Month: November 2014

Starting in January 2015, most Portland tree removal projects will require a permit, in accordance with the city’s new Title 11 tree legislation.

The Title 11 Tree Plan (or the Citywide Tree Policy Review and Regulatory Improvement Project as it is formally known) was

passed in 2011, but full implementation was postponed until 2015. Title 11 set new guidelines on tree removal and pruning within Portland city limits. Previously, we have discussed timing your tree projects for completion before the new statute takes effect. We’ve also written an in-depth piece on all aspects of the Title 11 Trees rule. This post recaps important points as a friendly reminder to prepare for Title 11 now.

Here is an overview of some of the important changes that are taking place according to Title 11:

Improved Customer Service. An overall higher level of customer service is planned. New city staff members are being hired and a tree-only website is being built.

Focus on Preservation. New tree regulations focus on preservation first, especially for development projects. Developers are being asked to preserve existing trees whenever possible. Guidelines have also been revisited for Heritage Trees.

Clarity and Consolidation of City Regulations. Title 11 (Trees) and Title 33 (Land Use) will be consolidated. Coordination between these agencies will be improved.

Monitoring and Program Review. The new program will include more staff, program inspectors, and monitors that will continue to review policy and regulatory action.

Rules for Removal and Planting. What are the new rules going into effect this January, and how will the average homeowner be affected? The main change is that you will need a permit to remove any tree with a diameter of 12″ or more, and for trees that have been categorized as Heritage Trees. A fee is also required to remove these trees. These new regulations extend backyard trees, street trees, and trees that are from special overlay zones or plan districts. A permit will also be required to prune Heritage Trees.

Learning more. The city of Portland is making an effort to educate the citizens about the benefits of maintaining a healthy urban forest. The urban forest is vital to the lives to the lives of the people of Portland and to the sustainability of the city itself, as our green canopy provides both functional and aesthetic value. The city estimates that for every dollar spent on maintaining a healthy urban forest, we get three of value in return. Property owners play an important role in maintaining the urban forest and are expected to be aware of regulations. Those who do not educate themselves and follow the new guidelines may face fines.

Working with the City. Property owners can request a permit with City of Portland’s Urban Forestry department. The permit cost $35. Owners are requested to mark the tree in question with an orange ribbon, and a city arborist will be by within a week to inspect and (hopefully) approve the removal permit. In some cases, a pruning permit will be issued instead.

There are a number of circumstances that merit removal, namely dead, dying, or dangerous trees. Reasons that do not merit consideration for removal include:
–Excessive tree droppings (leaves, flowers, etc.)
–The tree is too tall and obstructs the view,
–The tree is perceived as making too much shade, and
–Excessive cost of maintenance.
Hazards that can be remedied by pruning will not be approved for removal.

Call Urban Forest Pro. While the city does try to make it easy for the average homeowner to obtain a permit, working with a professional tree service or arborist will speed up the process and is a convenient option. Our arborists will inspect your tree or trees, and apply for the proper permits. If we can’t offer tree removal services, because the tree doesn’t qualify according to new city regulations, we will let you know and suggest alternatives. You can count on us for a professional and timely response. Call us today and we will be glad to take a look at your trees.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

It’s fall, and seasonal delights abound. Here at Urban Forest Pro, we’re making autumn stellar with wood chip donations. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to all the wood chips from our pruning and Portland tree removal services, now you know. We donate them to farms and events. For instance, Urban Forest Pro was able to provide all of the wood chips for this year’s Sauvie Island Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze. We are also delighted that the Pumpkin Patch was able to donate these chips to a local farm, Kruger’s Farm Market, who in turn used them to help compost their plant waste materials.

The circle of life continues, and this year we are happy to contribute to this process while helping local communities at the same time. Let’s take a look at how we recycle wood chips, and how they benefit local ecosystems.

Nothing is wasted. When we remove a tree from a residential or commercial property, nothing is wasted. Usable timber is milled into lumber. Chips are used as mulch, and to combat invasive species. They also come in handy for rebuilding native habitats. Moreover, because wood chips are rich in carbon, farmers can use wood chips as a compost base for their compost. Healthy compost requires both carbon and nitrogen. We provide the carbon, in the form of wood chips, and farmers contribute plenty of leafy, nitrogen-rich greens.

Wood chips and nitrogen. It is true that wood chips and sawdust will deplete the soil of nitrogen, especially if mixed into soil that is used to grow nitrogen-hungry plants. But when the opposite occurs—when nitrogen is mixed in along with carbon—the result is a dark, loamy compost that provides many benefits to the soil and to plant health in general.

Compost happens. Compost happens, but it occurs slowly over time, especially in the cold, wet weather that we have here in Portland. It takes time for wood chips to decompose. If sawdust is used, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio can be as high as 500 to 1. Ideally, the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio should be closer to 25 to 1. One thing farmers can do to facilitate this ratio is to include alfalfa meal. Alfalfa meal contains an almost perfect ratio of carbon to nitrogen and will help balance the soil and stabilize the composting process. Of course, if you have sawdust you can use it as material for walkways for a year while it decomposes. Alternatively, chips may be used as mulch, and then mixed into the ground after 1 to 2 years.

The Sauvie Island Pumpkin Patch Corn Maze 2014. As we mentioned at the onset, this year we were happy to contribute to the composting cycle on a commercial scale. First, we delivered chips that we had on hand from tree trimming to the Sauvie Island Pumpkin Patch. The chips were used for walkways and paths. After the Corn Maze was taken down, the chips and corn hops were collected and delivered to Kruger’s Farm Market, a local farm and market on Sauvie Island. (They also sell produce at several stands around town, including a tent you may have spotted on SE Hawthorne.) Since the chips and the corn material contained plenty of carbon, they were perfect for farmers, who had a lot of green material following the fall harvest. As of now, all that carbon and nitrogen are beginning to intermingle and break down. The result will be very valuable indeed for the farmers—and locavores!—come spring, as plants thrive.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

Healthy trees receive regular attention from knowledgeable arborists. But how can you tell when you choose an arborist if they’re truly an expert? Pick an inexperienced arborist, and your trees could suffer. Fortunately, there are ways to distinguish the true tree gurus from mere amateurs. In the following paragraphs we discuss how homeowners can find and select skilled arborists. We highlight questions to ask when hiring a professional, suggest which credentials to look for, and offer general tips about referrals and online reviews.

Call an arborist both to benefit from his or her expertise, and to stay safe throughout tree care tasks. Many tasks associated tree and shrub maintenance can be done at ground height, without the need of a ladder. However, if you are unable to access taller branches without the use of a ladder, it is best to call a professional. Working at height requires specialized training and equipment and is risky for the average homeowner because of the large number of variables, such as power lines, chainsaw manipulation, other buildings, etc.

Hiring the wrong contractor can have grave consequences for the health of your trees. Let’s take a look at some of the questions you should be asking arborists before hiring them for a project.

Questions to Ask before you Choose an Arborist in Portland

• Can they provide up to date certification of insurance, as well as a copy of their work contract, or in Oregon, their construction contractor number?
• Do they have recent references? A quality company should be more than willing to provide up-to-date references.
• Will they give you a detailed estimate? This should include information about how long the project will take, the kind of equipment that will be used, as well as information regarding accessing the trees safely.
• What about a professional appearance? You can ask if the company uses spikes (which damages trees), offers “topping” (also harmful to trees), and if personal protection equipment (PPE) is used by all members while on a job site. Finally, ask how the workers will clean up the fallen leaves and branches that are trimmed away.

Credentials. As in all established fields, quality arborists tend to obtain industry certifications. Ask potential arborist contractors if they employ a Certified Tree Care Safety Professional (CTSP). You can also look for endorsements from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), and the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). For work that needs to be done near the electrical wires, the contractor will need to be an Approved Line-Clearance Arborist.

General tips for Selecting a Certified Arborist

Beware of scammers. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who pose as tree care professionals, but who are undertrained and/or underinsured. Here are some tips to help you identify true tree care professionals, and steer clear of those who would do a substandard job.

• ANSI A300. Quiz the people you talk to about ANSI A300 standards for tree trimming. See if they know about this.
• Beware the use of certain terms such as “topping,” “lion’s tails,” and “hat racking.” These are often indications of an inexperienced or undereducated tree trimmer.
• Be sure to ask for credentials, verification of insurance, customer recommendations, and a detailed work proposal. If any of these items are lacking, beware!
• If you see differences in bid prices, it might be because a company is underinsured, or is under-experienced in estimating how many cuts—and therefore how much time—it will take to prune correctly. (The correct answer is about 1000; it takes about 1,000 cuts to expertly prune a tree.)
• Ask about permitting required to remove most large trees. Portland has some stringent requirements about this, as well about which trees can be removed. Be careful to double check permitting requirements, especially if your contractor insists that no permit is needed.

Additional 12 Tips for How To Choose An Arborist According to The Arbor Day Foundation

1. Do the research yourself – check your local search results or the phone directory (if you have one) – businesses with listings can indicate some degree of permanence.  Ask friends and neighbors in the area who they used and if they would recommend their work.
2. Beware of door knockers, especially after storms. Reputable companies usually don’t go door-to-door.
3. Find out if the arborist is certified through a local program or the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) – All of Urban Forest Pro’s arborists are ISA Certified! Check for licenses if required in your city.
4. Ask for certificates of insurance, including liability and workman’s compensation coverage. Verify the policy’s current status with the insurance company.
5. Request local references and assess the arborist’s experience and reputation.  Don’t rely solely on online reviews – its very easy to manipulate or gain fake reviews to “appear legit.”
6. Determine if the arborist is a member of reputable organizations.
7. Avoid rushing into bargains or paying in full in advance.
8. Get estimates from multiple arborists without expecting bid matching.
9. Look for an arborist offering a wide range of services, like pruning, fertilizing, cabling/bracing, lightning protection, and pest control.
10. A good arborist recommends tree topping only under specific circumstances, such as saving a damaged tree or for formal settings.
11. A conscientious arborist avoids using climbing spikes on trees meant to remain in the landscape.
12. Beware of arborists eager to remove a living tree; removal should be a last resort.

Your trees are valuable to you and to the urban landscape around you. Don’t take chances with unlicensed, underinsured operators who may not know what they are doing. Hire a professional arborist and rest assured that your trees will thrive under the meticulous care of those who have the know-how to do the job safely and correctly.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com

Unfortunately, certain tree myths lurk in the minds of many homeowners. Today we’re taking a look at some of the most pervasive (but completely untrue) myths about tree care.

Myth #1: Tree Topping Reduces Fall Hazard, while Improving the Health of Struggling Trees.
The Truth: Tree topping is deadly for all trees. Period. In reality, chopping off the top of a tree causes more hazard danger, since new growth is often poorly attached. Moreover, tree topping significantly reduces a tree’s ability to take in energy, making it more susceptible to disease and infestation.

Myth #2: Tree Pruning Always Causes Trees & Bushes to Grow More Vigorously.
The Truth: Tree trimming spurs local growth, but you must also consider that cutting away foliage means that the tree has less ability to photosynthesize, and therefore less capacity to take in energy for all life processes. Effective tree pruning strikes a balance between spurring new growth and maintaining leaf area. Severe/novice trimming can cause serious damage to a tree.

Myth #3: Tree Cavities Should be Filled with Concrete, for Improved Healing.
The Truth: Filling a tree hole with concrete used to be considered wise. The thinking was that filling them with concrete could strengthen weakened trees. However, we now know that this practice causes serious harm. While a filled tree moves with the wind, the concrete column inside stays immobile, causing abrasion. This increases decay and invites disease.

Myth #4: Branches will Always Grow Back, so It Doesn’t Really Matter Where You Cut Them Off.
The Truth: Limbs do not grow back in the same spot. Random, thoughtless pruning can cause permanent damage. Tree trimming is an art and a science that should be left to a professional.

Myth #5: Newly Planted Trees Should Always Be Staked.
The Truth: Staking is a species-by-species consideration. Species that need structural support to stay upright will indeed benefit from stakes. However, you can actually limit strength by staking trees that are able to stand on their own. Staking is necessary in areas of high wind, and when the tree needs help staying upright. Always remove stakes once the tree is strong and established.

Myth #6: Old, Diseased Branches will Come Down on Their Own, So We Don’t Need to Worry About It.
The Truth: Yes, unhealthy branches will eventually fall—but they are a real hazard, as one can never know which storm will cause a limb to come crashing to the ground (or onto your roof, onto your pet, onto your car, etc.). It’s smart to be concerned about the dead branches in your trees. Rather than waiting for tragedy to strike, call an expert arborist to discover whether pruning or tree removal is your best (safest) option.

This is only a handful of the dozens of tree myths in circulation today. Rather than depending on the old wives tales you hear about trees, it’s best to contact a professional arborist with your questions. Call Urban Forest Pro today if your trees look sick. Trees are complex; their care demands education and expertise. Don’t trust the rumors you hear about tree health. Contact a professional arborist for reliable, accurate information.

This post first appeared on https://www.urbanforestprofessionals.com