Tag ISA certified Arborist

ISA Certified Arborist conducting a Tree Risk Assessment (TRAQ).

What’s a Tree Assessment? Why bother?

by Texas Tree Surgeons Arborist Services

Oftentimes we think of trees as static things that just exist near us. It is a firm belief that trees have been here before us and will be here long after us. While this is true in native forest settings it is not true for the trees you see in your neighborhood. 

In urban places like North Texas trees are growing in stressful environments, which is very different from what you find in a forest. 

Trees aren’t static things, they are complex living organisms that science learns more about everyday.  Tree health care and science is often compared to human health care and medicine, because the complexities are similar.

There are basic tree care practices that homeowners can do that will greatly improve their trees overall health like watering regularly with a drip hose and applying mulch.

In addition to doing those things, having the same local certified arborist annually visit your tree is the best thing you can do. 

Why does having the same local arborist make a difference? 

A local certified arborist will understand the microenvironment, diseases that are prevalent for the region, soil type, and weather patterns that would have impacted the tree over the last decade. 

At Texas Tree Surgeons we keep our arborist’s, crew, and tree health care technicians on the same job so they can follow a tree’s progression year after year. This allows them to adjust care and notice differences you may not. In addition our team will document your tree’s health with photos and notes so they can review how your tree has changed over time. 

Our arborists are ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified and every time they do an estimate they will automatically do a level 1 assessment.

TRAQ Assessment Levels

TRAQ Level 1: Limited Visual Assessment. Identify obvious defects with photo documentation

Level 1:
Limited Assessment

Identify obvious defects with photo documentation

TRAQ Level 2: Basic Assessment. Detailed visual inspection which may include tools like a mallet or probe.

Level 2:
Basic Assessment

Detailed visual inspection which may include tools like a mallet or probe.

Level 3:
Advanced Assessment

Specialized equipment, data collection and analysis which may include lab testing or root inspection.

Subtle signs of stress can be easily missed by tree owners who are unaware of what they should be looking for. Trees show stress long after the stressor has happened, which to a homeowner makes it seem their tree is in sudden decline despite there being signs for years.

Taking into account the history of the location, and surrounding events that could influence the tree’s health helps an arborists come up with a health care plan before damage is irreversible.

Signs of stress and decline that tree owners often miss:

 Annual check ups mitigate risk and will save you money in the long run. 

At Texas Tree Surgeons we love trees and we believe the best care is preventative care. Schedule annual visits with a certified arborist to keep your tree healthy and thriving. Know that we treat tree photos like pet photos.

Texas Tree Surgeons Truck and chipper parked at a job site.

Where to Get Help With Your Trees

by Texas Tree Surgeons Tree Owner's Guide

Tree owners in North Texas have a wealth of resources to help them give their trees the best care possible.

Arborists and Tree Care Companies

From routine trimming to diagnosis and plant health care, commercial tree companies provide the tree owner with both advice and convenience.

ISA Certified Arborists

  • The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is the premier, international credentialing organization for tree care professionals. The ISA offers different levels and specializations of credential, but the most important to a tree owner are the Certified Arborist and Board Certified Master Arborist, which indicate that an individual has the training and experience to care for trees properly.
  • ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification is an additional certification that  arborists can have that delineates they are qualified in evaluating risk in trees and preparing reports of potential hazards.
  • Texas Oak Wilt Qualification is a credential in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of the oak wilt disease, a serious threat to Texas trees.

Consulting Arborists

Organizations

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our community! We hope this blog on common tree issues will help prevent tree failure. We have additional resources on our North Texas Tree Owner’s Guide. If you would like immediate assistance with your trees please contact us today.

North Texas Tree Owner’s Guide

Ask Texas Tree Surgeons: What Can I Do About Bagworms?

by Texas Tree Surgeons Ask Texas Tree Surgeons, Tree Health Care

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!

“Arborist” vs. “Certified Arborist”

by Texas Tree Surgeons Resources

It seems at times like there are as many tree care companies as there are trees. Sifting through the flyers, business cards, yard signs, and truck logos we see around North Texas can be overwhelming. However, whether you have many trees or just a few, it is always best to hire a tree trimming company that has ISA Certified Arborists on staff. Using a tree service with certified arborists is the easiest way to ensure that your trees are properly taken care of.

WHAT IS A CERTIFIED ARBORIST?

  • ISA arborist certification indicates that an individual has demonstrated both experience in the field of tree care and knowledge of diseases, pests, environmental stressors, plant health care protocols, and other critical areas of arboriculture.
    • ISA arborist certification is the international standard for the professional practice of tree care.
    • To maintain ISA certification, arborists must participate in continuing education classes to ensure that they are using the latest in practices and procedures and must renew their credential every three years.
    • Each ISA Certified Arborist has a unique certification number, tied to the state in which they were initially certified.
      • Certification numbers and credentials can be verified online by visiting https://treesaregood.com.
      • If a person claims to be a “certified arborist,” make sure to ask for their ISA number to check.
    • In Texas, unlike some other states, there is no state licensing board for arborists, so beware of people claiming to be “Texas licensed arborists.”

WHAT IS AN ARBORIST?

  • The word “arborist” can be used to identify individuals who perform any aspect of tree care: tree trimming, tree removal, plant health care, etc.
    • In a broad sense, “arborist” can refer to anyone in the tree care field, like we might use “teacher” to refer generally to people who work in schools. However, just as not every school employee is trained to do the same things, not every tree service worker is equally qualified to perform every task.
  • In many cases, the arborist (or sales arborist) is the person who comes out to initially assess the trees’ needs and prepare a work proposal.
    • From that point, the arborist is the main point of contact for our customers, and coordinates with our operations manager to assign a crew, ensure the work is done properly, and answer any questions.
    • Arborists are the key personnel for tree assessment, diagnosis, and customer communication.

What is a Board Certified Master Arborist?

Certification as a master arborist by the ISA Credentialing Board is reaching the pinnacle of the field of arboriculture.

  • The ISA BCMA credential requires extensive experience in the tree service industry, as well as thorough knowledge of all aspects of tree care demonstrated through examination.
    • As of 2020, fewer than two percent of all ISA Certified Arborists are BCMAs.
    • To maintain this certification, BCMAs must complete continuing education courses and renew every three years.
    • Certification status can be verified through https://treesaregood.com.
  • The owner of Texas Tree Surgeons, Amy Langbein Heath, became an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist in 2018, and was the first woman to become a BCMA in Texas.

What is the ISA?

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is dedicated to the promotion of the professional practice of arboriculture. The ISA is the premier education and certification authority for workers in the tree care field. In addition to serving tree care professionals, the ISA has extensive resources for tree owners. For more information about the ISA, visit their site at https://isa-arbor.com. If you are a tree owner, and want to find a certified arborist in your area or learn how you can better take care of your trees, visit https://treesaregood.com.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we are happy to employ ISA Certified Arborists or, simply, “certified arborists.” All of our arborists are either certified by the ISA or are in training to become certified.

We currently have Eight ISA Certified Arborists on staff:

Additionally, we have three ISA Board Certified Master Arborists on staff:

What the crape myrtle meme

Best Way to Top a Crape Myrtle? Don’t.

by Texas Tree Surgeons Resources, Tree Trimming

The most common mistake made in caring for crape myrtles is the practice of “topping.” Topping involves removing branches and trunks from the top down, trimming all material above a certain height. Usually, all leaves, blooms, and other green material are removed, leaving only bare trunks. Because of their resilience, topped crape myrtles do not die, but begin new growth from the height to which they were trimmed. As the topping is repeated year-to-year, the lower trunks of the crape myrtle age, while the top can remain twiggy.

Don’t Top Your Crape Myrtles!

  • Topping a crape myrtle destroys the natural balance and beauty of the tree.
  • Improperly trimmed multi-trunk crape myrtles have weakend immune responses and cannot fight off disease and insects as well.
  • As the topping continues, the crape myrtles can respond by growing more trunks, worsening the problem.
    • Topped crape myrtles have weak branch connections and are prone to breaking.

Why Do People in Texas Top Crape Myrtles?

  • We don’t know! It looks terrible, is terrible for the health of the tree, and causes long-term problems.
    • Some companies even advertise crape myrtle topping as a service — just another reason to make sure you use a tree service that employs local certified arborists who know how best to care for trees.

Doesn’t Topping Crape Myrtles Help Them Bloom?

  • Not in the long run! While it is true that crape myrtles bloom on each year’s new growth, a healthy and properly-trimmed tree will have more and stronger new growth, leading to more blossoms.
    • If a particular size or shape is desired, or it is necessary to reduce the trees’ height (for example, under power lines or eaves), proper trimming with care and attention can yield the same results without topping.
  • With the variety of crape myrtles cultivars available, examples of different sizes and growth rates can be found that are suited for various applications in North Texas landscapes.

For more information on crape myrtles, read our recent post.

Crape myrtle that has been topped. New growth is twiggy and uneven.

Properly-trimmed crape myrtles exhibit even structure and look beautiful year-round.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we hate to see a beautiful crape myrtle topped and turned into a twiggy mess. Even if a crape myrtle has been topped for many years, it can be restored through a simple care program. Proper trimming, combined with allowing new growth to mature, can go a long way toward repairing the damage caused by topping. Fertilization can also help with encouraging healthy growth. Ask a certified arborist to evaluate and make recommendations for your specific trees.

Why Is My Tree Losing Its Leaves in Spring? [UPDATED]

by Texas Tree Surgeons Ask Texas Tree Surgeons, Resources, Tree Health Care

UPDATE: Was your Live Oak damaged by frost and freezing temperatures? Read our post here!

Why is my live oak looking sick and dropping leaves?

Falling leaves, just like color changes, have become a hallmark of Autumn, but not all trees drop their leaves in the Fall. In North Texas, we have a lot of live oaks, which is one particular exception to the “trees just lose leaves in Fall” rule. Are your Texas live oaks looking brown or sick and dropping leaves? It’s probably just a seasonal leaf exchange.

Live Oaks Have a Leaf Exchange in Spring

  • For many trees, dropping leaves is a way of preparing to go dormant during the cold winter months.
    • Live oaks, however, can lose leaves throughout the year and generally stay green during the winter. The major live oak leaf drop takes place in the Spring.
  • When the weather warms up, and the trees move out of winter dormancy, live oaks begin to develop new leaf buds.
    • Before the new leaves can grow, however, live oaks have to drop the old leaves.
    • As the old leaves die, they turn brown and fall, preparing for the new leaves to bud out.
  • If, however, the fallen leaves have yellow spots or yellow veins, there may be something else causing the live oaks stress.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers! If you’re new to the area, or just haven’t noticed before, seeing otherwise healthy live oaks turn brown and drop their leaves in the Spring can be a cause for concern, but don’t worry! Live oak leaf exchange in the Spring is part of the healthy life cycle of the trees, and is a sign that your live oaks are ready for new growth as the weather warms up. As always, if you have any questions about live oaks or any other trees, let us know!