Tag ISA certified Arborist

Taking care of our urban forest is a complicated task. While tree care companies like Texas Tree Surgeons and individual homeowners are responsible for caring for most trees, communities and municipalities play an essential role in establishing the guidelines that ensure all urban trees have a chance to thrive. One member of a municipal tree care team is the city arborist. In Dallas, the city arborists are tasked with enforcing the city’s tree protection ordinances and investigating any violations. Additionally, the city arborists consult with residents, architects, and builders on the best ways of preserving existing trees, public and private, during construction. Jessie Farris, one of the District Arborists in Dallas, was kind enough to answer a few questions that homeowners often have.

What is the city of Dallas doing to protect our trees?

The
Article X Landscaping and Tree Preservation Regulations were amended in June 2018, as the Article X Landscape and Urban Forest Conservation Regulations. These regulations further protect and conserve our trees from illegal or unjustified removals. The City is currently working to increase and enhance our canopy cover through the creations of an Urban Master Plan and a Comprehensive Environmental & Climate Action Plan. Additionally, the District Arborists work hard to investigate illegal tree removals and educate the community on responsible tree stewardship.

Do I need a permit to remove a tree at my house?

You do not need a permit to remove trees from single family/duplex uses on properties under 2 acres.

What about my commercial property?

Protected tree removals off of commercial properties require either a Tree Removal Permit or Building Permit and are subject to mitigation
.

What about trees between the sidewalk and street?

Trees in the parkway are on city property and may not be removed without approval by the city arborist. The adjacent property owner is responsible for the maintenance and care of all trees and other vegetation on their premises (including the parkway and to the center of the alley). Trees must maintain a minimum 8-feet clearance over sidewalks, and a minimum of 15-feet over streets and alleys. Trees and vegetation should keep clear of visibility triangles (2.5 feet to 8’ minimum above the curb) at street and alley corners and driveways.

Does a demolition permit allow me to remove trees?

No. Protected tree removal is allowed only with a tree removal permit or as indicated and approved by the city arborist on a building permit.

Who do I call if I see someone removing a tree and I don’t think they should?

Contact 311 or Contact your District Arborist.

Can I stop my neighbor from taking down their tree?

Trees can be removed by the homeowner from single family/duplex uses on properties under 2 acres. If the tree is considered a “boundary” or “shared tree” it should only be removed after consultation with the neighboring owner. In some cases, you may wish to speak with your insurance company, personal legal counsel, or an independent certified arborist before taking action. The City of Dallas does not enforce on civil cases between separate property owners.

What do I do if a tree falls in the street?

Contact 311 or Public Works at 214-670-4491. If it is a life safety emergency, call 911.

What should I do if I think a city tree is a hazard?

Contact your District Arborist, 311, or Public Works at 214-670-4491. If it is a life safety emergency, call 911.

Who can I contact for tree issues in creeks and streams?

Contact 311 or Dallas Water Utilities at 214-670-0161. If it is a life safety emergency, call 911

Jessie Farris developed a passion for conservation and native plants at Texas Christian University before graduating with her Bachelors in 2017. She worked as the Supervisor of Horticulture at the Shangri La Botanical Research and Nature Center before joining the City of Dallas as the Northwest District Arborist in August of 2018. When she’s not in the field or meeting with clients, Jessie’s focus is on community outreach and developing training materials for the City. As the Education & Training Coordinator for the Arborist Department, Jessie creates educational resources for the Dallas community focusing on landscape sustainability. She also serves as the Secretary for the Trinity Blacklands Urban Forestry Council and will graduate with her Masters in Sustainable Natural Resource Management in May.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we hope those of you in Dallas have found the above information helpful! We always want to do what we can to keep our communities informed and involved. For more Dallas-specific resources, consult the Landscape and Tree Manual. We hope to add information about other North Texas tree regulations soon. In the meantime, if you have any questions about who to contact to find out what the rules in your area are, let us know!

Tree trimming or tree pruning in Texas is generally best when done after temperatures cool off in the fall and before buds begin to grow in the spring. Removal of dead, broken, or damaged limbs can be done anytime. The worst time to trim a tree is in the spring just after it has budded out. The tree will already have used its energy to start new growth, and will not be able to recover from the trimming as well or as quickly. At Texas Tree Surgeons, tree trimming is the most common service we provide, and is essential to maintaining health and safety in our urban forest.

Why is it best to trim trees in the fall and winter?

Trimming trees at the right time is crucial to keeping them healthy. During the fall, the tree’s internal systems begin to slow, as it prepares to go dormant (similar to hibernation in animals). Entering a dormant state helps the tree survive the winter cold, frost, and ice. As the weather cools, the water in tree tissue begins to be converted to starch, which insulates cellular tissue against freezing damage. During this period of dormancy, trees are able to heal the wounds made from pruning before the stressors of spring, like disease and insects, arrive.

Proper trimming is not just a matter of timing, however, but also of technique. Trimming your trees at the proper time in the fall or winter cannot compensate for the damage done through over-trimming, lion-tailing, or topping. Even though a dormant tree can better withstand these damaging types of trimming, the overall health of the tree may be irreparably harmed.

Why is it important to use a company with certified arborists to trim your tree?

Every tree is different. Two trees of the same species planted next to each other may still react differently to their surroundings. Having an ISA Certified Arborist examine your trees before trimming is crucial to ensuring proper care. In a yard with different tree species, there may be a range of trimming needs. A certified arborist can assess each individual tree to make the best recommendations for trimming, taking into account species, environment, disease or pest activity, and the tree’s natural life cycle. Improper trimming at the wrong time of year can cause a tree’s health to decline substantially. A certified arborist’s knowledge of tree biology and trimming best practices leads to the best trimming recommendations for your trees.

Is there a best time to trim a particular species of tree?

While it is generally best for all trees to be trimmed in the fall and winter, it is important to be aware of issues particular to a given species.

Oaks:

• The best time to trim oak trees in Texas is in the fall and winter.
  • It is critical to avoid trimming during oak wilt season (February-July) if at all possible.
  • Live oaks typically do a leaf exchange in late winter so it is better to trim them in late fall or early winter.
• Dead and broken branches can be removed at any time.

Maples:

• The best time to trim maples is fall and winter.
  • Pruning in the early spring can lead to sap leaking from the pruning cuts.
  • Maple trees are one of the few trees that have fall color in Texas so pruning after the leaf drop is usually preferred.

Elms:

• Elms are hardy and native to Texas. They are typically the first to get their leaves and the first to lose their leaves.
  Trimming elms in the fall and in the winter is best to avoid sap leaking.
• Elms are prone to rotting where large pruning cuts are made or poor puts are made so conservative trimming is best.
• In the parts of North America where Dutch elm disease is present, elms should be trimmed before March.

Crape Myrtles:

• Crepe Myrtles produce flowers on each year’s new growth.
  • Trimming in the fall leads to more blossoms in the spring.
  • Trimming in the late spring will reduce the number of flowers the following year.
• For the health of the crape myrtle, the best time to trim is winter.
  • Topping crape myrtles is never a good practice.

Bradford Pears:

• Bradford pears can be safely trimmed at any time.
• Proper structural pruning when needed is very important for Bradford pears because their natural growth patterns often lead to weakness at branch joints.

Fruit Trees:

• Structural pruning for fruit trees should be done in the winter.
• Trimming for fruit production should be done just after bloom in early spring.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers. In the winter, it can be easy to forget about our trees, as their leaves are gone and we spend less time outside. However, remembering that winter is the best time to trim trees can lead to healthier, more beautiful trees in the summer. We are always happy to come out and assess your trees for their particular trimming needs. When tree trimming must be done out of season, we are able to make sure that best practices are followed to minimize any negative effects. One of our certified arborists can make personalized recommendations based on your trees. Get in touch today!

After a devastating weather event like the tornadoes on October 20, 2019, the damage can be hard to assess, let alone start to repair. While damage to homes and other structures is of utmost importance to the community, addressing the damage to our urban forest, and determining what can be saved, is a key component of recovering after destruction.

Cleaning up downed trees is the first priority in an emergency situation. Fallen trees can prevent first responders and repair crews from accessing damaged utility lines and dangerous structures. Once the trees on the ground have been addressed, however, we must think about those left standing. After a high-wind event like a tornado, the trees left standing often have severe limb breakage and defoliation, or loss of leaves. Both of these issues have short- and long-term consequences, that must be understood.

Tree Safety Is Key

As soon as possible after a storm, owners of damaged trees should take a few steps to ensure there is no further damage to people or property:

• Clear the area around any damaged trees of vehicles and valuables and take steps to prevent access to the area.
  • If possible, cordon off the entire dripline area (from the trunk to the tips of the branches).
  • If there is a tree that could fall on your home, consider staying out of that part of the house until the tree can be assessed.
• Once the area has been secured, contact a certified arborist to assess the damage to your trees.
  • The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) has established the Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) to train certified arborists in the proper evaluation of the safety and stability of trees. Be sure to find an arborist who has completed the TRAQ program.
  • Ask the arborist about tree stabilization, such as bolting and cabling. These measures can help prevent future issues with splitting trees.
• Trees that are stable, but have lost a great amount of the canopy will probably need fertilization or other plant health care measures to recover.

Will My Trees Survive Tornado Damage?

Ultimately, the prognosis for a storm-damaged tree depends on several factors, including the species, location, soil condition, and underlying health of the tree. Based on our experience, however, certain North Texas trees should fare better than others.

• Live Oaks, Cedar Elms, Pecans, Bur Oaks – Uncertain/Wait and See

  • While these species are resilient, we are assessing them on a case-by-case basis.
  • If the tree is stable, we recommend waiting until the spring to see if new growth appears.

• Red Oaks, Maples – High Risk for Sun Damage

  • Both types of trees are susceptible to sunburn, which dries out the bark, causing it to peel off,  and exposing the sapwood underneath to damage.
  • Even if the tree is stable, the risk of stress and dieback from the winter sun is great.
  • Maples and red oaks that have lost their leaves have little protection from sun exposure.

• Crape Myrtles – High Chance of Survival

  • As long as the crape myrtles remained in the ground, they should survive.
  • Damage to limbs and safety pruning may alter the shape of the tree, but should not cause any major issues.
  • If increased insect activity is observed, consider using insecticidal soap in the winter or pesticides in the spring.

• Mulberries – Uncertain/Wait and See

  • Mulberries are fairly hardy, and may survive, but may suffer from dangerous instability.
  • Once tree is stabilized, wait to reassess during the next growing season.

• Hackberries – Uncertain

  • Have the root area examined by a certified arborist for signs of root rot or kretzschmaria.
  • Even if the tree appears undamaged, the hackberry’s tendency to develop root instability issues may make it a fall risk in the future.

• Magnolias – Unlikely to Survive

  • Extensive defoliation will likely stress the tree past the point of survival, and prevent recovery from any damage.
    • As evergreens, magnolias depend on their leaves year-round.

• Ornamentals – Likely to Survive/May Want to Replace

  • Smaller trees and ornamentals seem to fare better in high winds, as they are able to flex with the pressure.
    • One risk to smaller trees is being damaged by falling debris from larger trees or structures. If there is no physical damage, the tree is probably stable.
  • Many smaller ornamentals are understory trees, used to shade from larger species.
    • As with red oaks, risk of subsequent damage from sun exposure is high.
  • Even if the tree survives, it may not be as well-suited for its space after the damage, and owners may prefer to replace it.
    • Defoliation or wind damage may have irreparably altered the shape.

What Should I Do Now?

Whatever kind of tree you have, and however it has been damaged, contact a certified arborist to determine the best steps to take. We highly recommend fertilization for all trees impacted by storms, especially in our urban soils. If your trees are going to recover, they will need all the nutrients they can get. If your landscaping has been disturbed by the tornado, now might be a good time to adjust your mulching practices to help enrich the soil going forward. If you need guidance, we are always here to help.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers. We are shocked and saddened to see the widespread damage and devastation after the recent tornadoes, and our hearts go out to all those who have lost their homes. So much of our beautiful urban forest seems to have been uprooted or destroyed, and we want to do what we can to preserve what remains. We hope this overview has been helpful, and we are always available to come out to assess your specific trees for damage, stability issues, health issues, or to give you our recommendations for post-storm care. Don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have.

When people talk about tree care, they can use different words to talk about the same thing. You may hear “trim,” “prune,” or “cut,” just as you may hear “limb” or “branch.” At Texas Tree Surgeons, we are often asked the difference between a branch and a limb, or between tree pruning and tree cutting. Unfortunately, there is no industry standard definition for many common terms, and that can cause confusion.

A NOTE

If you visit our Facebook page, you may notice that we are categorized as a “tree cutting” business. In other places, we may be listed as “landscaping services.” Unfortunately, because there is no universal standard term for what we do, we have to find the best fit under the circumstances. At Texas Tree Surgeons, we use the term “tree trimming” to refer to the work we do.

Proper Tree Trimming Is the Key to Healthy Trees

Trees are living organisms, and every cut that’s made on a tree has long-term effects. Additionally, every tree is unique and has different needs dictated by its environment and history. A heavy trim may have no adverse effects on a large, healthy tree, but a tree that is under pre-existing stress or has a potential for health issues might be irreparably damaged by removing too much canopy. Furthermore, safety and stability issues may restrict the amount and type of trimming that can be performed. It is important when trimming trees to take all of these factors into account, as well as to be mindful of the weather and seasons. Improperly trimming a tree at the wrong type of year can lead to severe decline and death. 

While there are no universal standards for tree trimming, there are two sets of guidelines for the tree service industry that we at Texas Tree Surgeons follow. The first is from the International Society of Arboriculture, or ISA. The ISA is the premier international credentialing and membership organization for the tree care industry. In addition to establishing the Certified Arborist and Board Certified Master Arborist credentials, the ISA provides a wealth of resources for tree owners. The ISA guide to tree trimming (they use the term “pruning”) covers the basics of how to properly maintain mature trees. In addition to the ISA, the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) oversees tree service providers in the United States. In collaboration with the American National Safety Institute (ANSI), the TCIA has developed comprehensive guidelines for tree care and management. These guidelines provide the basis for all of our work proposals and trimming. Adherence to these guidelines is the best way to care for trees of all kinds, and all our certified arborists are equipped to assess individual trees and determine the best — and healthiest — way to care for them. 

Trimming visible growth is only part of tree care. Without a proper understanding of what’s happening below the ground and underneath the bark, a beautiful trim is of little use. Certified Arborists are trained to spot the signs of environmental stressors, diseases, and insects. Poor drainage and soil condition, competition with turf grass, and proximity to structures can all affect a tree’s growth. Beyond just trimming a tree, certified arborists are able to evaluate the tree holistically in order to provide the best care possible. 

Whether It’s “Tree Trimming” or “Tree Cutting,” Cheaper Isn’t Always Better

Ultimately, what is important is the tree care itself, not what it is called. To give your trees the best chance to grow and thrive, look for tree trimming companies that employ certified arborists. If you have any doubts, ask for their certification number, or look for the arborist’s name on the ISA website. A properly-trained arborist should never recommend topping or lion-tailing, and should take proper precautions during oak wilt season (February-July). Never be afraid to get a second opinion. Give us a call anytime, and we are happy to have a certified arborist come out and discuss what work needs to be done and provide a free quote!

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we believe that educating our community lays the best foundation for caring for our urban forest. If you have any tree questions don’t hesitate to get in touch!

As we prepare for storm season, Texas Tree Surgeons has a few tips for taking the best care of your trees. Let us know if you have questions or need us to come out to assess your trees!

Consult a Certified Arborist to Assess Any Storm Damage

Storms, especially ones with high winds and hail, can cause extensive damage to trees. After the storm, it is important to remove any damaged or fallen limbs, and to clean up the wounds from damage. If the tree is at risk for oak wilt or other diseases, it is critical to clean up wounds and seal cuts. See our post on storm damage.

Water and Fertilize After the Storms Have Passed

After any flooding has receeded, and the ground returns to its usual moisture levels, it is important to begin a water regimen for damaged trees. Damage to tree tissue can reduce the tree’s ability to pull water and nutrients from the soil. Additionally, consider fertilizer to increase availability of nutrients in the soil.

Special Note About Hail

Hail can defoliate trees and cause damage to the outer layers of tree bark. The loss of leaves and damage to vascular tissue can severely limit the tree’s ability to use nutrients. Healthy trees can recover, but trees with underlying issues or stressors may have a hard time bouncing back.

Watch for Signs of Stress

Just like after construction, it can take weeks or months for trees to show signs of stress from storm damage. Yellowing leaves, dieback, and limb discoloration are some signs of stress. If you see any of these signs, or have any other questions about your tree’s health, consult a certified arborist.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees and we love our customers, and we want to help our beautiful North Texas trees weather any storms that may come. As always, let us know if you have any questions or would like a visit from a certified arborist — storm damage or not.