Tag Arborist

In January 2021, Texas Tree Surgeons was certified as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). This recognition, along with our certification as an Historically Underutilized Business by the State of Texas, is not just another certificate we can hang on our wall, but is an external sign of what is key to our life as a company — that we are woman-owned and women-managed. Those of you who have worked with Texas Tree Surgeons in the past, especially our long-time customers, will not be surprised to learn that Texas Tree Surgeons is woman-owned and operated. Newer customers, however, may not be aware that we pride ourselves on having female leadership, something that distinguishes us from many other companies in the tree care industry.

Woman-Owned Since 2010

Our owner, Amy Langbein Heath, began at Texas Tree Surgeons (then called Dallas Tree Surgeons) as an arborist. After just a few years, however, she was overseeing the operations of the company, as the then-owner had moved away. In 2010, Amy purchased Texas Tree Surgeons, and we became 100% woman-owned. Since taking over, Amy has expanded every aspect of the company, increasing the number of ISA Certified Arborists from two to seven, diversifying services to include year-round plant health care programs, and moving from a home office to a three-acre facility in Garland, Texas. In 2019, Amy became the first woman in Texas to attain the ISA Board Certified Master Arborist credential, the pinnacle of the tree service profession. Amy’s passion for tree care and love for her community have led to her election to the Trinity Blacklands Urban Forestry Council and the International Society of Arboriculture Texas Chapter Board of Directors. Her commitment to excellence in her industry and her unfailing support of her Texas Tree Surgeons family has created a corporate culture of trust, personal attention, and work-life balance that is unparalleled. Amy’s motto for Texas Tree Surgeons has always been “We Love Trees,” but her employees, customers, and community know that Amy’s compassion extends much further than that.

Amy was a guest on the Common Threads podcast on January 21, 2021. Check out her interview for more on her story and her business philosophy!

A Culture of Female Leadership

As part of her vision for Texas Tree Surgeons, Amy has cultivated an environment that encourages personal growth, rewards continuing education, and emphasizes individual success. In this mission, Amy has been supported since day one by Jade Nowell, our operations manager. Jade joined Texas Tree Surgeons in 2007 and soon began the hands-on management of the day-to-day operations of the company. In the early days, Jade spoke to every customer on the phone and dispatched arborists and crews with hand-written schedules. As we have expanded, technology has streamlined much of the scheduling process and new co-workers have assumed some responsibilities, but Jade is still the organizational nerve center of Texas Tree Surgeons. Whether it is customer communication, crew management, or arborist support, Jade keeps the company’s operations functioning and ensures that every customer receives exceptional service and every team member is able to succeed.

Joining Amy and Jade in caring for your trees is Hannah Edinburgh, Texas Tree Surgeons’ managing arborist and the second woman in Texas to become an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (after Amy!). In addition to providing excellent customer service, Hannah helps coordinate arborist services and pricing, advises on our plant health care and tree service protocols and programs, and is passionate about continuing education. She recently completed the American Society of Consulting Arborists’ Consulting Academy and is in the process of becoming a Registered Consulting Arborist.

In addition to our female leadership, we are proud to hire female arborists, plant health care technicians, and office staff! Lindsey Brammer is our longest-tenured ISA Certified Arborist and has a loyal customer base that relies on her knowledge and is enriched by her outgoing personality. Andrea Davies started as a receptionist, but has become an expert on the behind-the-scenes organization of our plant health care programs. Emily Long has been an ISA Certified Arborist since 2015 and is not only only outstanding at sales, but is able to develop a personal connection with her clients. Joy Kinney also started in the office, but moved into a field position and is now one of our highly-skilled plant health care application technicians. Sarah Garcia is the newest member of our team, and has proven to be invaluable in managing customer communication, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We value all the members of our Texas Tree Surgeons family, but we are especially thankful for all the strong, intelligent women who want to find a career in a field traditionally dominated by men.

Outside of the Texas Tree Surgeons, Amy strives to support women interested in arboriculture and related fields, as well as organizations that highlight the important role of women in not only the tree care industry, but all areas of business. If you know a woman who is interested in what an arborist does, or what careers are available in tree care, let Amy know! She is always happy to pass on the knowledge she has gained over the past decade.

In October 2019, Dallas was hit with a devastating tornado. As part of ongoing recovery efforts, the Texas Trees Foundation is partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation and International Paper to give away 500 free trees to Dallas residents who were affected by last year’s storms.

Registration is open and continues until all trees have been allotted. The trees will be available for pick-up Saturday, October 31st.

This round, the available species are:

• Texas Redbud
• Chinkapin Oak
• Shumard (Red) Oak
• Desert Willow
• Red Maple

All of these are great Texas trees, but if you wonder which one might be best for your yard, get in touch with your arborist. We are happy to make a recommendation!

For more information about the tree giveaway and to register, visit the Texas Trees Foundation site.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we are excited about these local programs to encourage tree planting! If you have any questions about the best way to plant a tree, or any other tree questions, let us know!

Another installment in our series of posts where Texas Tree Surgeons answers your tree questions. Are you having problems with your trees and want to know what’s wrong? Let us know!

I sometimes hear the term “tree doctor;” is that a real thing?

We are used to going to the doctor when we are sick. We go to the dentist for our teeth, and take our pets to the veterinarian, but what about our trees? Is there such a thing as a “tree doctor?” How can I find a “tree doctor” near me?

Luckily, there are “tree doctors,” and like human doctors, they have to undergo education, have experience, and can have certain specializations. Also like human doctors, “tree doctors,” called “certified arborists,” rely on many other professionals to provide the highest standard of care.

What is a Tree Doctor?

• In the tree care industry, “tree doctors” are called “certified arborists.”
  • When we use the term “certified arborist,” we mean a tree worker with a specific set of skills and training.
• The organization that sets the standards for arborist certification, like the licensing boards for physicians, is called the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
  • The ISA has chapters all over the world, and covers every state in the US.
• In order to be certified by the ISA, an arborist must demonstrate experience caring for trees, pass a written exam, and earn a certain amount of continuing education credits.
  • Certification must be renewed every three years.

If ISA Certified Arborists are tree doctors in general practice, then ISA Board Certified Master Arborists are like specialists.

• To become a master arborist, one must be a certified arborist for a certain number of years or have a degree in arboriculture, forestry, or a related field.
  • On top of that, one must have demonstrated experience as an arborist for a period of time, pass a difficult written exam, and be individually approved by the ISA Board of Examiners.
  • To maintain board certification, the master arborist has to complete extensive continuing education in different subject areas every three years.

What Does a Tree Doctor Do?

Certified arborists are trained in all aspects of tree care, including proper trimming, health assessments, pest and disease diagnosis, watering and fertilization, planting, and basic tree safety protocols.

• Depending on their particular job, an arborist may have more experience in one area than another, or may have additional skills, like tree climbing.
• In general, certified arborists should know how to trim a tree to keep it healthy; how to identify diseases, pests, or stressors that might be affecting the tree; and when to recommend removal for safety reasons.

In addition to the fundamentals of tree care, some certified arborists attain further credentials in a specific area.

• An often-studied subject is how to identify and manage safety risks related to tree breakage or failure.
  • The ISA has established the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) as a way for certified arborists to demonstrate their knowledge in this area.
• The Texas Chapter of the ISA has also created the Texas Oak Wilt Qualification (TOWQ) to recognize certified arborists who are trained in the identification and management of the virulent oak wilt disease.
• Additionally, there are qualifications available for specialized tree workers, for safety specialists, and for arborists who work around dangerous power lines or perform municipal work.

Will A Tree Doctor Trim My Trees?

While all ISA Certified Arborists should understand proper tree trimming for health and safety, that does not necessarily mean that it is the arborists themselves who do the actual trimming or other tree work.

• In the case of larger, more established tree care companies, certified arborists will establish protocols and methods for tree care.
  • Guidelines for tree care are published by the ISA, the Tree Care Industry Association, and other professional associations,
  • The instructions of certified arborists will be executed by trained tree workers, who may not hold arborist certifications themselves.
• Similarly, if trees need fertilization or pest control, the individuals who apply the products are usually experienced in the application process, not the diagnosis.

It may be helpful, again, to compare a “tree doctor” to a medical doctor. In most cases, especially in a larger clinic or hospital setting, the primary care doctor will diagnose an illness or condition and write orders for further testing, prescriptions for medications, or referrals to specialists.

• Certified arborists oversee the entire process of care for a particular tree, deciding on a course of action.
  • From there, the certified arborists assign certain tasks to certain other team members who are experienced and trained in that area.
• The tree climbers and other tree workers are like the physician’s assistants and medical technicians who perform the specific tasks of patient care.
• The plant health care technicians are like the pharmacists who distribute medication.
• Certified arborists even have access to a lab for performing tests on samples — in Texas, the experts at the Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory provide lab services for arborists all over the state.

Nurses and patient care professionals are tasked with the day-to-day activities of treating disease, and the diverse members of a tree care team each have a particular set of skills that lead to trees receiving the highest level of care.

Do Tree Doctors Know Everything About Trees?

Additionally, just as medical doctors recommend second opinions or refer patients to specialists, effective certified arborists consult with others in their field to offer better tree care. As mentioned before, master arborists have a greater depth of knowledge and experience in many areas, and can provide support to other arborists as well as primary tree care themselves.

• Certified arborists with a credential in a specific disease or in tree risk assessment may be asked to consult on a particular project.
• In some instances, such as when a tree’s monetary value is in question, even master arborists may seek the services of an American Society of Consulting Arborists registered individual who has received training in the area of tree valuation.
• Ultimately, the best certified arborists in your area may not individually have detailed knowledge of every particular of tree care, but they should know how to find it.
• When you are considering hiring an arborist, be sure to ask about what resources (experts, labs, etc.) they use to diagnose and care for trees.

Like a trustworthy medical doctor, a reliable tree doctor knows when to ask for help, to make sure your trees are expertly cared for.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we are proud to employ ISA Certified Arborists and Board Certified Master Arborists holding both Tree Risk Assessment and Texas Oak Wilt Qualifications. Our arborists are committed to continuing education and growing in the knowledge and practice of their profession. Our full-service tree care team includes experienced crews who train under an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, Texas Department of Agriculture Licensed Applicators who apply our plant health care products, and a diverse support staff who handle all aspects of our locally-owned and family-run business. We are always happy to answer your questions about how we work and what we do. To learn more about our services, training, and experience, browse our website or get in touch!

Another installment in our series of posts where Texas Tree Surgeons answers your tree questions. Are you having problems with your trees and want to know what’s wrong? Let us know!

My cedar tree has bagworms. Can you treat for that?

Bagworms are a common pest in North Texas, especially on cedars, junipers, cypresses, and other evergreens, although they can attack broad-leaf trees (like oaks, maples, and elms) as well. While they are common, they may not always be noticeable, especially on evergreens, as they use material from the trees they infest to camouflage their casings. Like other insects, bagworms have a year-long life cycle, and control measures depend on the growth stage of the pest.

What Are Bagworms?

• Bagworm is the common name for several different species of insect which are actually a type of moth (order Lepidoptera, family Psychidae).
• The bagworm caterpillars are very small (about 1/25 of an inch long), and spin silk thread which they use to attach themselves to plants and to weave into their bags.
  • Unlike a typical cocoon, the bagworm’s casing functions as a moveable shelter, with the caterpillars exiting to find food and climb up the plant.
• Once the caterpillar has matured, it undergoes a metamorphosis period before emerging as an adult.
  • Male bagworms resemble small moths while the females are flightless.
• Male bagworm moths seek out females during mating season, and the female uses her bag to lay eggs.
  • The exact times of caterpillar and adult emergence varies from species to species and is dependent upon the weather.

Can You Treat For Bagworms?

While bagworms are not prevalent every year, once they have infested a tree, they will continue to live there unless controlled.

• The simplest control method is to remove the bags.
  • They can be pulled off by hand or sprayed off with high-powered water.
  • It it important to dispose of the bags or destroy them, and not just leave them lying on the ground, as the eggs they contain can hatch and re-infest the tree.
• Insecticide sprays can be used to control bagworms, but are most effective when the caterpillars are small, and can be completely ineffective if the bagworms close their bags, as they do to molt or over the winter.
  • Systemic insecticides may be used in some cases as a preventative measure. Consult a certified arborist to see if this may be a good option for you.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers! Bagworms are a widespread nuisance and, while one or two may not harm a mature tree, can cause large-scale defoliation if left unchecked. It is a good idea to remove any bags that you see, whenever you see them. If you have bagworms, and want to see if there might be a chemical treatment option, contact us to set up a visit from a certified arborist. We offer full-service plant health care, including fertilization to help trees stressed by bagworms recover. We look forward to hearing from you!

Another installment in our series of posts where Texas Tree Surgeons answers your tree questions. Are you having problems with your trees and want to know what’s wrong? Let us know!

The leaves on our oak trees are looking diseased, with bumps all over them. Is this oak wilt?

Oaks are the most common trees in our North Texas urban forest, and they can suffer from many different health issues. If your oak is showing misshapen leaves with bright green bulges on them, it is most likely a fungal disease that may look bad, but is not usually harmful to the overall health of the tree.

Oak Leaf Blister 

• Oak leaf blister is caused by the fungus Taphrina caerulescens, which enters the new leaf buds during cool and moist spring weather.
• The fungus causes the young leaves to develop blister-like bumps on their surfaces, with coloration ranging from light green to brown.
  • In more severe cases, the leaves may fall off altogether.
  • The fungus does not affect mature leaves, only new growth.
• Like other fungal diseases, oak leaf blister is more prevalent during periods of cooler weather with increased rainfall in the spring, and cannot survive the summer heat.

Does Oak Leaf Blister Kill the Tree?

Oak leaf blister and the T. caerulescens fungus do not pose a serious risk to the health of affected trees.

Can Oak Leaf Blister Be Treated?

• The spores which carry the oak leaf blister fungus are present on the bud sites over the winter, and once the tree begins showing infected leaves, chemical treatment is not effective.
  • It is possible to apply a preventative fungicide, but this must be done before bud break and while the young leaves are maturing.
• If you have a tree with oak leaf blister, the best course of action is to clean up fallen infected leaves and dispose of them in plastic bags.
  • Do not place leaves in compost, as this may encourage further fungal growth.
• Keeping a tree healthy with proper mulching and fertilization, as well as maintaining soil drainage, will help it resist future health issues.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers! While oak leaf blister can be unsightly, it is mostly harmless and is not a serious concern to the health of the tree. Of course, there are many oak health issues that can cause long-term damage and tree death. Oak wilt is a major concern. Trimming oaks should be avoided between February and July if possible, and proper precautions taken if trimming cannot be postponed. Oak decline is also a problem, especially in areas where many of the trees were planted around the same time, and are reaching the end of their lifespan. If you have any questions about the health of your oaks, or any other tree care issues, let us know!

Another installment in our series of posts where Texas Tree Surgeons answers your tree questions. Are you having problems with your trees and want to know what’s wrong? Let us know!

We have a tree in the back yard that is leaning. Is there anything we can do to fix it?

Whether you just moved into a new house and noticed one of the trees is leaning, or a tree has suddenly developed a lean, there is one important difference to be aware of: quickly-developed leans and over-time leans.

Leaning Trees: Fast vs. Slow

 The main factor that determines whether a tree that leans is a problem or not is how quickly the lean developed:

• Trees that have developed a lean over time usually are not a high risk, and cannot be straightened or corrected.
  • Trees, like other plants, are naturally drawn to the sun and away from other trees and structures. (This phenomenon is called “phototropism.”)
  • If a tree faces competition for sunlight, it will begin to lean away from its competitors and towards a clear view of the sun.
    • As the tree leans, its roots grow out in the opposite direction from the lean to anchor the tree.
  • Once the tree has become established with its lean, it will continue to grow that way.
    • In some cases, a tree that was leaning can begin to send new growth vertically upward again, once the competition for sunlight is removed, but the leaning parts will remain.
• Trees that develop a lean quickly can be an increased fall risk.
  • Whether the tree is large or small, developing a lean quickly usually means one thing: root system instability.
    • A tell-tale sign of a root issue causing a lean is raised ground around the tree or disturbance to nearby structures or fences.
  • High-limestone and shallow soils, like we have in much of North Texas, can be a contributing factor to shallow roots which can lead to instability.
    • Additionally, periods of drought and flooding cause shifts in the soil, further hampering proper root formation.
  • Root rot, often caused by fungus, can cause widespread root system death, leading to major structural instability.
  • If there has been construction around the tree and roots have been cut, or the tree suffered storm damage, a lean can be a sign of an imminent fall.

What Can I do About a Leaning Tree?

 If the tree has grown into a lean over time, there is little that can be done. Once the tree is established and stable in its leaning orientation, trying to straighten it can destabilize the structure and put the tree at risk of falling.

For a sudden lean, however, it is important to act quickly. Whatever the cause of the lean, it must be addressed before it becomes worse and the tree falls. In some small trees, a sudden lean can be corrected, allowing the tree to grow new stabilizing roots. In large trees however, complete removal is often the only safe way to deal with a sudden lean. If the tree is leaning from storm or other damage, especially when roots have been cut, rope off the area under the tree and contact a certified arborist immediately — the tree could fall at any time.

 At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers! If you notice that one of your trees in leaning, we are always happy to come out an see what may be causing the lean and whether it needs to be addressed. If you are aware of a tree that has developed a sudden lean, contact us today so that one of our ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified arborists can properly evaluate the danger of the situation and provide a solution.