S UTHERN 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
WINTER 2024
A tree-ish approach to community SEE PAGE 6
Message to the Membership Matt Searels, Southern Chapter President As we embrace the winter season, it’s time to reflect on the progress and achievements that have shaped our chapter throughout the year. I am excited to share some key updates that underscore our commitment to excellence and growth in the arboriculture community. 1. Programming Committee’s Strong Agenda Our Programming Committee has been diligently working to curate an exceptional agenda for the upcoming events. I am pleased to announce that we have secured commitments from presenters who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. The diverse range of topics and perspectives promises an enriching experience for all members. Be prepared for insightful sessions that will not only broaden your understanding but also inspire you in your professional journey. 2. Nominating Committee and Board Elections The Nominating Committee has been hard at work, and I’m delighted to report that we have received an impressive pool of applicants for the upcoming board elections. The enthusiasm and dedication demonstrated by the candidates are a testament to the vibrant community we have within our chapter. As we move forward with the election process, I encourage each member to actively participate and cast your vote to shape the leadership that will guide our chapter into the future. 3. Finance Committee’s Strategic Reserves Review Our Finance Committee, in collaboration with the Executive Director and Executive Board, is actively engaged in a comprehensive review of our reserves. The aim is to ensure that we are strategically capitalizing on market conditions, particularly in assessing long-term interest rates. This proactive approach demonstrates our commitment to financial stability and responsible management, safeguarding the Chapter’s future endeavors. 4. Matt Searels as ISASC TREE Fund Liaison I am honored to share that at our last Board meeting, I was elected to serve as the ISA Southern Chapter’s liaison to the TREE Fund. My experience with TREE Fund’s Tour des Trees and ISASC dovetails nicely for this position to allow me to engage both organizations, fostering collaboration and synergy between academic tree research and community education & outreach. I am excited about the potential for shared successes and the positive impact this liaison role can have on our collective efforts. As we look ahead, let’s approach the winter season with a renewed sense of purpose and unity. The ISA Southern Chapter continues to thrive, thanks to the dedication and contributions of each member. I am confident that the initiatives mentioned above will further enhance our chapter’s standing and contribute to the flourishing arboriculture community we have built together. Wishing you a wonderful winter season filled with growth and inspiration.
PAGE 2
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
OF MOBILIZING
WHEN A STORM IS IMMINENT, IT’S A CALL TO DUT Y. OUR TEAMS ARE READY ON A MOMENT’S NOTICE TO LEAVE THEIR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES, TRAVEL TO STAGING LOCATIONS NEAR AND FAR, AND WORK IN THE ELEMENTS TO ASSIST IN POWER RESTORATION EFFORTS. WE
ARE
PRO U D
T H AT
OUR
PEO PL E ,
THEIR
FA M I L I E S
AND
OUR
CUSTOMERS ALL PITCH IN TO GET THE JOB DONE.
ASPLUNDH.COM
1 . 8 0 0 . 2 4 8 .T R E E
.
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
PAGE 3
Southern Chapter Report by Skip Kincaid, Southern Chapter Executive Director
Yup … it’s 2024 already! A new year and more time to accomplish all those things we’ve been planning for. Like making sure the woodpile is stacked and always at the ready. It’s been mild up to this point, so we’ve only burned through about a cord of oak here at home, but winter has a way of creeping up on us and I’m sure we’ll get through the four cords we usually do. All good ... we heat the house with wood and a fire just seems to keep holiday visitors around just a bit longer. Same is true here at Southern Chapter. Winter is creeping up on us too. Preparations are underway for the 82nd Annual Southern Conference Annual Conference and Trade Show that will be held March 24-26, 2024, in Little Rock, Arkansas. It’s a great location for our annual gathering. We won’t have a fire in the stove to keep us close, but we will have a packed agenda of great speakers that include Dr. Kim Coder, Dr. John Ball, Lindsey Purcell, Dr. Brian Kane, and many others. The Tree Academy will include presentations to help climbers prepare for the newly revamped ISA Tree Climber credential certification exams. And the TCC will have a separate station for those already certified to meet recertification requirements and to take their
practical exam if they’re pursuing the credential. The 42nd Annual Tree Climbing Championship is literally next door to the convention center and host hotel. The Old State House Museum is a historic site with a great collection of old trees. Be sure to make the trip to Little Rock and come early to be part of the activities at TCC or sign up for one of two pre-conference workshops to be held on Sunday, March 24. The conference has a new twist this year; the opening general session will take place Sunday evening followed by the Presidents Reception. We’ve been busy planning other events and activities as well. We just finished up our first TRAQ course which had 40 attendees and two instructors. TRAQ continues to grow! Check out the schedule of events for upcoming courses. We are likely to add one to the calendar soon that will take place in Little Rock right after the conference. And if you already hold the TRAQ credential, we have virtual renewal courses set throughout 2024. If you need CEUs to maintain your other ISA certifications, check out the calendar of events for a complete list of upcoming educational events presented by the Chapter and many of the great organizations throughout the South. The calendar is shown here in the newsletter, but you can always see the most current list by visiting the chapter website. Lastly, our Board of Directors is about to get a new look. Our annual election will take place soon so keep an eye out for an email that contains your ballot. We had many folks step up to the plate and offer to run for a position on the board. I am so thankful for the willingness of folks to volunteer for the many tasks that enable us to run this organization in a way that meets your needs. One of the things we can do better here at Southern Chapter is have a list of “at-the ready” tasks and committees for volunteers to handle. Nothing worse than having someone offer to help and we don’t have a meaningful place for them. We’re working on that and will do better. Get out there and enjoy winter! And make plans to visit with us and your arborist brothers and sisters in Little Rock.
Honor someone who stands out in our industry Check out the Southern Chapter’s online awards page for an impressive list of honorees, award criteria descriptions, and nomination form. Award of Merit | Award of Achievement | Honorary Life Membership Award for Excellence in Arboriculture Education President’s Award | John G. Martin Award Award of Arboricultural Research | Award for Excellence in Arboriculture
PAGE 4
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
AM_ISA_ 2022.qxp_Valued 4/13/22 1:17 PM Page 2
GROWTH
ARBORMETRICS — COMPREHENSIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS
w w w. A R B O R M E T R I C S . c o m • 1 . 8 6 6 . 6 8 5 .1 8 8 0 t o l l f r e e
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
PAGE 5
A tree-ish approach to community by Sam Cannon, consulting arborist for The Treeist, Chapel Hill, NC
After writing extensively about all the ways in which the life cycles of insects, animals, fungi, bacteria, et al. are either partially or completely enabled by a tree--interactions that often draw on its resources--Alex Shigo marveled, “[T]he natural connections seem to be endless. The tree seems to be the mother organism of the world. Maybe it is!” (A New Tree Biology, 69). Within the biological directives of carbon capture, stress resilience, and biomechanical stability that each individual tree, according to its unique genetics, will balance slightly differently, there is an enormously generous economy of giving or enabling that is both directly and indirectly accounted for within a tree’s biology and biological processes. Shigo further emphasizes this aspect of a tree’s nature saying, “[T]he tree is a community center for many organisms” (187). Now famous for her research and writing on forest ecology, Suzanne Simmard, a few decades later, drew on similar imagery, popularizing the term “mother trees” to describe her conclusions that the largest trees in the forest act as hubs for underground mycorrhizal networks. Certainly, the fitness of a majority of trees and plants hinges upon finding and developing these intimate relationships with mycorrhizae. Similarly, a well-known, long-term study on human health and happiness done at Harvard concluded that close relationships are one of the most important predictors of said health and happiness. In September of 2021, I boarded a plane in Salt Lake City and exited in Charlotte, NC. The following day I was sitting near the front row of a small classroom in a municipal building listening to a legendary tree-educator, Jimmy Walters, open on a refrain he would repeat several times over three days, “Trees are not as dangerous as PAGE 6
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
people think.” His belt carried an outsized buckle emblazoned with a wide-spreading oak. This was a man worth listening to. As I sat in a room of diverse arborists, two in particular impressed me with their warmth, taking an affable interest in my long trip, being the only attendee from the western US. One of those arborists would offer me a job some 10 months later, and in 2022 I packed a moving van and traveled a few thousand miles to an area I had no connection to. It was really this warmth I first felt in the TRAQ course from these two arborists from The Treeist and the company’s obvious excitement for engaging, teaching, and learning from others that set them apart and drew me in, and in the year-and-a-half I have spent so far with them, I have benefited from and tried to model this community-building orientation towards others. The connections I have made in my short time here have been very rewarding; I have made colleagues of arborists from other companies, extension agents, and even clients who have helped me in my efforts to learn an entirely new suite of trees, plants, and plant pathologies. I have broadened the pool of teachers I draw from by enrolling in excellent classes offered via the North Carolina Botanical Garden and participating in field trips with renowned experts such as Alan Weakley, learning to love southern ecologies in the heart-wrenching longleaf pine savannahs of the coastal plain. Not least of all, I have learned from the very patient expertise of the arborists I support at The Treeist. The Treeist reaches out to the community in a number of interesting ways, offering pro bono tree work to less financially able parts of the community. Employees, volunteering their time, teach community-oriented weekend classes on everything from rope splicing to tree climbing, chainsaw maintenance to tree identification.
The guiding philosophy that has been instilled in me is to give sound advice and not sell unneeded work, even when that may mean attempting to talk a client out of a tree removal. (“That tree may not be as dangerous as you might think,” I’ve found myself saying – I’m still looking for the belt buckle.) And where a little on-site education can save a client some expense, or where I can put them in touch with a provider better suited to their project, I have been explicitly trained and encouraged to do so. On numerous instances, moved by the situation, I have done work on-site as the estimator, and I know my colleagues are doing the same because our clients tell me about it. These are often the best, most re-invigorating days. Similar to the triad of compromises a tree must make between critical biological imperatives, a tree care company itself must, among other things, carefully balance growth, maintenance, and training. Each of these can be time-consuming and expensive. We all know how tight those margins can be and how much the losses or sudden expenses can hurt. Despite that, I have caught the vision that generosity can be a guiding principle, that it may, in fact, end up increasing the capacity of both the company and its employees. A tree company may even, of all things, aspire to be a community center and nurture the health of the same. Visit The Treeist website for a look at classes offered and additional insight into the company’s ethos.
David Ricks giving free climbing instruction to a group often comprised of community members and arborists from other companies.
Our advanced technology for tree treatment allows you to
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF TREES YOU TREAT IN A DAY!
◆ No drilling damage ◆ No mixing at job sites ◆ No guarding or return trips ◆ No waiting for uptake ◆ Treats most trees in five minutes or less! ◆ Successful and most profitable add-on service
Multiple injection tips designed for all types of trees, conifers and palms
Insecticides • Fungicides • PGRs • Antibiotics • MicroNutrients
Learn more! Call 800.698.4641 or visit ArborSystems.com for information and videos SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
PAGE 7
South Carolina to ban sale of invasives
This fall, the Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) and other Callery pears, along with three species of invasive olive (Elaeagnus spp.), Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), Silverthorn (Elaeagnus pungens), and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), will be banned for sale in South Carolina nurseries. This has been a multi-year decision in the making, led by the efforts and due diligence of the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Invasive Species Advisory Committee, in collaboration with the SC plant industry and state agencies. On October 1st, South Carolina will become the second state in the US to ban nursery sales of Bradford/Callery pear, followed by Ohio, which officially finalized their state ban on January 1st of 2023. The ban applies to SC nurseries and prohibits the sale or trade of these plants. It does not, however, make it illegal for SC citizens to possess these plants or have them on their property. As responsible environmental stewards, though, landowners are strongly encouraged to remove invasive Callery pears and olive shrubs (Elaeagnus spp.) from their properties.
by Dena Whitesides,
Bradford/Callery pear
South Carolina Director
PAGE 8
For decades, ‘Bradford’ pear has been spreading like wildfire across SC and the southeast as dense clusters of thorny spouts have hijacked forest openings and manifested into Bradford pear meadows on agricultural fields and other open spaces. It began as a single, sterile seedling selection that was cloned by the masses and quickly became the most popular street and yard tree in America, prized for its profusion of spring flowers, attractive fall color, and rapid growth rate that delivered near-instant gratification for residential yards.
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
TOP LEFT: Callery pear invasive spread. SC Forestry Commission TOP RIGHT: Elaeagnus pungens foliage. Photo by James Miller, USDA Forest Service. bugwood.org. BOTTOM RIGHT: Elaeagnus angustifolia. Steve Dewey, Utah State University. Bugwood.org. BOTTOM LEFT: Elaeagnus umbellata. Photo by Chris Evans, University of Illinois. CENTER: Pyrus calleryana thorns. Nancy Loewenstein, Auburn University. Bugwood.org
By the 1980s, researchers noted its structural issues, deeming them prone to failure. This led to the development of several other flowering pear cultivars aimed to improve the tree’s form. However, shockingly, the Bradford then began to cross-pollinate with other Callery pears developed from the same rooting stock, creating a huge invasive problem. The new invasive pear seedlings formed dense, impenetrable thickets, often outcompeting native plants, shrubs, and trees for light and essential nutrients. Their long, sharp thorns also create headaches for landowners and wildlife, as they puncture tractor and vehicle tires, cause injury to people, livestock, and wildlife, and increase maintenance costs. Beyond the regulatory ban on Callery pears, Clemson and the SC Forestry Commission teamed up in 2020 to create the Bradford Pear Bounty program to encourage landowners to remove their Bradford/ Callery pears in exchange for free, native replacement trees like Bald cypress, Black gum, Overcup oak, and Sweetbay magnolia. This program aims to increase public education on the impacts invasive plants have on forests and the economy, promotes the planting of more natives in the landscape, and fosters best tree management practices in tree selection, planting, and maintenance. Events are timed to coincide with Bradford’s showy spring flowering when identification is easiest. For more information on upcoming Bradford Pear Bounties, visit the Bradford Pear Bounty website.
Elaeagnus In addition to invasive Callery pears, three aggressive, invasive olive species have also been banned for sale in SC. Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), Silverthorn/Thorny olive (Elaeagnus pungens), and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) are all seriously invasive shrubs that are widespread in SC. Originating in Asia and Europe, these plants were introduced as ornamentals, restoration plants on degraded landscapes, and wildlife habitat enhancement. Elaeagnus species differ slightly in physical appearance but share some common traits. Springtime blooms are creamy white flowers adorned on thorny branches, rounded drupe fruit, and a distinctive silvery scale covering on leaves, fruit and twigs. Like Callery pear and other serious invasives, Elaeagnus plants produce copious amounts of seed and spread rapidly via root suckering. They form dense, impenetrable thickets that block light and crowd out native plants which threatens the native integrity of forests and contributes to biodiversity loss. Though regulatory action has the power to prohibit their sale and trade, the movement and spread of these invasive plants continues. It is well known that invasive species are one of the primary drivers for loss of biodiversity. Working together as responsible land stewards, we can control and manage invasives to help reduce their spread for better protection of the native integrity of our forests. For more information on managing invasive plants, refer to the South Carolina Forestry Commission’s Invasive Species publication.
An Artist’s Journey by Patti Erwin, Natural Resource Planning
Linda Palmer grew up in eastern Oklahoma playing in the woods in front of her family farmhouse and under a large oak tree on the school playground. These childhood experiences inspired her interest in trees, and, as a professional artist, she often chooses to draw and paint them. Palmer is one of few artists—and the only one in Arkansas—who has created a series of artworks based on individual, recognizable, documented champion trees. The project began in 2007 when she viewed the list of Arkansas’ largest examples of each species of tree determined by the Arkansas Forestry Commission, now known as the Arkansas Forestry Division of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Traveling more than 20,000 miles to photograph the trees, Palmer has created over 35 large-scale portraits of champion trees using Prismacolor pencil on paper. The “Champion Trees” series showcasing the largest specimens in Arkansas has been exhibited in 29 venues throughout Arkansas. Collecting oral histories and keeping a journal of her adventures inspired Palmer to envision her first book. This wonderful tabletop book displays all the trees and their stories. One fun story is about the champion American Holly. Two elderly sisters told her about their mother planting and caring for the tree when they were children and they were forbidden to climb in it to ensure the tree survived. The drawings also formed the basis for AETN’s awardwinning documentary, “Champion Trees.” In 2022, Linda received the Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award, an annual recognition presented by the Arkansas Arts Council to honor individuals and organizations for significant contributions to the arts in Arkansas. Be sure to check out her inspiring drawings online and at the Justus Fine Art Gallery in Hot Springs.
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
PAGE 9
2023 drought and its effects on pines by Stephen Dicke, Mississippi Director It is with great anxiety we watch the 2023 exceptional 50-year drought unfold. A drought that began in July-August has continued for 5-6 months (Fig. 1.). Pines are supposed to be drought resistant, but already a million are dead. So far, hardwoods have survived better. To understand what is happening I present a summary of some fantastic water and trees articles. Copies are available from me or SO ISA. Dr. Kim Coder showed us how water molecules stick together via hydrogen bonds. These bonds allow leaves to pull water up from the roots using the power of transpiration. Water is being pulled up, so it has negative water potential. Trees are sensitive to decreasing potential and close their leaf stomates at -1.5 megapascals (1MPa = 10 atmospheres). Stomates control over 90% of all water loss. It is the uncontrolled 5-8% that can crank water potential way down during droughts. Coder, Kim D. 2012. Water & Trees UGA WSFNR12-11. Scharwies and Dinneny (Fig. 2.) illustrated water potential from soil (highest) to leaves (lowest). As soil dries, water potential decreases throughout the tree. A short dry spell dropped water potential in leaves to -2 MPa. Rodrigues-Zacarro and Groover (Fig. 3.) described how conifer tracheids move stem water. As droughts cause water potential to drop, liquid water wants to vaporize. When this happens, tracheids fill with air and become non-functioning (white color). Adjacent tracheids (blue) are protected from air pockets by pits and torus that act like pressure hatches. But, once water potential drops to -2.5 MPa, a torus has trouble holding back air. Over time a torus will fail, and tracheids become nonfunctioning. Liang et al explained why pines, like other conifers, tend to die faster than hardwoods during exceptional droughts. Conifers can only tolerate a 50% loss of xylem conductivity (or a loss of about half of functioning tracheids) before their entire hydraulic system collapses and trees die. Hardwoods tend to die slower in a severe drought because they can tolerate up to 88% loss in xylem conductivity before their hydraulic systems collapse. Liang, Xingyun et al. 2021. Wood density predicts mortality threshold for diverse trees. New Phytologist (2021) 229: 3053–3057. Arend et al (Fig. 4.) illustrated how xylem pressure in conifers drops during a drought. At Pst or near -1.5 MPa, leaf stomates close. From this point on, CO2 intake and photosynthesis are zero and trees live solely on stored energy. At Pcav or around -2.5 MPa the cavitation of tracheids begins. Tree enters the hydraulic risk zone. The longer a tree stays in this zone, the more likely it is to die. Eventually xylem pressure drops to P50 or the lethal 50% of normal. A drought like this could visit us again soon. To help us prepare, Dr. Coder outlined things we can do to reduce tree loss and speed up recovery. Dr. Kim Coder. 2021. Drought & Heat Impacts on Trees. UGA WSFNR-21-38C. The main thing is to water your trees! To request publications, please contact Stephen Dicke. PAGE 10
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
Co-benefits of trees & human health by Francesca Gross, Cool Green Trees
A small non-profit in Birmingham, Alabama, has been working in urban conservation for more than 20 years. They hit the jackpot in the summer of 2022 when the Jefferson County Department of Health funded a new program “Cool Green Trees” specifically for tree planting in urban heat islands. Many urban foresters dream of having a strong non-profit teamed with a municipality to forward the practice of providing the co-benefits of trees and urban forests. This project is a unique collaborative effort between Cawaco RC&D Council Environmental Programs; the City of Birmingham; a diverse, multidisciplinary team from the University of Alabama at Birmingham; and numerous local non-profits in Jefferson County, Alabama. After one year of operation with a young staff, the Cool Green Trees program was submitted for funding for the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant Program. The key pieces of the proposal included continuous community engagement, tree planting, green infrastructure for flooding, green workforce development for native tree propagation, and data analysis. The Cool Green Solutions proposal was fully funded without corrections. The funding is for five years and will be implemented along with the current Jefferson County Department of Health funding. CGT is especially excited about the opportunity under the IRA funding to assist in identifying and removing hazardous trees in low-income neighborhoods. After an ISA Certified Arborist evaluates the tree, a professional tree service will remove the hazard and Cool Green Trees will plant a young tree with the homeowner. The key to aligning human health and tree canopy was the GIS mapping of urban heat islands in Jefferson County using the EPA website EnviroAtlas. Read more about this exciting initiative by accessing the interactive Story Map. The EnviroAtlas data from the Birmingham Community service area that covers most of Jefferson County, provided layers for tree canopy cover, reduction in “Nighttime Ambient Temperature,” percent impervious surfaces, air quality through “Acute Respiratory Symptoms avoided,” and reduction in annual runoff. This data confirmed the human health value of a healthy urban forest. The Green Opportunity Map defines the work area and highlights census block groups most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Over the next 5 years, Cool Green Trees will be planting and tending to more than 2,000 trees, propagating native trees from local seed, creating 2 new propagation jobs, and engaging hundreds of neighbors and volunteers in education about the value of trees for human health. The funding for the program is $1.3 million from the Jefferson County Health Department Donor Advised Fund and $3.4 million from the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act Grant Program. We thank our ongoing Jefferson County Urban Forestry Group active since 2017 including Dale Dickens, Katie Wiswall, Randal Smith, Henry Hughes, Kellie Johnston, Patti Pennington, Brian Templeton, Beau Brodbeck, Alabama A&M, and others. Partnership, collaboration and diversity of backgrounds are the keys to our success.
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
PAGE 11
The business of PHC: Plant Health Care by the bucketload by Chris Diffley, Southern Chapter Vice President, and Dustin Counts, CoolWood Urban Forestry ChatGPT edited: Nurturing Urban Trees: A Journey into Plant Health Care Section 1: The Foundation of Plant Health Care (Chris) Plant Health Care (PHC) is a comprehensive program aimed at managing the health, structure, and appearance of plants within the landscape. It encompasses everything related to plant care, excluding removals and stump grinding. However, when we talk about PHC in practice, we typically refer to services that go beyond the realm of traditional tree work. These services encompass fertilization, pesticide applications, soil remediation, and various other interventions aimed at ensuring the well-being of trees and plants. The significance of PHC has gained recognition across the tree care industry, regardless of a company’s size. PHC plays a pivotal role in sustaining trees in urban environments, where their existence often faces challenges. Surrounded by concrete, subjected to soil compaction or removal of a sizable portion of the root zone during construction, and pruned to accommodate power lines or enhance views, trees in the city endure harsh conditions. It is as if they are giant potted plants left forgotten behind the garage. PHC becomes essential to not only keep trees alive but to help them thrive in these inhospitable settings. Clients often notice issues only when their trees are already struggling, leading to questions like, “Why are the leaves browning?” or “Could the driveway we installed be harming the tree?” Educating customers about the importance of PHC becomes a crucial task, forging trust and loyalty. While we would all love to be tree wizards, our reality involves paying bills, covering equipment expenses, and saving for the occasional vacation. PHC requires knowledge and expertise, making it valuable. With the right know-how, a single technician can achieve as much revenue as an entire crew (at higher profit margins). Beginning to offer PHC services does not have to begin at that scale, however. CoolWood Urban Forestry is a company that began offering PHC services with little more than a five-gallon bucket and some systemic pest treatments. Section 2: Our Journey into PHC (Dustin) At CoolWood Urban Forestry, we view our business as an ongoing experiment. We observe, hypothesize, implement changes, and assess results. Regarding PHC, I noticed that small, owneroperated tree service companies seldom offered PHC services in PAGE 12
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SUMMER WINTER 2024 2023
our area. Most services were ad hoc, borrowing equipment and ordering products as needed. This made the offering clunky and limited its use. The main obstacle for these companies was the capital required to establish a dedicated PHC operation. With encouragement from Chris Diffley, we decided to offer a curated list of PHC services without substantial upfront costs. Over the past two years, we have experimented with various services and application methods, discovering strategies that work for us. As we continue to grow, we anticipate these services contributing significantly to our revenue. Our PHC services fall into two categories: 1. Labor-intensive with inexpensive products and 2. Minimal labor with costly products. The first category involves soil remediation, which can be achieved using relatively cheap fertilizers, nearly free compost, and cost-effective mulch. The benefits of these materials are undeniable, but in our operation, they are labor-intensive to deploy. We spread mulch by hand (and mini-skid steer) and inject fertilizer and compost using battery-operated drills to perform vertical mulching. The second category includes growth regulators and pest control, which use expensive chemicals but require minimal effort per application, resulting in low overall costs. Focusing on systemics and applying as a basal drench or bark spray, our implementation prioritizes portability and efficiency, allowing us to offer them while onsite for GTW services or as isolated visit in a light duty vehicle. While our methods may not interest larger companies with dedicated PHC departments, we have found profitable ways to improve tree health without complicating our overall operations. Our most significant individual PHC-related cost has been a gallon of growth regulator, but as our PHC services begin to represent more than 10% of our annual revenue, we are seeing more than 50% net profit from these services. Section 3: Expanding the Horizon (Chris) As momentum builds and customers appreciate our tree care efforts, we can reach critical mass where a dedicated PHC technician and spray rig become financially viable. Specialization allows us to offer a broader range of services, and we may develop renewable Integrated Pest Management programs. Being on-site multiple times a year provides an opportunity to spot other tree work that may be needed. A well-trained technician can identify potential issues like fungal conks and recommend tree risk assessments, leading to additional tree work leads and enhanced profitability. With PHC expanding, you may need additional support, whether
through dedicated dispatchers or managers, or technicians in specific territories. As you continue to accel in the world of PHC, you will have the resources to address any challenges that come your way, ensuring your business thrives. Section 4: Our suggestion (Chris/Dustin) We believe PHC is helpful to trees, desired by customers, and profitable for businesses. If you recognize that we can do as much or more for the trees with our feet on the ground as we do aloft with a saw, then consider finding a strategic way to begin incorporating PHC services into your client offerings. Whether that is starting a new department with a spray rig, a resistograph, a planting program, releasing beneficial insects, etc ... or just getting a couple of buckets and keeping them alongside some growth regulator, fertilizer, and pesticides on an empty shelf and sending them out when the crew goes to prune. Depending on the scale of your business either of these might become a new profit center for you and your company. Chris Diffley has been shouting into the void about PHC for too long and Dustin “DMoney” Counts runs a self-styled “Mickey Mouse Operation” in the Charlotte Metro area. Chat GPT was used for editing and refining this article into a computerized powerhouse of information. You too can talk to the robot by going to https://chat. openai.com/.
Tree CPR update The inaugural cohort of the Tree CPR program graduated from a 9-week intensive pre-apprenticeship arboricultural training in November. Hosted by The Works, Inc., through a Tree Equity Workforce Network grant from American Forests, this full-time program started with 12 Black and Brown individuals from mostly North Memphis neighborhoods seeking a meaningful opportunity to learn and work in the tree/forestry industry. They acquired a wide range of skills including tree ID, sawmill operations, proper tree maintenance, promoting equitable tree canopy, artisanal woodworking, conflict resolution, resume building, and much more. The Tree CPR graduating class has dubbed themselves the “Magnificent Nine” and are proud of their accomplishments. The next step is to connect employment opportunities with each member of the cohort. There are a few members still searching for meaningful career opportunities. Careers of interest include arboriculture, urban forestry, parks and recreation, sawmill operations, urban farming, agroforestry, back-of-house services, heavy equipment operations, and woodworking. Please send any available opportunities or inquiries to the Program Director, kaylastuart@theworkscdc.org. We look forward to your support for this group of new green professionals.
Scholarship Program Scholarships up to $2,000 for students attending 2-year and 4-year college or university. MAY 1 DEADLINE
A scholarship is also available to assist with costs for a master’s student to attend ISA Southern conference. JANUARY 31 DEADLINE
www.isasouthern.org/scholarship SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
PAGE 13
Great Program Ready for You
Dr. John Ball Sunday Keynote
Luana Vargas Monday Keynote
Sunday Workshops
Utility Specialist Prep Class Tree Appraisal Workshop
Monday Presenters*
Dr. John Ball, South Dakota State University Dr. Kim Coder, University of Georgia Erin Demers, TCIA Ryan Dickerson, Entergy Electrical Cooperative Discussion Panel Kieran Hunt, Asplundh Tree Expert LLC Dr. Brian Kane, University of Massachusetts Josh Mahon, Ameren Caitlyn Pollihan, ISA Dr. Lara Roman, USDA Forest Service Stefan Urian, SWEPCO Luana Vargas, ISA Heath Williams, Entergy
Caitlyn Pollihan Monday Keynote
Dr. Glynn Percival Tuesday Keynote
Tuesday Presenters*
Dr. Kim Coder, University of Georgia Dr. Susan Day, University of British Columbia Dr. Glynn Percival, Bartlett Tree Experts Brian Pope, ACRT Anne Randle, US Green Building Council Dr. Lara Roman, USDA Forest Service
Tree Academy*
Megan Bujnowski, Upward Training & Development Dr. Lindsey Purcell, Lp Consulting Group Dr. Brian Kane, University of Massachusetts *As of 1/9/2024. Program and presenters are subject to change.
Learn more at isasouthern.org/conference. Register by March 8 to get the best rate!
PAGE 14
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
Upcoming Events & CEU Opportunities in the Southern Chapter Region
Check out all the new CEU opportunities listed in the next few pages of this publication. This list is kept current on the Southern Chapter website as well. Save the site to your “favorites” as an easy access portal for events and registration information. If you know of opportunities we haven’t listed, please share! Email skincaid@isasouthern.org and we’ll get it posted. 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 that help you maintain your ISA certifications. ISA is also offering no cost quizzes for articles to give you more opportunities to earn CEUs.
Educational Events
Webinar Developers and Hosts TREE Fund Urban Forestry Today Forestry Webinars Urban Forest Connections USDA Forest Service Utility Arborist Association North Carolina Urban Forest Council Arborjet Webinars Professional Arborists Association of MS (PAAM) Alabama Extension Rainbow Treecare Scientific Advancements Webinars
Most events are approved for ISA CEUs. Check each registration site for details.
January 16, 2024 1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern Storm Planning For The Urban Forest - Webinar Series Pt 1 Creating a Plan Webinar Instructor: Karen Firehock, Matt Lee, Darren Green This webinar series is designed to help communities prepare for storms and the tree risk issues that occur. Four sessions are planned for Jan 16, Feb 20, Mar 19 , and Apr 16, 2024. Topics will include planning, debris removal, and recovery. Information available HERE January 18-19, 2024 2024 GROUNDS MANAGEMENT SHORT COURSE UT Conference Center, Knoxville, TN This two-day short course will cover a wide range of tree topics. Information and registration is available HERE January 24, 2024 SOUTH CAROLINA GREEN INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Columbia, SC This one-day workshop will cover topics about managing woodland trees homes. Information and registration is available HERE January 25-26, 2024 PROFESSIONAL ARBORIST ASSOCIATION OF MISSISSIPPI ANNUAL CONFERENCE Eagle Ridge Conference Center, Raymond, MS PAAM has put together a great two-day conference that includes topics for municipal, utility, commercial and consulting arborists.
Check out the great line-up of presenters and topics, and register HERE. January 26, 2024 12:30pm-4:30pm Central ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST, UTILITY SPECIALIST, AND MUNICIPAL SPECIALIST EXAM Eagle Ridge Conference Center, Raymond, MS 39154 ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist Exams are scheduled for January 26, 2024. Registration is closed. February 1-2, 2024 2024 GREEN EXPRESS SHORT COURSE Chattanooga State Community College, Chattanooga, TN University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture presents this two-day short course that will cover emerging pests, tree health and structure, urban green design, selecting nursery stock, pesticide issues, and irrigation topics. Information and registration HERE. February 2, 2024 9:00am-Noon Eastern ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST, UTILITY SPECIALIST, AND MUNICIPAL SPECIALIST EXAM Harbison State Forest Environmental Education Ctr, Columbia, SC ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist Exams are scheduled for February 2, 2024. Applicants for the exam must register by January 17 at the ISA website. Createor log-in to your ISA account and then find the test date and location.
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
PAGE 15
Educational Events (continued) February 3, 2024 | 9:00am-4:00pm Eastern SODA CITY CLIMBING CLUB AERIAL RESCUE TRAINING Irmo, SC This one-day event will provide excellent instruction about aerial rescue techniques and includes an afternoon of hands on instruction. Information and registration is available by emailing newheightstreecaresc@gmail.com February 7, 2024 | 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern TRAQ RENEWAL VIRTUAL COURSE (online) Registration is closed. February 8, 2024 | 7:00am-2:45pm Eastern SANDHILLS TURF AND ORNAMENTAL CONFERENCE Moore County Agricultural Center, Carthage, NC The Sandhills Turf and Ornamental Conference provides continuing education and re-certification credits for green industry professionals, including landscapers, grounds and turf managers, and greenhouse and nursery producers. Home gardeners, HOA grounds managers, and anyone interested in these topics are also welcome to attend. Information and registration HERE February 14, 2024 | 1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING EMERGING NEEDLE DISEASES OF LOBLOLLY PINE Webinar Instructor: Dr. Caterina Villari This webinar is offered by the Forest Health Section of the Southern Regional Extension Forestry group. Itwill provide information about needlecast diseases on loblolly pine, their signs, and what can be done to manage them. Information available HERE February 15, 2024 | 8:00am-6:00pm Eastern 26th ANNUAL EASTERN NC LANDSCAPE CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW Nash Community College - Brown Auditorium, Rocky Mount, NC This one-day event is an annual tradition and provides an excellent mix of topics and speakers. Information and registration HERE February 20, 2024 | 1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern STORM PLANNING FOR THE URBAN FOREST - WEBINAR SERIES - PT 2 PRECONTRACTING FOR DEBRIS CLEANUP WEBINAR Instructor: Karen Firehock, Matt Lee, Darren Green This webinar series is designed to help communities prepare for storms and the tree risk issues that occur. Four sessions are planned for Jan 16, Feb 20, Mar 19 , and Apr 16, 2024. Topics will include planning, debris removal, and recovery. Information available HERE March 1, 2024 URBAN TREE HEALTH WORKSHOP Hilton Head Library Meeting Room, Hilton Head, SC Clemson offers this one-day workshop covering topics that include a tree pest update, managing palms, tree fertilization, pesticides, managing trees in turf, and an outdoor demonstration of micriinjection techniques, tree pruning, and mulching. Information and registration is available by emailing ast4@clemson.edu PAGE 16
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
March 19, 2024 | 1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern STORM PLANNING FOR THE URBAN FOREST - WEBINAR SERIES - PT 3 DEBRIS MANAGEMENT SITES WEBINAR Instructor: Karen Firehock, Matt Lee, Darren Green This webinar series is designed to help communities prepare for storms and the tree risk issues that occur. Four sessions are planned for Jan 16, Feb 20, Mar 19 , and Apr 16, 2024. Topics will include planning, debris removal, and recovery. Information available HERE March 23-24, 2024 ISA SOUTHERN CHAPTER TREE CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIP Little Rock, Arkansas https://www.isasouthern.org/tree-climbing-championship March 24-26, 2024 ISA SOUTHERN CHAPTER 82ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW Statehouse Convention Center | Little Rock, Arkansas www.isasouthern.org/conference March 27-29, 2024 TRAQ - FULL COURSE The Centre at University Park | Little Rock AR 72204 Please read the “ISA TRAQ Application Guide” to be very clear about the full course prerequisites and renewal requirements and details about the credential and the courses. Applicants for the either course must register 30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. Registration will close when class capacity is reached. Register early!! Additional information can be found on the ISA Southern Chapter website at https://www.isasouthern.org/traq-events Register HERE for March 27-29 TRAQ Course (Closes Feb 27 or when capacity of 20 is reached) April 16, 2024 | 1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern STORM PLANNING FOR THE URBAN FOREST WEBINAR SERIES - PT 4 RECOVERY AFTER A DISASTER Webinar Instructor: Karen Firehock, Matt Lee, Darren Green This webinar series is designed to help communities prepare for storms and the tree risk issues that occur. Four sessions are planned for Jan 16, Feb 20, Mar 19 , and Apr 16, 2024. Topics will include planning, debris removal, and recovery. Information available HERE April 17, 2024 | 1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern SASSAFRAS AT AN IMPASSE? AN UPDATE ON LAUREL WILT IN SOUTHERN FORESTS Webinar Instructor: Dr. Bud Mayfiled This webinar is offered by the Forest Health Section of the Southern Regional Extension Forestry group. It will provide information about the effect of laurel wilt on sassafras and other species. Information available HERE
Educational Events (continued) April 29-May 1, 2024 TRAQ - FULL COURSE New Hanover County Cooperative Extension, Wilmington, NC Please read the “ISA TRAQ Application Guide” to be very clear about the full course prerequisites and renewal requirements and details about the credential and the courses. Applicants for the either course must register 30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. Registration will close when class capacity is reached. Register early!! Additional information can be found on the ISA Southern Chapter website at https://www.isasouthern.org/traq-events Register HERE for Apr 29-May 1 TRAQ Course (Closes Mar 29 or when capacity of 20 is reached) May 1, 2024 | 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern TRAQ RENEWAL VIRTUAL COURSE (online) Co-hosted event with ISA Southern, Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Midwestern Chapters This is a virtual renewal option and is only available for those that already have the TRAQ credential. The course fee includes all fees for the course and exams. After you attend the course, ISA will send you information about completing the exam process. Please read the ISA TRAQ Application Guide to be very clear about the course prerequisites and renewal requirements and details about the credential and the courses. Applicants for the course must register
30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. Registration will close when class capacity is reached, so register early!! Additional information about deadlines/refunds/cancellations can be found on the Chapter website. If class has filled, you can email the Chapter and ask to be placed on a waiting list or check for other available dates. Click HERE to register for May 1 Renewal Course (Closes April 1 or when capacity is reached) August 7, 2024 | 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern TRAQ RENEWAL VIRTUAL COURSE (online) Co-hosted event with ISA Southern, Texas, Georgia, Ohio and Midwestern Chapters. See information listed on May 1. Click HERE to Register for August 7 Renewal Course (Closes July 7 or when capacity is reached) November 6, 2024 | 9:00am - 4:00pm Eastern TRAQ RENEWAL VIRTUAL COURSE (online) Midwestern Chapters. See information listed on May 1. Click HERE to Register for November 6, 2024 Renewal Course (Closes October 6, 2024 or when capacity is reached)
OUR STORY IS SAFETY More than 50 years ago, we published This We Believe, a safety declaration that focused on the well-being of our people, families, and communities. It established safety as a value in our culture, not a mere priority or slogan, and defined safety as a moral obligation that is everyone’s responsibility.
“Safety is a VALUE. If someone classifies it as a priority, I believe they may be in the wrong line of work.”
This we still believe. Learn about Davey’s commitment to safety by scanning the code.
Joshua Pressley, Account Manager
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
STORM RESPONSE
LINE CLEARANCE
ASSET MANAGEMENT
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING
COMMUNICATIONS CONSTRUCTION
DAVEYUTILITYSOLUTIONS.COM SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
PAGE 17
2023-2024 Southern Chapter Officers President: Matt Searels, CNUC President Elect / Treasurer: Hallie Dozier, LSU AgCenter Vice President: Chris Diffley, Arborscapes Chapter CoR Rep: David Vandergriff, Griff Arbor|Hort Tree Climbing Championship: Scott Winningham TREE Fund Liaison: Matt Searels, CNUC Past President: Jeffrey Morgan, GA Transmission Corporation Media Director and Editor: Sarah Mitchell Conference Planner: Connie Hilson Executive Director: Skip Kincaid
Have you been waiting for an invitation? Here it is: Please join the Southern Chapter online. Facebook Enjoy daily posts of things to make you think and things to make you laugh. Threads
The Great Unknown. Let’s see what happens here.
LinkedIn Find news, articles, and educational information. This is where green-industry professionals gather. Instagram Just the jokes, please. Community Please share, like, and subscribe to our many social media accounts: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and now Threads.
Encouragement Share the word about our scholarship program (application here). Here’s a chance to assist the next generation of green-industry professionals.
Alabama: Anne Randle Green Business Certification, Inc. Arkansas: Brian Pope ACRT Louisiana: Brian Watkins BREC Mississippi: Steve Dicke Shady Arbor PLLC North Carolina: Leslie Moorman Town of Cary Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands: Christian W. Torres Santana Coccoloba AgroEnvironnemental Consulting and Coccoloba Nursery South Carolina: Dena Whitesides South Carolina Forestry Commission Tennessee: Wes Hopper Urban Forestry Consulting At-Large: (open)
Connection Submit a Member Spotlight form about yourself or interview a colleague for a chance to be highlighted in our quarterly newsletter. Please reach out to newsletter@isasouthern.org for the form request and submittal. Learning Look for educational opportunities on the Southern Chapter website. If you know of opportunities not listed, email us and we’ll post it.
Sharing What’s happening in your part of the Southern Chapter? Send in an article for our quarterly newsletter. PAGE 18
2023-2024 State Directors
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • WINTER 2024
Southern Chapter ISA Website: www.isasouthern.org Phone: (314) 215-8010 Email: isasouthern@isasouthern.org Skip Kincaid, Exec. Director 1609 Missouri Avenue St Louis, MO 63104
To contact your State Director, a member of the Executive Board, or Skip Kincaid at the Southern Chapter office, please email isasouthern@isasouthern.org.
WRIGHT TREE
SERVICE SINCE 1933
SCAN HERE
FAMILY IS OUR FOUNDATION. IT IS WHO WE ARE. Employee Owned. | 1.800.882.1216 | wrighttree.com
Vegetation Management • Storm Restoration • Work Planning
ISA
S UTHERN Website: www.isasouthern.org Phone: (314) 215-8010
Email: isasouthern@isasouthern.org