Improve Quality and Lower Costs With a New Approach to Tree Maintenance

Trees add beauty, value and energy efficiency to homes, but they can also present a number of potential problems, including falling branches or roots that crack concrete. Proper inspections and regular maintenance by a qualified tree professional may help homeowners avoid these issues and keep their trees healthy.

Tree maintenance tasks include removing dead limbs, pruning for health, structural stability and form, soil management, mulching, watering, root disease monitoring and pest control. These tasks are often done at the same time, resulting in a large amount of data that needs to be managed and analyzed. As a result, many arborists are seeking ways to streamline their tree maintenance practices.

In addition to reducing the number of inspections and maintenance tasks, they must be able to do so while keeping up with rising labor costs, equipment expenses and other operational constraints. A growing body of research shows that incorporating quantitative information into a task standard (e.g., frequency, quantity, time and cost) can lead to significant improvements in quality of care while lowering costs.

This article explores the use of this new approach, comparing traditional tree maintenance tasks to those that have been modified using this method. The results show that the new methods provide significant opportunities to improve tree maintenance quality and reduce costs, while also providing more objective decisions about when to perform a particular task.

Golf courses are meticulously designed landscapes that require careful maintenance to uphold their aesthetic appeal, playability and environmental balance. At times, strategic removal of certain trees is necessary to maintain proper course conditions. Deciding which trees to remove can be a highly controversial topic, but identifying the right trees, implementing appropriate procedures and educating stakeholders in the decision-making process can make this an important part of a course’s maintenance strategy.

When a tree becomes too close to power lines, safety lights or other structures, it must be removed. Additionally, a tree that is too heavy or damaged can fall in a storm and cause injury or property damage. Regular pruning can help prevent these problems by removing crowded, weak or crossing limbs and opening up the canopy to allow for proper air circulation.

When a tree’s root zone is disturbed, the underlying soil can be exposed to water or oxygen, which can quickly cause root decay and structural instability. This can occur when a grade change is made, utility trenches are dug or fill is added to the existing soil. To reduce the risk of root disturbance, the root zone should be protected from the construction activities by using temporary soil grade barriers or mulch. Mulching provides additional benefits by insuring that the soil around a tree is not disturbed and by insulating the root system from lawn mower cuts. This helps to minimize the need for frequent mowing, which can dry out the soil and cause root death.

from TLC Trees and Co https://ift.tt/Dz0WZQH