ArborViews: Recent Episodes
International Society of Arboriculture
ArborViews has been discontinued as a podcast on the ISA website, but the existing interviews will be available through our archives. This series features field experts who offer practical information on a broad range of arboricultural topics that are common in the field.
Dr. Cecil Konijnendijk discusses the impact of research on urban forestry policies at a national and European level.
Shrubs are more than landscaping decorations in today’s urban environment. Dr. Alessio Fini discusses his study of different species of shrubs that not only help in the uptake of carbon dioxide, but can also remove pollutants from the atmosphere.
Dr. Jim Chatfield discusses the problems and inherent differences of treating infectious tree diseases in comparison to insect infestation or non-infectious pathogens.
Alicia Chicalo and Jamie Grabinsky discuss the process of conducting a massive inventory of trees in Mexico city and how the information will be used to help that city’s urban forest to thrive.
Dr. Gregg Dahl discusses his research into tree risk assessment and the factors that can lead to branch failure.
Are well intentioned mandates to plant only native species really a good idea? Dr. Linda Walker Scott discusses finding the right balance in plant selection to strengthen a local eco-system.
Matt Wells Director of Tree Preservation for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation discusses the challenges of managing thousands of trees across a large metropolitan area that has recently faced devastating storms.
Arborist Melissa LeVangie discusses signs and symptoms of Asian Long-horned beetle infestation, what a climber should look out for in identifying an infestation, and how the beetle’s damage to a tree impacts the climber.
Bert Cregg works on expanding the diversity of the urban forestry through increased use of conifers. Learn about the coniferous species that do particularly well in urban environments on this episode of ArborViews.
Andreas Detter discusses how ropes courses and ziplines create new forces on trees, loading them in directions they were not naturally accustomed. Learn about species selection and tree-friendly systems for setting up ropes courses on this episode of ArborViews.
Karl Niklas discusses the biomechanics behind tree failures and how different factors affect tree or branch structural stability. Learn about the relationship between above and below ground biomass, the consequences of pruning, and how these can serve as contributes to tree failure on this episode of ArborViews.
Kathleen Wolf discusses the human response to urban greening, citing the existing data on the benefits of trees and community green spaces. Learn about some of the research currently being conducted on urban greening and its social benefits on this episode of ArborViews.
Ken James talks about the biomechanics of trees and his study on how trees are affected by wind. Learn about how static and dynamic pull tests on trees can help researchers learn about how trees respond to external forces.
Dan Struve discusses his new sustainable tree production method for balled and burlapped trees. Learn about trees that invest more energy in roots than shoots and how this affects establishment.
How can communities benefit the most from trees at a low cost? Gordon Mann discusses the six components to practicing sustainable urban and community forestry on this episode of ArborViews.
Jennifer Karps explains the key components that helped get the grey to green initiative off the ground in Portland, Oregon. Learn how partnerships, education, and customer service can help contribute to gray to green initiatives in your area on this episode of ArborViews.
Grant Jones, woody plant physiologist at Davey Tree Expert Company, explains a few management techniques for biotic and abiotic tree disorders. Learn about some tools that arborists can use in the field to improve soil conditions and help with field diagnosis, on this episode of ArborViews.
On this episode of ArborViews, Alessio Fini discusses the physiologic effects of root severance on trees with host Robert Polomski. Learn how to identify some of the signs and symptoms of root severance, and what arborists can do to help prevent root severance in the urban environment.
Will Koomijian and Brian French charted new territory by traveling over one kilometer through the canopy of 100 foot (30 m) Oak trees (Quercus) for five days near Portland, Oregon. Listen as they talk about their experience, traversing techniques, and the uses of traversing in arboriculture, on this episode of ArborViews.
Doctoral student, Jessica Vogt, talks with host Robert Polomski about the challenges and importance of tree inventories for increasing tree longevity. Learn about some of the research that is occurring to help newly planted trees get established and stay healthy.
Mark Mann, CEO and founder of Plant Growth Management Systems, has worked with tree growth regulators for over 20 years. Today, he talks with our host Robert Polomski about how arborists can use tree growth regulators as one of their tools in the field.
Cecil Konijnendijk discusses the benefits of urban forests to human health with our host Robert Polomski. Learn how the fields of medicine and urban forestry can work together to improve the mental and physical health of people in a community, on this episode of ArborViews.
Richard Pouyat talks with host Robert Polomski about how land development impacts urban soils. On this episode of ArborViews, learn how arborists can work with developers to manage soil disturbance.
Robert Polomski interviews Alex Julius about occupational hazards in the arboriculture industry. Alex observed the number of arborists in the field that comply with safe work practices and she calculated the differences in compliance between accredited companies and non-accredited companies. Learn how important it is to create a safety culture in your workplace on this episode of ArborViews.
Welcome our new host, Robert Polomski! Polomski interviews Nicholas Dankers about his experience managing large and healthy conifers in the American Pacific Northwest. In this edition of ArborViews, learn about some research-based risk mitigation techniques and the Double-System Technique (DST) used to increase safety while climbing mature trees.
On this episode of ArborViews, Mark Hartley and Daniel Burcham talk about how soil characteristics impact the development of trees. Daniel evaluates the relationship between urban soil properties and street tree performance in Singapore. He also highlights a few easy techniques for measuring soil characteristics that arborists can apply in the field.
On this episode of ArborViews, Mark Hartley and Laura Mendiburu discuss management strategies for working with street trees, and highlight some of the potential failures that can occur. Find out what makes a street tree different from other trees, what planting techniques need to be considered while working with street trees, and how to identify a quality tree for planting.
Nelson Money discusses with our host Mark Hartley about how utility lines are posing greater fire risks because of increasing populations and urban development. Listen to this episode to learn how to incorporate some of the discussed management methods and safety practices to help minimize these dangers.
Join Justin Morgenroth and our host Mark Hartley to learn how porous pavements can improve tree growth and overall soil environment in urban soils. Find out some of the key differences between impervious and porous pavements and how it can affect trees that grow adjacent to these structures.
Learn about the Urban Forest Map at urbanforestmap.org while listening to Kelaine Vargas’ interview with our host Mark Hartley. In this episode, they discuss the mission of the program improving the ability to inventory trees in the city of San Francisco, California and how the system provides a one-stop repository of tree data for agencies and entities involved in tree management.
Do you or somebody you know, work in trees that are in close proximity to utility lines? In this episode of ArborViews, our host Mark Hartley has a candid interview with Kevin Eckert, who works as a vegetation management consultant for electric companies, government agencies in the U.S. and throughout the Pacific Rim and Asia. In this interview, Kevin discusses how to prevent harm associated with accidental contact with energized electrical equipment.
The appropriate spacing of trees may increase tree longevity and the growth of healthier and more luscious canopies. Listen to this interview with our guest, Mark Duntemann, to find out how the spacing of street trees can impact the size and health for some species.
Dr. Kim Coder and host Mark Hartley talk about tree physiology and how a more holistic manipulation of the trees’ soil environment and canopy can improve tree growth. Tune-in to this episode and learn how up to 80% of the variation in tree growth can be water-related and how to know if your actions are helping or harming a tree.
How can arborists reduce risk during removal operations? Find out as Dwayne Neustaeter talks with host, Mark Hartley about the key-notch technique for tree removal. Learn how applying this technique can make your work safer and more efficient.
Can trees affect our health? Find out about the benefits and services trees provide as Dr. Gregory Moore talks with host, Mark Hartley. Dr. Moore investigates the quantitative benefit of trees in order to present a stronger case to others on how ‘trees are good’. Don’t miss hearing these powerful and refreshing observations and data.
To celebrate ArborViews’ two-year anniversary we invited one of our favorite guests, Dr. Michael Raupp, who was the very first guest in the debut of our series in 2010! In this episode, Dr. Raupp talks, to our host Mark Hartley, about the invasion history of non-native insect pests and the impact on urban forests. Dr. Raupp (yes, ‘www.bugoftheweek’ guy!) talks about what we can do as arborists to prevent the possible catastrophic consequences of invasive pests.
In this episode of ArborViews Mark Hartley interviews Matthew Palmer, a Vegetation Policy Manager for Energex. Energex is an electricity supply authority for South East Queensland. Listen to this interview and learn how trees affect safety and reliability of distribution of electrical power.
Join our new host, Mark Hartley, as he interviews David Nowak, a project leader with the Northern Research Station-USDA Forest Service, in Syracuse, NY. In this episode, they talk about the software i-Tree that helps quantify the benefits, roles, and services trees provide in several locations of the U.S. Listen to learn how this software works and how you can use this software for free!
Ken James interviews Scott Shultz, an urban forester at Walt Disney World, about the troubles of over-watering and under-watering trees. Listen, as they talk about a new tool, the pump-up pressure chamber, and how its precise measurements can improve water management.
Jimmie Cobb from Dow AgroScience joins us on this episode of ArborViews to discuss the environmental impacts of mechanical and chemical brush control methods. Join us today as he shares with us his perspective on how to decide which brush control methods to use as a response to different environmental conditions, monetary constraints, regulations, and public relations.
Special guest Dan Staley discusses with host Ken James how understanding changes in urban design and regulations are instrumental to creating optimal green infrastructures and building environments in innovative streetscapes. Listen to this month’s episode of ArborViews as Staley addresses the changes in road and land use and the need for arborists and planners to have a complete understanding of the urban environment.
Join us with host Ken James and special guest Geoff Kempter in this month’s episode of ArborViews as they discuss some of the ways current business practices employed by utility arborists relate to the broad field of arboriculture. Listen as they address issues such as safety, laws, and management and present a personal glimpse inside the utility arborist’s role.
In this month’s episode of ArborViews, Frank Rinn joins host Dr. Todd Watson for an open conversation on who should calculate tree stability. For several years tree experts have tried to assess breakage and uprooting failure potential of trees based on technical measurements. Could these calculations possible include ‘hidden’ problems? And how important is sound judgment on the part of the arborist? Find out the answers to these questions and the point of view of an expert on this episode of ArborViews.
In this month’s episode of ArborViews, Sarah Mincey joins host Ken James to discuss her research on how lessons from rural community forestry can apply to urban forest management. In her study, Sarah compared many of the principles and lessons from Elinor Ostrom's work on governing the commons, and how those findings can be applied to the planned urban landscape. Learn more about the similarities between these seemingly different approaches in this month’s edition of ArborViews.
In this month’s episode of ArborViews, Dr. Francesco Ferrini joins host Todd Watson to talk about his research on mycorrhizae, the beneficial relationship between certain fungi and the roots of trees. More specifically, Dr. Ferrini’s research investigates how urban trees are influenced by mychorrhizal associations. Does this association affect tree growth? Does it affect tree physiology? Learn more about this symbiotic relationship this month’s edition of ArborViews.
In this month’s episode of ArborViews, Don Blair joins host Todd Watson to talk about his work on the removal of a historic Liriodendron tulipifera, or tulip poplar, from the grounds of historic Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello home (located in the state of Virginia, U.S.). During the interview, they discuss the challenges, practices, and considerations that had to be accounted for in this large-scale project as well as some of the history behind this tree and grounds.
In this month’s episode of ArborViews, Colin Bashford joins host Ken James to talk about some of the myths associated with veteran trees and how an arborist can better manage veteran trees, especially in relation to pruning.
Can nursery production techniques affect tree growth and development? Listen to this episode of ArborViews to learn from Dr. Edward Gilman about root pruning and other nursery production strategies that may affect root form. He also talks about ways to correct stock problems prior to planting and other techniques that can help prevent problems and enhance tree growth and survival after planting.
This month’s episode of ArborViews features Philip van Wassenaer, ISA certified arborist and principal consultant for Urban Forest Innovations Inc. Philip discusses risk assessment for aging trees and new methods for assessment that are less invasive and less damaging to older urban trees, allowing them to continue to provide benefits to their environment.
In this episode of ArborViews, Ken James interviews Nelda Matheny where she provides her insight and experience with tree risk assessment. Nelda is an ISA Board-certified Master Arborist and founder of HortScience Inc., and she has over 25 years of experience in tree preservation, landscape suitability assessment and other areas. Don’t miss this informative episode that prompts the question of whether we, as a profession, sometimes remove trees that could be retained as a result of tree risk assessment.
Hardly one to let a little bad weather dampen her spirits or her competitiveness, Jo Hedger won the title of 2010 Women’s International Tree Climbing Champion at the ISA International Conference. In this episode of ArborViews, Dana Karcher interviews Jo and she shares her perspectives on climbing and competition, her background, and her enthusiasm for the field.
In this episode, ISA Certified Arborist Joe Murray, who serves as assistant professor of biology at Blue Ridge Community College, offers valuable insights and perspective on tree biology, and specifically the path that carbon and nitrogen follow through a tree, as well as how that seemingly familiar information can help dictate new approaches and understandings in the profession.
In this episode of “ArborViews”, Mark Bridge talks about how climbing techniques and rigging equipment have developed and become more specialized over the last one hundred years. Mark is an ISA Certified Arborist and founding member of the Baumklettern Schweiz training company in Switzerland, as well as an experienced climber. He joins us to discuss how climbing techniques and equipment have changed, and how some things have remained the same.
In this edition of "ArborViews", James Urban, author of “Up by Roots: Healthy Soils and Trees in the Built Environment,” provides his insight into how landscape architects and developers can benefit from incorporating trees into design, and how arborists can collaborate with engineers to integrate trees into storm water management.
The underlying factor behind tree health and tree problems is just that – underneath. Study of the soil and the processes by which the soil quality and structure are or can be affected is crucial to providing arborists with the information they need to plan accordingly. In this episode, host Dr. Todd Watson is joined by Dr. Bryant Scharenbroch, who offers researched approaches on improving soil quality, alleviating compaction, and shows how earthworms and other organisms can improve structural soil composition and plant health.
Risk assessment and management are important aspects of our industry. In this episode of ArborViews, our guest Dr. Julian Dunster talks about the fundamentals of risk, including the definition of terms, understanding important principles, the decision-making process, and risk thresholds. Dr. Dunster also talks about mitigation strategies and how the tree manager should take risk assessment into consideration to effectively manage trees.
Not enough cash, not enough time, difficulty managing employees? We live in uncertain economic times. Every business needs cash and there are only two ways to improve cash flow—reduce cost and increase revenue. In this episode, our host Todd Watson interviews Keith Center, an expert in strategic planning and business. Keith talks about how the lack of strategic planning can become a problem for tree care companies and what solutions can be implemented to grow your business.
In this episode, Dana Karcher—project developer for the Davey Resource Group—interviews Anja Erni, the winner of the 2009 International Tree Climbing Championship. For Anja, the trees are just as important as the people. “[It is] very important that the tree is in the center.” When she speaks of the magnificent tree that she so artfully climbed on her way to victory, she does with such respect and admiration. Don’t miss this incredibly genuine chat between Dana and Anja!
What, exactly, is “deep tree biology?” Dr. Kim Coder, professor of tree biology at the University of Georgia, discusses the need for arborists to take a deeper look at how trees work to fine-tune the way they care for trees. Understanding photosynthesis and respiration, the key processes of tree physiology, can provide a stronger foundation for diagnosing and treating stressed trees.
Diagnosing insect damage to a tree and identifying the culprit can be a challenge. This engaging interview with Mike Raupp, PhD, professor of entomology and extension specialist at the University of Maryland, offers a practical, step-by-step process for fine-tuning your ‘Crime Scene Investigator’ skills to pinpoint what is “bugging” your client’s tree.