SPRING 2020 ISSUE
S O U T H E R N C H A P T E R O F T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L S O C I E T Y O F A R B O R I C U LT U R E
ISA
S UTHERN
Adjusting to a new way of living, working, socializing, bonding, and learning is the order of the day. SEE STORY ON PAGE 8
AM_ISA_safety 2020.qxp_Valued 1/30/20 8:59 PM Page 1
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
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Message from the President
by Jimmy Walters
No 2020 conference? Bummer! I always look forward to seeing you, enjoying the fellowship, learning a bunch, and earning my CEUs. It looks like we did the right thing, though—but I still hate it. Our chapter will take a financial hit since the annual conference provides a major source of income, but thanks to good financial management by Dwayne Carter and continued fiscal responsibility by Skip Kincaid, we’ll survive and be ok. As for the CEUs, there will be other opportunities to keep up with them. State and local arborist associations and other green industry associations will be offering opportunities in the coming months as soon as this crisis has passed. The Southern Chapter can help: if there’s some area of arboriculture in which you would like to have more training, contact your state director or contact the Chapter office and we can probably set up something. If you do not yet have your TRAQ qualification, you can earn 14 ½ CEUs by completing the course. As of now, there’s only one course on the schedule in our chapter (Charlotte in September) but others can be
scheduled. We would like to have 90 days lead time, so let us know if you need a course in your area. Feel free to contact me or Skip for details. Whether you have TRAQ or not, there’s a new Best Management Practices book out that is a real jewel. The Utility Tree Risk Assessment BMP goes beyond the TRAQ manual and Tree Risk Assessment BMP with additional information that will be especially useful to utility arborists and others who work near utility lines. Anyone doing risk assessments will also find it very helpful. There is some good clarification and some very practical info on Level I assessments, “normal weather” and extreme weather, target zones, consequences, reporting, and limitations. There are 30 pages of appendices that you’ll find valuable in improving your diagnostic skills, and the Beaufort Wind Force Scale is included with a description on tree failures to expect at different wind speeds. This book is a bargain considering the information inside. If you don’t have TRAQ yet but are planning to take the course and test, order one of these and read it along with the TRAQ manual. You’ll be much better prepared. If you do have the qualification, you’ll really appreciate this supplement. Conference participation is expensive, so continued on page 6
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From the Ground up
by Kelsey Jones, CAC AmeriCorps member, City of Knoxville Urban Forestry Division
CAC AmeriCorps, a national service program that combines conservation practice with community action, engages 18-to20-something-year-old individuals in projects focused on enhancing community resilience through improving public lands, environmental education, and disaster response. During the 20172018 service year, members serving through the CAC AmeriCorps improved 1,015 acres of public lands and 105 miles of trail and waterways. This figure includes tree plantings, invasive species removal, and debris removal. Since the beginning of August 2019, I have been serving at the City of Knoxville as an Urban Forestry Technician through the CAC AmeriCorps. Some of the larger projects I have been helping the City of Knoxville Urban Forestry department with is updating the City’s Canopy Assessment; assisting in the creation of an Invasive Species Management plan; volunteering with TreesKnoxville, the City’s local non-profit; and updating TreeKeeper, Knoxville’s tree inventory database, with new trees planted, stumps removed, etc. While all of the tasks mentioned are very important for the department, both the canopy assessment and the invasive species management plan are imperative in expressing the need for continual support and resources to aid the health of our local environment. The goal of the canopy assessment is to compare the City’s tree canopy cover in 2019 with the assessment done of the tree canopy cover in 2012 to gain a better understanding on the canopy cover amidst development in recent years. The assessment also translates the trees’ benefits to the overall impact on the environmental health of Knoxville. This places a monetary value to the trees within city parameters as well. The management plan, while still in progress, has been a two-part project. After constructing the prioritization criteria to examine the land to be managed, the parcels were surveyed and scored accordingly. The second part has been creating a plan of action and budget tied to the findings in the land surveys. The management plan is essential to examining the extent of the invasive problem in one beloved area of Knoxville and provides cost estimates associated with the mitigation of the invasive species problem. Having an AmeriCorps member within the Public Service department is a valuable asset to the City in a few ways. The ability to use my position through the CAC AmeriCorps and City of Knoxville Public Service Department as a platform to communicate the importance of trees via the work I listed previously and the contact I make with the public almost every PAGE 4
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
Top: Kelsey Jones Middle and Bottom: City of Knoxville tree planting projects
day. My role at the City, and as an AmeriCorps member, is ultimately to enhance the ability of the Urban Forestry department to see their projects through. Overall, this service opportunity aligns perfectly with the City Public Service department in their goal to keep the community beautiful, safe, and clean. https://cacamericorps.org/
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
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Message from the President
2019-2020
continued from page 3
at least you’ve saved a few bucks. Why not invest in our industry by making a contribution to the TREE Fund to support research and education? Or perhaps join a local or state green industry association? Or maybe plan to attend the ISA Conference in Albuquerque this summer? At the least, squirrel away some funds for next year’s Southern Chapter Conference in Atlanta. It will be promoted nationwide, and it promises to be exceptional. With no annual conference, we’ll have to use a virtual business meeting to approve minutes, go over the budget, give awards, and install new officers. Our incoming Chapter President, Jason Gordon, will take over the gavel at that time. It has been an honor to serve our chapter during this challenging year, and I can assure you that we’ll be in good hands in the coming years. I’ll continue on our Board for one more year as Past President. If I can be of assistance to you in any way—now or in the future—feel free to contact me.
Southern Chapter Officers President: Jimmy Walters Urban Forest Advisors LLC (864) 992-0252 jimmy.3t@gmail.com Executive Director: Skip Kincaid (888) 339-8733 skincaid@isasouthern.org President Elect: Jason Gordon University of Georgia (706) 542-1011 Jason.Gordon@uga.edu Vice President: Kasey Krouse City of Knoxville (865) 215-6113 kkrouse@knoxvilletn.gov Treasurer: open Chapter Representative: David Vandergriff Griff Arbor|Hort (865) 705-4983 griffarbor@gmail.com TREE Fund Liaison: John Morris Alabama Power Company (205) 257-6870 jsmorris@southernco.com Past President: Beau Brodbeck Gulf Coast Research and Extension Office (251) 259-6507 brodbam@auburn.edu Media Director and Editor: Sarah Mitchell (336) 409-7805 sarahmitchell@live.com
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
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Southern Chapter Update & Report
by Skip Kincaid, Southern Chapter Executive Director
The ultimate understatement is to say, “These are interesting times that we find ourselves.” Adjusting to a new way of living, working, socializing, bonding, and learning is the order of the day. Our hearts go out to those who are having a difficult time dealing with these new challenges. The late John Prine said, “It’s a big old goofy world,” and I think we all couldn’t agree more. Take this opportunity to reflect on what you truly value and direct your efforts to become a living example of those values. Arborists are an interesting community. Most of us understand the gravity associated with world events, but we tend not to be thumb twiddlers. Arborists are people who like to be part of every day and fill them with new and exciting people and things. A good example of that is the recent increase in requests for information about where to earn ISA CEUs and take advantage of continuing education opportunities. Many of us are still working as hard as ever and filling every day with meeting demand. But for those who are finding some time to spend learning new things or staying fresh on topics we already understand, you will find a list of those opportunities in this newsletter. You can also visit the ISA Southern Chapter website anytime to get an updated list (www.isasouthern.org/upcoming-events). Additionally, many of you are pondering the status of your ISA credentials. Others are making plans to do some training within your organization or you are seeking CEUs with some type of online content. ISA and the Southern Chapter have responded in a big way to help answer those questions and to provide some great incentives to utilize free or reduced-rate content to maintain your credential. In addition, ISA has adjusted recertification requirements to help ease the burden. Here is a quick Q & A that may help answer some of the common questions we are receiving at the Chapter office. Some of this information is available at the ISA website https://bit.ly/3expkZy while some of this information is new.
9958. They have extended their customer service hours to 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, to better assist candidates. Additionally, ISA has canceled all paper-based exams between March 17 and April 20. Information has been sent to all candidates registered for exams. For a period of time, ISA is foregoing any exam rescheduling fees for those who wish to postpone and/ or reschedule their exam dates and can do so before the date scheduled for the exam. They should call (678) 367-0981 or email isa@isa-arbor.com to postpone or reschedule their exam date. If I am an ISA TRAQ credential holder with expiration date within the next 6 months and was schedule to attend an event that is now canceled, will my credential expire? You should have received a communication directly from ISA and your credential expiration date will be extended by an additional 6 months. The ISA Southern Chapter canceled the TRAQ course scheduled for April 22-24 in Winston-Salem, NC, and contacted all that had registered for that event. Most have transferred to the TRAQ course scheduled for September 15-17 in Charlotte, NC, or have been provided refunds. Registration is still open for this course and the TRAQ renewal course scheduled for September 14 in Charlotte. Details at www.isasouthern.org/traq-events. How do I earn CEUs while workshops and conferences are canceled? Nothing beats the opportunity to share time with our brothers and sisters at an event and swap stories or learn from one another or experts who do formal presentations or hands-on learning. While we wait for the air to clear, we do have many opportunities for continuing education at “live broadcast” webinar events or other on-line learning experiences. n
What if I am due to renew my ISA certification in the next 30-60 days and cannot attain Continuing Education Units (CEUs) due to event cancellations? ISA is extending those recertification periods by an additional 120 days to allow for more flexibility. We also encourage credential holders to seek CEU opportunities available online. Check the upcoming events section of this newsletter or check out the ISA Southern Chapter website for events https://bit.ly/2xCb2X6.
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Is ISA still reviewing and approving certification applications during this time? Yes, there is no disruption in this service. ISA staff continues to review and approve certification applications. We always recommend submitting an application as soon as a candidate decides ISA certification is a desirable pathway, as exam enrollment is contingent on an approved application. There are no fees associated with submitting an application, so if you have been thinking about applying, learn more here: https://bit.ly/2VhhLic What about ISA exams? ISA’s provider for computer-based exams, Pearson Vue, has temporarily closed their owned testing sites due to the spread of COVID-19. Information has been sent to candidates registered for these exams. They have been asked to cancel and/ or reschedule their exam by contacting Pearson VUE through https://home.pearsonvue.com/isa or via phone at (888) 711PAGE 8
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
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Southern Chapter Upcoming Events and CEU Opportunities. See the upcoming events section of this newsletter or check out the Chapter’s website for more information www.isasouthern.org/upcoming-events. Webinars. The Chapter office has spent a lot of time collecting information about where to go for live webinars that offer ISA CEU credits. There are several links on the “Upcoming Events” section of our website to organizations that have traditionally been in the forefront in providing quality arboriculture-related webinars. The Southern Chapter is proud to be a Gold Level Partner with the TREE Fund and to provide some of the content you missed at the Chapter Conference that had to be canceled. Several other organizations and their webinar content are listed as well. Remember that only live webinar attendance is eligible for CEUs. If a webinar provider has an archive of old webinars available, they must develop a quiz process for you in order to earn CEUs. https://treefund.org/webinars ISA Articles and Quizzes. ISA has graciously waived fees for a period of time to those wanting to earn a CEU by reading articles published in the ISA periodicals dating back to the beginning of 2018 at no cost to members. New Detective Dendro online quizzes will also be made complimentary to ISA members as they are published throughout the year. continued on page 18
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
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Upcoming Events
www.isasouthern.org
Do not miss out on continuing education opportunities and ISA CEUs! While many of the face-to-face workshops and conferences have been canceled, we have worked hard to partner with organizations to be sure you get a wide range of opportunities to stay sharp. This list contains upcoming events that we are aware of. All the courses and conferences listed provide opportunities to earn ISA CEUs which will help you maintain your ISA certifications. While we may not have links for each event that direct you to specific registration information, we do try to provide contact information so you can learn more about the event. Many thanks to these organizations that help support our growth in knowledge! We left many of the face-to-face events listed but indicated which ones that we know are canceled. ISA is also offering no-cost quizzes for articles to give you more opportunities to earn CEUs. Expanded Complementary CEU Quizzes for ISA Members To assist ISA members who hold credentials in earning continuing education units (CEUs), ISA is now providing online quizzes from both Arborist News and Arboriculture and Urban Forestry dating back to the beginning of 2018 at no cost to members. New Detective Dendro online quizzes will also be made complimentary to ISA members as they are published throughout the year. You will receive notices as new serial publications are added to our online platform. And look on page 14 of this magazine for a bonus article and quiz! Log-in to the ISA website and log-in to your MyISA account. Make your way to the page for Arborist News CEU quizzes, https://bit.ly/3coeMKw. Add the quiz to your cart, proceed to the checkout, and look for the content to appear on your personal dashboard under the header “My Quizzes.” Please note: CEUs for any given quiz/product may be earned only once per recertification cycle by each credential holder. Only online quizzes apply; mailed quizzes will not be accepted for CEUs. ISA will not issue refunds for previously purchased quizzes. WEBINAR DEVELOPERS AND HOSTS TREE Fund https://treefund.org/webinars. TREE Fund and the Southern Chapter are partnering to provide webinars featuring some of the speakers from the ISA Southern Chapter Conference that was canceled. Check out the links to these and other great webinars offered by TREE Fund and its partners. Urban Forestry Today www.urbanforestrytoday.org/ Forestry Webinars www.forestrywebinars.net/ Urban Forest Connections USDA Forest Service www.fs.fed.us/research/urban-webinars/ Utility Arborist Association www.gotouaa.org/project/webinars/ Utility Arborist Association members can access several webinars that highlight speakers that were scheduled to appear in the Utility Track at the ISA Southern Chapter Conference. ISA CEUs are available for the l ive broadcasts. UAA members can access the free webinar schedule at www.gotouaa.org/project/webinars/. After the live events are completed, the videos are archived and available to all, though ISA CEUs are not available for the archived videos. If you know of opportunities we haven’t listed, please share! Email skincaid@isasouthern.org.
April 17, 2020 TRAQ Renewal Course (one-day) CANCELED Forsyth County Extension Office 1450 Fairchild Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27105 April 17-19, 2020 ArborFest Expo Asheville, NC
CANCELED
April 19-21, 2020 ISA SOUTHERN CHAPTER CONFERENCE and TRADE SHOW CANCELED Winston-Salem, NC We regret that this event had to be canceled. Mark your calendars for March 20-23, 2021, for the North American Tree Conference and Trade Show hosted by ISA Southern Chapter in Atlanta, GA. Details will be announced soon. The ISA Southern Chapter Tree Climbing Championship is planned for March 20-21 in Atlanta as well. April 19, 2020 ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist EXAM CANCELED Winston-Salem, NC 27101 April 22-24, 2020 TRAQ Full Course CANCELED Winston-Salem, NC 27105 April 23, 2020 1:00pm Eastern Crape Myrtle Scale: Emerging Science on Treatment Considerations Alabama Extension WEBINAR Presenter: Dr. David Held Crape Myrtle Bark Scale is a new and emerging landscape pest in the US. Once infested, this pest can transform Crape Myrtles into unsightly plants in the landscape. This webinar will cover how this insect develops, as well as how to diagnose and manage this important scale insect. https://bit.ly/3cpf9Ex April 28, 2020 10:00 - 11:15am Eastern Designing Landscape with Trees in Mind North Carolina Urban Forest Council WEBINAR Presenter: Julieta Sherk, NC State University Julieta will discuss techniques used to design urban landscapes with trees, allowing for both above and below ground growth. Info and Registration: https://www.ncufc.org/event.php?id=34 April 30, 2020 1:00pm Eastern Selecting Trees: Alternative Trees to Crape Myrtle Alabama Extension WEBINAR Presenter: Mr. Jack Rowe The Crape Myrtle is one of the iconic southern landscape trees. The advent of the Crape Myrtle Bark Scale has begun to destroy the familiar Crapes, so we need something new to stand it their place. We’ll examine the tradeavailable small-to-medium flowering trees and consider their promise as replacements for Crape Myrtles. https://bit.ly/2XFcOBv May 7, 2020 1:00pm Eastern Managing Pine Bark Beetles in Urban Landscapes Alabama Extension WEBINAR Presenter: Dr. Beau Brodbeck In light of last year’s drought, pine bark beetles are expected to be a concern this summer. This seminar will discuss conditions that cause pine beetle outbreaks, bark beetle identification, and management strategies for urban landscapes. https://bit.ly/3cofsj2
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
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Upcoming Events
continued from page 10
May 12, 2020 1:00pm Eastern Sidewalks, Urban Plazas, and Tree Roots TREE Fund WEBINAR Presenter: E. Thomas Smiley, PhD, Bartlett Tree Research Lab Tree growth in urban areas is most limited by the lack of soil volume available for root development. This talk will discuss these limitations and share the results of research that compares different below-grade treatments. The research studies are a ten-year comparison of four different treatments and a three-year comparison of six different treatments. Treatment can make a significant difference in root development and above-ground tree characteristics as will be shown in photographs and with growth data. This webinar is co-sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service and ISA Southern Chapter. More information at https://treefund.org/webinars. May 13, 2020 9:00 - 10:15am Eastern Tree Care Ordinances and Regulations in NC North Carolina Urban Forest Council WEBINAR Presenter: Paul Ries, Insightful Nature LLC Effective public tree ordinances are a key ingredient in a successful municipal urban forestry program. But many cities struggle to find the right balance in developing, administering, or evaluating a tree ordinance. Dr. Ries will discuss philosophies, processes, and strategies for making your tree ordinance as effective as it can be. Info and Registration: https://www.ncufc.org/event.php?id=35 May 16-17, 2020 POSTPONED - Date to be Determined ISA Southern Chapter Tree Climbing Championships Knoxville, TN Unfortunately, we had to make the decision that Southern Chapter will postpone the our Tree Climbing Championship scheduled for May 16-17, 2020, in Knoxville, TN. We’ve all had to make some adjustments recently, and you can add this one to the list. We had a big crowd signed up and actually gained several new registrants for the Knoxville climb. Thank you to all that are showing dedication to the art of climbing by staying with us through all of the goofiness! We are working to arrange a new date, likely in September, at the same venue in Knoxville. Details will be distributed once we’ve set that date. Many other chapters and groups are rescheduling their climbing event for this fall, so it will be a scramble and we are trying to minimize impact with events that others have already scheduled. You may also be aware that ISA has cancelled the ITCC event scheduled for August in Albuquerque, so there is no urgency for us to crown our champions to compete at that event. They are planning to hold the NATCC event some time in the Spring of 2021. Our champions will compete at that event as they have in the past. The Southern Chapter will also plan to hold our usual TCC event at the Southern Chapter Conference scheduled for March 20-23, 2021, in Atlanta. More details about that soon! As before, if you wish to remain registered, the Chapter will hold your registration and transfer it to the new event. If you want a refund, just let me know and I’ll get that processed. As always, feel free to reach out and share your thoughts. — Skip Kincaid May 27, 2020 9:00 - 10:15am Eastern The Operational Aspects of Tree Protection Ordinances North Carolina Urban Forest Council WEBINAR Presenter: Ed Macie, USDA Forest Service, Retired This presentation will focus on best management practices related to the requirements and implementation of tree protection ordinances, with a focus on infill development. These elements include regulated tree coverage and protection standards, specific site planning and implementation, special encroachment techniques, boundary tree conflicts, and enforcement tools. Participants will be able to use this information to craft or revise tree protection ordinances to meet the specific needs of their community. Info and Registration: https://www.ncufc.org/event.php?id=36
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
Tuesday, June 2, 2020 1 pm Eastern The Calm Before: Tree Adjustments to Wind and Ice Storm Loads TREE Fund Webinar Presenter: Kim Coder, PhD, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia Trees grow with, and adjust to, large lateral and vertical loads caused by wind and gravity. Storms with strong winds and ice can push trees beyond their ability to reconfigure or fall back to reduce drag. Exceeding tree structural ice and wind load limits cause branch, root, and crown failures, or complete catastrophic loss of the tree. Wind loads greatly increase with small mile-perhour velocity changes. Storm wind loads and ice storm issues, and how they impact trees, will be reviewed. This webinar is co-sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service and ISA Southern Chapter. More information at https://treefund.org/webinars. June 9, 2020 9:00 - 10:15am Eastern Heat Related Illnesses and the Hidden Dangers North Carolina Urban Forest Council WEBINAR Presenter: Matt Losey, Bartlett Tree Experts Attendees will learn about the types of heat related illnesses and their signs and symptoms common for tree care and landscape professionals. Matt will also discuss ways to protect you and your crew while working during the summer heat. Info and Registration: https://www.ncufc.org/event.php?id=37 June 9, 2020 1:00pm Eastern Fighting Microbes With Microbes to Protect Our Native Trees TREE Fund WEBINAR Presenter: Rachael Antwis, PhD, University of Salford This webinar is co-sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. More information at https://treefund.org/webinars. Registration typically begins about one month prior to the webinar. June 23, 2020 9:00 - 10:15am Eastern Spotted Lanternfly: A Threat to NC Landscapes North Carolina Urban Forest Council WEBINAR Presenter: Whitney Swink, NCDA Plant Industries Division Spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that was first detected in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014. This presentation will cover its life cycle and biology, hosts, signs and symptoms, regulatory updates, and how we’re preparing to combat the pest when it gets to North Carolina. Info and Registration: https://www.ncufc.org/event.php?id=38 July 14, 2020 1:00pm Eastern Enhancing Tree Health in Water Sensitive Urban Design: Role of Mycorrizae TREE Fund WEBINAR Presenter: Brandon Winfrey, PhD, Monash University This webinar is co-sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. More information at https://treefund.org/webinars. Registration typically begins about one month prior to the webinar. August 26-27, 2020 ISA Certified Arborist Prep Class Columbia, SC Speaker: Jimmy Walters Thinking about becoming an ISA Certified Arborist or just need to review the basics? If so, join the ISA Southern Chapter and the South Carolina Forestry Commission for a two-day class reviewing the Arborist Certification Study Guide. Target Audience: Arborists, Tree Workers, Landscapers, Landscape Architects, Land Managers & Developers, & Nursery Care Professionals. ISA CEUs will be available for those that are already certified. For details and registration info: https://bit.ly/2VCUCWw.
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
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Pruning Research
by Guy Meilleur, Practicing Arborist & Aerial Consultant, www.historictreecare.com
Biomechanics is “the study of the structure and function of biological systems ... by means of the methods of mechanics (the details about how something works or is done).” But do we know how trees work? Mature tree systems are complex, dynamic, and interrelated. Alex Shigo believed that, “Being a generating system, the tree grows new parts in new positions.” Trees can only be understood with long-term observation. One view does not show us enough to judge the fate of these vital assets. Fortunately, there is a triennial event known as Biomechanics Research Week (BRW) that makes understanding trees possible over time. Since 2010, researchers and technicians have combined their talents to cut, pull, and learn from trees planted more than 50 years ago. 2019 marked the fourth such gathering at Davey Tree Research Farm in northeast Ohio. Scientists from several US states, and from Guadalajara to Croatia, gathered to seek answers to persistent questions about tree structure, health, and safety. At the 2010 event, two Platanus x acerifolia planetrees were pulltested. One had a cavity on the trunk, one did not. The hypothesis was that the tree with the “obvious defect” would fail first. However, the trunk of the “normal” tree broke, while the “defective” tree held up to much more force, and finally uprooted! The t/r<1/3 formula, not the tree, was proven defective. These results led Dr. Ed Gilman to observe, “We know next to nothing about tree biomechanics.” Breaking trees apart with carefully calibrated winches is a popular research activity, but analyzing the results is a challenge. Engineering formulas are based on uniform, unresponsive materials—not variable, living tissue. Statistical analysis is removed from real conditions, so testing is repeated in efforts to find reliability in those formulas. But those efforts are frustrated by the tremendous variability in living trees. At the 2013 BRW event, pull-testing trees and branches in one direction, “pure static loading,” was the primary activity, culminating with “The Wager Tree.” This ten-inch diameter Acer rubrum red maple had a gruesome-looking open cavity more than six feet long. Forty researchers and technicians stuck pins at the points where they thought the tree would fail. True to our training, most of the guesses were centered around the “obvious defect.” The winch was cranked up to 9.4 kilonewtons (over a ton of force) before the tree failed ... well above the cavity! Every single guess was low. In 2014, based on this research, a confession of our collective ignorance was voiced in an *addition* to the ISA Dictionary. “defect: A feature, condition, or deformity of a tree that *may* weaken structure or stability and could contribute to tree failure.” Response growth is the other side of the “defect” coin. When the tree’s fate is in question, its response deserves equal attention and weight, in tree time. PAGE 14
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
At the 2016 BRW event, Adolfo Sanchez of Guadalajara, Mexico, carried pull testing to the next level. Winching branches in two directions simultaneously, he documented the effects of torsional loading. “The 45-degree angle of failure indicates both forces at work. We reproduced a similar failure as a natural break, and a total failure, as the branch tore off completely. In the past pull testing the only stress we measured was bending moment, and the result was a partial failure and a hanging branch. The next step is to measure the magnitude of stress in different species.” A six-inch Quercus palustris pin oak branch was torn off in Sanchez’s pull test. The break first stopped near bulges at a node, which had no laterals but a lot of strength in its protection zone. The break finally stopped 13 inches below that at the next ‘terminal node,’ where the apical bud was set after the previous growing season. The stub was left to respond on its own so the results of this “natural fracturing” could be studied. The break was on the north side of the crown where shade limited the response measured in 2019 to a few short sprouts. Tearing off that pin oak limb was part of a study on crown regeneration using structural pruning techniques outlined by Henry Davis in 2002. Pin oaks were reduced by 20 feet or more, keeping cuts under the 4-inch maximum recommended in the German and British tree care standards. The bigger, subordinating cuts were made first. Arborists did not try to estimate the relative size of the remaining laterals or guess at their ability to take on the terminal role, which encourages outward growth. Mature trees often have overextended limbs—terminal roles gone wild! So the objective is the very opposite—inward and downward growth. Many cuts were made at a fork, some were back to an upright lateral behind the fork. Species including sweetgums, red maples, pin oaks, silver maples, and white pines were selected in a random pattern with all treatments receiving a range of sunny and shady conditions. We knew from past work in the field that exposure to sunlight is a big factor in crown regeneration. Dr. Jake Miesbauer and technician Don Ropollo discovered this the hard way, from rotten responses to large cuts made in 2013. “I hope that the results of this project can affect the daily decisions we make while pruning, and how we train new arborists,” BCMA Ryan Lewis said, “We’ll do better work when we pay attention to tree growth, and rely less on arbitrary formulas, like the 1/3 rule.” We expect the same results in Ohio that we typically see in the field, in line with Jason Grabosky and Ed Gilman’s reduction of Shumard oaks and live oaks in Florida. Sprouting from the cut surface was rare, with regrowth dispersed among interior laterals. Tree response is reconfirming that 2007 study, indicating that specified retrenchment by European standards can regenerate smaller, safer, low-maintenance trees. continued on page 16
SC TRAQ
by Sara Hollar, SC Director
South Carolina held a TRAQ Course in Columbia, SC, March 2-4, 2020. Fourteen participants joined us from as far away as New Jersey and California. We also had representation from the neighboring states of Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina ... and of course South Carolina.
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Pruning Research
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Crown-reduction pruning can be the best thing to do for a tree or the worst thing. Excessive crown reduction is known as topping, “large internodal cuts without regard to tree health or structure.” This study uses specified nodal cuts (made at growth points) that do not exceed four inches in diameter. “Smaller cuts shall be preferred,” is the wording in ANSI A300 Part 1, Pruning. All A300 Parts state, “The arborist shall establish the objective.” The “shall” makes this a requirement; “should” means recommendation. The arborist considers the owner’s goals in light of potential arboricultural treatments and plans the work to achieve the owner’s goals to the fullest extent possible. We adapted the default objective in the German standard which applies to most of our work: “Maximize health, safety, and value. Minimize risk and expense.” Like all the informational, supporting language in the British and German standards, the words are italicized. The ANSI A300 does not include informational guidance in the body of the document. A “heading cut” is defined as either an internodal cut, a cut to a bud, or a cut to a small lateral. While managing both hollow and stormdamaged trees, arborists have found that the size of the remaining lateral is less important than size of wound, light exposure, and other factors. Observing 60” dbh trees in Sweden with 3-4” shell walls, Dr. Ed Gilman noted, “We remove too many trees, and prune too few.” Heading cuts are often made after storms; indeed, the concept of “heading cut” is only relevant to pruning younger trees. In 2016, Silver Maples, Pin Oaks, Red Maples, and sweetgum trees were cut back with 2-4 inch maximum cuts, depending on tree size. The specification called for a dose up to 40% of the leaves removed. One inexperienced arborist with simple specifications and a bucket truck was able to prune seven mature Silver maple trees in two-and-a-half hours. In 2018 and 2019, we measured the response in both the callus growth closing the wounds and the sprouting response below the wounds. Callus was fairly uniform. Where the “donut” of tissue was uneven, that was related more to vascular flow than the location of the cuts. New branch extension growth averaged close to 16” in 2017 and 10” in 2018. With cut size limited to the maximum in the European standards, in pin oaks there was no sprouting at the cut surfaces. That means the regrowth should be better attached and conforming to the trees’ natural growth habit. Overall, sprouting after specified reduction pruning is typically located at interior nodes and is gradual. Maples and sweetgums responded differently, with more sprouts at the cut surface. Some of the regrowth was wild and unnatural in appearance, unlike the oaks. Ryan Redvers of Ontario, a soft maple specialist, initiated a 2019 study on silver maples using cuts smaller than 2”. Redvers’ system of regular pruning at the same areas could be considered a variation of pollarding. Based on his experience, natural growth form can be maintained with a lighter dose. Redvers pruned three trees with a lighter dose, three with a heavier dose, and left three as controls. Cross-pollination of ideas was “the original intent of Biomechanics Week, even before the research,” recalled Ward Peterson. “Getting researchers and practitioners working together helps them all get a broader view of their potential connections and contributions to the industry. Culturing a climate of creativity and mutual understanding is breeding fresh approaches to the research and practice of tree care.” Integrating fresh viewpoints from practitioners will keep Biomechanics Research Week energized in 2022 and beyond! REFERENCES: Henry Davis’ work: http://www.tcia.org/TCI-publications/tci-magazine/pdfs/09-2002-TCI-Mag.pdf http://www.tcia.org/TCI-publications/tci-magazine/pdfs/05-2003-TCI-Mag.pdf PAGE 16
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
PRUNING RESEARCH QUIZ 1. Pruning is which Part of the A300 Tree Care Standard? A. Part 1 B. Part 2 C. Part 3 D. Part 4 2. The objective is formed when _____. A. the owner or manager tells the arborist what to do B. the arborist plans the work to achieve the owner’s goals C. the purchase order is signed D. the check is in the mail 3. The universal principle of pruning mature trees is ________. A. reduce to laterals at least 1/3 the diameter of the parent branch B. remove large limbs with perfect collar cuts C. 90-3-90: the less cuts the better D. the smaller the wound, the better 4. A heading cut is defined as ________. A. an internodal cut B. a cut to a bud C. a cut to a small lateral D. any of the above 5. Observing 60-inch-dbh trees in Sweden with 3-4 inch shell walls, Dr. Ed Gilman said, ____________. A. “They have ticking time bombs all over the place.” B. “We know a great deal about tree biomechanics.” C. “We remove too many trees, and prune too few.” D. “Hazard tree removal is the essence of arboriculture.”
11. The first failure point of the Wager Tree was ________. A. above the cavity B. below the cavity C. at the most extensive decay D. on a tension root 12. A defect is a feature that ________ weaken structure. A. is highly likely to B. is not likely to C. may D. will 13. 9.4 kilonewtons is approximately ___. A. 500 pounds B. 1000 pounds C. 1500 pounds D. 2000 pounds 14. The largest recommended cut in the German and British tree care standards is _______. A. 2 inches B. 4 inches C. 6 inches D. There is no maximum recommended collar cut 15. The break in the pin oak branch stopped _______. A. at a lateral branch 1/3 the diameter of the parent’s branch. B. at a node with no lateral branches. C. at the branch collar. D. six times its diameter beyond the origin. 16. The sprawling pin oaks were reduced by ________. A. 5 feet and more B. 10 feet and more C. 15 feet and more D. 20 feet and more
6. After the storm, for better form A. make all cuts just outside the collar B. wait and see C. head (make heading cuts) D. make coronet cuts
17. Henry Davis’ structural pruning technique makes ______ first. A. inner branch removal cuts B. outer branch removal cuts C. bigger subordinating cuts. D. smaller cleaning cuts
7. Reducing branches to a lateral that can assume the terminal role is important for ________. A. young trees B. mature trees C. older trees D. all trees
18. Stems that are cut into little crowns are __________. A. bayonets B. coronets C. martinets D. silhouettes
8. Ryan Redvers’ system of regular pruning at the same nodes is a variation of _________. A. topiary B. pollarding C. espalier D. topping
19. One person with simple specifications and a bucket truck was able to prune how many mature silver maple trees in 2.5 hours? A. 5 trees B. 6 trees C. 7 trees D. 8 trees
9. Sprouting after specified reduction pruning is typically located at ______. A. the cut surface, and fast B. the cut surface, and gradual C. interior nodes, and fast D. interior nodes, and gradual
20. In 2007, a study on reducing oak trees found that more growth _____. A. sprouted from the cut surface B. died within three years C. was dispersed among interior laterals D. was dispersed among exterior laterals
10. Informational text in the body of the UK and German standards is signified by _________. A. bolding B. underlining C. italicizing D. standards do not include informational text
To receive CEUs for this article, please submit your answers to skincaid@isasouthern.org. Be sure to include your name and ISA certification number.
“Southeast Trees and the Law” recap
by Barbara Fair, NC State Extension
On February 13, 2020, I led a day-long event entitled “Southeast Trees and the Law - Navigating the Complexities of Neighbor Tree Law. ” This event was a partnership between the NC Urban Forest Council and NC State Cooperative Extension. While there have been conferences about the law in North Carolina in the past, this was truly one-of-a-kind, and gathered more than 100 participants from across the southeast. The event featured three stellar presenters, all engaging and knowledgeable. Mr. Hunt Choi, Deputy Attorney with the City of Raleigh for more than 20 years, started off the day. He obtained his law degree from UNC, and began his career in the field of tort liability. His presentation focused on common law tort liability, and offered insights into the investigation and evaluation of tree liability claims from the perspective of a lawyer working for a city. He received lots of great questions, and even had folks following him out the door to get one more bit of information. That is the sign of an engaging, informative speaker. Hunt really set the stage for the rest of the day. We were lucky enough to get two of the most experienced consulting arborists in the country to guide us through the rest of the day. After Hunt, Mr. Skip Kincaid presented …. You will know Skip Kincaid as an arborist and the Southern Chapter’s new Executive Director. In the morning, Skip gave an introduction to “duty of care” and “standard of care” as it applies to tree risk assessment and exposure to liability. After lunch, Skip introduced some hot topics in neighbor law, utility responsibilities
and rights, and presented some case study examples. Last in the lineup was Mr. Joe Samink. It was during an extended layover at the Mobile, AL, airport that the idea of this event was actually born. Joe and I had lunch together, and laid out the basic framework for this symposium. Joe is quite an intriguing gentleman, and I was excited about working with him on this project. Joe is a consulting forensic arborist in the areas of trees, landscapes, and related green industry matters. He has been named as an expert in more than 1000 litigation matters in small claims, civil, federal, criminal, and eminent domain courts of law. He has been a consultant for more than 54 years. Joe spoke about neighbor law regarding private residential settings and commercial development. He focused on laws and property rights, providing tips for how to avoid getting yourself in trouble by practicing due diligence and duty. Later in the day, Joe discussed ANSI A300 Standards and how courts understand these concepts. He developed a solid framework for how arborists can have successful outcomes in lawsuits. During the day, there were open times when the audience engaged with the three speakers. I believe even if we scheduled twice as many one-on-one hours, it still would not have been enough time! All in all, it was a successful day and the reviews were quite positive. We hope to put together something like this again in the future, as it is evident that the need is great for more information about this topic.
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SPRING 2020
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Southern Chapter Update & Report You will receive notices as new serial publications are added to ISA’s online platform. Log in to the ISA website and log in to your MyISA account. Make your way to the page for Arborist News CEU quizzes www.isa-arbor/store/ceuquizzes/110. Add the quiz to your cart, proceed to the checkout and look for the content to appear on your personal dashboard under the header “My Quizzes.” Please note: CEUs for any given quiz/ product may be earned only once per recertification cycle by each credential holder. Only online quizzes apply; mailed quizzes will not be accepted for CEUs. ISA will not issue refunds for previously purchased quizzes. n
ISA Online Educational Courses. Another way to earn CEUs is to utilize ISA’s online educational courses. Check out the many different courses that are available at https://bit.ly/2xCv8Ay. For a limited time, ISA is offering a 10% discount on online educational courses!
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Throughout the month of April, continue your arboricultural education by taking advantage of this one-time offer by using code ONLINETEN at checkout. Available through April 30, 2020, this discount is available to everyone. For ISA members, this is IN ADDITION to your member discount! This is a great time to take advantage of online educational courses. Details n I ncludes all online courses and bundles using code ONLINETEN https://bit.ly/3bnG188 n O ne use per customer, expires April 30, 2020 n 1 0% off only applies to eligible items n N ot applicable to previous purchases n M embers get 10% off member price, non-members get 10% off non-member price https://bit.ly/3afWhXo
2019-2020 State Directors Alabama: Jack Rowe AL Cooperative Extension System (251) 589-5572 wjr0001@auburn.edu
Mississippi: David Fulgham (662) 255-5127 david@fulghamsinc.com
Arkansas: David Raines Raines Tree Care (479) 244-5228 david@rainestreecare.com
North Carolina: Laurie Reid Dukes City of Charlotte (980) 259-2771 Ldukes@charlottenc.gov
Georgia: Nancy Beckemeyer Georgia Power Company (404) 590-9376 nsbeckem@southernco.com
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands: (open)
Louisiana: Hallie Dozier LSU AgCenter (225) 281-3264 hdozier@agcenter.lsu.edu
South Carolina: Sara Hollar City of Columbia (803) 545-3781 sara.hollar@columbiasc.gov
Tennessee: (open) At-Large: Perry Odom City of Tallahassee, FL (850) 891-5181 Perry.Odom@talgov.com
Southern Chapter ISA Website: www.isasouthern.org Phone: (888) 339-8733 E-mail: skincaid@isasouthern.org Skip Kincaid, Exec. Director 1609 Missouri Avenue St Louis, MO 63104