minimize needle cleanup
Other Comments: Straight tapered trunk with buttressed base, neat habit, intriguing specimen, tolerates air pollution
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.
By Len Phillips
Metasequoia glyptostroboides commonly known as Dawn Redwood was known only from paleo-botanical records or fossils dating back to the Mesozoic times. In 1945, a man known as T. Wang found this tree to exist in the form of single living species in northeastern Szechuan, near the Hupeh border in China. The live Metasequoia trees were found confined to 3 individual trees scattered along small streams. It is also extraordinary that only four years after the Metasequoia was actually described from the fossil records, that living species of the genus should be found in China. Even more extraordinary is that when found, this living species, the sole surviving representative of a former widely distributed genus, was apparently on the verge of extinction as a living entity in its native habitat.
Fortunately this tree has excellent germination and is now established in various parts of the United
States and other locations around the globe.
Botanical Name: Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Common Name: Dawn Redwood
Parentage: Prehistoric tree found in China and introduced in 1948 by Arnold Arboretum
Height: 70’ – 100’
Spread: 25’ – 30’
Form: Narrow pyramidal, flat topped when mature
Bloom Period: Spring
Flower: Male flowers in racemes, female flowers are solitary
Cone: 1” pendulous cones, seed like arborvitae
Summer Foliage: Bright medium green, ½” long needles
Autumn Foliage: Rusty orange brown and tan in autumn
Winter Color: Deciduous, bark provides winter interest
Bark: Reddish brown in youth, fissured and exfoliated long strips with age
Habitat: Without any natural enemies, tree grows pest free throughout the world within the preferred temperature range Culture: Moist, well-drained soil, tolerates urban pollution, prefers slightly acid soil, full sun
Hardiness Zone: 4 – 8
Growth Rate: Vigorous, 60’ in 30 years
Pest Problems: None except Japanese Beetles may feed on the needles
Storm Resistance: Excellent
Salt Resistance: Good
Planting: Transplants easily B&B
Pruning: Prune at planting and 3 years later to mature form, seldom needs pruning after that
Propagating: Seed or softwood cuttings in late summer
Design Uses: Excellent specimen, good landscape tree, excellent as a screen or planting in groves, good street tree if lower branches are pruned
Companions: Use with ground covers such as Vinca and Pachysandra to minimize needle cleanup
Other Comments: Straight tapered trunk with buttressed base, neat habit, intriguing specimen, tolerates air pollution
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.
Stats for a Tree
By Len Phillips
With the American baseball season beginning, it is time for all the arborists who are baseball fans to look at a tree’s statistics when they have finished looking at their team and player stats. The following is a compilation of many items that illustrate the stats of a tree. If you have others, please send them to me.
Tree leaves provide the following benefits and products:
By Len Phillips
With the American baseball season beginning, it is time for all the arborists who are baseball fans to look at a tree’s statistics when they have finished looking at their team and player stats. The following is a compilation of many items that illustrate the stats of a tree. If you have others, please send them to me.
Tree leaves provide the following benefits and products:
- tea,
- juice,
- medicines such as aspirin,
- shampoo,
- cellulose fiber,
- food for cattle,
- seasonal color,
- fragrance,
- mulberry leaves and silk worms produce
silk thread,
- various shapes identify species,
- dust and pollutant filtration,
- cool air currents in hot weather,
- reduction to the formation of ozone,
- photosynthesis produces energy that is used by the tree and all other forms of life,
- a large elm tree will make about 6 million leaves a year,
- 1000 cubic yards of leaves will
eventually become about 200 yards of composted leaf mold.
Tree flowers provide the following:
- beauty,
- fragrance,
- herbal tinctures,
- pollen for butterflies and bees.
Tree fruits can produce:
- fruits and juices such as apples,
pears, apricots, oranges, grapefruits, peaches, bananas, persimmons, plums, and
apricots,
- edible nuts such as walnuts, pecans, hickories, almonds, pistachios, etc.
- seeds that can be used for coffee and other drinks,
- products from nuts such as cocoa and olive oil,
- fruits provide food for wildlife,
- berries such as quinine from the
cinchona tree, wine from the serviceberry (Amelanchier) and gin from the
juniper.
Tree bark offers many and products and aesthetic
values:
- spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg,
- rubber,
- taxol and other medicines,
- maple syrup,
- turpentine,
- thorns, furrows, exfoliation, textures,
and colors,
- branches that are fun to climb.
Tree roots are useful for the obvious benefit to
the tree and they also:
- enrich the soil,
- reduce erosion,
- fix nitrogen in the soil,
- store carbon taken from the air,
- grow up to 15 feet (4.5 m.) a year,
- grow an average of 38" (100 cm) of root growth per 1" (2.5 cm) of trunk diameter,
- hold the soil to prevent landslides,
- intercept rainwater runoff by an average size tree of up to 12%
of all the rainwater during a storm,
- total 15 to 20 cubic feet (4.2 – 5.5
cubic meters) of roots per square foot of root growth surface area,
- will
absorb about 50 gallons (190 liters) of dissolved nutrients and convert it with
sunlight to about 100 pounds (45 kg) of food and about 60 cubic feet (1.7 cubic meters) of
oxygen on an average 40 feet (12 m) tall tree.
Tree wood will provide:
- fire wood,
- paper,
- food,
- wildlife food, shelter, and habitat,
- lumber products,
- a sturdy material, that pound for pound
is stronger than steel.
Trees exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide at the
following approximate rates:
- one average tree takes in 13 to 26 pounds (6 – 12kg) of carbon dioxide in a year and gives off enough oxygen to keep 4 people breathing in a year,
- one acre of forest absorbs about six tons of CO2 and puts out about four tons of oxygen a year. This is enough to support the annual needs of about 18 people.
- there are 422 trees for every one person in the world.
- a mature urban tree is 10 to 20 times more beneficial to the environment than a mature forest tree.
- a single mature tree absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) at a rate of up to 47.5 lbs (21.6 kg) per year and sequesters up to 1 ton of carbon by age 40.
- 2 average trees transpire about 3,000
gallons (12,000 liters) of water a day,
- one average tree can lift and transpire
about one ton of water every summer day,
- this same average tree can lift water
up its trunk at a rate of about 150 feet (46m) per hour,
- a 1,000 square feet (94 square meters)
plot of trees absorbs about 1.2 million calories of heat energy that equates to air
conditioning for 2 average houses,
- about 20 trees offset the pollution of
driving a car for 60 miles (100K),
- a 30-inch (0.75 m) dbh tree provides about 70 times the ecological benefits of a 3-inch (7.5 cm) dbh tree,
- trees improve air quality and provide a fresh smell,
- particulate levels on tree lined streets can be up to 60% lower than those streets without trees. The lower particulate level saves lives every year.
Trees can live for an average of:
- 100 – 200 years in a forest,
- 25 – 50 years in the suburbs,
- 7 – 10 years in an urban planting site,
- the oldest living tree in England is the Forthingall yew (Taxus baccata) in Scotland, aged about 3,000 years old,
- the root system of a Norway Spruce (Picea abies) in Sweden has been sending up new shoots for 9,550 years,
- the oldest individual tree in the world
is a bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) aged 5,062 years old. It is located in California's White
Mountains.
A tree’s location beside a house will provide the
following benefits:
- reduce air conditioning needs by 15% to
50%,
- reduce winter heating needs by 4% –
22%,
- lower the urban heat island by 3° – 5°F
(1° – 2.6°C),
- cool the rooms of a house by 15 - 20°F
(8 - 11°C),
- cool bare ground beneath a tree by 25 - 35°F
(14 - 20°C),
- increase the value of living space by
about US$4 per square foot,
- increase a home’s value by 6% – 10% and
land value by about 7%,
- reduce the light intensity in winter by
20% – 75%, depending on the species,
- reduce fog 6 – 10 times more
effectively than grass,
- absorb 30 - 50 pounds (14 - 22 kg) of airborne
particulates per year,
- street trees absorb about 4 times more
airborne particulates than on streets without trees,
City trees grow best with:
- no mulch, string trimmers, mowers, or
plants within 6 – 8 inches (20 cm.) of the trunk,
- mulch applied 2 – 3 inches (5-7 cm)
thick and 1 – 2 inches (2.5–5 cm.) of new mulch each year,
- understory companion plants and other
trees,
- The tallest tree in the world is a
coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), named Hyperion. It was last measured at 379.3 ft (115.61 m) and is
growing among many other coast redwoods in northern California.
Trees in groups affect wind because:
- trees in a row forming a windbreak or
shelter break will slow wind speed by as much as 50%,
- windbreaks will increase snow
accumulation just beyond the windbreak,
- windbreaks will cause heavy air
particles to drop out of the air flow,
- trees in groups will hide and diffuse
noise by 6 – 8 decibels for every 100 feet (30 m) of buffer,
Trees provide the following aesthetic values:
- color, form, texture, and pattern,
- softer architecture and road
appearance,
- vistas and focal points,
- define spaces,
- screen views,
- direct pedestrians and traffic,
- reduce glare and lights,
- provide shade, fragrance, and a quiet
setting,
- provide psithurism, the sound of wind
blowing through a forest,
- emphasize the seasons.
Trees provide the following psychological values:
- cleaner air,
- faster healing,
- improved morale,
- sentimental trees,
- living memorials,
- human well-being,
- increased productivity,
- a sense of community, pride, and
responsibility.
Negative affects of trees:
- susceptible to storm damage,
- potential source for grounding
lightning strikes,
- potential obstacle for vehicle damage,
- roots clog broken pipes carrying a water product, lift cracked
sidewalks, and damage wet foundations,
- require pruning for utility service,
viewing signage, and safety clearance,
- pollen from wind pollinated male
flowers may cause an allergic reaction in people,
- leaves, fruit, and flowers may require
clean up,
- suckers and dead branches may require
constant removal,
- maintenance costs for pruning, watering,
pest control, etc.
- for every 4 trees that are cut down in
the United States, one tree is planted.
Trees need:
- about 5 square feet (0.45 s. meters) of soil
area for each square inch (6.5 s.cm.) of trunk at breast height,
- suitable soil at least 30 inches (0.75
m.) deep,
- about 1,000 cubic feet (30 c. meters) of soil
to thrive in a parking lot,
- a minimum of 2 cubic feet (0.06 cm) of soil for every
square foot (0.1 sm) of the future crown projection or 4 square feet (0.38 sm)
of surface area for every inch (2.5 cm) of trunk diameter the tree is expected to
attain,
- fungi in the soil to promote tree root
growth,
- the guy wires or stakes usually removed after one
season,
- the wire basket usually removed at planting time,
- an ideal soil has 50% pore space,
divided between air-filled and water-filled pores, 45% is composed of mineral
materials, and 5% organic material
Sources
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.
- Daley, Richard, ‘Tree-mendous Facts”, Greenstreets, City of Chicago, 1998.
- Harris, Richard W., “Arboriculture –
Care of Trees, Shrubs, and Vines in the Landscape”, Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Englewood Cliffs, NJ.
- Perry, Thomas, “Typical Tree Roots and
How to Examine Them”, City Trees,
January, February, 1994.
- Phillips, Leonard, “The Value of a
Tree”, City Trees, July/August 1992.
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.
Poison Ivy – Myth and Fact
Edited by Len Phillips
Arborists are in constant threat of exposure to poison ivy. It comes with the job regardless of being a climber or ground operator feeding branches into the chipper. There are a number of myths about climbing poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii), Eastern poison oak (Toxicodendron toxicarium), and poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix). Here are the some common myths that are followed by the facts.
Myth: Everyone knows what poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac look like.
Fact: One third of a million people in the US lose work days every year so they could undergo treatment for a rash from a plant they never noticed. It is important that arborists have photos of these plants, or samples of the plants under glass for all the employees to see. Beside the leaves it is also important to show winter twigs, the stems on tree trunks, and the fruit because they can all cause an allergic reaction.
Myth: You need to touch poison ivy leaves to get a rash.
Fact: This myth is true but you can also get a rash from all parts of the plant from the roots to the seeds. The oil, called urushiol (pronounced oo-ROO-she-ol), can also be passed on to people from tools and clothes which came in contact with the plants as well as from petting the family dog that ran through the woods.
Myth: You can catch poison ivy by just looking at it or being near the plants.
Fact: This a myth perpetrated by people who are very susceptible to the rash. Others assume it is from looking at the plant because they do not know what it looks like or they are careless when working a around the plants and trees and they never noticed it. Direct contact of the urushiol or smoke from burning plants is needed to come in contact with a person.
Myth: Poison ivy has red or black fruits and 5 leaflets.
Fact: All four of the Toxicodendron plants have white fruits and bright green, glossy leaves, usually having three leaflets.
Myth: If the oil is washed off, it is no longer a problem.
Fact: The urushiol is so potent, a single ounce can cause a rash on 28 million people. The oil can be blotted hundreds of times and still be potent enough to cause a rash.
Myth: You need to wash the oil off your skin with lots of soap and hot water when you come in from being outside.
Fact: The urushiol can slip through the epidermal layer of human skin in about 5 minutes. After that no amount of scrubbing or treatment will remove it, but removal may prevent the oil from spreading. Within that first 5 minutes, the urushiol can be removed with soap and cold water (which closes the skin pores). Denatured alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and laundry bleach give temporary relief to the itch, but they dry the skin and this can result in an infection.
Myth: One way to protect yourself is to keep your skin covered when outdoors.
Fact: Partly true, but urushiol can stick to your clothes, which you can touch and spread to your skin later.
Myth: The oil causes redness, itching, and blisters.
Fact: As the body attempts to remove this oil, your white blood cells attack, causing the redness, swelling blisters, and itching 2 days after infection.
Myth: Scratching the blisters will spread the rash.
Fact: Scratching the blisters will not spread the rash, but it can cause infection.
Myth: Bad cases of rash can be treated at home if you “tough it out”.
Fact: If the rash is on the face, genitals, or covers more than 20% of the body, contact a physician who will probably prescribe steroids. Do not self-diagnose because some steroids can cause a worse reaction. In some severe cases, the person has become so ill that kidney failure is a result.
Myth: There is nothing you can do if you are exposed to it.
Fact: There are several plants that grow in conjunction with poison ivy that will actually contain solvents to urushiol. These plants include jewel weed, ragweed, garlic, skunk cabbage, and aloe. If you realize you have come in contact with poison ivy, rubbing any of these plants over the infected skin within 5 minutes will eliminate any skin reaction.
Myth: Once you have killed the plant, it can no longer cause a rash.
Fact: Urushiol can remain active in decomposing leaf litter and mulch for up to five years after the plant was cut down.
Myth: Burning the vines gets rid of the plant and oil once and for all.
Fact: The worst cases of rash have resulted from burning the vine and people inhaling the smoke, which causes a massive reaction on the exposed skin and in the lungs. These cases require hospitalization and a physician’s care.
Myth: Poison Ivy should be killed with herbicide
Fact: It could be a hazard for workers to spray the plants and then to remove the dead vines from the tree. There is also the potential for harm to the trees and the environment if the ivy was treated with a general broadleaf weed killer.
Myth: All animals and humans are susceptible to urushiol reaction.
Fact: Actually, everyone is immune to poison ivy at birth but they develop the allergy after one or two exposures as children. Three percent of the general population has retained their immunity despite repeated exposures. Animals and pets are immune but they will carry the oil on their fur which is then transferred to humans if they touch their fur. Browsing animals can chew the leaves without effect. In fact some municipalities have hired goats to clean out the poison ivy from parks and woodlots that have become overgrown with ivy. Goats actually find the ivy to be a treat and will eat the poison ivy first, before anything else in the woods. Just don’t pet the goat’s fur when they are done for the day.
Myth: There is no place to go in the U.S. where you can avoid poison ivy.
Fact: You can move to Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii, deserts, and elevations above 4000 feet. You can also learn to identify the plant and leave it alone.
The two most important Facts: “Leaves of three, let it be!” or “Leaflets of three … beware of me!”
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.
Edited by Len Phillips
Arborists are in constant threat of exposure to poison ivy. It comes with the job regardless of being a climber or ground operator feeding branches into the chipper. There are a number of myths about climbing poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), Western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii), Eastern poison oak (Toxicodendron toxicarium), and poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix). Here are the some common myths that are followed by the facts.
Myth: Everyone knows what poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac look like.
Fact: One third of a million people in the US lose work days every year so they could undergo treatment for a rash from a plant they never noticed. It is important that arborists have photos of these plants, or samples of the plants under glass for all the employees to see. Beside the leaves it is also important to show winter twigs, the stems on tree trunks, and the fruit because they can all cause an allergic reaction.
Myth: You need to touch poison ivy leaves to get a rash.
Fact: This myth is true but you can also get a rash from all parts of the plant from the roots to the seeds. The oil, called urushiol (pronounced oo-ROO-she-ol), can also be passed on to people from tools and clothes which came in contact with the plants as well as from petting the family dog that ran through the woods.
Myth: You can catch poison ivy by just looking at it or being near the plants.
Fact: This a myth perpetrated by people who are very susceptible to the rash. Others assume it is from looking at the plant because they do not know what it looks like or they are careless when working a around the plants and trees and they never noticed it. Direct contact of the urushiol or smoke from burning plants is needed to come in contact with a person.
Myth: Poison ivy has red or black fruits and 5 leaflets.
Fact: All four of the Toxicodendron plants have white fruits and bright green, glossy leaves, usually having three leaflets.
Myth: If the oil is washed off, it is no longer a problem.
Fact: The urushiol is so potent, a single ounce can cause a rash on 28 million people. The oil can be blotted hundreds of times and still be potent enough to cause a rash.
Myth: You need to wash the oil off your skin with lots of soap and hot water when you come in from being outside.
Fact: The urushiol can slip through the epidermal layer of human skin in about 5 minutes. After that no amount of scrubbing or treatment will remove it, but removal may prevent the oil from spreading. Within that first 5 minutes, the urushiol can be removed with soap and cold water (which closes the skin pores). Denatured alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, and laundry bleach give temporary relief to the itch, but they dry the skin and this can result in an infection.
Myth: One way to protect yourself is to keep your skin covered when outdoors.
Fact: Partly true, but urushiol can stick to your clothes, which you can touch and spread to your skin later.
Myth: The oil causes redness, itching, and blisters.
Fact: As the body attempts to remove this oil, your white blood cells attack, causing the redness, swelling blisters, and itching 2 days after infection.
Myth: Scratching the blisters will spread the rash.
Fact: Scratching the blisters will not spread the rash, but it can cause infection.
Myth: Bad cases of rash can be treated at home if you “tough it out”.
Fact: If the rash is on the face, genitals, or covers more than 20% of the body, contact a physician who will probably prescribe steroids. Do not self-diagnose because some steroids can cause a worse reaction. In some severe cases, the person has become so ill that kidney failure is a result.
Myth: There is nothing you can do if you are exposed to it.
Fact: There are several plants that grow in conjunction with poison ivy that will actually contain solvents to urushiol. These plants include jewel weed, ragweed, garlic, skunk cabbage, and aloe. If you realize you have come in contact with poison ivy, rubbing any of these plants over the infected skin within 5 minutes will eliminate any skin reaction.
Myth: Once you have killed the plant, it can no longer cause a rash.
Fact: Urushiol can remain active in decomposing leaf litter and mulch for up to five years after the plant was cut down.
Myth: Burning the vines gets rid of the plant and oil once and for all.
Fact: The worst cases of rash have resulted from burning the vine and people inhaling the smoke, which causes a massive reaction on the exposed skin and in the lungs. These cases require hospitalization and a physician’s care.
Myth: Poison Ivy should be killed with herbicide
Fact: It could be a hazard for workers to spray the plants and then to remove the dead vines from the tree. There is also the potential for harm to the trees and the environment if the ivy was treated with a general broadleaf weed killer.
Myth: All animals and humans are susceptible to urushiol reaction.
Fact: Actually, everyone is immune to poison ivy at birth but they develop the allergy after one or two exposures as children. Three percent of the general population has retained their immunity despite repeated exposures. Animals and pets are immune but they will carry the oil on their fur which is then transferred to humans if they touch their fur. Browsing animals can chew the leaves without effect. In fact some municipalities have hired goats to clean out the poison ivy from parks and woodlots that have become overgrown with ivy. Goats actually find the ivy to be a treat and will eat the poison ivy first, before anything else in the woods. Just don’t pet the goat’s fur when they are done for the day.
Myth: There is no place to go in the U.S. where you can avoid poison ivy.
Fact: You can move to Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii, deserts, and elevations above 4000 feet. You can also learn to identify the plant and leave it alone.
The two most important Facts: “Leaves of three, let it be!” or “Leaflets of three … beware of me!”
Source
- Carlson, Chris, “Poison Ivy”, City Trees, January 1993
- Iles, Jeff, “Leaflets of Three”, City Trees, July/August 2000.
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.
Utility Lines versus Shade Trees
Edited by Len Phillips
Municipal arborists have a major disdain for overhead utility lines that are interfering with large tree branches. After all, the trees were there before the utility lines. However, arborists do realize that the utilities provide a useful service and they are almost as important as the trees for the survival of our modern society. There just has to be a better way for the delivery of the utility service without the major cutting of tree branches.
Some communities are aware enough to require the utility company’s tree trimming crews to be ISA certified, and are careful to meet the utility clearances with proper tree trimming. Other cities require that the municipal tree department have their own tree trimming crew properly equipped and certified to meet the utility’s requirements. Still other cities require all new and replacement utility lines be installed underground and overhead trimming reserved for existing lines only.
Trenchless Technology
Putting the utility lines underground has long been considered a very expensive cost that the utility companies have tried to avoid. Underground installation of utility lines no longer requires open trenches, concrete encased conduit, and a large capital budget to cover the cost. A fairly new low cost way of relocating utility lines under the tree roots is to use trenchless technology. Today, trenchless technology is affordable and many city and utility officials feel it is a good way to go to reduce public stress and inconvenience. Trenchless technology is becoming more common because the utilities have discovered the value and cost saving benefits of using this technology. In fact most utility companies have purchased and use trenchless machines on a regular basis. There are at least ten manufacturers of this trenchless equipment.
Trenchless technology is a type of subsurface construction work that only requires pits at the beginning and end of the line. It is capable of being used for the installation of new or replacement lines with minimal disruption to surface traffic, businesses, trees, and other activities. The equipment operators are required to aim the drill head and keeping it going in the preferred direction.
Underground Rehab and Replacement
The differences between the subsurface construction techniques depends upon the size of the passage and the type of utility service being installed. Trenchless technology for water, sewer, gas, and oil lines, as well as product pipelines and environmental remediation casings includes construction methods such as slip-lining, using thermoformed pipe, pipe bursting, shotcrete, gunite, and several other similar methods for the repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of existing buried pipes and structures without excavation, or at least with a minimal excavation. The rehabilitation options most often include using concrete grout to fill holes in existing underground pipes. This results in a slightly smaller pipe size. Fiberglass liners use heat to expand the line to the old pipe size. Video cameras and robots are required to open any plugged service lines after the rehabbing process.
The replacement technique uses machines that pierce and ram through an existing pipe. The ram machine drills or pushes with pneumatic pressure and cleans the pipe after. Pipe bursting fractures a pipe from the inside and forces the fragments outwards while a new pipe is pulled in to replace the old pipe, at the same or larger size than the original pipe.
The construction pit for non-flexible pipe made of ductile iron or steel needs to be a little larger than the pipe length being installed. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) and other flexible pipe can be installed in a pit the size of a manhole. Generally, pipes are pushed from manhole to manhole 300-400 feet apart. Tunnels up to 5,000 feet in length can be done using this trenchless technology.
Overhead Line Replacements
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is used for installing infrastructure such as telecommunications and power cable conduits. HDD is used primarily because of its lower cost and occurs along a prescribed bore path by using a surface-launched drilling rig, with minimal impact on the surrounding area. It is suitable for a variety of soil conditions and jobs including road, landscape, and water crossings. Pipes are slightly flexible and can be made of materials such as PVC, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The pipes can be pushed or pulled through the drilled hole. The pipe can move at speeds up to 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 m) per minute. Directional drilling is best if the material is solid rock, consistent soil, or sedimentary material.
Generally, pipes are pushed or pulled from pit to pit or manhole to manhole regardless of the distance apart. A variation of HDD is the pilot-hole process. It uses different types of drill heads that vary according to the geological material. It basically drills the hole and carries a cable. When it reaches the exit pit, the pipe is connected to the cable at the drill head and it is pulled back to the entrance pit. It is used for less surface disruption, deeper, and/or longer installations. There is no large access pit and the completion time is shorter than most other methods. The equipment operator must place an emphasis on aiming the drill head and keeping it going in the right direction to the exit pit.
Advantage
The biggest advantage of trenchless technology is the directional capabilities of this equipment even though the drilling head is under the ground and is not visible from the ground surface. The operator can change directions and elevations, and basically steer the pipe direction to its exit pit. The technique has extensive use in urban areas for installing new subsurface utilities as it helps in avoiding extensive open cut trenches and other underground utilities, while protecting tree roots. The use of HDD requires that the operator have complete information about everything underground so that the operator can plan the alignment to avoid damaging property on the ground surface.
Locating and guidance
Three types of sensor equipment are available for locating the bore head and allowing the boring operator to avoid underground problems.
Edited by Len Phillips
Municipal arborists have a major disdain for overhead utility lines that are interfering with large tree branches. After all, the trees were there before the utility lines. However, arborists do realize that the utilities provide a useful service and they are almost as important as the trees for the survival of our modern society. There just has to be a better way for the delivery of the utility service without the major cutting of tree branches.
Some communities are aware enough to require the utility company’s tree trimming crews to be ISA certified, and are careful to meet the utility clearances with proper tree trimming. Other cities require that the municipal tree department have their own tree trimming crew properly equipped and certified to meet the utility’s requirements. Still other cities require all new and replacement utility lines be installed underground and overhead trimming reserved for existing lines only.
Trenchless Technology
Putting the utility lines underground has long been considered a very expensive cost that the utility companies have tried to avoid. Underground installation of utility lines no longer requires open trenches, concrete encased conduit, and a large capital budget to cover the cost. A fairly new low cost way of relocating utility lines under the tree roots is to use trenchless technology. Today, trenchless technology is affordable and many city and utility officials feel it is a good way to go to reduce public stress and inconvenience. Trenchless technology is becoming more common because the utilities have discovered the value and cost saving benefits of using this technology. In fact most utility companies have purchased and use trenchless machines on a regular basis. There are at least ten manufacturers of this trenchless equipment.
Trenchless technology is a type of subsurface construction work that only requires pits at the beginning and end of the line. It is capable of being used for the installation of new or replacement lines with minimal disruption to surface traffic, businesses, trees, and other activities. The equipment operators are required to aim the drill head and keeping it going in the preferred direction.
Underground Rehab and Replacement
The differences between the subsurface construction techniques depends upon the size of the passage and the type of utility service being installed. Trenchless technology for water, sewer, gas, and oil lines, as well as product pipelines and environmental remediation casings includes construction methods such as slip-lining, using thermoformed pipe, pipe bursting, shotcrete, gunite, and several other similar methods for the repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of existing buried pipes and structures without excavation, or at least with a minimal excavation. The rehabilitation options most often include using concrete grout to fill holes in existing underground pipes. This results in a slightly smaller pipe size. Fiberglass liners use heat to expand the line to the old pipe size. Video cameras and robots are required to open any plugged service lines after the rehabbing process.
The replacement technique uses machines that pierce and ram through an existing pipe. The ram machine drills or pushes with pneumatic pressure and cleans the pipe after. Pipe bursting fractures a pipe from the inside and forces the fragments outwards while a new pipe is pulled in to replace the old pipe, at the same or larger size than the original pipe.
The construction pit for non-flexible pipe made of ductile iron or steel needs to be a little larger than the pipe length being installed. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) and other flexible pipe can be installed in a pit the size of a manhole. Generally, pipes are pushed from manhole to manhole 300-400 feet apart. Tunnels up to 5,000 feet in length can be done using this trenchless technology.
Overhead Line Replacements
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is used for installing infrastructure such as telecommunications and power cable conduits. HDD is used primarily because of its lower cost and occurs along a prescribed bore path by using a surface-launched drilling rig, with minimal impact on the surrounding area. It is suitable for a variety of soil conditions and jobs including road, landscape, and water crossings. Pipes are slightly flexible and can be made of materials such as PVC, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The pipes can be pushed or pulled through the drilled hole. The pipe can move at speeds up to 15 to 20 feet (4.5 to 6 m) per minute. Directional drilling is best if the material is solid rock, consistent soil, or sedimentary material.
Generally, pipes are pushed or pulled from pit to pit or manhole to manhole regardless of the distance apart. A variation of HDD is the pilot-hole process. It uses different types of drill heads that vary according to the geological material. It basically drills the hole and carries a cable. When it reaches the exit pit, the pipe is connected to the cable at the drill head and it is pulled back to the entrance pit. It is used for less surface disruption, deeper, and/or longer installations. There is no large access pit and the completion time is shorter than most other methods. The equipment operator must place an emphasis on aiming the drill head and keeping it going in the right direction to the exit pit.
Advantage
The biggest advantage of trenchless technology is the directional capabilities of this equipment even though the drilling head is under the ground and is not visible from the ground surface. The operator can change directions and elevations, and basically steer the pipe direction to its exit pit. The technique has extensive use in urban areas for installing new subsurface utilities as it helps in avoiding extensive open cut trenches and other underground utilities, while protecting tree roots. The use of HDD requires that the operator have complete information about everything underground so that the operator can plan the alignment to avoid damaging property on the ground surface.
Locating and guidance
Three types of sensor equipment are available for locating the bore head and allowing the boring operator to avoid underground problems.
- Walk-over locating system — a sonde, or
transmitter, behind the bore head registers the angle, rotation, direction, and
temperature data. This information is
encoded into an electro-magnetic signal and transmitted through the ground to
the surface where a receiver (usually a hand-held locator) is manually
positioned over the sonde. The signal is
decoded and steering directions are relayed to the bore machine operator.
- Wire-line locating system — is a Magnetic Guidance
System (MGS), which is a tool that reads the inclination and azimuth.
- Gyro-based locating system — is the most accurate
system where sufficient diameter is available and where boring over long
distances have to be performed with small deviation.
All three systems have their own
merits, and each particular system is chosen depending upon the site and
utility requirements.
Undergrounding Process
The HDD process starts at the entrance pit at the beginning of the bore and stops at a receiving hole at the end of the underground pipe. The first stage drills a pilot hole on the designed path from the entrance pit and it emerges in the receiving pit. Then a second stage (reaming) device enlarges the hole by pulling a larger cutting tool known as the back reamer from the receiving hole back to the entrance pit. Attached to the back reamer is the final sized pipe, containing a cable to pull the utility line inside the pipe when it is ready. The reamer's diameter depends on the size of the pipe to be pulled back through the bore hole.
The drilling is done with the help of a viscous fluid known as drilling fluid. It is a mixture of water and a lubricating polymer that is continuously pumped to the cutting head or drill bit to lubricate the cutting process and facilitate the removal of cuttings. It also stabilizes the bore hole, cools the cutting head, and lubricates the passage of the pipe. The drilling fluid is sent into a machine at the pits called a reclaimer which removes the drill cuttings and restores the proper viscosity of the fluid. Drilling fluids hold the cuttings in suspension to prevent them from clogging the bore. The two pits at each end of the pipe function as the place where the drilling fluid can be collected and reclaimed.
Equipment
The equipment to be selected in an HDD project depends on the outer diameter of the pipe, the length of the run, the underground conditions, and the surroundings above ground. Drilling heads come in multiple designs and are selected based on the rock or soil being penetrated. Some drill heads such as a splitting head can cut through clay, reinforced concrete, rock, and steel. The drilling head has multiple drilling fluid ports to provide lubrication and allow removal of soil material.
Trenchless rehabilitation methods are generally more cost-effective than the traditional digging of a trench and replacing the pipe. In addition, there is no damage to the surface features such as pavements and tree roots.
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, 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.
Undergrounding Process
The HDD process starts at the entrance pit at the beginning of the bore and stops at a receiving hole at the end of the underground pipe. The first stage drills a pilot hole on the designed path from the entrance pit and it emerges in the receiving pit. Then a second stage (reaming) device enlarges the hole by pulling a larger cutting tool known as the back reamer from the receiving hole back to the entrance pit. Attached to the back reamer is the final sized pipe, containing a cable to pull the utility line inside the pipe when it is ready. The reamer's diameter depends on the size of the pipe to be pulled back through the bore hole.
The drilling is done with the help of a viscous fluid known as drilling fluid. It is a mixture of water and a lubricating polymer that is continuously pumped to the cutting head or drill bit to lubricate the cutting process and facilitate the removal of cuttings. It also stabilizes the bore hole, cools the cutting head, and lubricates the passage of the pipe. The drilling fluid is sent into a machine at the pits called a reclaimer which removes the drill cuttings and restores the proper viscosity of the fluid. Drilling fluids hold the cuttings in suspension to prevent them from clogging the bore. The two pits at each end of the pipe function as the place where the drilling fluid can be collected and reclaimed.
Equipment
The equipment to be selected in an HDD project depends on the outer diameter of the pipe, the length of the run, the underground conditions, and the surroundings above ground. Drilling heads come in multiple designs and are selected based on the rock or soil being penetrated. Some drill heads such as a splitting head can cut through clay, reinforced concrete, rock, and steel. The drilling head has multiple drilling fluid ports to provide lubrication and allow removal of soil material.
Trenchless rehabilitation methods are generally more cost-effective than the traditional digging of a trench and replacing the pipe. In addition, there is no damage to the surface features such as pavements and tree roots.
Sources
- Special thanks to various drilling
machine manufacturers’ videos and websites.
- Bates, Tom, “Tunneling & Drilling
Under Trees”, Trenchless Technology
Newsletter, Summer 1996.
- Short,
Jim, “Introduction to Directional and Horizontal Drilling”, PennWell Books,
Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1993.v. Hinueber, Edgar, “Most accurate drilling guidance by
dead-reckoning using high precision optical gyroscopes”, Proceedings No Dig Conference of Horizontal Directional
Drilling, Brisbane 2006.
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, 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.
Cultivars of European Beech
Edited by Len Phillips
Beech is an old-time favorite that does well in residential areas of a city. 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 100+ beech cultivars that have been developed in the past 200 years. 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: Fagus sylvatica
Common Name: European Beech
Family: Fagaceae
Bloom Period: Spring
Bark: Silvery gray
Hardiness Zone: 4 or 5 to 7 depending on species, it does not tolerate summer heat in the South
Growth Rate: Slow to medium, 10 feet in ten years on average
Pest Resistance: Excellent, except for beech bark canker disease
Salt Resistance: Average tolerance
Planting: Transplant B&B in the spring
Pruning: Prune in summer or early fall only
Design Uses: A large and stately tree with beautiful silvery-gray bark that contrasts well with its dark summer foliage.
The following cultivars or species are considered by this author to be the best for planting in an urban environment today.
Fastigiate Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Fastigiata’ (‘Dawyck’) – Zone: 5 – 7; Height: 45’; Spread: 15’; Shape: columnar, fastigiate; Foliage: dark green. The foliage and the tightness of its fastigiate form make this one of the most striking of columnar trees. It was discovered in 1864. Photo
Fernleaf Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’ – Zone: 5 – 7; Height: 50'; Spread: 40'; Shape: broadly oval;
Foliage: cutleaf, green; Fall Color: golden brown. A large growing cultivar with crisp foliage. The branching gives the tree the appearance of closely layered, fan like sprays. Photo
Purple Fountain Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Purple Fountain’ – Zone: 5 – 7; Height: 12’ – 25’; Spread: 3’ – 12’; Shape: weeping from ascending trunk; Foliage: purple to purple-red. Pendulous branches drape from an upright leader as this unusual beech matures into a unique living sculpture. This 1975 introduction is much faster growing than the cultivar Purpurea Pendula, and its foliage is a slightly lighter shade of purple. Photo
Rivers Purple Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’ – Zone: 5 – 7; 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. Photo
Tricolor Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Roseo-marginata’ – Zone: 5 – 7; Height: 30'; Spread: 20'; Shape: oval; Foliage: variegated, purple with a rose pink and cream margin. Beautiful foliage has been this tree’s star attraction since 1883. Margins of its purple-bronze leaves are irregularly colored with splashes of rose to pink and cream. Photo
Weeping Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’ – Zone: 5 – 7; Height: 40’; Spread: 30’; Shape: gracefully weeping from an irregularly ascending central trunk; Foliage: green, glossy. Each tree is different and is a natural work of art, a living, growing sculpture. This tree is fast growing and it tends to maintain an upright central stem. Green, pendulous branches hang to the ground from great heights. When the tree ages, the hanging branches take root, and a series of new trees form around the parent tree. Photo
Several other cultivars are worth mentioning that may not be as easy to find in local nurseries. They include:
Cockleshell
Dawyck Gold
Red Obelisk
Rohan Gold
Spaethiana
Zlatia
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
Beech is an old-time favorite that does well in residential areas of a city. 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 100+ beech cultivars that have been developed in the past 200 years. 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: Fagus sylvatica
Common Name: European Beech
Family: Fagaceae
Bloom Period: Spring
Bark: Silvery gray
Hardiness Zone: 4 or 5 to 7 depending on species, it does not tolerate summer heat in the South
Growth Rate: Slow to medium, 10 feet in ten years on average
Pest Resistance: Excellent, except for beech bark canker disease
Salt Resistance: Average tolerance
Planting: Transplant B&B in the spring
Pruning: Prune in summer or early fall only
Design Uses: A large and stately tree with beautiful silvery-gray bark that contrasts well with its dark summer foliage.
The following cultivars or species are considered by this author to be the best for planting in an urban environment today.
Fastigiate Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Fastigiata’ (‘Dawyck’) – Zone: 5 – 7; Height: 45’; Spread: 15’; Shape: columnar, fastigiate; Foliage: dark green. The foliage and the tightness of its fastigiate form make this one of the most striking of columnar trees. It was discovered in 1864. Photo
Fernleaf Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’ – Zone: 5 – 7; Height: 50'; Spread: 40'; Shape: broadly oval;
Foliage: cutleaf, green; Fall Color: golden brown. A large growing cultivar with crisp foliage. The branching gives the tree the appearance of closely layered, fan like sprays. Photo
Purple Fountain Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Purple Fountain’ – Zone: 5 – 7; Height: 12’ – 25’; Spread: 3’ – 12’; Shape: weeping from ascending trunk; Foliage: purple to purple-red. Pendulous branches drape from an upright leader as this unusual beech matures into a unique living sculpture. This 1975 introduction is much faster growing than the cultivar Purpurea Pendula, and its foliage is a slightly lighter shade of purple. Photo
Rivers Purple Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’ – Zone: 5 – 7; 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. Photo
Tricolor Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Roseo-marginata’ – Zone: 5 – 7; Height: 30'; Spread: 20'; Shape: oval; Foliage: variegated, purple with a rose pink and cream margin. Beautiful foliage has been this tree’s star attraction since 1883. Margins of its purple-bronze leaves are irregularly colored with splashes of rose to pink and cream. Photo
Weeping Beech – Fagus sylvatica ‘Pendula’ – Zone: 5 – 7; Height: 40’; Spread: 30’; Shape: gracefully weeping from an irregularly ascending central trunk; Foliage: green, glossy. Each tree is different and is a natural work of art, a living, growing sculpture. This tree is fast growing and it tends to maintain an upright central stem. Green, pendulous branches hang to the ground from great heights. When the tree ages, the hanging branches take root, and a series of new trees form around the parent tree. Photo
Several other cultivars are worth mentioning that may not be as easy to find in local nurseries. They include:
Cockleshell
Dawyck Gold
Red Obelisk
Rohan Gold
Spaethiana
Zlatia
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.
Benefits of Mycorrhizae
By Mike Amaranthus, Ph.D.
Urban landscapes face many threats to the health of trees. Shortage of organic matter in the soil, compaction, poor soil drainage, diseased soils, erosion, unstable pH, and temperature extremes are definitely not the conditions that trees faced in the primeval forest. How did those trees attain great ages, heights and diameters without irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides? The answer is that forest soils contain a wide range of beneficial organisms that soils in the urban landscape lack. Probably the most important of these, and the most studied group of beneficial soil organisms, are called the mycorrhizal fungi.
All known tree species form mycorrhizal relationships in their native habitats. Two types of mycorrhizal fungi dominate the forest primeval: arbuscular mycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi benefit many trees as well as shrubs and ornamental plants. Trees such as conifers and hardwoods like oak benefit from ectomycorrhizal fungi.
Benefits of Mycorrhizae
More than 50,000 research studies have been conducted regarding the mycorrhizal – tree partnership. Arborists and landscape professionals are now putting this information to wise and practical use. Essentially, mycorrhizae form a secondary and expansive extension of the tree root system. Mycorrhizal filaments form an extensive web that research has shown to increase the absorptive surface of root systems by ten to one thousand times greater than non-mycorrhizal trees. Mycorrhizal filaments absorb significantly more nitrogen, phosphorous, calcium, and micronutrients than non-mycorrhizal roots. It is much more efficient for trees to support a mycorrhizal web beneath the soil surface compared to roots themselves. It would take approximately 100 times more tree-supplied photosynthate to support roots that covered the size of the mycorrhizal fungal network. Studies have demonstrated a well-colonized mycorrhizal root system is more tolerant of drought, soil salinity, soil pathogens, parasitic nematodes, and chemical imbalances in the soil.
Mycorrhizal fungi also improve soil structure. Mycorrhizal filaments produce humic compounds and organic “glues” that bind soils into aggregates and improve soil porosity. Soil porosity and soil structure positively influence the growth of trees by promoting aeration, water movement into soil, and root growth that more closely mimics the soil condition in the primeval forest.
Nursery Grown Trees
Trees raised in nurseries receive intensive care. Sterile, soil-less mixes are generally used during early development, and fungicides are needed to keep soil-borne diseases to a minimum. Fertilizers and water push above-ground development but discourage the need for an expansive feeder root system.
Root systems are often severely reduced when digging and transplanting, and injured root systems become more susceptible to diseases. Intensive care produces vast quantities of trees for sale but make tree establishment a challenge. For trees to survive and thrive in their newly planted environment they must be weaned from the intensive care so they can begin fending for themselves.
Dealing with an Urban Site
Soils from the primeval forest generally contain robust and diverse populations of mycorrhizal fungi. Intensive disturbance associated with site preparation and equipment operation in urban landscapes greatly reduce these populations. Research shows that compaction, scarification, and erosion, along with topsoil and vegetation removal have reduced and often eliminated mycorrhizae completely. The arbuscular mycorrhizae and many of the top performing ectomycorrhizal fungi do not disperse their spores in the wind and instead move slowly by growing root to root or by the activities of wildlife. These strategies for mycorrhizal dispersal worked for millions of years in the primeval forest. In disturbed urban environments however, mycorrhizal fungi often do not recolonize an area. Many cases have been documented in which trees in disturbed urban and suburban environments have not formed mycorrhizae in many years after planting, and are surviving only by intensive feeding and care.
Trees and Turf
Trees that are grown in close proximity to managed turf receive additional stresses. Managers schedule their irrigation for turf without regard for the needs of surrounding trees. Too much water keeps turf areas green but drowns the roots of trees. Furthermore, high levels of inorganic fertilizers keep root systems from developing normally. High levels of nitrogen and phosphorous will discourage a development of the expansive root system that trees need after transplanting. Fertilizer practices for turf can also result in salt buildups as well as unstable and increasing pH that trees rarely encounter in their natural environments. Compaction, poorly drained soils, and competition with the fibrous root systems of turfgrass, all compound the inhospitable environment that trees encounter.
Improving Root Systems
One approach to improving the functioning of roots systems is to arm trees with mycorrhizal fungi before or during planting. Mycorrhizal inoculants often contain a diverse mix of mycorrhizal species and this feature lets the tree select the proper species for each particular growing condition.
Mycorrhizal inoculants are available as root dips, granular mixes, tablets or soil injection solubles. Inoculants are most often used dry at transplanting or as an injection into the root zones of established trees that need assistance. Many companies provide the granular form which is sprinkled on or near the tree root systems during the planting process. When trees are bare root and small enough, a root dip gel can be used to coat the roots directly. For existing trees, spring and fall applications of injection soluble inoculants are best but mycorrhizal inoculants can also be used any time that roots are active or trees that are under stress. Injections in a grid pattern near the drip line provide the most contact with existing feeder roots. Costs vary among manufactures but overall the price for mycorrhizal inoculants has decreased dramatically in the last five years as mycorrhizal spores are being produced in greater quantities.
There are plenty of economic savings to the tree care budget when using mycorrhizal inoculants. Mycorrhizal trees require less intensive care than non-mycorrhizal trees. Fewer trees need replacement because mycorrhizal trees are better able to survive extremes of moisture, fertility, and disease. Arborists will find that a mycorrhizal tree will require less frequent watering and fertilizing as the mycorrhizal web is far more efficient in the capture and uptake of water and nutrients. In general, once the mycorrhizal inoculant is placed near the root system, practices that encourage root growth will encourage the mycorrhizal web to form and expand.
Conclusion
Clearing of natural areas and new construction in the urban and suburban landscape represents the extreme of soil and tree disturbance. Getting newly planted trees established in these disturbed areas is often a great challenge. The tight or tenuous links between trees and soil microorganisms that operate so effectively in the forest primeval are broken. Such linkages in the forest have allowed trees to survive and thrive for millions of years without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. Arborists are gaining an increased appreciation of the living soil and more frequently are incorporating this understanding of soil biology and mycorrhizal products into their practices.
Mycorrhizal fungi are not a silver bullet. Mycorrhizal fungi will not correct problems associated with poor planting practices, poor site and species selection, or unhealthy tree stock. What mycorrhizal fungi will do is work in partnership with the tree below the soil surface, allowing the tree to quickly establish, accumulate site resources, and handle stress. A mycorrhizal root system greatly increases a tree’s opportunity for health and longevity and can help bridge the below-ground gap between the primeval forest and the reality of the urban landscape.
Mike Amaranthus, Ph.D., 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, 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.
By Mike Amaranthus, Ph.D.
Urban landscapes face many threats to the health of trees. Shortage of organic matter in the soil, compaction, poor soil drainage, diseased soils, erosion, unstable pH, and temperature extremes are definitely not the conditions that trees faced in the primeval forest. How did those trees attain great ages, heights and diameters without irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides? The answer is that forest soils contain a wide range of beneficial organisms that soils in the urban landscape lack. Probably the most important of these, and the most studied group of beneficial soil organisms, are called the mycorrhizal fungi.
All known tree species form mycorrhizal relationships in their native habitats. Two types of mycorrhizal fungi dominate the forest primeval: arbuscular mycorrhizae and ectomycorrhizae. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi benefit many trees as well as shrubs and ornamental plants. Trees such as conifers and hardwoods like oak benefit from ectomycorrhizal fungi.
Benefits of Mycorrhizae
More than 50,000 research studies have been conducted regarding the mycorrhizal – tree partnership. Arborists and landscape professionals are now putting this information to wise and practical use. Essentially, mycorrhizae form a secondary and expansive extension of the tree root system. Mycorrhizal filaments form an extensive web that research has shown to increase the absorptive surface of root systems by ten to one thousand times greater than non-mycorrhizal trees. Mycorrhizal filaments absorb significantly more nitrogen, phosphorous, calcium, and micronutrients than non-mycorrhizal roots. It is much more efficient for trees to support a mycorrhizal web beneath the soil surface compared to roots themselves. It would take approximately 100 times more tree-supplied photosynthate to support roots that covered the size of the mycorrhizal fungal network. Studies have demonstrated a well-colonized mycorrhizal root system is more tolerant of drought, soil salinity, soil pathogens, parasitic nematodes, and chemical imbalances in the soil.
Mycorrhizal fungi also improve soil structure. Mycorrhizal filaments produce humic compounds and organic “glues” that bind soils into aggregates and improve soil porosity. Soil porosity and soil structure positively influence the growth of trees by promoting aeration, water movement into soil, and root growth that more closely mimics the soil condition in the primeval forest.
Nursery Grown Trees
Trees raised in nurseries receive intensive care. Sterile, soil-less mixes are generally used during early development, and fungicides are needed to keep soil-borne diseases to a minimum. Fertilizers and water push above-ground development but discourage the need for an expansive feeder root system.
Root systems are often severely reduced when digging and transplanting, and injured root systems become more susceptible to diseases. Intensive care produces vast quantities of trees for sale but make tree establishment a challenge. For trees to survive and thrive in their newly planted environment they must be weaned from the intensive care so they can begin fending for themselves.
Dealing with an Urban Site
Soils from the primeval forest generally contain robust and diverse populations of mycorrhizal fungi. Intensive disturbance associated with site preparation and equipment operation in urban landscapes greatly reduce these populations. Research shows that compaction, scarification, and erosion, along with topsoil and vegetation removal have reduced and often eliminated mycorrhizae completely. The arbuscular mycorrhizae and many of the top performing ectomycorrhizal fungi do not disperse their spores in the wind and instead move slowly by growing root to root or by the activities of wildlife. These strategies for mycorrhizal dispersal worked for millions of years in the primeval forest. In disturbed urban environments however, mycorrhizal fungi often do not recolonize an area. Many cases have been documented in which trees in disturbed urban and suburban environments have not formed mycorrhizae in many years after planting, and are surviving only by intensive feeding and care.
Trees and Turf
Trees that are grown in close proximity to managed turf receive additional stresses. Managers schedule their irrigation for turf without regard for the needs of surrounding trees. Too much water keeps turf areas green but drowns the roots of trees. Furthermore, high levels of inorganic fertilizers keep root systems from developing normally. High levels of nitrogen and phosphorous will discourage a development of the expansive root system that trees need after transplanting. Fertilizer practices for turf can also result in salt buildups as well as unstable and increasing pH that trees rarely encounter in their natural environments. Compaction, poorly drained soils, and competition with the fibrous root systems of turfgrass, all compound the inhospitable environment that trees encounter.
Improving Root Systems
One approach to improving the functioning of roots systems is to arm trees with mycorrhizal fungi before or during planting. Mycorrhizal inoculants often contain a diverse mix of mycorrhizal species and this feature lets the tree select the proper species for each particular growing condition.
Mycorrhizal inoculants are available as root dips, granular mixes, tablets or soil injection solubles. Inoculants are most often used dry at transplanting or as an injection into the root zones of established trees that need assistance. Many companies provide the granular form which is sprinkled on or near the tree root systems during the planting process. When trees are bare root and small enough, a root dip gel can be used to coat the roots directly. For existing trees, spring and fall applications of injection soluble inoculants are best but mycorrhizal inoculants can also be used any time that roots are active or trees that are under stress. Injections in a grid pattern near the drip line provide the most contact with existing feeder roots. Costs vary among manufactures but overall the price for mycorrhizal inoculants has decreased dramatically in the last five years as mycorrhizal spores are being produced in greater quantities.
There are plenty of economic savings to the tree care budget when using mycorrhizal inoculants. Mycorrhizal trees require less intensive care than non-mycorrhizal trees. Fewer trees need replacement because mycorrhizal trees are better able to survive extremes of moisture, fertility, and disease. Arborists will find that a mycorrhizal tree will require less frequent watering and fertilizing as the mycorrhizal web is far more efficient in the capture and uptake of water and nutrients. In general, once the mycorrhizal inoculant is placed near the root system, practices that encourage root growth will encourage the mycorrhizal web to form and expand.
Conclusion
Clearing of natural areas and new construction in the urban and suburban landscape represents the extreme of soil and tree disturbance. Getting newly planted trees established in these disturbed areas is often a great challenge. The tight or tenuous links between trees and soil microorganisms that operate so effectively in the forest primeval are broken. Such linkages in the forest have allowed trees to survive and thrive for millions of years without the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. Arborists are gaining an increased appreciation of the living soil and more frequently are incorporating this understanding of soil biology and mycorrhizal products into their practices.
Mycorrhizal fungi are not a silver bullet. Mycorrhizal fungi will not correct problems associated with poor planting practices, poor site and species selection, or unhealthy tree stock. What mycorrhizal fungi will do is work in partnership with the tree below the soil surface, allowing the tree to quickly establish, accumulate site resources, and handle stress. A mycorrhizal root system greatly increases a tree’s opportunity for health and longevity and can help bridge the below-ground gap between the primeval forest and the reality of the urban landscape.
Mike Amaranthus, Ph.D., 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, 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.