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Top 5 things an Arborist wants for Christmas

12/17/2017

Jason LaRose
ISA Certified Arborist, CTSP
Staunton, Virginia

#1 Chainsaw- This one is easy. Commercial grade top handle Arborist saw. Preferably a Stihl 200T which is the best climbing saw ever made (except maybe it’s predecessor the “020”). Good luck finding one though, this saw went out of production 9 years ago. Prices are high for a decent specimen that runs and they don't last long on the open market, because we all know how awesome they are.
Be warned: most tree guys will at least consider using it for a pillow the first few nights after it arrives.
Price Range: $500-$1000
Brands: Stihl and everyone else

#2 Rope- There are many kinds of rope and cordage that get used in day to day tree work. Lets focus on climbing rope here. So many options to choose from and none of them are “bad”. I personally like to have several different climbing lines on the truck every day. The one I get most excited about is my new 200ft “hank” of static line, touting kernmantle construction with spliced eyes at both ends.
Your tree buddy may want to get the rope out and roll around in it on delivery day, to get his scent on it and vice versa.
Price Range: $175-$300
Brands: Sterling, Yale, Teufelberger

#3 Boots- Specifically boots made for tree climbing, not to be confused with high quality logging boots or even the cheaply made look alikes at the local shoe store. In this author's opinion the best arborist climbing boots are made in Italy (big surprise) and are akin to having frog feet on in the tree. Comfortable ankle support, rubber coping around the toes and sides, kevlar laces and vibram soles.
Your arborist sweetie will want to wear them for date night tonight, you know, to “break them in”.
Price Range: $225-$375
Brands: Arborpro, La Sportiva, Salewa

#4 Pants- Arborist climbing pants have come a long way from the old days of blue jeans or canvas. Sure we could still get ‘er done with that stuff on but we would need an attitude adjustment at the end of the day. These days we have options like breathable fabric touting 4 way stretch technology with kevlar threaded support, gusseted crotch for extra maneuverability, reinforced knees and ankles, and zipper pockets to keep the man glitter out.
Often used as lounge pants on snow days.
Price Range: $75-$350
Brands: Arborwear, Pfanner, Stein

#5 Handsaw- Not surprisingly another item used for cutting appears on the list. However handsaws are more than a cutting implement, they become a working part of the body, an extension of the arm. Used almost as much for retrieving items that are just out of reach as it is for removing branches from the tree. Old school handsaws resembled carpentry saws, they were long, not real sharp, and cumbersome to use and move around with. Today we have blades with hundreds of razor sharp teeth made from hardened japanese steel (I love saying that), and pistol grip configuration, that attach beautifully to the lower leg for ease of access even in the most awkward positions aloft.
People at the local convenience store may give you some weird looks when you forget it’s on and walk in to get a gatorade at the end of the day.
Price Range: $35-$125
Brands: Silky, Samurai, ARS

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When Should I Prune My Trees?

12/6/2017

2 Comments

Jason LaRose
Certified Arborist, CTSP
Staunton, VA

-This is perhaps the most frequently asked question we get. So let's break it down.

Tree service companies by nature are busiest in the spring. After being cooped up inside all winter, which is a very reasonable 4 months here in Staunton, VA, yard work becomes a top priority for homeowners. Perhaps you are out pulling weeds in the fine sunshine and you notice the large pin oak (Quercus palustris) in the front that the previous owners planted back in the 70s. It somehow managed to escape the topping expertise of the local "trimmers" and it has a rather nice, albeit crowded upper crown. The branches are reaching for the sun, and with no competition nearby they are getting plenty of it. The lower 1/3 of the tree is a different story. An interwoven mat of sickly, half dead and crispy branches meets the eye. Something must be done.

A phone call to your local certified Arborist, an appointment, and you're on the schedule for a crown cleaning and thinning before barbecue season sets in. Unless...you don't get around to calling till after the 4th, and the company has a very respectable "backlog" of clients all anxious to get the crew 'round to them. Your Arborist knows full well that the phone basically stops ringing between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and might not start again till the following spring. Maybe he can give you a great deal on pruning this tree, if you wait till January? If he is an honest sort you may be inclined to agree, and perhaps you all reach an agreement on structure pruning the redbuds (Cercis canadensis) you planted back in 2012.

Perhaps the fellow you called isn’t a certified Arborist, nor a CTSP, and has never even heard of the Tree Care Industry Association and its ongoing mission to promote safety, education, and standards in the field of arboriculture? GASP.

Either way you can easily imagine how dirty rumors like “you should only prune your trees in the winter” get started.

The truth is that the only “bad” time to prune a healthy tree is the two week period in which it is flowering, and during times of moderate to severe drought. The exception is pruning fruit trees to maximize production. I’m not an expert on pruning for fruit production and am not going there.

To be clear, pruning cuts made at different times of the year will generate growth in different ways. The Godfather of modern arboriculture, Dr. Alex Shigo, said it best “pruning is not about what you take, rather about what you leave behind.” Shigo mapped the process by which trees protect themselves after an injury like pruning. He coined this system CODIT, controlled order of decay in trees.

The most important factors to take into account for a pruning job are (in no particular order):

Client goals
The position of the cuts in the crown i.e. tips, trunk, laterals etc
The age of the tree

     4.   Size of the cut/size of wound the tree must now seal
     5.   Cleanliness of cut and placement- No stubs, no flush cuts
     6.   Volume of leaf bearing material being removed, no more than 20%
-Anytime is a good time to remove dead wood or crown clean.

As always these tasks should be carried out by a trained professional, no ladders, no loppers, no gas powered pole saws. Even a bucket truck can’t get everywhere in every tree, trust me I’ve tried. Climbers that love to climb will do the best job, the bigger the tree the happier he will be.

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Top 5 things an Arborist wants for Christmas

Jason LaRose
ISA Certified Arborist, CTSP
Staunton, Virginia

When Should I Prune My Trees?

Jason LaRose
Certified Arborist, CTSP
Staunton, VA

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Top 5 things an Arborist wants for Christmas

Jason LaRoseISA Certified Arborist, CTSPStaunton, Virginia

When Should I Prune My Trees?

Jason LaRoseCertified Arborist, CTSPStaunton, VA

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Jason LaRose
ISA Certified Arborist, CTSP
Staunton, Virginia

Jason LaRose
Certified Arborist, CTSP
Staunton, VA