TCI Magazine Audio Edition: Recent Episodes
TCI Magazine
TCI Magazine has upgraded its audio options so you can now listen to your favorite arboriculture articles on the go! In addition to improved audio quality, you can now stream magazine content on your favorite podcasting platform, such as Apple Music, Spotify and others.Discover the latest in technology, techniques and best practices for climbing, rigging, gear and more, all while on the go. Listen to the audio edition on your way to the job site and share what you’ve learned with your co-workers. If it impacts our industry, we’ve got it covered in an all-new, easy-to-listen-to format.
BY JARED BAXTER
“How much does it cost to cut down a tree?”
Well, that is a “million-dollar question.” To help answer the question, let’s go through a hypothetical scenario.
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BY RYFE GREENWOOD
On a cold February day, “Derek,” my groundie, stopped working and began complaining of stomach pains. The other climber and I were aloft pruning a massive pin oak. I told him he would be able to drive himself home in about 10 minutes, after I hit the ground.
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By TCIA Staff
If you’re in the tree care world, ticks are more than a seasonal nuisance – they’re an occupational hazard. On TreeBuzz, a forum where arborists swap war stories and wisdom, a recent thread dug into ticks, Lyme disease and the oddball allergy known as alpha-gal. The conversation was frank, sometimes funny and loaded with lessons for anyone who spends their workdays in the woods.
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BY DAVID M. ANDERSON, CTSP
What are the key ingredients for making a great arboricultural salesperson?
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BY ANDREAS ALUIA, CTSP, AND DYLAN PENKETHMAN
It was a perfect summer Saturday in Medford, Massachusetts, a small suburb just west of Boston. Steve Mauras, fire department district chief of neighboring Somerville, was driving by a municipal park while running errands. He glanced at the impressive oak tree that towers over the athletic fields and noticed several people suspended from ropes high up in the canopy.
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BY CHRIS GIRARD
It goes without saying that the tree care industry is filled with many people who are unsung heroes in the field of arboriculture. Robert Phillips most certainly is one of them.
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BY BRIAN KANE, PH.D.
Decay is a common defect that occurs in all parts of a tree. Decayed wood has very little strength and often leads to hollows, cavities or both. When decay or a hollow is present in a tree part, its load-bearing capacity is reduced. The amount of reduction depends on the extent of decay – how much is present and where it’s located in the cross section.
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By TCIA Staff
When a woman calling herself GoldenLarch logged into the TreeBuzz arborist forum in late 2020, she wasn’t looking for applause – she was looking for honesty. At 28, after leaving a customer-service career and earning a horticulture certificate, she’d fallen hard for trees and the art of climbing them. “The allure of climbing is so strong for me,” she wrote, though she worried whether her body – and perhaps the industry – would hold up for her.
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By TCIA Staff
Every industry breeds its own folklore. In tree work, cutting, hinging and rigging theories might make for some of the loudest campfire stories of all. On a TreeBuzz thread dealing with these topics, a post about “rip cuts” lit up the board – veteran climbers, would-be physicists and wisecracking pirates all weighing in. The premise was that a controlled tear could turn a brutal stop into a soft hand-off.
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BY JON GERSTENBERGER AND MARK CHISHOLM, CTSP
During the past few years, TCIA has been working on a group of strategic initiatives we’ve called “game changers” – things that, when accomplished, will change the fundamental experience of our member interactions with TCIA and, by extension, how TCIA engages with the tree care industry
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By TCIA Staff
When Urbana, Illinois, arborist Mike Poor first rolled onto a job site with a remote-controlled knuckleboom crane in the late 1990s, the reactions were a mix of awe and head scratching. “That is the oddest-looking crane I’ve ever seen,” one colleague quipped.
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By TCIA Staff
This discussion began on July 19, 2025, when a climber using the handle DRBetz started a thread on the TreeBuzz forum titled “Let’s Talk About Electrical Awareness.” Within a few days, the post had drawn replies from more than a dozen arborists, all dissecting a near miss that could easily have turned fatal.
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BY PAUL WOLFE II
Most of us have pretty good memories. Like taking the driver’s-license test, first dates with our significant other, a sibling’s birth date, etc. I don’t remember any of those things as time is slowly eroding my mind. I do, however, vividly recall the first tree I climbed as a professional.
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BY RYFE GREENWOOD
I get it, your tree service needs production, and you need it now. Your employee retention is precarious, and the labor pool in your area is emptier than the Grand Canyon. Prematurely tapping a new crew leader seems like your only option. However, promoting to crew leader too early only sets up your business for failure.
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by Jon Gerstenberger
TCI Magazine celebrated 35 years of publication in 2025. For 427 issues, since June 1990 – through recessions, global pandemics and spikes in printing and postage costs – TCI Magazine has hit the industry’s mailboxes every single month.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
As a self-professed tree nerd, there is nothing Bret MacKay likes to do more than climb trees, preferably white oaks. Except for one thing – teaching his fellow arborists how to do it safely.
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BY TIM BARTELT
Deciding if and when to spend money on large capital-equipment expenditures is a strategic part of any business, and the tree care industry is not immune to that struggle. Buy outright or finance? Long-term rental or RPO (rental-purchase option)? These are questions being mulled on a daily basis, and interest rates, tariffs and business/economic outlook are all factors to consider. “Uncertainty” may be the keyword for the current economic situation, according to a group of finance companies we polled at TCI EXPO ’25 in St. Louis, Missouri, in November.
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BY JEFF INMAN, CTSP, TRAQ
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you’re trying to have a conversation with someone and they don’t agree with what you’re saying? You could be making the best case in the universe for your point of view, with facts, figures, graphs, statistics, life stories, testimonies, technological advancements, etc.
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BY JOHN BALL, PH.D, BCMA, CTSP
Electrical hazards to tree workers are, for the most part, within the realm of those who access tree canopies. True, we do have electrocutions and electric-shock injuries among ground workers, but they are the minority. Tree canopies and electric supply lines often are intertwined with, or at least near, climbers and
aerial-device operators.
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BY TIM BARTELT
Editor’s note: Two readers contacted TCI Magazine last winter suggesting we do a story about Floyd Taylor. The first was Nathan J. Wright, CTSP, ISA Certified Arborist and manager distribution forestry with National Grid Western Division in Fredonia, N.Y.
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BY ANTHONY TRESSELT
Crane-assisted rigging is a complex layering of skills, equipment and knowledge. Like many involved tasks, it looks relatively simple when done well. However, the truth is that when poorly planned, cranes and trees can be a difficult combination.
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BY NATHAN KROIS
For years, professional arborists and forestry crews have relied on steady improvements in chain-saw design to keep pace with the demands of their work.
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Compiled by Peter Gerstenberger
We went through the upcoming revision of the ANSI Z133 Safety Standard, pulling out and listing here in sequential order all the relevant parts that affect lift operations near conductors. These apply to conventional truck-mounted lifts as well as “boom-supported elevated work platforms,” or compact lifts.
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BY MICHAEL J. RAUPP, PH.D., AND PAULA M. SHREWSBURY, PH.D.
In Part 1 of this article (TCI Magazine, October 2025), we introduced four foundational elements useful in diagnosing problems with trees and shrubs, represented by the acronym SPSD, and discussed the first “S,” which stands for “site,” and the “P,” which stands for “plant.” In part 2, we’ll discuss the second “S,” which stands for the “symptoms.” Knowledge of signs and damage symptoms is a powerful tool in making an accurate diagnosis and developing an effective intervention. We’ll also discuss the “D,” which stands for “date.” Date can be defined by an actual Gregorian date, such as May 15, or by using a proxy such as a growing-degree-day value or phenological plant indicator that is linked to the seasonal development of pests and plants.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
Rare is the employer who does everything he or she can to help an employee secure their next job. But that was the case with Daniel Miraval, BCMA, and Brianna White, ISA Certified Arborist, co-owners of Emerald Tree Care LLC, a 14-year TCIA member company in Roselle, Illinois, when they sent Anthony Santisi, who had been with them for three years, off to his new job at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.
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BY PETER GERSTENBERGER
The Tree Care Industry Association in August welcomed George Strout as its Strout will lead TCIA’s efforts to mobilize tree care professionals across the country in support of smart policy and industry advancement. With more than a decade of experience in grassroots organizing, legislative strategy and PAC (political action committee) engagement, Strout brings a deep understanding of how to activate stakeholders and influence decision-makers.
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REVIEWED BY STEVEN F. PREGLER
These two books were written by Linda Chalker-Scott, former urban horticulture extension specialist and a professor in the Department of Horticulture at Washington State University
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BY BAILEY GRAVES
In July 2025, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced it reinstated and updated self-audit programs run by its agencies, including the reimplementation of the Wage and Hour Division’s Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) Program and expansions to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)’s On-Site Consultation and Voluntary Protection Programs. The efforts to update some programs follow legislation introduced earlier this year intended to codify Voluntary Protection Programs into law.
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BY AUSTIN BONNEMA
As a TCIA Board member and a long-time industry participant, I’ve seen plenty of challenges come and go, but few have been as persistent and unpredictable as tariffs. For those of us involved in equipment manufacturing or purchasing, the ongoing shifts in global trade policy are more than headlines – they’re real issues that affect our businesses and bottom lines
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BY BRIAN FAIN, P&C, L&H
Day in and day out, I have conversations with many of my clients expressing their frustrations on how to hire and retain reliable, qualified employees. I am sure you will agree that this is one of the more, if not the most, difficult aspects of your business.
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BY KATE ZABRISKIE
Ever had that moment when a project seemed crystal clear during a meeting, only to find out weeks later that everyone had completely different interpretations? It’s like playing a grown-up version of the game “telephone,” where what starts as “We need this done by the end of the week” ends up as “We’ll get to it when we can.”
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BY BETHANY KEMPPAINEN, CTSP
Arboriculture often requires physically and mentally demanding effort, constant attention to risk, complex logistics and care for challenging clientele.
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BY DAVID M. ANDERSON
For many years, shears have been the popular choice for trimming shrubs. Whether performed by a homeowner, a landscaper or an arborist, shearing is faster and easier, and it seems like the logical choice. The problem with electric shears is, if they are used too often or too aggressively, they can harm plants.
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BY TIM WALSH, CTSP
In the tree care industry, safety is everything. From the moment a chain saw roars to life or a climber ascends into the canopy, risk is ever present. For decades, safety programs have focused on controlling that risk through policies, checklists and training modules.
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BY ANDY JONES, CTSP
Every September, tree care professionals across the country load up their gear, shut down their regular schedules and head to a national or state veterans cemetery – not for work, but to serve. It’s called Saluting Branches, and it’s become the largest single-day volunteer event in the arboriculture industry.
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BY TIM BARTELT
TCI EXPO is a great opportunity to peruse exhibitors’ booths and check out their latest equipment innovations or earn CEUs in educational seminars. It also is a great opportunity to demo equipment, get hands-on experience or learn a new, practical skill under the tutelage of top experts in their field. In this article, we’ll highlight three of the latter opportunities available on the show floor and in the Demo Dome, the former football stadium turned arborist playground, during TCI EXPO ’25, November 6-8, in St. Louis, Missouri.
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BY TIM BARTELT
With its strong focus on the customer, safety and training, BIK Boom Trucks has become a household name for trucks and knuckle-
boom cranes in the tree care industry.
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BY MICHAEL J. RAUPP, PH.D., AND PAULA M. SHREWSBURY, PH.D.
At TCI EXPO ’24 in Baltimore, Maryland, we conducted a Pre-Conference workshop entitled Plant Health Care Pathways. This tripartite workshop included sessions on honing diagnostic and management skills, tree nutrition and soil management and pruning by the ANSI 300 standard.
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BY TRACEY MILLER
Each year, TCI EXPO grows, evolves and delivers new opportunities for tree care professionals to learn, connect and discover the tools and strategies they need to succeed. Whether you’re coming to explore equipment, build your network or sharpen your business skills, this year’s event has been designed with one goal in mind: to help you maximize your time and walk away with real value for your company and career.
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BY DUSTIN MEYERS, TRAQ
The following was originally submitted as a letter to the TCI Magazine editor.
I have dedicated my professional life to tree care. For more than 20 years as a TCIA member and an ISA TRAQ arborist, I have watched this industry evolve from ropes and bucket trucks to knuckle-boom cranes, tracked lifts and highly mechanized, safety-first operations.
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BY BETHANY LENEHAN
Selecting the right hand-fed woodchipper can make a significant difference in the efficiency, safety and overall success of your tree care operation. With the wide range of chipper models, configurations and features available today, understanding how different components impact performance can help professionals make informed decisions.
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BY JONATHAN TANK, CTSP
In any competitive field, success often is attributed to a company’s technical skills, efficiency and bottom-line profits. There are endless books about success in business, including different strategies and approaches for how to improve and grow. Marketing is important, as well as fiscal responsibility. However, after 25 years in this industry, one thing has stood out to me as a key difference between success and failure – how leadership within a company invests in its people to help long-term success.
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BY BAILEY GRAVES
Over this summer, federal policy developments have emerged related to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) work, workforce development and employer-sponsored immigration. TCIA’s government-relations team has tracked the following notable actions and events that will shape the policy agenda through the fall.
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BY ERIC CAMPBELL
Since 2015, Saluting Branches has grown from a one-time civic project of Rainbow Treecare of Minnetonka, Minnesota, to a nationally recognized 501(c)(3)
non-profit with a singular mission: “We honor American service men and women by organizing volunteer tree and landscape care for the property dedicated to our veterans.
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BY DAVID M. ANDERSON, CTSP
As a hard-core, self-proclaimed tree nerd, I love to talk, read and write about all aspects of tree care. I guess you may be guilty of the same obsession if you are reading this. Unfortunately, most people aren’t. Most of my friends, family and random strangers have had to tell me to shut the “heck” up when I go off on “tree tangents.”
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BY Eric Petersen
In case you are unfamiliar, TCIA’s Board of Directors is responsible for setting the strategic direction and overall performance of the organization. Our responsibilities include establishing our vision, formulating policy, providing strategic planning and ensuring strong financial oversight.
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BY TYLER LYON, CTSP, ASP; and CHRIS SPRAGUE, MEng, CTSP, ASP
In 1986, millions of people witnessed the Challenger space-shuttle explosion that tragically killed seven astronauts, including a civilian teacher on board for the Teacher in Space initiative. Investigations revealed the explosion was caused by the failure of a large O-ring designed to seal a fuselage joint in the rocket booster.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
Out in the 150-mile stretch between Duluth and Twin Cities, Minnesota, Brandon Pankey, owner of Blue Pine Works LLC, a two-year TCIA member company, has honed a respected reputation for tree work by having an emphasis on safety.
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BY HOWARD GAFFIN, BCMA, RCA
A cold wind blew outside. Holed up in my toasty office, I was contemplating how grateful I was to no longer have to endure the agony associated with getting the feeling back in my numb digits so I could work the climbing rope and resume the task at hand on a sub-freezing day.
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BY EDWARD MORROW
It’s one thing to project the financial results you want. It’s something else to do the right things to produce those results. And it’s a whole other process to become the person who can make it all happen.
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BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN
Strengthening the green industry was the driving force behind last year’s merger of SingleOps, Landscape Management Network (LMN) and Greenius, says Steve Samuels, the merged company’s senior account executive. The former GM/CFO of multiple businesses, including landscape and arborist companies, had served with SingleOps for four years before the merger went through October 31, 2024.
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BY TIM BARTELT
Ricky Folse, founder of Veteran Tree Care, a second-year TCIA member company based in Houma, Louisiana, is a man on a mission, and that mission is to help both men and women. Military veteran men and women, to be more precise. Even though Folse was unable to complete the requisite military time commitment, he considers himself an “extreme veteran-activist” and has dedicated his adult life, and the entire business model of Veteran Tree Care, to the employment of and advocacy for veterans.
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BY KELSEY GRUENWOLDT
In tree care, it’s easy to get consumed by the urgency of the day – storm calls, high-risk removals, employee situations, scheduling pivots, equipment issues. But if you want a sustainable company – one that thrives even when you step back – big-picture thinking must be woven into your daily execution.
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BY HEATHER DIRKSEN
As tree care companies look to deepen client relationships and diversify their revenue streams, one opportunity continues to stand out – launching a plant-health-care (PHC) program. Yet, for many business owners and managers, the idea of starting a new service line – especially one that requires technical knowledge, licensing and client education – can feel overwhelming.
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BY TCHUKKI ANDERSEN, BCMA, CTSP
If you’re looking to save your strength and move smoother on your next climb, Dekota Wall wants you to know how the Petzl Knee Loop can do that for you.
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BY PETER FELIX
It is with profound sadness that we say farewell to Jon H. Hickey, who passed away peacefully on July 9, 2025, at the age of 88. Jon, a resident of North Massapequa, New York, was not only a legendary arborist but also a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, mentor and friend. His life was a testament to passion, integrity and a genuine love for trees and people.
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BY MARIE HAWKINS
This column was written in response to the article “Insurance Pruning: Cut Risks, Not Canopies,” by Jim Kasper in the July 2025 issue of TCI Magazine.
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BY KATHY GLASSEY
Let’s face it, when most people think of plant health care, they think about solving a customer’s problems and getting rid of the pests causing the problems. What they don’t think about – until the moment of truth arrives – is what to do with that half-empty jug of pesticide living rent free in the shop.
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BY BAILEY GRAVES
On June 12, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14308, “Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response.” The order cites the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires as an example of the need for faster and more effective response and coordination.
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BY ELIZABETH RODEWALD, CTSP
As the tree care industry continues to evolve, professionals are constantly seeking opportunities to grow their skills, network with peers and stay on the cutting edge of technology. Enter TCI EXPO ’25, returning bigger, bolder and more exciting than ever.
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BY CHARLES KEMPER, CTSP
For decades, gas-powered tools have defined the daily operations of professional tree care – bringing with them the unmistakable exhaust, engine maintenance and fuel handling that come with traditional equipment. But the industry is evolving. Concerns over worker safety, rising fuel costs, noise and increasing equipment maintenance are driving momentum toward battery-powered alternatives.
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BY JENNIFER MCPHEE
In the tree care industry, we often talk about building strong crews. But what if we thought of our entire company like a championship sports team? That’s the mindset we embraced this past year, inspired by Jack Stack’s book, “The Great Game of Business,” which outlines his economic engagement model, formerly referred to as open book management.”
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BY ANDY JONES, CTSP
The tornado outbreak that ripped through the greater St. Louis area in early May 2025 left an indelible mark on the region’s urban forest and the people who call it home. What happened in those brief, violent minutes reshaped entire neighborhoods, devastated tree-lined streets and toppled century-old giants in Forest Park. As an arborist and a local, I’ve never seen anything like it.
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BY DANIEL KALLAI
While in some areas of the country power companies are hardening their systems against high winds and torrential rains, here on the West Coast we have the additional hazard of fire. Power companies are employing thousands of hands in the effort to prevent fires from igniting, especially from trees contacting power lines. I’ve met tree workers who’ve traveled across the United States to assist in this effort.
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BY AARON SCHAUER, CTSP, WITH ERIC PETERSEN
This is the second installment of a two-part article. Part 1 looked at the benefits of being a subcontractor and working with subcontractors (TCI Magazine, June 2025). Part 2 looks at how to become and operate as a subcontractor
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BY JEFF INMAN JR., CTSP
When I was a little kid – and if I’m being honest, it’s still this way today – I idolized the men in my family. My paternal grandfather was a serious goofball, and in many ways I feel like my sense of humor came from him, along with a sense of curiosity in finding diamonds in the rough.
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BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP
We often speak of our arboriculture colleagues as buddies. We are the brotherhood – and/or sisterhood – of tree workers. After all, we are an exceedingly small part of the U.S. workforce, a little more than one-tenth of one percent. There is camaraderie forged in the unique experience of arboriculture.
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BY JEFF INMAN JR., CTSP
As I write this article, in our part of the world – the Mid-Atlantic states – we’re experiencing our first influx of storm work for the season. It’s fitting that I was requested to write an article on key hazards to look out for in storm work, almost as if we all willed this into being. Be that as it may, the topic is fresher in my mind than it otherwise might have been.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
For professional tree care companies, particularly those focused on residential work, the property-insurance industry represents a valuable referral channel, since it is one of the largest, if not the largest, consumer of emergency tree work each year, according to Gretchen Piechottka, director of program services at HMI-Horticultural Asset Management Inc.
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BY STEVEN F. PREGLER
Being an avid outdoorsperson and having had a career working outdoors almost every day, I have encountered several poisonous plants growing in our geographic region. Unfortunately for me, my job required me to deal with these hazards from time to time.
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BY BAILEY GRAVES
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken steps to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for certain countries, which could have workforce impacts for the tree care industry.
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BY PETER GERSTENBERGER
If your company had 10 or fewer employees for the last full calendar year, you do not need to record and keep OSHA injury and illness records.*
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BY KATHY GLASSEY
In the pursuit of pristine lawns, pest-free patios and flourishing gardens, property owners often turn to pesticide products or pesticide-application services to handle the job professionally and safely. But what happens when the products are not stored properly or the applicator or company cuts corners?
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BY SARAH GASKIN
As professionals in tree care, the challenges of wood-chip management are nothing new. While traditional methods such as mulching and dumping have been the norm, a groundbreaking approach has been emerging – biochar production through pyrolysis – right in the heart of our cities.
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BY ZACHARY RICHARDS
With so many flashy devices and gear options available within the tree industry, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and stick with the basics – or even just resort to the trusty “cut and chuck” to get the job done. “Cut and chuck,” if we’re being honest, is typically the practice of a climber or bucket operator holding a limb with one hand and using a chain saw to cut with the other. While there are options such as snap cuts (mismatched cuts) available, and tools such as handsaws that are safer one-handed options, these alternatives to “one-handing” are oftentimes viewed as less productive and not worth the time. What is the solution?
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BY CHRIS GIRARD
Recently, Girard Tree Service LLC, which I co-own and operate with my wife, Heide, was asked to take down a lightning-struck white pine tree (Pinus strobus) on an island here in New Hampshire. Due to the remote location and terrain, everything would have to be climbed and rigged down by hand. On top of that, there were no adjacent trees for me to remotely tie in to and use as a backup, so I was going to have to stay tied into the tree for the duration of the work.
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BY TCHUKKI ANDERSEN, BCMA, CTSP
In the tree care industry, communication is more than just convenience – it’s a safety essential. That’s why arborists Charlie White, CTSP, QT (TCIA Qualified Trainer), and Angel Arroyo, both with Northern Tree Service, a 48-year TCIA member company based in Palmer, Massachusetts, recently spent time field testing the Zoleo Satellite Communicator. They wanted to see how it performed in an area otherwise out of reach of cell service. Their verdict? It’s a practical, compact tool with a few quirks and a lot of promise.
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BY DANIEL SHULTS
The adoption of grapple trucks and grapple saws transformed debris management in several ways for Bob Ray Co. Inc., an accredited, 55-year TCIA member company based in Louisville, Kentucky. For instance, the company was out in early May 2025 performing storm cleanup after tornadoes passed through the Louisville area. In years past, the company might have dispatched five to six three-person crews with bucket, chipper plus crane trucks.
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BY JOE LEGATE
A couple of years ago, we were contacted to remove a linden tree growing on the side of a cliff at the Elora Gorge, on the Grand River about 70 miles west of Toronto in Ontario, Canada. The tree was approximately 25 feet down from the top/edge of the limestone cliff and about 100 feet above the river below. The linden was leaning toward the spa building of the Elora Mill, which is a high-end hotel and spa that happened to have very expensive glass windows right next to the tree. I learned the windows cost approximately $5,000 apiece.
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BY ERIC PETERSEN
By now, almost every practicing arborist has probably been involved in at least one conversation with a customer regarding their homeowner’s insurance company threatening to cancel their policy unless a tree or branch that is close to their home is removed. There often is no scientific basis for the removal expectation, leaving the homeowner confused and anxious about what they should do.
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BY JIM KASPER
Across neighborhoods in the U.S., something strange is happening. Homeowners are receiving notices from their insurance companies warning them, “Prune back those limbs overhanging your home or lose your coverage.” The offending branches? Those on trees that overhang roofs – even healthy, structurally sound trees and branches.
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BY JAMES HOUSTON
Over the past 40 years, our industry has experienced a remarkable advancement in the quality of training offered to professionals. What was once a largely informal, hands-on trade has grown into a highly specialized field backed by science, standardized practices and a strong emphasis on safety and environmental stewardship.
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BY BAILEY GRAVES
After months of uncertainty stemming from executive orders issued by President Trump and ongoing litigation, a federal judge has ordered the resumption of funding for urban and community forestry grants established under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
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BY KATHY GLASSEY
Despite decades of experience in the pesticide industry, certain areas of pesticide handling and safety still pose challenges. Every stakeholder, manufacturer, distributor and end user has a responsibility to ensure safe and legal handling, transportation and application of pesticides.
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BY KRISTOFFER RASMUSSEN, CTSP, QCL
For tree-service companies, the open road is as much a workplace as the treetops. Operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), such as chip trucks, aerial lifts and log loaders, demands strict adherence to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations – a complex web of rules that can feel like untangling a knotted rope.
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BY KRISTOFFER RASMUSSEN, CTSP, QCL
Drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) with limited English proficiency (LEP) are about to face a significant regulatory shake-up that could have real consequences for the tree care industry.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
For Timothy Brogan, gaining TCIA’s Certified Treecare Safety Professional credential (CTSP) was a way to empower him to teach other tree care professionals the tools needed to increase their longevity in the industry through safe practices and a safety-culture mindset.
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BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP, and Mike Tilford, CTSP
Who is a tree worker? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) spent a lot of time and effort defining this – through the questions they asked of small business representatives during SBREFA (Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act) – concerning the scope and application of a proposed rule.
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BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN
Rebecca Johnson, founder and owner of Arborholic LLC, has a list of arborist credentials a mile long, but laughs when she says she’s never worked full time for a tree care company. “I actually ended up in forestry kind of by default,” she says of her degree from Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
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BY AARON SCHAUER, CTSP, WITH ERIC PETERSEN
This is the first installment of a two-part article. Part 1 looks at the benefits of being a subcontractor and working with subcontractors. Part 2, in a future issue of TCI Magazine, will look at how to become and operate as a subcontractor.
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BY CHRISTOPHER LULEY, PH.D.
Billions upon billions of ash trees are dying or have been killed by emerald ash borer (EAB) in both urban and forested environments in the U.S. and Canada. (Photo 1) With time, the ash all will be returned back to the soil and air from whence they came. For better or for worse, arborists are often in the middle of this process of removal and renewal.
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BY JONATHAN FOOTE, CTSP, CCO
Watch out for the mechanical beasts!
For years now, I have been asked the question with regard to cranes, “Are you worried these machines will steal your job?” I simply reply, “No, we complement each other.”
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BY TIM BARTELT
There are symbiotic relationships across the natural world, with organisms counting on other organisms for success and survival. Symbiotic relationships also exist in the corporate environment, with one organization working with another organization for success and, in this case, tree survival.
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BY DAVID VINCENT
Safety programs are the lifeline of every company – they ensure everyone goes home at the end of the day in the same condition they arrived. Yet too often these programs become ineffective. They’re rolled out with fanfare, only to end up as binders gathering dust, neglected by leaders who see them as “someone else’s job” or training sessions no one remembers. Why? Because they fail to connect with the very people they’re designed to protect.
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TCI Magazine corralled the climbing arborists of Girard Tree Service, a 17-year TCIA member company based in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, to test drive and review the DMM Kinisi Max climbing saddle. They shared their initial impressions and experiences for this article and a related video
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BY KRISTOFFER RASMUSSEN, CTSP
I was in Washington, D.C., April 30, 2025, during the breathtaking peak of the cherry tree blossoms. Millions of people flock to the Tidal Basin each year to witness this explosion of color, and I was no exception. Children ran and played beneath the pink canopy, lovers strolled hand in hand, pausing for selfies with the blossoms as their backdrop.
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BY KATHY GLASSEY
As a pesticide-application company, compliance with regulations is not just a legal requirement, it’s a fundamental part of operating safely and responsibly. One of the most important regulations you need to be aware of is the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), which governs the sale, use and distribution of pesticides in the United States.
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BY MICHAEL HOPPE
Originating in parts of Europe and Asia, Rhamnus cathartic, aka buckthorn, was brought to these shores intended to be a welcome addition to our native landscaping stock. Now that it has gone feral, pushing its way into many necks of our urban forests and crowding out native species, it has worn out that welcome.
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BY DAVID M. ANDERSON, CTSP
A mentor of mine would always say to me, “You are what you put up with. You are not your safest job, you are your least safe job. You’re not your best employee, you are your worst. You are not your best client-service-interaction experience, you are your worst.” From this perspective, we can be driven to be our best – not perfect, but the best we can be.
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BY DAVID WHITE, CAE
The following is the text of the “2025 State of the Association” speech presented by David White, TCIA president and CEO, during the Association’s annual business meeting, held during Winter Management Conference on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, this past February. It has been edited slightly for brevity.
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BY ANDY JONES, CTSP, AND NICK GREENWOOD, CTSP
Over the first three installments of this series, we’ve explored the role of supplemental tree-support systems – why they’re needed, how they’re installed and the equipment required to implement them effectively. While these systems play a crucial role in mitigating risk and extending the life of structurally compromised trees, installation is only part of the equation.
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BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN
Sometimes doing the right thing is just, well, the right thing to do. And for Mark Stephens, owner of Eager Beaver Tree Service in Floyds Knobs, Indiana – and a Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), a Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA), Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ), pesticide applicator licensed and a New Albany (Indiana) city arborist – it’s the only way to do business.
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BY RICK HOWLAND
Hydraulics are one of a tree care pro’s best friends, powering tools that lift and move heavy objects and debris, or doing specialty work like cutting, digging or grinding. The growing proliferation of tool carriers and hydraulic tools has expanded the capability of almost every arborist operation and, by transferring tasks from the human to the machine, improved safety and prolonged careers.
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BY MONICA HEMINGWAY, Ph.D.
As a licensed arborist and marketing strategist for tree care companies, I’ve seen my fair share of industry transformations. But none quite matches the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize how we operate our businesses, serve our customers and grow our bottom line.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
“Luck Runs Out, But Safety Is Good For Life”
So says a post on the Tufts Tree Service LLC Facebook page. It could be owner Brandon Tufts' guiding principle.
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BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP
During the past year, natural disasters rippled across the country, from hurricanes in the East to wildfires in the West. These disasters destroyed properties, disrupted essential services and, tragically, resulted in the loss of lives. They also left a trail of shattered and fallen trees in their wake.
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BY KEVIN BREWER, BCMA, RCA
In today’s competitive green industry, professional arborists, landscapers and plant-health-care providers face mounting pressure. Stabilizing revenue, managing rising labor costs and navigating a market of price-sensitive customers make the road to sustainable growth a winding one.
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BY NOEL BOYER
As I visit with my tree friends in person and online, I often hear of the challenges we all face as we work to keep our customers happy and our team safe. There are a lot of important pieces to our safety programs, including training, equipment inspections and maintenance and documentation.
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BY KOREY CONRY, CTSP
There are many aspects to being a successful trainer, but for the sake of this article, we are going to focus on just one: building and presenting effective PowerPoint presentations.
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BY JIM KASPER
How did your tree-work journey begin?
Did you grow up in the midst of arboriculture, a member of a family team?
Did you, like me, stumble upon men swinging – precariously! Wildly! How are they doing that? – far above you as you passed them on the street?
Maybe you simply needed a job and answered an ad in a local listing.
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BY DON STARUK
We asked about a dozen arborists, all of whom have been contributors to TCI Magazine at one time or another, if they had an example of a time when personal protective equipment (PPE) made or could have made a difference on the job. Could they briefly recount a time when PPE saved the day? Or when the lack of it cost or nearly cost someone an injury, or worse?
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BY LEO ROLDAN, CTSP, QT
I presented on this topic at TCI EXPO ’24 in Baltimore, where I had a great audience and received excellent feedback. When I started working on that presentation, I realized we had never really addressed language and cultural barriers for our tree workers.
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BY SARA DREISER AND RICH ALEXANDER
On December 31, 2024, a man in Massachusetts barricaded himself in his house after shooting at a line-clearance crew with a high-powered air rifle. The crew was working down the road from his house, with no direct connection to his property.
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BY CRAIG BACHMANN, BCMA, CTSP, TRAQ
The goal of “zero incidents” is an impossible standard. As a profession, we have promoted this concept, but it is simply not realistic. While safety is always a priority, arboriculture is performed in a high-hazard environment, and every day requires thousands of decisions with incomplete information.
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BY LINDSEY PURCELL, BCMA
Conditions of concern may be defined as tree issues that the client and arborist perceive as unacceptable. In my experience, they usually fall into one or more of three categories. Typically, it is about structure, clearance and appearance. (Photo 1) Our task, as arborists, is providing solutions to these issues.
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BY DAVID M. ANDERSON, CTSP
Looking back to my high school years, I realize that although I had passion, I was not the strongest student and lacked direction upon graduation. I was lucky enough to see a job ad for a small company as I started my professional career. The company was Olde Colonial Tree and Landscape, and the owner was Jay Ippolito.
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BY EDWARD MORROW
You’ve seen it – improper pruning, unforgiving topping, suffocating mulch volcanoes; it’s 2025, like, why do we still see mulch volcanoes? And if you talk to enough property owners, you may hear mountains of tree myths and misconceptions. What’s an arborist to do? In this article, we’ll climb into another facet of tree care: urban-forestry education.
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BY SUSAN DIPIETRO
TCIA offers two scholarships for travel and related expenses for women in the industry to attend TCI EXPO and take part in the Women in Tree Care (WITC) Pre-Conference Workshop held there each year. The winners for TCI EXPO ’24 were Jabeen Ratanshi of Ontario, Canada, and Katie Kranich of Delaware.
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BY RICK HOWLAND
You may know the name Ash Connelly. If you don’t, you will. She is arguably one of the fastest up-and-coming young guns in tree care.
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BY TIM BARTELT
Human nature tells us to give of ourselves and to give back to our community. Your company vehicles probably drive by a dozen places every day where people could benefit from your giving. And chances are, your kids or your neighbors’ kids are those people. We’re talking about the local high schools – both vocational/technical schools or general education.
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BY DAVID RATTIGAN
At law school, observers tell you, the biggest thing they teach is not the law. Instead, they teach you a different way of thinking. How to think like a lawyer.
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BY NOEL BOYER, BCMA, CTSP
We all know how hard it is to find good help right now. While hiring great help is a challenge, it’s just the first part of building a great staff. Your company is probably a mix of experienced help, untrained new hires and everything in between.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
A passion for tree climbing and supportive, on-the-job training led Jenny Rexroad to her dream job as climber and crew chief at Madison Tree Care & Landscaping in Milford, Ohio, where she has worked since March 2019.
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BY KATHY GLASSEY
Pesticides are an essential tool in protecting plants from harmful pests, diseases and weeds. It’s crucial that those involved in the production, distribution and application of pesticides understand the importance of adhering to regulatory standards. In this article, I’ll explain why compliance isn’t just a legal requirement, but a key part to ensuring safety, environmental protection and the long-term success of your business and the industry.
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BY LUKE SCHEBERL
Soil organic matter (SOM) is one of the most critical components of a healthy urban soil. While it is often a small component (<8%) of soil, it influences nearly every aspect of that soil’s ability to support tree health.
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BY ROBERT J. LAVERNE, PH.D.; ALEX JULIUS, BCMA; AND TIM BUSHNELL, CTSP
Climbing arborists and tree workers rely on the structural strength and stability of a tree’s branches, trunk and roots to support their weight and the forces associated with rigging operations.
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BY JEREMIAH SANDLER, BCMA
I’ve had a number of consultations in Pleasant Ridge, a small community with many mature oak and early veteran trees, after a hollow tree failed onto someone’s house (nobody was injured). Around the same time, another oak nearby had a significant failure that totaled a neighboring garage.
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BY LINDSEY PURCELL
It’s tough out there for trees, especially when they are trying to survive in the “un-natural” urban forests where we live. Trees tend to grow well on more natural, undisturbed sites like arboreal areas, but there is nothing natural about the built environment. Trees planted in suburban and urban areas require supplementary care and maintenance to keep them thriving and not just surviving.
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BY ZACH SHIER, BCMA
Soil and foliar sampling are not exactly a new science, nor are they new ideas in the world of arboriculture. However, it is my opinion that they are still underutilized or underemphasized in the field. As practicing arborists, we must use all the tools at our disposal to not only provide good service to our customers, but also to do our best to improve tree health.
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BY SCOTT CARLSON, BCMA
Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans. We have all heard it. I believe it.
I am an aging arborist in Iowa. Like a lot of us seasoned “tree guys,” I have followed a familiar path. As I got older and less agile in the trees, I focused on selling.
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BY EDWARD MORROW
Financial jargon coupled with astronomical numbers. All splattered across a piece of paper or computer screen. What is this?! Your anxiety surges out of control. It’s just an income statement – profit and loss statement, or P&L for short. If we could just, maybe, alter this financial statement a tad. Just to condense it, to make it just a little more understandable. Image is everything – and all financial information can be grasped with the right financial presentation.
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BY BILL OWEN, CTSP
Arborists are practicality driven; we recognize what works and then incorporate best practices into our processes. With our industry’s spirit of innovation, we have seen major improvements year over year as our techniques and technologies evolve. As rapidly as we have seen innovation in field operations, we also have enhanced our ability to run our businesses. As such, we recognize management as a pathway to continuous improvement.
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BY BRIAN LEDONNE
In the tree-service industry, particularly for TCIA members, the challenges of managing a successful business extend beyond physical labor and service quality. The digital landscape can feel overwhelming, with countless tools and platforms that demand your time and attention. In this article, we’ll look at a five-step approach, “The Foundation,” tailored specifically for tree care professionals to address these challenges.
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BY MICHAEL ROCHE
“Is a peer-to-peer group right for you?”
That’s a question many business owners might want to consider, because, after gaining enough information on the topic, many owners will see that having regularly scheduled meetings with fellow business owners can be one of the most valuable things you can do for the growth, safety, profitability and general enjoyment of your business.
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BY RICK HOWLAND
For this article, we talked with end-users who pretty much agree that successful implementation of customer relationship management (CRM) software comes after many steps accompanied by diligence, time and sometimes frustration. But – and it’s a very large but – all say the journey is well worth it.
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BY BRANDON JOHNSON
Trees are a sign of strength, longevity and life. Species live for hundreds, even thousands, of years. They withstand changing climates, harsh storms and invasive pests. In a world where these magnificent life forms survive so much, human beings have often been their biggest adversary. Carr’s Tree Service has spent 50 years working to serve as the mending hand between the two species.
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BY ANDY FELIX
Do you know – really know – that your business is making money?
If you know it for a fact and have no doubt your business is making money, and are comfortable with the percentage of profit your company achieves, there is no reason to read this article. However, if you “think” you’re making money or are not quite sure if you are, please read on.
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BY EDWARD MORROW
You’ve either read about it or experienced it firsthand. If you find yourself in a room full of elite climbers – they may be from different places and use different climbing hitches and gear – one thing is common: They usually light up when the subject swings over to SRS climbing. Stationary-rope systems increase ascension speed and facilitate more ergonomic work positioning. But is it possible to take an SRS approach to business and personal growth?
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BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN
When Jason James, CTSP, ISA Certified Arborist and owner of Tree Wise Men LLC – a TCIA member company since 2022 – started noticing the ash tree epidemic spreading across southern Wisconsin, he saw a demand for tree work he knew he could fill.
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BY THOMAS BOFINGER
I had the trip – and learning experience – of a lifetime in 2024, traveling the U.S. for two months visiting 11 tree care companies in eight different states. After seeing those top-quality operations, I am back home applying – and looking to share – the lessons learned.
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BY MEGAN TOWNSEND
“I’m ready to grow my business, but I’m stuck with too much on my plate already.”
“I can’t take a vacation. My business will fall apart
without me.”
“It’s either time with family or a flourishing business. I can’t have both.”
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BY RICK HOWLAND
With up to a half-million dollars in equipment to protect, not to mention personnel safety and potential liability if something goes wrong on the job site, sometimes it’s the little things that save the tree care day. Take, for example, mats, pads and cribbing for cranes and aerial lifts.
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BY MATTHEW BORDEN, DPM
Another doom-and-gloom story? There is an ever-growing lineup of new and invasive pests, weeds and diseases with which we, as tree care professionals, must keep up. For foresters and arborists in the mid-Atlantic, New England and parts of the upper Midwest, beech leaf disease (BLD) is one such problem. It has raced toward the front of the line due to its alarming severity, rapid spread and unique characteristics that require new management tactics. But there is hope.
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BY RYAN TORCICOLLO, CTSP, AND MATTHEW MECKLEY, CTSP
Before we even get into the details of how to fell a tree, the most important questions we can ask are, “Can we even fell this tree? Do we have room? What are the hazards? ( How much lean does it have? Do we have the tools we need?” To determine if we can even fell the tree, we need to create a five-step felling plan. There are probably five or six ways to fell any given tree, depending on several factors. This article will explain a few of the methods and hopefully give you some more options for your felling operations.
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BY DON STARUK
John Langdon Iurka, 78, of Sound Beach, Long Island, New York, passed away October 1, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer. Despite his wish to return home for a cherished old-fashioned cocktail and a quiet moment petting his beloved dogs, that farewell was not to be. He is now at peace and has found comfort and rest.
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BY DAVid RATTIGAN
Space Perspective, a space-tourism
company, has developed a balloon-and-capsule to take eight passengers about 20 miles in the air, at $125,000 a ride. As Jamie Goddard explains it, that’s, “right at the edge of where you would need a spacesuit.”
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BY MARK CHISHOLM, CTSP
Whenever I am asked to speak about working with cranes, I always start by discussing the accidents that are happening. This is the foundation for what we should all craft our practices around in order to ultimately avoid the problems others have had. What slings to use, how to attach them, where to make the cut, what cut to use and so on should be derived by the overarching desire to work safely above all else. And sacrificing safety for time will ultimately cost you way more than it saves, including the time you are so desperately striving to capture.
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BY ANDY JONES, CTSP
Last November in a TCI EXPO ’23 presentation, I explored the merits of battery-powered outdoor power equipment (OPE) and posed the question: Is it time to seriously consider transitioning to battery-operated tools? Initially, the Rooted Arbor Care team and I had modest expectations regarding the performance of battery products, but after a full year of rigorous field testing, we were pleasantly surprised by the advancements in technology.
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BY ALEX JULIUS, BCMA
For many, the transition from a job to a career in arboriculture starts with the purchase of the “ISA Arborist Certification Study Guide.” And when making that leap, it feels even more official when that certificate comes in the mail saying you’re now an ISA Certified Arborist. But, as with anything, someone was behind the scenes, leading the effort, and that someone was Sharon Lilly.
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BY JIM KASPER
In an issue dedicated to the “legends” of the industry, there’s no avoiding the name Mark Chisholm. His official tree-climbing career began more than 40 years ago, at age 12, helping with his dad’s business on weekends. He was making money rigging out trees before many in this industry today were born. But don’t let that fool you. “I could outclimb my 26-year-old world-
championship self today,” he says.
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BY MICHAEL ROCHE, CTSP
When you walk out from a safety lecture by Dr. John Ball, you definitely feel better informed, but it’s also likely you feel a little unnerved.
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BY W. JIM CORTESE, BCMA
Alex Shigo, father of modern arboriculture, burst on the arboricultural scene in the early 1980s with his theory of compartmentalization of decay in trees, CODIT. With this he changed our collective thinking about trees. He created a revolution in our field of arboriculture. That revolution is continuing today with new generations of researchers helping create new knowledge of trees and moving the bar ever forward. Dr. Thomas Smiley is one of these folks.
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BY CHRIS GIRARD
Webster’s New World Dictionary’s definition of a mentor is the following: 1. A wise advisor 2. A teacher or coach.
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BY ANDY JONES, CTSP
Eight years ago, my best friend and now business partner gave me a copy of “Knots at Work” for my birthday. This gift came just a month into my journey into the captivating world of tree work. As an aspiring climber, I devoured the book and committed many of its pages to memory. Jeff Jepson’s straightforward style and no-nonsense explanations resonated with me like the work of few other writers had.
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By DON STARUK, EDITOR
When we recognize a person as a legend, typically it is an honor we confer because of that person’s achievement or their impact on us personally. TCI Magazine staff surveyed some key industry contacts as well as fellow TCIA employees, asking for nominations for a new “Legends” feature. Our staff ranked the dozens of suggestions received, and six people were selected to profile in this issue. We then invited fellow arborists to write their profiles.
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BY ANDY JONES, CTSP, AND NICK GREENWOOD, CTSP
In Part 2 of this series, we explored the deployment of steel and dynamic
cable systems as risk-mitigation solutions for damaged trees or those with mechanical vulnerabilities. In Part 3, we will focus on another primary method of supplemental support: bracing. We also will touch briefly on guying and propping.
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BY RICK HOWLAND
Ever wonder about that large, sturdy, fully grown tree standing as a centerpiece amid the show booths, equipment and convention goers at TCI EXPO?
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BY CHELSI ABBOTT, MSC
In this article, we’ll look at which characteristics help identify some of the fungi that can create hazardous trees for arborists. We’ll also look at fungal management and managing client expectations for trees with wood-decay rot.
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BY JULIE BEE
You knew it from the beginning – being an entrepreneur is no walk in the park. Hard work, hustle and the occasional all-nighter come with the territory. But if “up to your eyeballs” has become your everyday reality, you’re headed for trouble.
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BY SYDNEY HUDZINSKI
My start in this industry was rough. The first three months were a struggle. They were mentally, physically and emotionally draining. I remember white knuckling the steering wheel on my way home, wondering if I could do this job.
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BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN
From the Americas to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, Waco Boom Manufacturing LLC has built a solid reputation in what company sales director Geoff Abel calls a “niche market” for filament-wound, insulated fiberglass booms.
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BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN
Taking the high road in his business practices is something Matt Hogarth, owner of Higher Ground Tree Care – an accredited, nine-year TCIA member company based in Granger, Indiana – holds dearly as one of his core values. “Our secret sauce is, we’re going to serve every customer well even if it’s to our detriment – even that cantankerous, high-maintenance customer,” he says. “That’s why our word-of-mouth advertising is huge, and growing.”
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BY REBECCA SEIBEL, BCMA, CTSP
The Six-Step Felling Plan is a checklist you and the people who work alongside you can apply to every tree-felling operation. It’s also a training tool. Employees who have achieved basic chain-saw safer-
operator skills and who are prepared to do more can follow this.
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BY TRACEY MILLER
This year at TCI EXPO, taking place November 7-9 in Baltimore, Maryland, attendees with an All-Access Pass will have exclusive access to engaging and educational Main Stage Sessions. These sessions will feature speakers offering fresh perspectives and invaluable insights tailored to tree care professionals. Here’s a glimpse of the topics they’ll be covering.
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BY CHRIS GIRARD, CTSP
I'm sure every tree worker has run into a case when you get a phone call to come in and remove a hazardous tree after construction has just been finished on a building site. Of course, it would have been so much easier and safer if the contractor had just called you beforehand.
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BY MASON BRANDENBERGER, CTSP
Running a successful tree care company requires more than just technical expertise and a solid work ethic.
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BY JOSIAH GEORGESON
A masterful estimate involves establishing trust, providing effective solutions and setting the stage for your crew to exceed expectations.
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BY TRACEY MILLER
When Jeff Gillis, president of WellTree Inc. – a 23-year TCIA member company based in Brunswick, Maine – first considered offering his employees a 401(k) program, he was daunted by the potential administrative burden and cost.
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BY ERIC PETERSEN
Everyone in your organization is in sales. There, I said it. Don’t agree with me? Keep reading, and let’s see if I can change your mind.
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BY ASH CONNELLY
TCI EXPO ’23 Saturday morning, like the sunset of a few days jampacked full of learning, connecting and staying up late. Coffee in hand and sleep in their eyes, an unexpectedly large crowd filled the room to gain a few tricks of the sales trade.
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BY MICHAEL ROCHE
416 That’s a number that should resonate with you if you are a tree care owner or manager. It’s a number that should be in a company’s employee handbook, and in today’s business world, you need a good handbook more than ever.
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BY DAVID JOSEPH
Accountability is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “the obligation or willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions or duties.” But in the realm of leadership and organizational management, it’s more than a definition.
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BY RON EDMONDS
With a high level of merger-and-acquisition activity in the tree care industry, owners are naturally interested in what is driving all the activity and how it will affect their businesses. One term being bantered about is the EBITDA, a measurement of a business’s value. So what is your business’s EBITDA, and why should you care?
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BY DAVID RATTIGAN
Noel Boyer has never taken the step to hire a business advisor, but has brought in professional help to lighten the load for himself and his staff.
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BY ANDY JONES, CTSP, AND NICK GREENWOOD, CTSP
In Part 1 of this series, we discussed the need for supplemental support systems and the reasons we rely on cabling systems to serve as solutions for many structural vulnerabilities. In this article, we will cover some needed clarifications regarding the new A300-2023 as it applies to cabling. We then will revisit “proactive” vs. “reactive” cabling. Finally, we will cover the two primary types of cabling systems, commonly used hardware options, the tools we rely upon and the primary steps we take for proper installation.
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BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP
They came from tree crews of the largest tree care companies in the United States. They worked alone as the sole proprietor of their own companies. They performed line-clearance work along overhead power lines, pruned trees in residential backyards and removed trees in city parks. They worked for companies with words such as “Tree Experts,” “Tree Service” and “Tree Wiseman” in their name, among many others. What they all had in common was that they died during arboricultural operations.
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BY CHARLIE WHITE
I was attending a recent ISA event and overheard a young climber seeking advice about doing the gnarly stuff in tree work. The response was well intended and does have a bit of truth: “It’s easier with people you trust.”
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BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN
Tim Scherpenisse, owner of New Life Arboricultural Services based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is adamant about maintaining a slow and steady rate of growth within his company. “We’re always growing and looking for the next legacy client, but if the opportunity does not align with our core values, we pass,” he notes, adding, “For us, it’s all about controlled growth.”
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BY MARK E. BATTERSBY
It’s no secret that many tree care businesses are adding electric or zero-emission vehicles to their fleets. Chipper and bucket trucks, vans, dump trucks – just about every commercial vehicle has an electric option.
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BY STEVEN F. PREGLER
In a recent article I read, an 18-year-old was killed by a falling tree while cleaning up storm damage. How tragic! Injuries and death can happen to anyone. They happen to homeowners and professionals alike. We read about them each month in the “Accident Briefs” of this magazine. How many incidents never get reported and become part of our industry statistics?
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BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN
For David Raines, owner of Raines Tree Care in Bentonville, Arkansas – a TCIA member company since 2015 – the morning of May 26 started out like any other Sunday, until he saw the stream of text messages from family and friends asking if he was OK.
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BY TRACEY MILLER
For many attendees, TCI EXPO is not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for tree care professionals, a place to meet new friends and reunite with old ones. The industry is growing and changing rapidly, and many companies bring their whole teams each year.
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BY RUDY RUTEMILLER, TIMOTHY M. WALSH, CTSP, and JEREMY LEWIS
In November 2023, at TCI EXPO in St. Louis, Missouri, we three authors presented two case studies where The Davey Tree Expert Company and Petzl worked congruently to find safe and compliant work-positioning solutions for crews on unique and nontraditional work sites.
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BY CHRISTOPHER J. LULEY, PH.D., AND KEVIN T. SMITH, PH.D.
Part 1 of this two-part series, “Heartwood and Heart Rot, Part 1: Are They Important to Arborists?” ran in the May 2023 issue of TCI Magazine.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
“Getting the tree down is no longer the problem, managing the wood waste is. ‘Now what do I do with all this volume?’
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BY ARABELLA ARDEN
“CTSP, it’s who I am,” states Kristoffer Rasmussen,
TCIA Accreditation auditor and the owner of arboriststrong.com, a tree care safety consulting company based in Azle, Texas.
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BY JEFF INMAN JR., CTSP
Do you think about weights when rigging, or just tie stuff on and proceed to cutting? Are you someone who spends time factoring in angles, vectors and the system that needs to be built for the task ahead, or are you just throwing a rope up there and hoping for the best?
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BY ANTHONY TRESSELT, CTSP
As with any technical undertaking, there are various ways to mitigate or dissipate force in our rigging systems.
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BY KELPIE WILSON
The following is an excerpt from Kelpie Wilson’s new book, “The Biochar Handbook” (Chelsea Green Publishing June 2024), and is printed with permission from the publisher.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
In February 2024, The Davey Tree Expert Company fired up its new biochar facility in East Dundee, Illinois. The facility recycles wood waste from its many client properties in the Chicago area and turns it into an environmentally friendly soil additive, biochar.
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BY GEOFF KEMPTER
Revisions to ANSI A300 standards often reflect emerging research or attempts to balance tree health with economics and safety.
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BY ANDY JONES, CTSP, AND NICK GREENWOOD, CTSP
At TCI EXPO ’23 in St. Louis, Missouri, we hosted a training on the show floor called “Cabling Made Easy.” With the assist of our training partner, Thomas Paine, CTSP, we demonstrated our preferred method of cable installation and attempted to explain the merits of this method.
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BY GLYNN C. PERCIVAL, PH.D.
The benefits of a woodchip mulch layer over the root system of a tree are now widely recognized. These include conservation of soil moisture to reduce the detrimental effects of drought and weed suppression, and, as the mulch layer is degraded, the nutrients released provide a valuable organic fertilizer.
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BY HANS J. TIELMANN III, CTSP
As a New Jersey Licensed Tree Expert, TCIA Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP) and TCIA Qualified Trainer, I have witnessed the profound impact that technological advancements have had on the tree care industry.
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BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP
Arborists work within an array of regulations, standards and policies. The foundation for these is the federal Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970.
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BY RICK HOWLAND
It’s become a given. Compact loaders and mini skid steers are a godsend for the tree care industry. They come in several configurations – ride in or on, stand on, perhaps articulated, wheeled or tracked.
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By TAMSIN VENN
As health & safety manager, Josue Palacios oversees the safety training of a largely Hispanic workforce at Rancho Tree Service, a six-year TCIA member company headquartered in Bakersfield, California.
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BY KARSTEN FOERSTER
In the various recreational climbing disciplines, you will often hear risk or hazards categorized in two ways: “subjective” and “objective.” Acknowledging and categorizing these different hazards can help us choose the most effective path for mitigation or remedy.
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BY JEFF JEPSON
The following is an excerpt from the newly revised “The Tree Climber’s Companion,” by Jeff Jepson. This excerpt, mostly new content from Part 1 of the revision, was adapted for TCI Magazine by Jeff Jepson.
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BY RICK HOWLAND
While there may be a slew of reasons for it, one thing seems certain: demand for insulated compact lifts in tree care is growing. In this article, we look at what is driving the increase in demand for insulated models, some of the equipment that is available and its features and benefits.
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BY MIKE TILFORD, CTSP, AND RYAN TORCICOLLO, CTSP
We all like to talk about, or at least think about, how we are the picture of perfection when it comes to tree work. However, once we really make a mess of the simplest task – maybe involving a throw line at a 25-foot union – we quickly abandon our delusions of grandeur.
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BY JEFF INMAN JR., CTSP
Back in November 2023, at TCI EXPO in St. Louis, Missouri, I gave a presentation titled “The One Thing to Rule Them All.” The premise of the presentation was based upon finding one thing we can focus on in our day-to-day work to help with our longevity in the industry, to make sound decisions on the job site and to prevent accidents, incidents and injuries. Work positioning, in my opinion, is that thing.
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BY LAWRENCE SCHULTZ
When it comes to teaching climbing in the tree care industry, we need to focus more on strategy and efficiency.
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BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP
Contact with electrical current is the third-leading source of fatal incidents among arborists. About three-quarters of these incidents are aloft, either to a climber or aerial device operator.
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BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP
Everyone providing pruning or removal quotes has come across this situation. You pull up to the next appointment at a house in a well-wooded neighborhood.
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COMPILED By Peter Gerstenberger
TCIA annually presents safety awards recognizing individual and/or team actions that may have prevented an injury or saved a life, and for company programs or directives aimed at improving safety.
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BY TIM AYERS, CUSP
Everyone has become familiar with the term PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) over the past few years.
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BY ANDREA SIMONIN
The tree care industry faces many challenges regarding safety. From working at heights to working around power lines, and from using heavy machinery and chain saws to driving, tree care workers are involved daily in many high-risk activities.
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BY SCOTT JAMIESON
One bright summer day, I was headed to the Baltimore area for a strategic planning session with my executive team. As the plane was on final approach, my pager went off.
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BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP
P art 1 of Chapter 4, Safe Work Practices (TCI Magazine, March 2024), covered the job hazard analysis (JHA), work plan and job briefing.
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BY KOREY CONRY, CTSP
A tree worker’s guide to arriving safely to the job (while driving)
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Compiled by Peter Gerstenberger
While it requires making some assumptions, recent fatality data indicates the rate of on-the-job deaths in the tree care industry may be as much as 11 times those of other industries.
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BY AUGUST HOPPE
August Hoppe gave the following address after being sworn in as chair of the TCIA Board of Directors during the Association’s annual business meeting, held February 12, 2024, during Winter Management Conference ’24 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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BY Ray Budd
Technical-education schools, such as Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School in Essex, Massachusetts, are training students with the skills needed to open doors into a career in arboriculture. I am one of these students.
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BY LISA BLUMENTHAL
“Before this class, I was a drug addict with nothing; a rough past, nothing in my future, no direction. This gave me something that’s positive. I’m undeniably grateful for everything,” says Terissa, a convicted felon.
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BY SUSAN DIPIETRO
A grassroots event took place at TCI EXPO ’17 in Baltimore, Maryland. Led by TCIA members, a group of women and others came together in a way that wasn’t as prevalent then as it is now, and the first TCIA Women in Tree Care Forum came to life.
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BY Don Staruk with Erin (Demers) Aaron
TCIA offers two $1,000 scholarships annually for travel and related expenses for women in the industry to attend TCI EXPO and take part in the Women in Tree Care (WITC) Pre-Conference Workshop held there. The opportunity has garnered great interest in the past, and this year was no different.
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BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP
Note: The following article includes the proposed changes to “Section 3, Electrical Hazard” of the ANSI Z133 safety standard. This next Z edition will be published during 2024, and these “Electrical Level” categories will be subject to change.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
One community in tree care work is increasing, and that would be the league of extraordinary women.
“It’s definitely growing, we’re not so much an outlier anymore. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a boys’ club, but at the same time it’s not weird to just be with all guys,” says Nicole Benjamin, tree climber, math minor, business owner, rugby player and mom.
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BY Rick Howland
Jordan Tielmann says the tree care industry has not only become more open and welcoming toward women in recent years, but she also stresses that being part of the industry is not limited to field operations. Translation: There are a lot more opportunities for women in the industry than meet the eye.
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BY ANDY FELIX
I own a successful tree company near the north end of Bristol County in southeastern Massachusetts. My interest in Bristol County Agricultural High School peaked with the arrival of one of their graduates at our company.
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BY MICHAEL RAUPP, PH.D.
First detected in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014, near the town of Pikeville, this phloem-feeding sap sucker, the Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), now has breeding populations in more than 17 states.
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BY AUDREY SELLEPACK
What is a pesticide-compliance superhero?
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BY TCHUKKI ANDERSEN, BCMA, CTSP
Back in November 2023, I caught up with Thomas Paine, CTSP, co-owner of Rooted Arbor Care in Warrenton, Missouri, on a job site in Missouri. He was tasked with inspecting a picturesque, healthy pin oak (Quercus palustrus) tree and performing a cleaning and pruning of it.
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BY CHRIS DIFFLEY, BCMA, RCA
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.
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BY CHELSi ABBOTT, MSC
In this article, we are going to talk about fungal anatomy as well as how and where fungi (fun’ ji) attack trees, and how that in turn affects the trees and us.
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BY PATRICK PARKER, CTSP
Congratulations! You are about to enter what I consider the most fascinating sphere of arboriculture. Plant health care (PHC) involves research, investigation, diagnostics and treatments. Providing PHC services allows you to better serve your clients and their trees, developing long-term relationships and a source of recurring, high-profit-margin revenue.
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BY GLYNN C. PERCIVAL, PH.D.
The importance of mycorrhizae and the role they play in enhancing tree health is widely recognized by arborists. However, the role of endophytes, i.e., bacteria and fungi that live within a tree without causing any disease symptoms, is greatly unappreciated. The aim of this article is to provide a brief overview highlighting the benefits of endophytes, especially their potential as bio-control agents.
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By Gordon HoThe integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and LinkedIn in the tree care industry represents a significant advancement in how businesses operate, connect and grow in this sector. This article delves into the multifaceted benefits and applications of AI and LinkedIn – focusing particularly on AI chatbots – to enhance the tree care industry’s efficiency, outreach and innovation.
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By Paul Lozeau
Every business comes to an inflection point where it must pivot from legacy methods to a more modern approach, the proverbial fork in the road. Stanley Tree Service recently came to one such fork.
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By Michael Hoppe
In the Milwaukee area, where I’ve spent my tree career, I’m one of the few outfits that works by the hour. Most of my competitors work by the bid. There are upsides and downsides attendant with each way of pricing work.
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By Mike Sisti
I recently came off the road from a number of trade shows at which I had many conversations with small-business owners in our industry. During one of the marketing sessions I led, we discussed how companies were utilizing their marketing as the foundation for their businesses and incorporating it into the other facets of their companies.
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By John Ball
This is a continuation of the discussion of the electrical-system equipment found along distribution lines. One of the requirements for arborists working in proximity to an electrical hazard – within 10 feet of the lines – is familiarity with the equipment that shares the poles with the lines. The electrical-system equipment can be divided into three categories: 1) voltage-management devices, 2) protective devices and 3) support devices. There are also devices for switching to disconnect or close circuits.
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By Howard Gaffin
The opposing attorney walked toward me jauntily. “So, have you heard the one about how many opinions one would receive when employing 10 arborists to appraise a tree?”
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By Patrick Nelson
I spent nearly seven years in the Army as a paratrooper, with three combat deployments. I was wounded in action on one of those tours. As I transitioned from soldier to civilian, I was met with many of the challenges veterans face. I found it difficult to relate to others, because they hadn’t been through the same situations as me. That isn’t to take anything away from them, it just made it hard for me.
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by Rick HowlandIn about a generation, it is possible that running a tree care business may be unrecognizable compared to what it is today.
As quickly as computer technology is changing the American business landscape, tree care veterans now in their 50s and 60s are unlikely to see profound changes before they retire. On the flip side, if Art Batson III is correct, the younger generation now in their 20s and 30s should see dramatic changes in their careers, largely attributable to robotics and software.
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ByJoe Jurec
I had the honor of giving a presentation at the 2023 TCI EXPO in St. Louis this past November. I addressed some common fears and reservations that small-business owners in the tree care industry might have about embracing new technologies. It makes sense that terms like “artificial intelligence” (AI) and “emerging technology” can seem intimidating and even irrelevant to the work done in tree care.
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BY JENNIFER MCPHEE
In the world of arboriculture, investing in the future goes beyond just planting trees; it’s about shedding light on the industry’s role in our planet’s health and building a professional environment that encourages our industry to thrive. By leaning on some common principles of financial investing – such as compounding interest, patience, diversification and motivation – the arboriculture industry can attract a new generation of professionals who seek meaningful careers and contribute to the preservation of our environment.
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BY RICK WEDEN
In this article, we are going to discuss inland marine insurance policies, including equipment valuation, coverages and options, focusing primarily on insuring aerial lifts and cranes.
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BY PETER NIEVES-SOSA
Before running a new piece of equipment, we read the operator’s manual. That’s the first step in figuring out how anything works, correct? I would say training begins day one for any job or task we choose. Some tasks may take longer and be more in depth than others. Some require continuing education or updates.
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BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN
Keeping tree care workers safe is one of the guiding principles of business at Cranes 101, according to its founder and president, Jay Sturm. “I’ve never been an arborist – we cover a number of industries here, including construction and industrial crane usage – but I have a special affinity, a real passion, for the tree care industry,” says Sturm. “I thought it needed help in the safety end of the business.”
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BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP
Basic terminology and how the electric-power system works from generation to the end consumer was covered in Part 1 of this series (TCI Magazine, October 2023). This article will focus on the distribution system. Trees are often near these lines, so arborists need to be familiar with the associated electrical-system equipment.
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BY RICK HOWLAND
Battery-powered compact lifts likely will be an expanding and permanent fixture in tree care, though it’s too early to know to what extent and which technology may prevail. Depending on who you talk to, battery-powered compact (or tracked) lifts are either fully functional and capable of replacing gasoline and diesel models in tree care, or they are still fine for dedicated use and emergency situations, but not ready for prime time.
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BY BRIAN BRUCE
As the sun set on another late September day, more than 4,000 volunteers and participants completed the ninth-annual Saluting Branches Day of Service. With nearly $4 million in services contributed across a staggering 100 locations spanning 49 states, Puerto Rico and even extending into Mexico, Saluting Branches’ 2023 event once again proved that the power of unity, service and respect knows no bounds.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
Mike Earl, owner of Old Growth Tree Service LLC, an eight-year TCIA member company based in Eagle, Colorado, says he loves the Registered Arborist Apprenticeship Program. His first arborist apprentice, Ryan Mack, will soon complete his U. S. Department of Labor (USDOL) journeyworker certificate. Based on that success, Earl has another apprentice lined up and plans further expansion of the program.
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BY EMILY BOWMAN, SAM HILL, BOB ROUSE and TIM BUSHNELL, CTSP
In the world of tree care and arboriculture, the ANSI A300 standards have long been regarded as the gold standard for industry practices. This collection of 10 standards, which covers various aspects of tree care, has provided essential guidelines to arborists, urban foresters, horticulturists and landscape architects and contractors for decades. However, a group of collaborators, including the authors of this article, recently completed a significant change, redesigning, restructuring and consolidating these standards into one comprehensive document.
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BY ANTHONY TRESSELT, CTSP
Regardless of the increase in mechanization on the production-
arborist job site, many tasks still require the fundamental equipment of rope, harness, connecting link, mechanical aids and other various pieces of climbing and rigging equipment. As such, basic equipment inspection is still a prerequisite skill for arborists working in the field. As with many fundamental skills, gear inspection requires constant attention. But it is often the first thing to fall by the wayside in day-to-day activities!
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BY ANDY JONES, CTSP
As recently as 10 years ago, the typical industry stance on Single Rope Technique/Single Rope System (SRT/SRS) was pessimistic at best, and the idea of outfitting tree crews with mini skids was seen as a major waste of resources. It’s crazy how blind we so often are. Now, I can’t imagine handling a full production-climbing workload without SRS systems or mini skids!
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By Tamsin Venn
Scott Turner, president of Truetimber Arborists, an accredited, 20-year TCIA member company based in Richmond, Virginia, has many goals for his business, one of which is to reduce wood waste to zero. As it is for many tree care companies, wood-waste utilization is a major effort, though for Truetimber, generating revenue from it often is not a primary target
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BY RICHARD HAUER, PH.D., JAKE MIESBAUER, ANDREW KOESER, BLAKE THILMONY AND ABIGAIL TUMINO
Fun fact: What happened on July 9, 2002? If you guessed a birthday for Rich Hauer, Tom Hanks or the late Nikola Tesla, congratulations. You win and score a point. If not, no worries. Perhaps you said it was the anniversary of Johnny Cash’s signing with Columbia Records in 1958, or the last Grateful Dead concert in 1995? If so, score another point for each correct response. However, if you guessed this was the date that emerald ash borer (EAB) was first positively identified in the Michigan region of the United States, you are the winner.
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Book Excerpt BY Lindsey Purcell
The following is an excerpt from “Arboricultural Practices, A Scientific Approach,” a new book by Lindsey Purcell, with illustrations by Jeff Harris. It is tentatively scheduled for release in January 2024. This excerpt has been edited for style and length.
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BY PAT TURLEY
Safety isn’t always sexy.
It’s true. In your role as an advanced tree care professional, your attention is easily pulled away by new equipment or that next project pursuit. And safety initiatives – especially ones that feel comprehensive and time consuming to implement – can easily take a backseat to more lucrative and low-hanging fruit.
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BY DAVID RATTIGAN
Tree care operators who run wood-waste recycling operations are glad to have the chance to make a positive impact on the environment, but most will admit that is not the reason they got into the business.
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BY BRIAN FAIN
As an insurance advisor to the tree care and landscape industries, I often receive calls from my clients in regard to using a neighbor’s yard to access their client’s property. Unfortunately, the call is usually reactive and a little too late.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
The CTSP training teaches methods intended to help arborists and company owners develop and nurture a culture that fosters a safe work environment at their companies. Bogus notes that having some formal methods in place is preferable to relying solely on previous experience or “just doing one’s best.”
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BY JOSH LEONARD
On August 31, 2023, TCIA hosted a congressional site visit together with Gilford, New
Hampshire-based member ArborTech at the company’s headquarters.
ArborTech is a 10-year TCIA member company with dual TCIA Accreditations for residential and commercial as well as Utility Contractor operations. Taking place during the August congressional recess, the event emphasized the importance legislators assign to direct interactions with their constituents.
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BY DAVID RATTIGAN
“This is a monumental thing we’ve pulled off,” says Shipp, senior vice president with Hub International Insurance, a 27-year TCIA corporate member company based in Santa Barbara, California. “I’m so excited about it. It’s been open for a year-and-a-half, and we’ve got 13 members. We’ve got a tremendous amount of wind in our sails. All the services we’re providing are around risk reduction and making the companies that are participants better.”
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By JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP
Most arborists are aware of the Z133 American National Standard for Arboricultural Operations – Safety Requirements. This standard is our road map for safely navigating through the numerous hazards associated with arboricultural operations. It is a living standard, one that is periodically reviewed and updated as our gear evolves and our knowledge of the work and risks expands.
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By Mark Chisholm, CTSP
There is nothing more difficult and exhilarating than being challenged to remove a tree that doesn’t fit the norm. The biggest risk I see with this proposition would be not giving the situation the level of thought, creativity and focus it requires.
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Here comes TCI EXPO ’23, the ultimate trade-show experience that will immerse you in every aspect of the tree care industry. Whether you’re a seasoned industry professional or a newcomer looking to network, learn and explore the latest trends, TCI EXPO has something for everyone.
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By Michael J. Raupp, Ph.D.
Last year was the fifth hottest year in recorded history. This year followed suit, with June, July and August of 2023 being the hottest months ever recorded globally, according to the European Union Climate Change Service. In this article, we explore direct and indirect effects of global warming on insect and mite pests of trees and shrubs.
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By Josh Ulman
Environmental initiatives have long been a focal point for the state of California. Leveraging its unique position under the Clean Air Act, which allows the state to request a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement emissions regulations exceeding federal standards, California continues to push ambitious environmental policy.
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By Renee Bissett
From its modest origins in Minnesota, Saluting Branches has grown into a nationwide movement that celebrates our fallen servicemen and women. Created by Rainbow Treecare, an accredited, 35-year TCIA member company, this annual Saluting Branches Day of Service now extends its reach far beyond its initial boundaries.
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By Mike Sisti
One of the questions I’m most commonly asked when visiting with small-business owners is, “What marketing should I do to grow my business?” For starters, it’s important to understand what the term “marketing” really means. It also is important to understand the difference between a marketing strategy and a marketing plan.
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By Fred Rose
The quiet tranquility of a coastal Sunday afternoon in Virginia Beach, Virgina, was shattered on April 30, 2023, when an EF3 tornado swept through the region, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
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By Patricial Chaudoin
When TCI Magazine first wrote about Cumberland Valley in 2013, the company had 30 employees. A decade later, they have 85 full-time, year-round employees. "When we hit the growing-pains size of our company, we realized we needed everything TCIA offers to help us," says George Pogue, co-owner with his wife Lisa.
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"Normally, someone doesn't come to me out of the blue and say, 'I want to borrow a million dollars.'" In tree care, loan money buys equipment that can create a stronger business. Our experts share tips on getting the loan to match your vision.
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By David Rattigan
This is the first article in a planned series on pricing and getting paid for storm-related tree work.
As anyone who does emergency storm response knows, it’s rewarding work, but it comes with costs. As Dustin Meyers learned, with storm work, sometimes it can be tough to get paid what you’re worth.
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By Anthony Tresselt, CTSP
As arborists, it is our job to make sure the interface of trees and our society, with all its infrastructure, is functional, and that trees and our society coexist. Mother Nature often stresses this relationship! When storms hit, arborists must clean up the mess and repair the trees that are left.
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By Don Staruk
We spoke to Merritt as he was driving into Lahaina on the morning of August 21, 13 days after wildfires burned through the town and the same day President Biden was to visit the island to see the damage firsthand.
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By Christopher Lyon
There are good reasons for many fleets to switch to electric power. But converting a fleet of work trucks to run on electricity is no flip of a switch. To start with, producing a work truck is far from simple. These vehicles are often constructed in multiple stages and by multiple manufacturers. Converting from powering them with internal-combustion engines to electric-drive systems piles on the complexity.
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Electric Work Trucks: The Greening of the Green Industry
BY JONATHAN T. PARROTT, PH.D., CTSP
Thanks to a preponderance of empirical evidence, it is now clear that our climate is changing; the impacts of which can readily be seen on the nightly news. It appears we humans have literally altered our planet’s weather. In response, many individuals, companies and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) have pledged to reverse this degradation, largely through reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG – primarily CO2) emissions.
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The Importance of Credit in Commercial Lending
By Liz Boone
Many times customers, especially those just getting started in the industry, wonder why credit is so important in commercial lending. I can tell you, sometimes it’s easier to buy a brand-new car than a used piece of equipment. In this article, we will go over the importance of credit in commercial lending. Let’s start with the basics.
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By Mark E. Battersby
The recent wave of bank failures has put a new focus on the security and stability of financial institutions. Even with protections in place, a bank’s failure can be disruptive. It can cause delays and confusion regarding access to funds, particularly the potential impact on the funding so necessary to every commercial tree care business.
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Exploring the Benefits of Plant Health Care Insights from Two Industry Veterans - Hosts of the "Discovering Forestry" Podcast
By Kelly Rostad
In today’s ever-changing climate, both corporate and environmental, an increasing number of arborists and green-industry professionals have questions regarding plant health care (PHC) and its potential benefits for their business. What better source to seek answers from than two seasoned arborists who also happen to be popular podcast hosts?
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Get the Butterflies in Formation with Effective Presentation Techniques
By Wayne Coleman
Being an effective speaker can be beneficial to your career. Why? Because people perceive great speakers to be experts, and people like to work with experts. Speaking in front of others can enhance your reputation and increase the opportunities given to you.
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By Stephen Connally, CTSP
Past actions guide our decisions in similar settings. Consider evaluating the safety of climbing a hazard tree. Since no absolute way of knowing the integrity of the tree may be readily available, we go by previous experiences in similar situations.
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Five Revenue-Generating Strategies to Power Up Your Tree Service
By Edward Morrow
Business growth takes time, energy and consistency. Sound familiar? Sort of like what it takes for a tree to grow. In fact, we can look to trees as a model to follow in building a sustainable tree care service.
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Cultural and Efficiency Excellence- Using Personality Assessments to Benefit Your Organization
By Joshua David Caudill, CSP, ASP, CHST
How can we create a safe working environment, where efficiency modeling is used to highlight our biggest resource – our people?
Being open to actively listening to differing opinions can enhance leadership effectiveness, creating engaging and sustainable work.
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By Chris Girard, CTSP
Trees killed byemerald ash borer (EAB) can be dangerous to climb and rig. In this article, we’ll look at felling, climbing and rigging critical-risk trees killed by EAB.
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By Jim Kasper
Perhaps one of the least-sexy topics in all of arboriculture is that of rope management. It doesn’t get the same attention some other topics do, but probably deserves more than it gets. This article is a brief attempt to shine a light on an underrated and underappreciated part of tree work.
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Training Tree Crews on Wildland Fire Prevention and Suppression
By Geoffrey Taylor, MA
The constant threat of wildland fire events seems to be growing more intense and destructive each year. Equipping arboricultural workers with the knowledge to address the looming risk of fires is critical to protecting not only the people on the ground, but the communities they serve.
As tree work often turns into hazardous wildland fire operations, it is important to provide teams working in vulnerable areas with the right training, equipment and expertise to understand, respond and mitigate fire in an emergency situation.
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By Lawrence Schultz
Good old-fashioned aerial friction, before ropes were double braided, before hardware was king. Its resurgence is upon us, although with a modern take on the tried-and-true method.
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By Jeff Inman Jr., CTSP
Our industry is unique in many ways, but one thing that stands alone is that we don’t have rated points in the tree like other climbing and rigging disciplines. With rigging, the goal often is to take the largest piece we can fit into our drop zone. Most of the time that weight is going to be much heavier than, say, the weight of the climber in the tree. So here are a few things I look for when setting up my anchor points in a tree.
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A New Niche for Tree Climbers: Banding Eaglets
By Susan Dipietro with Ryan Torcicollo
Ryan Torcicollo, CTSP, is no stranger to climbing, but his latest adventure was an unforgettable experience for him. Based in Essex, Massachusetts, Torcicollo is a safety and skills trainer with SavATree, an accredited, 37-year TCIA member company.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, known as MassWildlife, needed help with a banding project for eagles, and he jumped at the chance. In turn, we jumped at the chance to talk with him about it.
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By David Rattigan
TCIA Career Pathways, a new online education and training program, offers tree care workers new opportunities to advance their careers. At the same time, it provides individual companies an opportunity to provide structured training and create career pathways that can help stabilize their workforce.
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Seven Important Questions to Ask When Buying Climbing Gear, Part 2
BY TIM BUSHNELL, CTSP; ALEX JULIUS, BCMA; and EMMETT SHUTTS, CTSP
The last decade has seen a large influx of new climbing equipment that can potentially make climbing safer and more efficient. But it is important we use products that are reliable, safe and intended for tree care, so we can keep our focus on the work to be done and doing it safely. And how do we do that?
This article gives you the information you need to ask important questions when buying climbing gear.
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The Economics of Mechanization: Rise of the Machines
BY DAVID RATTIGAN
Tree care companies are increasingly incorporating machinery into their operations to improve efficiency, safety and profitability. For many business owners, the investments are paying off. “Mechanized solutions in the agriculture industry have a higher initial cost up front, but they lead to greater savings,” says Ed Martinez, vice president of Rancho Tree Service. He notes that they also reduce crew footprint, human exposure and liability.
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Tree-Related Electrical Incidents: Us vs Them
BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP
Continuing the popular “Us Versus Them” series, this article focuses on tree-related incidents that occurred on distribution lines – the primaries and secondaries, including house drops –by arborists, landscapers, other occupation workers and the public. The percentage of incidents from direct or indirect contact while working in or on a tree range from one in 10 to nearly half of the incidents in a distribution system.
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BY JEFF HEYBRUCK
Too often, we see businesses in equipment-intensive industries making purchases just to have shiny new equipment. Often, they purchase equipment before understanding the return on investment (ROI), i.e., how much money they will make using that item. A better plan is for tree-service companies to acquire new equipment with the goal of maximizing profit margins.
With this goal in mind, let’s consider a few key questions owners or operators should ask when considering new equipment buys.
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Revisiting the Industrial Revolution
BY JOSEPH B. PIPITONE
For most of us, middle school is a good number of years in the rear-view mirror. But if we recall our lessons from those years, no doubt a few weeks of history class focused on the Industrial Revolution. It might be argued that the tree care industry today is going through its own form of Industrial Revolution, moving from climbing, sawing and lugging by hand to mechanization for those tasks and others.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
Andrew “Drew” Dunavant was a professional tree climber for more than a decade and a three-time Mid-Atlantic Chapter (MAC) ISA champion working for Truetimber Arborists, a 22-year TCIA member company based in Richmond, Virginia, when a new opportunity came his way.
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BY SUZI GUZMANExperience the transformative power of integrating safety into your business at our upcoming Executive Arborist Workshop August 7-9, 2023, in San Diego, California. Join industry experts and thought leaders as we delve into the crucial intersection of safety and business strategies, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to cultivate a safety-centric culture within your tree care company.
For more information and to register,
visit eaw.tcia.org/eaw-2023-san-diego-ca/.
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By LEO ROLDAN, CTSP, QCL
Chris and I each had made several cuts when Vale started to yell. Chris was in danger. He said a branch had hit Chris and was resting on top of him. Vale was repeatedly asking, “What do we do?” At that moment, I wasn’t focused on the problem. I could not react to what was happening. I was in a state of shock.
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What Incidental Line-Clearance Arborists Need to Know About Working Around Electric Utilities
BY GEOFF KEMPTER AND STEPHEN HILBERT
Incidental line clearance refers to work near electrical hazards when arborists are not employed by or contracted to a utility-system operator. The ANSI Z133 standard requires that incidental line-clearance arborists must be able to identify exposed energized parts, the nominal voltage they are exposed to and the minimum approach distance (MAD) that must be maintained for that voltage.
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BY TAMSIN VENN
In the realm of tree care equipment, the allure of brand-new machinery is undeniable. Yet the used equipment market holds its own appeal. With new equipment still facing challenges, including availability and increased costs, many tree care companies are turning to the used market. Not only does used equipment offer readily available options at a fraction of the cost, but it also presents advantages such as simpler maintenance and fewer electrical complexities.
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In this Outlook column, Josh Morin discusses the importance of relationships. He states "In some ways, working as a sales arborist is being a professional “needs-meeter” in the world of people and trees. Being clear on how we can show up to meet the needs of others while fulfilling the needs of our organization can make for a thriving business, satisfied clients and happy trees."
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Jeff Inman loves to climb. He is an ISA Certified Arborist, ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified and is an ISA Tree Worker Climber Specialist. Inman is also risk manager with Truetimber Arborists Inc., and Truetimber Academy director. If that’s not enough, he is also the reigning North AmericanTree Climbing Champion.
Always curious, he wanted to know the answers to a few questions: Why do we climb?” “Why do
Why do we climb?
Why do we go where others won’t?
How do we deal with fear and also problem solve along the way?
This article is based on his EXPO ’22 presentation, and explores learning from trees, employing endorphins, and using your senses as climbers. Inman encourages readers to “Be proud to have sawdust in your boots, calluses on your hands and rash on your sides
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Protos Integral Helmet review article Andy Jones May 23
Since its launch in 2012, the Pfanner Protos Integral Helmet has been building a reputation as one of the premier personal protective equipment (PPE) items in the world of industrial safety. The “integral” refers to its integrated ear, face and neck protection, with a chin strap and rear ventilation between the inner and outer shell. In April 2022, Pfanner officially released its new Protos Bluetooth Communication System units in the United States. Pfanner’s proprietary Bluetooth communication system is purpose-built to integrate with the Protos Integral Helmet.
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Judging the validity of the TIP pull test by Jim Kasper May 2023
Climbing arborists use various techniques to assess tree stability and ensure safety. A pull test is used to determine the structural integrity of the tree at the tie-in-point (TIP). By applying a concentrated load to a specific point on a tree, climbers can determine its structural integrity. ANSI standards even prescribe pre-testing TIPs before ascent.
Is it useful? Does the TIP pull test actually make sense?
Industry experts including John Ball, Ph.D., Craig Bachman, CTSP, TRAQ, Jeff Inman Jr., CTSP and others weigh in. The range of responses might surprise you.
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Student Career Day article in May 2023 issue by Susan DiPietro and Erin Demers
Changes coming to Student Career Day at TCI EXPO ’23 in St. Louis, Missouri, November 16-18, are aimed at enhancing the experience for students and expanding opportunities for tree care companies to get in front of student participants. Partnership opportunities include more face time for tree care company representatives at the show. They also include exposure options for companies that won’t be in attendance but still want to support the industry’s future workforce.
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By David Anderson, CTSP
Are you looking for good people? That’s a rhetorical question, obviously. Who isn’t? A great recruiting tool and, by extension, retention tool is to host an open house at your office.
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Heartwood and Heart Rot Part 1 Are they Important to Arborists
BY KEVIN T. SMITH, PH.D., CHRISTOPHER J. LULEY, PH.D., AND TOM DRAVES
Tree care professionals frequently assess or estimate the strength of wood within a living tree or standing snag. This is often quite informal, with training and experience that guides decisions to remove or retain a major stem, or where to tie off lines and place a felling hinge. This article will look at the importance of heartwood and how it can impact decisions where wood strength and decay status might affect tree care practices.
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Raising Professionalism with Arborist Apprenticeship By August Hoppe
The Registered Arborist Apprenticeship program is a formal training program registered with a state labor department or the federal Department of Labor. The program can be used as a tool to help recruit, train, and retain employees while building a level of professionalism in the arboriculture industry.
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Creating Inclusive Work Environments at Tree Care Companies
Are you looking to create an inclusive work culture that drives performance, improves safety and increases profitability? Start by becoming an ally and actively using your power and privilege to achieve equity and inclusion for others. In our industry, most things come down to time, training, support and, of course, the ever-changing variable – the tree. Using the tree care analogy, this article explains the difference between equality, equity and justice, and how developing an inclusion policy can help create a more diverse and inclusive workforce. Take these steps and start positively impacting your company's culture of inclusion today!
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The Obvious “Next Step” to Success for ArborTech
Courtney and Audra Kelly were born and raised in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. This also is where they put down roots, started a family and decided to establish a tree-service business. At Audra’s urging to “take a chance,” the couple began their company, ArborTech, in October 2008 in Gilmanton, New Hampshire.
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How Defects Increase the Likelihood of Tree Failure
As an arborist, you probably have a good idea of what defects to watch out for – decay, weak unions, cracks, cut roots. Yet it’s less clear how severe a particular defect must be to reduce load-bearing capacity enough that failure is more likely. More than just how much decay is present, the location of decay is equally important.
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Seven Important Questions to Ask When Buying Climbing Gear, Part 1Are you struggling to navigate the vast sea of equipment available online and in shops? Our three industry professionals understand the challenge and have created a two-part series with seven essential questions to ask yourself before making a purchase. Safety is a top priority, and with costs on the rise, it’s crucial to make informed decisions.
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A captivation with big trees inspired Howard Gaffin to celebrate the year of America’s bicentennial by hitchhiking cross-country to the Pacific Northwest. He had somehow pre-arranged lodging and employment at the esteemed John Flinks potato farm in Monteseno, Washington. After a season of spud farming and getting a feel for his surroundings, he eventually made my way north on Route 101, from Aberdeen through Humptulips to Lake Quinault in Olympic National Park.
Listen to the retellings of Gaffin's first arboricultural journey!
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Every once in a while, you have the opportunity to meet someone you have long admired. For whatever reason, these meetings often are disappointing. But not always. I recently had the opportunity to meet Dave “Niceguydave” Stice at TCI EXPO ’22, and, fortunately, Stice was not at all disappointing.
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Rejuvenation pruning is the aggressive cutting of stalks, or stems, of certain shrubs to the ground in late winter. There is a limited group of plants that consistently respond well to this type of pruning. Rejuvenation or basal pruning is a great tool to have in the pruning toolbox. Just remember the decision pruning-guide matrix before you prune anything.
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As a business owner, you understand the importance of growth. Without it, your business may struggle to survive in a competitive marketplace. But with so many different strategies and approaches, it can be difficult to know where to start. There are a number of myths and mistakes that can prevent you from achieving the growth you desire. In this podcast, we’ll discuss some of the most common myths and mistakes to avoid when working to accelerate your business growth.
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Ryan Ealy, CTSP, has been a utility consultant for several large U.S. companies. As such, he has found becoming a TCIA Qualified Trainer – one of the first to do so – and using TCIA’s online Electrical Hazards Awareness Program (EHAP) training course a good match for both safety training and tree workers’ schedules.
“TCIA seems to be taking the training in the direction where people can learn at their own pace, and I like the direction it is going in. A lot of workers have busy lives, with work and home obligations – even a side business. It’s important for people to be able to take the classes in bits and pieces.”
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Regardless of the hazards, tree workers are essential members of emergency response teams during critical snow events, such as those recently experienced in the mountain communities of El Dorado County, which is part of the Northern Sierras in California. Snow-drift levels rose as high as the communication lines on some line segments. Power lines downed by falling trees necessitated the need for tree crews to be on call to respond to emergencies such as these to help restore power and clear access roads that otherwise would be a danger for trapped residents.
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Having your insurance with a standard-line carrier is vitally important. Having an agent, or agency, who understands your operation is just as crucial. If you are an active member of a state or national association, such as TCIA or ISA, reach out to them for possible recommendations or a list of agents who have in-depth knowledge of the industry and are willing to assist you with loss-control ideas and solutions.
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The field of probability plays a role in just about everything tree workers do. If you knew that the odds of being severely injured performing a specific task were one in five, you might approach it with greater caution – or avoid it altogether – than if the odds were one in one million. Tree workers are slightly less than 0.05% of the U.S. workforce, but may account for about 1.4% of the work-related fatalities.
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Head protection is one of the required pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) for tree workers in the ANSI Z133 -2017 Safety Requirements for Arboricultural Operations. They can protect against impact from falling or swinging objects and electrical hazards. The helmet, like most PPE, is your last protection from injury. But helmets provide a measure of protection that is not absolute. Understanding this limitation is important – they are not a substitute for safe work practices.
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In August 2021, the author and his team conducted an aerial-rescue demonstration at an annual redwoods recreational climb in Crescent City, California. They were getting ready for an evening of socializing at their campsite when they were asked by a local sheriff to assist in the real-life rescue of an injured kayaker in a remote section of river. Without hesitation, the arborists jumped into action and found themselves putting their skills to the test.
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During TCI EXPO last fall, and in subsequent discussions, compact- or tracked-lift distributors expressed frustration with lift owners and operators who don’t do regular maintenance on their equipment, even for safety-related functions. We asked lift distributors how broad a problem this is and what, if anything, they can do about it.
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The annual Women in Tree Care (WITC) pre-conference symposium was held at TCI EXPO ’22. Through the generosity of the event’s sponsors, two attendees received merit scholarships to cover the event and travel expenses. TCI Magazine caught up with the scholarship winners to learn about their experience and their career paths in the tree care industry.
Marshall Badeaux grew up in the tree care industry, the son of a company owner. What makes his story different than most legacy stories is that the company owner and primary tree climber was his mother, Betsy. Badeaux started off dragging brush for his mother, but today he operates Charleston Tree Experts, an accredited TCIA member company that runs five tree care crews, two plant-health-care crews and an auxiliary crew.
In addition to employing the latest mechanical equipment, Badeaux is building a software program to do scheduling, estimating, invoicing, routing and more.
Crystal Kappen is majority owner of Kappen Tree Service LLC, a TCIA member company since 1996. As a female majority owner, she was able to secure Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certification for Kappen Tree Service, which she says has played a part in securing some of the company’s utility-line-clearance contracts.
In November 2018, 85 members of the Forest Ranch community and the town of Paradise, California lost their lives in the Camp Fire. Named after Camp Creek Road, its place of origin, the Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California’s history.
The fire severely impacted some of the P31 Enterprise Inc. crew members, some of whom lost homes, suffered injuries or lost loved ones to the inferno. For these affected communities, this was when the reality of wildfire impact really hit home.
Carlos Ramirez reflects on the experience as the community came together to show their appreciation for one another.
"Our company’s team attends at least a couple of TCCs every year, with nearly all of our employees participating as competitors or volunteers. The TCC community has become one of the most critical elements of our company culture. After every TCC they attend, the whole team comes back on fire, beaming with pride for their newfound knowledge, their awards and prizes, and in their improving abilities that enable them to have a positive influence on others in the industry." -Noel Boyer
The cost of your insurance should be based on several factors, including the type of coverage, your location, the value of the property being insured and your business’s past claim history. Somehow, your premiums are always impacted when your claim history is poor, but never seem to truly reflect the positive years.
In what appears to be a perfect merger of needs, a program in Boston is training people in search of a vocation to work in an industry historically in need of people. PowerCorpsBOS (Power Corps Boston) is currently in its second session of giving job seekers training in arboriculture and urban forestry.
We may be living in the “Golden Age of Arbor Care!” Both science and technology have advanced to new levels – new tree cultivars and hybrids, and new exotic pests and diseases that keep cropping up. And we are dealing with them all.
It’s lonely at the top, and it helps for tree care business leaders to have solid branches for support. Enter TCIA’s Peer-to-Peer (P2P) program, the only one of its kind dedicated to the tree industry. It has been on a recent growth trajectory both in the number of participants and the variety of groups available for different income levels. Here is how it works and how you can get involved to help your business.
While the first grapple saw debuted only a handful of years ago, an emerging community is growing alongside their popularity. From manufacturers to mechanics to fellow owners, grapple saws are forging strong bonds and community.
The annual Women in Tree Care (WITC) pre-conference symposium continued its momentum at TCI EXPO ’22. The workshop provided targeted and relevant information to attendees interested in improving both personally and professionally and introduced them to a broad network of contacts to help them do so.
At the innermost parts of cities, tree density and diversity are often dramatically lower than nearby suburban areas or forested parklands within city limits. In this article, we will visit three species of scale insects that often outbreak in cities and learn what factors contribute to these eruptions.
Organic matter (OM) is not a single product in a single state, but an ever-changing pool of compounds, nutrients, microbes and other materials. We’ll look at specific products and why you might choose one over another, depending on what stage of decomposition or form the OM is in.
A ban on some uses of neonicotinoid pesticides in New Jersey will go into effect in fall 2023. With existing restrictions in five other states and at least 11 more states considering limiting use of the pesticides, it is time to look at what else is available to take their place for those providing care for trees and ornamental shrubs.
Whether you are a tree care company, a vendor serving the industry or a trade association like TCIA, chances are you have spent time and resources developing your brand. You have considered your value proposition and a market you want to target with that message. You then leveraged various marketing tactics and channels to attract new customers. But how much attention have you given to developing your brand in terms of recruiting employees? If you’re at all like me, the answer is probably not much at all.
Why do arborists care about soil? Because it is everything to the trees that are in our care. Proper soil management may take some time to assess and understand, but it is worth it to the trees and their owners. Consider yourself not just an arborist but also a soil manager for urban trees, and make decisions that promote healthy soils that can support healthy trees.
TCI Magazine was on site in Smithfield, Rhode Island, in October 2022 to capture a root-collar excavation performed by Stanley Tree Service Inc., a dual-accredited, 33-year TCIA member company based in Smithfi eld. Jarod Shaw and Will Wolf were there to excavate the roots of a Bradford pear tree, which had been the victim of mulch mounding for some time and was not in the best shape.
On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (the CAA) to fund the federal government through fi scal year 2023. The legislation is considered a “must-pass” bill and, as such, is often used as a vehicle to pass unrelated legislation that may not have the votes to move as a stand-alone measure in either chamber of Congress.
Howard Gaffin is one of thousands of small enterprise arborists who carved out a niche amongst the big boys. He wore every hat and was present on almost every job. Whenever an irate individual threatened to call the owner of the company for some perceived injustice, Gaffin was always delighted to save them the time. Listen as he recalls on his time in tree care!
Korey Conry is a field safety supervisor/trainer with Mountain F. Enterprises Inc., a 14-year TCIA member company based in Folsom, California, that does work for Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in California. He conducts onboarding and training with new hires. The EHAP training is a key component in that field of work, he says.
The Z was last published in 2017 and is scheduled to be revised every five years. While revisions to Section 4 –Electrical Hazards have not yet been approved by the Accredited Standards Committee, ANSI Z133, this podcast provides an overview of some proposed changes.
There’s much to learn about biomechanics. A greater understanding of mechanical concepts can help you plan work and assess likelihood of tree failure with more confidence. Even though arborists can’t use some of the more sophisticated approaches that engineers use, knowing the basics can help avoid dangerous practices.
As professionals, we have a responsibility to identify many issues and present solutions. All too often the problem isn’t a pest or disease, but rather abiotic issues such as girdling roots, compact soil, construction damage or simply stress from being planted in an area completely unsuitable for a tree to
grow.