Sustainability

To continue at a certain level, bearable! All you read today is about sustainability like it's a magic pill that will fix all things. Certainly it sounds impressive, but what does it really mean and is it something we need or want?

Status quo would be a better definition, keeping things as they are just self perpetuating. Now it sounds ominous and not necessarily a good thing. Unfortunately it's the new green word of the day. Maybe some modifications need to be made? Using a catch all phrase to describe a complex concept is typically American.

We can agree on a few things; the status quo needs to change, energy usage needs to be modified, dependance on fossil fuels needs to change as well as land usage policies. Start at home, plant stuff that has multiple uses and a life expectancy of more than a season or two, design for growth. Plants can enhance the energy savings around your home such as putting a shade tree for afternoon sun protection or an evergreen screen to block winds and traffic noise. Use recycled materials as hardscape features. Plant less lawn, saves on water, energy spent maintaining it. Use plants inside for many reasons one important one would be for ones self. The quiet beauty plants bring, brightens up gloomy spaces and improves your mood. Now does sustainability make sense!

Greening Up

Being environmentally responsible has taken on new meaning, with gas prices raging out of control, food cost through the roof and gold at all time highs life is getting tougher for the average family to enjoy life. As we all seem to head back to subsistent living or try to keep our lifestyles and draining our bank accounts there has to be a better way?

Simplify seems to be an obvious solution, save gas by not doing extra unnecessary driving, keep the old car in tip top shape, in tune, tires properly inflated. Condense outing and try walking for a change. I live within a mile of a grocery, so done a small backpack to get that loaf of bread or quart of milk not a problem. When they say most of use suffer from high cholesterol 20-30 minutes of walking every day can reduce that.

Try planting a garden, basic veggies we use everyday, time outside, some exercise and while you may not save a lot of money some satisfaction. Turning the temperature down on the hot water heater and furnace saves oil, gas and money. Besides does the water have to be scalding hot. Get ceiling fan, even with AC, helps move the air and reduces running time. Run the dishwasher full, newer models use very little water and electricity. Same for the clothes washer, newer models save both water and energy.

At the grocery store shop the outer edges not the end caps. Fresh produce, stay away from processed foods. Healthier eating and less money in the long run. Important to look for locally grown produce, support our local farmers. Why pay for the food to be shipped from across the country.

What's the Assignment

I am given all sorts of request in my capacity as a consulting arborist. The key is defining the assignment. Why you ask? Because if you stray you'll get in trouble later on, at a deposition, or from the witness stand. Sounds like wearing blinders, but lawyers are tricky, cunning people who make a living dissecting words. They thrive on confusing and twisting words. Now people, ordinary people usually see through this when they are forced to sit on juries. They look at these tactics as trickery not evidence.

An arborist report is an independent report freely found and based on facts, physical features that are visible or can be safely assumed based on experience. It may not be a perfect document due to it's nature of being an opinion. Try getting two arborist to agree on anything is difficult. Appraisals will vary, diagnosis may not be clear and cause and results will always have variables. But one thing you can count on is that it's is a freely arrived opinion based on what evidence may have been present and hopefully answers the assignment.

So when you need a consulting arborist, before you call around ask you self the following: what is the question I need answers to, what are my goals and expectations. Then collect what you know to present as background be careful to take the emotional aspect of the problem out of the equation and relate only the facts. Then the arborist will tell you what he or she thinks the assignment is and more importantly that they are either taking on the assignment or not. A fee should be quoted, a request for a retainer and finally that the results may or may not help your cause. After you receive the report and review with the arborist, then you can decide what the next step is. Lawsuits move through the courts at a snails pace, and as the years grind on litigants become more and more hostile as legal fees rise. I am a big supporter of mediation. The art of a good comprise is an American tradition, try it.

Check Your Diagnosis

Recent advice from another expert, back with facts all diagnosis. Just because you know, how do you know? Looking at something in the field is the starting process, not the end of the investigation. Even simple stuff could have an alternate answer, don't let your scientific curiosity down and quit before the job is done. When in doubt send it to a lab for testing.

Most times we are asked for snap judgements on the spot. Client pressure, collegues standing by ready to judge and argue our finding race in our heads as we struggle for an answer. That the perfect time to call a time out and take a sample and do some research. Before we put it to paper get the facts straight and back them up with good citations to back them up. Once in a report or at a deposition or from the witness box it's hard to take back and change your mind.

The delay in response only enhances your image as an expert, after all it's shows that you have taken the time to prepare and research the problem. That you are confident in your answer and solution and that the science bears out your conclusion. This will only enhance your reputation as a true professional arborist.

Tree Wounding and Compartmentalization

Response of trees to dramatic events has been long studied. Pruning trees is wounding and a traumatic event, the resulting pruning wounds cause a response in tree as it tries to close off the injury. Studies have concluded that pruning of live limbs is best done during the growing season. At this period the wounds tend to have less necrosis than in the off season. For this reason winter pruning is usually recommended for only deadwood removal or waterspouts. The work has little or no resulting necrosis. Thinning, crown lifting and limb removal is best done at other times.

Another response in trees is the act of Compartmentalization of decay. CODIT is the accepted acronym in a theory developed by Dr. Alex Shigo, Dr. Shigo, spent years dissecting trees to study wounding and decay. The resulting research modern Arboricultural techniques were developed. Gone was tree paint and flush cuts, in are target pruning, A300, and tree risk assessment. Trees grow and in the growth they work hard to cover wounds, add wood to strength areas of decay with new wood.

Not all are aboard. We have a new generation who have slipped into our industry. Their work is poor, they are ignorant of Arboriculture a nd believe knowledge comes from the ability to run a chain saw and climb a tree. They use spikes from climbing live trees and could careless about it. Calling them arborist is misleading. Cheap prices and forever destroying once beautiful shade trees. Tree cutters better yet buzzards a better name. Buyer beware! You get what you pay for, low baller pricing equals low quality work.

Lawn Chemicals

Every one was out over the weekend buying their stuff to putdown on the grass. Yes, best time to control crabgrass is now, before you apply lawn chemicals remember they are pesticides and being such precautions need to be taken.
1. Read the label before applying
2. Apply only the correct amount
3. Wear the proper protective gear for the job
4. Consider that the material may runoff and get into a water source
5. Be considerate of your neighbors, and use caution if children and pets can come in contact
A green lawn is nice, but consider alternatives and remember to always read the label.