NAANewsltr2ndQtr2016 WEB FINAL

An Arborist takes
care of a tree for life.
OUT ON
A LIMB
Pollinators & the Trees They Rely On article on page 4.
SUMMER 2016, VOLUME 36, ISSUE 2
Bradford Pear Damage
By Jennifer Morris, NAA Certified Arborist, Forest Health Specialist, Nebraska Forest Service
Bradford pears (Pyrus calleryana ‘Bradford’) have shown bark
cracking and bark sloughing in the last few years. Mower
injury and stress fractures from heavy snow loads or high
wind events may lead to bark cracking and sloughing, but it
is more likely that most of the damage has been caused by
temperature fluctuations that
we have experienced in the fall,
winter and spring over the course
of several years.
Freezing Temperature Injury
At the end of November 2014,
temperatures dropped sharply.
A warming trend causing
temperatures to rise into the upper
70s and lower 80s was followed by
a drop in temperature by as much
as 70 degrees in some areas of the
state in a 24-hour period. Tissues that were not fully hardened
off were damaged or killed. Damaged bark began cracking
and peeling the following year.
Frost Cracks & Sunscald
In recent years many areas of the state have experienced
extreme fluctuations in winter temperatures that can lead to frost cracks and sunscald. Both
conditions are more likely found on the south or southwest
side of the tree.
Longitudinal frost cracks occur when a sudden drop in
temperature causes the outer wood to shrink or contract
faster than the wood beneath. Old injuries caused by pruning,
injections or damage to roots can initiate the crack internally.
Sunscald is caused by the warming
of tissue on a winter day by the
sun on young trees or trees that
have thinner bark. Trunk tissue
becomes less cold hardy during
the warming period and then
suffers from freeze injury when
the temperatures drop again.
Sunken cankers or dead areas can
be found underneath the bark.
Little can be done for injury caused by extreme temperature
events. Bark cracks and bark sloughing that have been observed
can be severe enough to impact the health and longevity of the
tree. Giving the tree adequate moisture during dry periods,
mulching with wood chips and not over fertilizing can help the
tree recover, but sometimes the damage may be too great for
long term survival.
A Quarterly Update
of the Nebraska
Arborists Association
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
President’s Letter P.2
The Invasion Has Started P.3
Thoughts From A Fellow Arborist P.3
The Pollinators and the Trees They Rely On P.4
Community Forestry Award: Green Industry P.4
Community Forestry Award: Future Generations P.5
Hot Off the Press P.6
TCIA Grant-Funded Workshops P.6
Arborist Spotlight P.7
Some People Call Them a Buck Strap P.9
Who Report Clears Glyphosate P.9
Sudden Branch Drop P.10
OSHA Hazard Meeting P. 11
Removal of the Ansel Ash P. 11
Passing of Orville Hatcher P. 12
Structrual Pruning Helps Strengthen Trees P. 14
Introducing John Duplissis P. 15
SUBMIT ARTICLES:
If you have anything you’d like to
submit for inclusion in the Quarterly
Update, please contact Jim Keepers at
jkeepers@msn.com or (402) 332-0715
or (402) 618-8837.
The submission deadline for the 3rd
Quarter issue is September 1, 2016.
Photo contributions throughout
courtesy of Jim Keepers.
1
2016 BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
Lon Nutter, President
Asplundh
Omaha, NE • (402) 610-1975
lnutter@asplundh.com
Wyatt DeWeese, Past President
Terry Hughes Tree Service
Gretna, NE • (402) 558-8198
Cell: (402) 306-1893
wyatt@hughestree.com
Kevin Popken, Treasurer
Lawngevity Lawn & Tree
Fremont, NE • (402) 721-0873
kjpopken@gmail.com
Rachael Monico, Secretary
CM’s A Cut Above
Omaha, NE • (402) 738-1718
remonico@cmscustomlawn.com
Jerel Converse, Director
City of Omaha
Omaha, NE • (402) 415-9767
jerel.converse@cityofomaha.org
Kim Slezak, Director
Slezak Ag & Natural Resources
Milligan, NE • (402) 629-4383
Cell: (402) 629-4456
kim@slezakag.com
Jeff Grewe, Director
Arbor Aesthetics
Omaha, NE 68134 - (402) 408-5600
Email: jeffrey@arboraesthetics.com
Eric Berg, NAA Board Advisor
Nebraska Forest Service
Lincoln, NE • (402) 472-6511
Cell: (402) 306-1893 • eberg2@unl.edu
Phil Pierce, NAA Board Advisor
Consulting Arborist
Springfield, NE • (402) 253-2860
foresterphil@gmail.com
Dr. Mark Harrell, NAA Board Advisor
Nebraska Forest Service
Lincoln, NE • (402) 472-6635
mharrell2@unl.edu
Stacy Hughes, NAA Board Advisor
Terry Hughes Tree Service
Gretna, NE • (402) 558-8198
stacy@hughestree.com
Kathi Schildt, Executive Director
NAA Office
521 First Street • Milford, NE 68405
(402) 761-2219 • (402) 761.2224 (fax)
staff@nearborists.org
www.nearborists.org
2
FROM THE PRESIDENT
By Lon Nutter, NAA President
As I am writing this message, we are two days post learning of the Emerald Ash
Borer (EAB) being found in Pulaski Park in Southeast Omaha. This is the first
confirmation of this pest being identified in the State of Nebraska. For nearly
everybody in this association, the game just changed. Whether you are residential/
commercial, plant health care, nursery, education/outreach, line clearance, etc., this
news just added to our already full plates.
With the first infestations being confirmed in Omaha, we can only assume the
westward move of this pest through Nebraska. It may take several years for EAB
to make its move to western Nebraska; however, with EAB already being found
in Colorado, that is not a guarantee. Heighten your awareness and watch out for
the pest. If you feel you have located an EAB infestation, please report it to the
Nebraska Department of Agriculture at (402) 471-2351, the Nebraska Forest Service
at (402) 472-2944 or your local USDA office at (402) 434-2345. Also, please pay close
attention to the quarantine information provided by the Nebraska Department of
Agriculture. For more information, refer to the NAA website for links to this and
other info.
As we delve into this EAB invasion, please remember that as certified arborists we
need to continue to expand our knowledge and maintain our high ethical standards.
It’s easy to chase the money, and with any opportunity like this there is likely to be
new entrants into the industry. These new entrants may or may not have the same
ethical standards we do. I encourage us as NAA Certified Arborists to continue to
do what is right by the association, our customers, and the urban/rural forests.
Lastly, we need to have a good balance of personal and professional lives. I have
talked to multiple industry folks since the announcement of EAB, and they are
running non-stop. It’s alright to be this busy, but that intensity is tough to maintain.
We need to balance work vs health, marriage, kids, etc. Some of us may be working
well past 40 hours per week with this, but set the cap and stick with it. If I know
I am only going to put in “X” amount of hours, I am going to do a better job of
prioritizing and delegating to ensure what needs completed is completed. The rest
can wait.
At the end of the day, we need to take care of ourselves and our families!
THE INVASION HAS STARTED
By Jim Keepers, NAA Newsletter Coordinator
It seems we have been talking about the arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) for a very long time. We know it has been
on our doorsteps but now we must face the truth, it has started to attack our Nebraska Ash trees. I have received numerous
calls from panicky homeowners wanting to know what they need to do to save their Ash trees. I know the extension
office has had a number of walk-ins asking if the tree branch they had in their hands was from an Ash tree. A number of
homeowners have even brought in example of Maples, Boxelders and even Oaks and asked the following question; “Is
this an Ash Tree?” I can see the somewhat confusion a Boxelder would cause the homeowner but not a Maple or Oak.
I had a 91 year old lady ask me, what would happen if she doesn’t have her Ash tree treated. I told her the tree would die.
She then asked me how long it would take the tree to die and I told her I couldn’t give her a date when that event would
occur. It all depends on when the borer attacks the tree. It could be between 5 to 10 years was my best estimate for time
of death. The tree would go into decline over the years. So she told me she was not planning to live that long and since
she would pass away before the Ash tree dies it would be someone else’s problem. The bottom line was she didn’t have the
funds to either remove the tree now or to have it treated since it was such a large tree. I feel the cost of Ash tree removal
or treatment will be a common problem for a number of our senior citizens. I don’t have a solution for this problem.
In addition to the cost of Ash tree removal and or treatment, I feel another issue that needs to be addressed is “Soil
drench Treatments” of small Ash trees by the homeowner. A major concern is the negative environmental impacts the soil
drenches, such as Imidacloprid, can cause in the soil if not applied properly. It is a fact that when homeowners use chemical
products to treat a problem, they can become very dangerous. If the label states, one ounce of chemical must be mixed
with one gallon of water, the homeowner figures four ounces of chemical to one gallon of water will kill everything. That
is a correct statement but the good with the bad are being killed at the same time. That is the wrong approach to take but
that is a very common practice.
My last concern reference the invasion of EAB is the fly-by-night, so called arborist like those we faced after the 1997
snowstorm. We have been faced with a number of tree problems caused by these individuals because of improper tree
pruning for a number of years after the storm. There is no way for the homeowner to know if their trees are being injected
with the correct chemical or just water. The statement, “Buyer Beware” is a very true statement when it comes to EAB.
I advise homeowners to use caution and take the safe route and only hire a CERTIFIED ARBORIST to treat, prune or
remove your Ash trees.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Eastern GREAT PLAINS Field Day
August 5, 2016
Mulhall’s Nursery
Western GREAT PLAINS Field Day
August 25-26, 2016
Scottsbluff, NE
NAA ARBORIST SCHOOL
Tree ID, Evaluation & Selection, Planting &
Establishment Seminar
September 8-9, 2016
Carol Joy Holling, Ashland, NE
Pruning, Climbing & Safety Seminar
October 6-7, 2016
Carol Joy Holling, Ashland, NE
Arborists Seminar
November 16-18, 2016
Carol Joy Holling, Ashland, NE
Advanced Rigging/Felling and Climbing Class
October 5-7, 2016
Carol Joy Holling, Ashland, NE
Nebraska GREAT PLAINS Conference
January 24-25, 2017
Ramada Plaza, Omaha, NE
Thoughts from a Fellow
Arborist
By Brian Mutchie, Certified NAA Arborist
Over the past two years we have had bad cases of fireblight in pears and
crabapples. Many publications suggest that treatments do not work and
pruning out infections is the only thing you can do. Trunk injections
of bactericide OTC works great along with foliar sprays of Agri-Fos.
Treatments occur very early spring or an October applications of Agri-Fos
bark spray will help prevent fireblight the following year.
Later in the summer, arborists should be looking for warm season spider
mites on Locust, Burning bushes and Boxwoods. Spruces can have warm
season and cool season spider mites so make sure you know what you are
looking at. A great way to check for mites is holding a white piece of paper
under a branch. Use pruners or a hard object to hit the branch and you
will find mites. This is a great way of checking for beneficial insects and
you may decide that spraying is not a viable option due to the presence of
beneficial insects. Kermes and obscure scale are going to be in the crawler
stages during the July and August time period. Kermes is easy to detect
because you will see round bumps on the branches which is the shell.
When the kermes become crawlers, their shell will drop and if the tree is
over a driveway is like walking on egg shells that are cracking. Acephate is
a great chemical to use for scale because it is a localized systemic and does
not cause mite outbreaks.
Hopefully this information helps!
3
Pollinators and the Trees
They Rely On
By Natalia Bjokland, ISA Certified Arborist, Extension Educator, Horticulture
Nebraska Extension
As pollinators continue to garner much attention in the media,
flowering herbaceous material is often touted as the best way
to provide necessary pollen and nectar in the landscape. This
however, leaves out a large number of also necessary and
beneficial plants – trees and shrubs.
Bees are the most efficient pollinators, mainly because they
collect and transfer pollen. They also display flower constancy
– the tendency to return to the same types of flowers or same species again and again, even if there are more rewarding
flowers available to them. This in turn ensures plants that require insect pollination for seed development are properly
pollinated. Flies are the number two pollinators, with butterflies and moths behind them.
So what role do trees play? Multiple, actually. Depending on the insect species, their flowers may offer valuable nectar
and/or pollen. In addition, tree bark is actually a nesting site for pollinators to lay their eggs. Other shrubs stems, such
as raspberry and rose canes, are also used as nesting sites.
One of the earliest to emerge butterflies, the Mourning Cloak, feeds as an adult almost exclusively on tree sap. They have
a preference for oaks, but can be found visiting other trees. The Mourning Cloak caterpillar will feed on the leaves on
many different plants – Willow, American elm, Cottonwood, and Paper Birch.
Willows are important plants to a number of insects. Eastern Swallowtail caterpillars will also feed on willow leaves,
in addition to cottonwood, linden, and cherry. Willow flowers also have high levels of both pollen and nectar and are
blooming in early spring when not many other resources are available and emerging pollinators are looking for food.
Oak tree flowers have abundant pollen that feeds many different insects, and their foliage is utilized by many different
moths and butterflies at the caterpillar stage. In fact, it is estimated that oak trees support over 400 species of moths and
butterflies in the United States.
Almost any tree found in Nebraska serve a purpose in pollinator health. Hazelnut, Hickory, Walnut, and even Filbert
trees are invaluable to many pollinators, and the list could continue. So the next time you hear someone say to plant more
flowers to help pollinators, remind them the importance of trees.
Community Forestry Award: Green Industry Award
I am pleased to announce that Arbor Aesthetics Tree Service of Omaha,
Nebraska, received the 2015 Green Industry Award from the Nebraska
Forest Service. The company is owned and operated by NAA Certified
Arborists Jeff and Amy Grewe.
The Green Industry Award is given to a business person or business that
works with trees (arborist, landscape architect, nursery, etc.) rising above
and beyond to enhance the community tree resource. Donating trees for a
project, providing time and equipment at no extra cost, or giving a talk to
the public are ways to qualify for this award.
Arbor Aesthetics was recipient of the Green Industry Award for educating
customers about ethical tree care and cultivating a love and appreciation for
trees in the Omaha community. Arbor Aesthetics supports and sponsors
many tree-related events: Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s Omaha Earth
Day Tree Climb; the “Gift of Beautiful Trees” charity program giving
Omaha families free and much-needed tree trimming and removal services
at no cost and the Nebraska Arborists Association Summer Field Day and
Winter Conference.
Jeff & Amy Grewe along with their new son, Miles
Frederick, receive the Green Industry Award from
Graham Herbst, NFS Community Forester Specialist
Arbor Aesthetics has an eye for aesthetics, the knowledge for healthy trees, and a passion for taking care of their customers.
4
News Release Info Provided by Jessica Kelling, NFS ReTree NE Coordinator
Community Forestry Award: For Future Generations
Award
By Jim Keepers, Gretna Tree Board
The Gretna Arbor Society (Tree Board) Gretna, Nebraska, received the
2015 For Future Generations Award from the Nebraska Forest Service.
Jim Keepers, NAA Certified Arborist, is board chairperson and board
members are Missy Ragatz, Marty White, John Wolkens, Ron Sawyer,
Dave Kovar, Mike and Sharon Kauss.
The For the Future Generations Award is given to any person, organization
or community that has established a new or improved program which
improves the sustainability of our community forest so that future
generations will benefit as we do today. Nominees should demonstrate
practices that support beneficial and resilient landscapes through diversity,
proper tree care and planting techniques and/or stewardship of soil and
water.
Jim Keepers and Missy Ragatz receive the For the
Future Generations Award From Graham Herbst, NFS
Community Forester Specialist
The recipient of the For Future Generations Award was Gretna Arbor
Society for tree training, education and planting programs. They have been
involved with many local efforts, including tree-planting at the Gretna City Park undertaken by local scouts, Master
Gardeners, Gretna Arbor Society members and other residents. For the last 10 years, the Gretna Arbor Society has
brought in statewide tree and horticulture experts to present educational sessions during the Annual Gretna Tree Talk; and
a fall tree giveaway and planting event trains members of the community in the proper selection, planting and care of trees.
News Release Info Provided by Jessica Kelling, NFS ReTree NE Coordinator
NDA EAB Quarantine
The Nebraska Department of Agriculture has issued a quarantine prohibiting Ash nursery stock from leaving the quarantine
area. The quarantine also regulates the movement of hardwood firewood and mulch, Ash timber products and green waste
material out of Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Washington and Dodge counties to assist in the prevention of human-assisted spread of
the pest into un-infested areas. A USDA quarantine is also expected and NDA and USDA staff will work with the public and
impacted industries to ensure compliance of the quarantines. NDA staff will continue to set and monitor EAB traps across the
state to monitor for additional infestations.
Newly
certified
arborists
Justin Radik
Randy Masek
New
MEMBERS
Justin Radik
Micah Lanham
Korbin Stewart
Randy Masek
Join a Winning Team!
We are always looking for ambitious, dedicated people.
We provide:
• 401K
• Annual Bonus
• Cell Phones
• Continuing Education
• Clothing/Boots Allowance
• Dental Insurance
• Employee-Only Health Plan
• Family Health Plan
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Vacation
402-558-8198
Apply online @ HughesTree.com/careers
5
Hot off the Press
By Jim Keepers, NAA Certified Arborist
The new ANSI A300 (Part 10)-2016, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is now available for all arborists. Tree Care
Industry Association (TCIA) states the following reference this publication. “The purpose of this document is to provide
standards for practice and a specification writing guideline to implement IPM programs.”
The IPM approach combines biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools to manage pests in a way that reduces health,
environmental and economic risks. The publication contains a written IPM guide containing management strategy, target
pets or diseases, timing of monitoring, threshold for treatment, evaluating and reporting your findings. The publication also
includes definitions of terms, tools, equipment, and practices dealing with IPM. The publication also includes a flowchart
for managing and evaluating your IPM commercial service program.
This is a must publication for all arborist companies and their employees. ANSI A300 (Part 10)-2016 now becomes the
bible for all tree care IPM operations and all employees in the IPM arena must follow all the standards in this ANSI
publication.
TCIA Grant-Funded Workshops
EAB UPDATE
Through grant funding provide by the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), under
their Arborist Safety Training Institute, your association was able to conduct two
Arborist Safety Training Workshops dealing with chain saw and chipper operation
training.
The emerald ash borer has now
been found in Texas. Four adult
beetles were found in traps just
south of the town of Karnack in
northeastern Texas, not far from
EAB infestations in Arkansas
and Louisiana. So we now have
something else in common with
Texas to go along with college
football.
Both classes were held on June 3. The morning chain saw class had 40 attendees and
the afternoon chipper operator class had 22 attendees. Class attendees received either a
Chain Saw Specialist or a Chipper Operator Specialist Workbook. Kurt Pilz and Kevin
Kowellic were the instructors for the classes. NAA board members Kevin Popken and
Lon Nutter were class monitors.
6
arborist spotlight
By Jim Keepers, NAA Certified Arborist
Last quarter I discussed the arborist triangle and I featured an individual
from Gretna’s local Tree Board. This quarter I wanted to take a look at a
young individual just getting into the arborist profession. I have always asked
the question “Why would someone want to work in a dangerous profession
where you freeze in the winter then cook in the summer?” I have come to the
following conclusion: we have some very unique young individuals entering
our career field who have a love of the outdoors and don’t want a job keeping
them indoors. If we nurture these individuals, they will succeed and become
skilled and educated certified Nebraska Arborists.
The focus on this quarter’s arborist spotlight is on an individual who I
believe has the “right stuff” and will mature into a talented arborist. The
individual is Kyle Webb and he works for Jeff and Amy Grewe at Arbor
Aesthetics Tree Service. My first exposure to this young man was doing the
NAA service project at the Eastern 4-H Center. As I watched Kyle work in
the trees under the supervision of Steven McDaniel, I knew Kyle had the
potential to succeed in the arborist career field.
Let’s take a look into Kyle’s life. He was born in Rockhill, South Carolina, on April 14, 1990, and grew up in Mansfield
and Galion, Ohio. He is the youngest of four siblings. His dad passed away
when Kyle was young, so his mom Tina had the responsibility of raising five
children. Danny, his dad’s brother, became Kyle father figure. Education
was not his key to success but he found the time to obtain his General
Educational Development (GED).
Kyle and his fiance, Haley Frazier, along with two sons Kayden Webb (age 6)
and Karson Webb (age 2) moved to Omaha just a year ago this June. Haley
and Kyle have been together for 9 years and plan to get married next year.
The big news in their lives is the birth of their daughter, Adilynn Webb, born
on May 25. She was a healthy 6.15 lbs. and 20 inches in length.
Haley told me Kyle is a true family man enjoying family cookouts every
Saturday. He enjoys reading books like the “Hunger Games,” “Harry
Potter,” and “Twilight.” He loves working with trees. He started off working
as a groundsman and now is learning the skill of pruning trees under the
watchful eye of Steven McDaniel. He
also runs the company’s stump grinder. He is working very hard to become a skilled
climber and certified Nebraska Arborist. He practices his climbing skills every chance
he gets. He will be attending NAA’s Arborist School this fall and is currently studying
for his chemical applicators license and CDL.
His two sons look up to him and think it’s so cool to see their daddy driving the big
arborist work trucks and seeing him in the trees cutting them down.
I asked Jeff Grewe to provide me with some information on Kyle since he has come to
know him personally over this past year. This is what Jeff had to say: “Kyle is a perfect
example of what someone can do with their life and their career if they commit, come
to work with a good attitude and work hard. Kyle came to Arbor Aesthetics about a
year ago after leaving a bad situation in Ohio and looking for a new start in Omaha.
He started with nothing, sleeping on a friend’s couch. I hired him because we were
desperate and I needed an extra person to haul brush one day. Turns out, Kyle likes to
work hard, so we kept him on at Arbor Aesthetics. Today he runs his own one-man
crew grinding stumps and doing small trims for the company and lives in his own
house with his fiance, two boys and an adorable newborn daughter.”
Jeff projects a bright future for
Kyle in the arborist profession. He
expects he will become a foreman
managing a crew, with increased
responsibilities, more skills and a much larger income.
So you can see why I selected Kyle Webb to be highlighted in this
quarter’s Arborist Spotlight. The future of your association looks
bright with individuals like Kyle entering our unique career field.
NEW OSHA STANDARD
OSHA has announced it will pursue a “tree
trimming” standard. These new standards will
have a major effect on our arboriculture profession.
Release date for these new standards will be featured
in future NAA newsletters.
7
8
Some people call them a buck
strap
Bartlett Arborist Supply Web Site
Some people call them a buck strap, others call them a scare strap, and
yet others call them a work positioning lanyard. Regardless of the name,
a lanyard is used to to hold you in a more comfortable position while out
on a limb or cutting with a chainsaw. By using this very simple tool, the
climber can free up both their hands to comfortably and easily perform
the work that needs to be done.
Many times I have heard a climber yell at a climber trainee to take their
buck strap off and make a cut. Apparently balance is a better form of
positioning than a work POSITIONING lanyard! Why anyone would
want to risk slipping while using a chainsaw is insane to me! Work is not
going to be done any faster while someone slips and wobbles back and
forth instead of just making a quick clip to their side and then making
the cut.
Old school buck straps were called three strand adjustable lanyards and they were exactly that, a three strand piece of rope with a
snap spliced to one end and a large eye spliced in the other end. A snap was fed over the end and the large eye splice was then tied
around the three strand rope with a prussic hitch. The climber could then move the prussic hitch by holding the rope and then
sliding the hitch. This made the buck strap adjustable, not easily adjustable, but adjustable. The trouble with this setup is the need
to use two hands to adjust the hitch, though this seems easy on the ground or while in smaller diameter limbs, it is a total pain
while trying to ascend up large diameter wood.
The next development came with the use of a Gibbs ascender or a Petzl Micrograb. These small ascenders can be used instead of
the prussic hitch and they allow for an easily replaceable rope for your work positioning lanyard. The ascender locks when pulled
one way and slides when pulled the other way. This is great because it allows the climber to adjust the lanyard with one hand. This
quickly and easily speeds up the process of lanyarding in and adjusting to the correct position.
With more experimentation and development, the buck strap has evolved into a more streamlined system than ever before. The
newest system is what we call a lanyard climbing system. Essentially your lanyard is now a smaller version of an open climbing
system. A 16’ long piece of 16 strand rope with 2 eye splices makes moving in the canopy a breeze. A prussic is then added to the
rope along with a Pinto pulley. The prussic is tied with the easily adjustable Distel hitch and attached to the Pinto pulley. This can
be adjusted very easily with one hand and can also be used as a climbing system making a double tie in a breeze.
All of these different systems make one thing easier, positioning! A properly positioned climber is a safer climber and in the end
that is all that we want. Safety is paramount in our industry. Be sure to check out each one of these different work positioning
WHO Report Clears Glyphosate
The pesticide glyphosate, sold by Monsanto in its Roundup weed killer product and widely used by arborists and
landscape professionals, is unlikely to cause cancer in people, according to a new safety review by United Nations health,
agriculture and food experts. In a statement likely to damage
the claims of carcinogenic impact of glyphosate made by antipesticide activists, experts from the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) ABOUT THE NATIONAL
said glyphosate is “unlikely to pose a carcinogenic risk to SAFETY COUNCIL
humans” exposed to it through food. Further, having reviewed
the scientific evidence, the joint WHO/FAO committee also The National Safety Council is a nonprofit
said glyphosate is unlikely to be genotoxic in humans. In other organization whose mission is to save lives by
words, it is not likely to have a destructive effect on cells’ genetic preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and
communities and on the road through leadership,
material.
The conclusions appear to contradict a finding by the WHO’s
Lyon-based International Agency for Research
on Cancer (IARC), which in March 2015 said
glyphosate is “probably” able to cause cancer
in humans and classified it as a ‘Group 2A’
carcinogen. This action has been used as a rallying
cry by those seeking to ban glyphosate and other
pesticides.
research, education and advocacy.
National Association of Landscape Professionals
9
Sudden Branch Drop
By Lisa Tadewaldt, posted in general pruning UrbanForestPro web site
Picture this: You’re walking through the forest on a hot, still day.
Suddenly, you hear a popping sound, and then a huge branch
drops just beyond your reach. After thanking your lucky stars that
you weren’t crushed, you wonder why a limb should fall on such
a windless, calm day? Googling your query, you might discover
Sudden Branch Drop, a rather mysterious arboreal tendency that
describes your experience.
As Portland tree care enthusiasts, we have many cases of mysteriously
fallen limbs on perfectly calm days. Sudden branch drop, also known
as sudden limb failure, happens on hot, calm days and evenings,
typically in the summer. Observers will notice cracking or popping
sounds just before large limbs suddenly plummet to the ground.
Kellogg first described sudden branch drop in 1882, writing of trees
“said to burst with a loud explosion, and strong limbs… (which)
unexpectedly crash down, the fracture disclosing not the least cause
of weakness.”
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Why Sudden Branch Drop Occurs
Portland certified arborists could debate this question at length,
as there is no industry-wide consensus. Most arborists suspect that
it has something to do with humidity levels within the tree. Trees
absorb water from the soil, and then distribute that water through
all tissue—branches, trunk, leaves, limbs, and roots. The used
moisture must be released somehow, and as it releases it cools the
tree.
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Humans release moisture and heat through sweat. Dogs “sweat”
out of their tongues. Trees release water into the atmosphere
through evapotranspiration, releasing moisture through their leaves.
However, calm, hot conditions limit how much moisture trees can release. One theory on sudden branch drop holds that high
humidity in tree canopies limits evapotranspiration, increasing the moisture content within branches, and eventually leading to limb
failure.
© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2016
Arborists and scientists continue to study why sudden branch drop happens. It is suspected that sudden branch drop could also be
related to:
• a change in branch movement,
• drought stress and very dry soil,
• tissue shrinkage (due to heat),
• internal cracks
• moisture changes in the air and soil,
• gas release inside tissue, potentially caused by wetwood bacteria, which are common in the species affected by sudden branch drop, and
• deterioration in cell wall structure, potentially caused by ethylene gas.
Basically, sudden branch drop is the tree’s response to hot, dry environment where transpiration needs exceed vascular capabilities.
When it gets too hot to keep all tissue properly circulated, the tree responds with auto-amputation, letting go of a limb.
Tools to Prevent Against Sudden Branch Drop
Sudden branch drop has been known to happen along lines of weakness; however, it is also possible in branches with no apparent
flaws. Therefore, it is hard to predict. In general, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your trees, especially large, mature trees. Older
oaks, maples, ashes, beeches, and elms are common victims of sudden branch drop, but it has occurred in dozens of other species as
well. Trees with large, horizontal limbs with an upward sweep at the tips are more likely to suddenly drop limbs. Oftentimes, branches
that suddenly drop are those
that extended beyond the tree’s
main canopy.
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While inspecting your trees, look
for discoloration, particularly a
darker spot where water appears
to be “bleeding” out of the tree.
This is a sign of a potential limb
flaw, which could contribute to
limb failure.
OSHA Schedules Meeting about
Hazards in Tree Care Industry
Washington – OSHA has scheduled an informal stakeholder meeting to discuss the
hazards associated with tree care operations, as it considers creating a proposed rule to
protect workers in the industry.
The meeting is slated for July 13 in the nation’s capital. Individuals interested
in participating must register by July 1. To encourage group interaction, formal
presentations by stakeholders will not be permitted. Instead, OSHA says it intends to
have conversations about the following:
Fatalities and injuries: What are the primary causes, circumstances or factors for
incidents in specific organizations and the industry as a whole? What actions do
organizations take when a fatality or injury occurs?
New technology in the tree care industry: What types of emerging technology have organizations found effective for controlling
hazards and protecting workers?
National consensus and State Plan standards: What provisions and requirements in formal standards have organizations found most
effective? Which provisions or requirements should OSHA consider as it looks toward a proposed rule?
Vehicles and mobile equipment: How often do organizations use vehicles and mobile equipment such as bucket trucks, aerial lifts and
cranes to perform tree care? What are best practices for using vehicles and mobile equipment while working in the industry?
Information and training: What topics do organizations cover during worker training? How do they ensure temporary workers, nonEnglish speaking workers and workers with limited literacy understand the information?
“OSHA has deliberated taking action to protect tree care workers for nearly a decade.”
Reprinted from Federal Register website
Removal of the Ansel Ash
By Eric Berg, Nebraska Forest Service, Community Forestry and Sustainable Landscape Program Leader, ISA Certified Arborist and Municipal
Specialist MW-4103AM
Ansel Ash, Lincoln’s green ash personality on Facebook and located on UNL’s East Campus was removed by Landscape
Services because of Sudden Branch Drop (SBD).
I visited with Landscape Services and was given an opportunity for input concerning the Ansel Ash and I greatly
appreciated that. We all agreed this
historic tree needed to be removed
given the high potential for further
failures (2 approx. 20” + limbs
in 3 days lost) coupled with the
probability of high value targets
(constant pedestrian, bike and car).
No tree is worth someone getting
hurt, and the tree was never going
to get better or made safer – thus
removal was the best and only
option. It was very interesting
watching the removal and seeing
how brittle the branches were, they
literally acted like they had been
dead for 1 – 2 years, would shatter
and break when they hit the ground.
Canopy still looked fine, vigor still
good, at least for an ash in NE – but
along with the potential for harm
ruled the day, as it should.
Kudos to all the folks from UNL
Landscape Services who have
provided dedicated care to this tree
over many years and continue to do
so with the entire landscape!
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Passing of Orville K. Hatcher: February 5, 1925 - June 27, 2016
By Jim Keepers, Arborist Friend
I am sad to announce the passing of Orville K. Hatcher, former Omaha City Forester, Past
President of the Nebraska Arborists Association and one of our association’s original 29
charter members. With the passing of Orville, we have lost one of Nebraska’s knowledgeable
and skilled arborist and forester. He was the oldest living association Past President (1980).
At this time, I thought it was fitting to summarize some of Orville’s history and arborist
accomplishments since a number of our young NAA arborists never had the chance to meet
this truly unique individual. I had the opportunity to meet Orville and his charming wife,
Beverly (Bev), and Orville’s Lab, Sammy, his constant companion, during his later retirement
years. I was doing research for the association’s 29 Charter Members commemoration and I
had the opportunity to interview Orville and Bev. Bev was very generous allowing me to take
the scrapbooks she had composed of Orville’s life. They were very interesting and gave me a
true picture of Orville’s accomplishments.
I would now like to give a brief overview of Orville’s history, accomplishments and contributions
to our association. He was born in Iowa and after high school he served his country during World War II in the U.S. Navy for
two and a half years. After discharge from the military, he received his Forestry degree from Iowa State University. He became
Omaha’s Assistant City Forester and was paid a salary of $445.00 a month. On May 31, 1962 he became Omaha’s City Forester
and was told if he didn’t do a good job he would be demoted back to the Assistant City Forester position. In 1990, he retired from
that position at age 65 after 28 years of service to the city.
He was a key player in the fight against Dutch Elm disease in Nebraska and our surrounding states. In the early 70s, he conducted
the first ever training for Omaha Licensed Arborists working directly with the “Arborists of Omaha Association” the forerunner
of the NAA. He was one of the 29 NAA Charter Members who worked to establish the NAA and was elected president in 1980.
He is survived by his lovely and gracious wife Bev. They were married for over 60 years. Bev told me it was a great life! She
considered every day they had together a gift. They had four children and four grandchildren.
Orville’s MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL took place on Friday July 1 at St. Gerald Catholic Church with Interment at Hillcrest
Cemetery with full military honors. Memorials in Orville’s name can still be sent to the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, Inc., 102
Keim Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583.
The 2017 Nebraska GREAT PLAINS Conference will be
dedicated to Orville K. Hatcher. In the past, we have dedicated
the Nebraska GREAT PLAINS Conference to Harlan
Hamernick in 2013 and our Veterans in 2014. I feel dedicating
our 2017 conference will be a great tribute to Orville.
In closing, I want to leave you with the following quote. “I feel
we need to make a special effort to keep the memory alive of
those Arborists/Foresters like Orville who were the catalyst for
the creation of the NAA and spent their life devoted to the care
of Nebraska trees.”
As a reminder of how close trees are to our lives, the following
words are ones Bev and Orville have treasured over the years.
They are displayed on a sign at the entrance to a public park in
Portugal, Spain.
“Ye who would pass by and raise your hand against me, harken ere
you harm me. I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights;
the friendly shade screening you from the summer sun; and my fruits
are refreshing draughts quenching your thirst as you journey on. I am
the beam that holds your house, the board of your table, the bed on
which you lie, and the timber that builds your boat. I am the handle of
your hoe, the door of your homestead, the wood of your cradle, and the
shell of your coffin. I am the gift of God and Friend of man.”
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Structural pruning helps strengthen trees
By Eric Berg
Beyond properly selecting and planting trees, one of the best ways we can care for them is to “structurally prune”
trees, especially young trees. Proper pruning at the right time can help them withstand wind, snow and other weather
extremes.
Most trees are native to a forested environment where there is intense competition for light, which tends to force trees
to grow “up” and maintain a single dominant stem and strong structural branches.
Removed from that environment and planted in full sun — in home landscapes and in streets, parks and other planted
landscapes — they tend to grow out rather than up. The canopy exposure to full sunlight causes them to develop a much
broader and fuller crown, typically with multiple competing stems and weakly attached branches.
Over time, the natural form of that tree species is lost and they’re much more susceptible to damage from storm events.
A majority of these problems can be prevented by structural pruning when the trees are young. Structural pruning is the
purposeful removal of weak branches and correction of poor branching structure. Pruning while trees are small also
helps minimize tree wounding and results in stronger mature growth.
Most structural pruning can begin after the tree has become established in the landscape, typically three to five years
after planting. Late winter, before spring growth starts, is one of the best times to prune because it’s easier to see the
entire crown and branch attachments without the leaves obscuring your view. It also means fresh wounds are only
exposed briefly before new growth begins.
Another plus with spring-blooming trees is that you can bring the cut branches indoors to see if they’ll bloom.
Structurally pruning young trees involves:
• Identifying the lowest permanent scaffold branches to remain on the tree.
• Cleaning the crown by removing dead, broken and dying branches.
• Choosing and developing one dominant leader. It may take several years of pruning to either remove competing
co-dominant stems, or slow down their growth by pruning them back.
• Selecting permanent branches about every 16 inches along the stem of the tree. It’s best if these permanent branches
are spaced out in a radial pattern around the stem and to favor, and leave in place, branches with strong attachments
and visible branch bark ridges.
• Removing only about a fourth of the crown at a time, which means it may require several years of gradual pruning
to correct branching problems.
It is both an art and a science to do structural pruning correctly but the goal is trees that are strong enough to tolerate
extreme weather.
Visuals and videos can help with details like where and how to cut, the angle of the cut, maintaining the bark ridge at the
bottom of the branch and other best practices. One good guide to structural pruning can be found on the International
Society of Arboriculture “Trees are Good” Web page.
14
Introducing John DuPlissis
NSF, Rural Forestry Program Leader
John Duplissis recently took over as the Nebraska Forest Service’s Rural
Forestry Program Leader. His job is to direct the Nebraska Forest Service’s
Rural Forestry technical and financial assistance programs. To do this, they
work with partner agencies and organizations to determine priorities, assess
available resources and develop strategies to best use the financial and technical
resources of each to assist Nebraska’s private woodland owners maintain the
health and productivity of their woodlands.
Prior to taking on this job in January of 2015; John was the Extension Forester
and a Professor of Forestry in the College of Natural Resources at the University
of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. John has an extensive background in forest
resource management, public participation, and community development,
both locally and overseas. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s
College of Forestry with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forest Science and a
Master of Science Degree in Forest Ecology and Silviculture.
CARABINER MAINTENANCE
As you know, your carabiners should be inspected before every climb as well as the rest of your tree climbing equipment. Over
the years, we have witnessed many different versions of inspections. Some are very useful and realistic while others tend to
be a bit on the “Get’er Done” side of things. We want you to always keep in mind, anything you use to connect yourself to a
tree or to a rope attached to a tree is your LIFE SUPPORT!
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o ciation
ne brask a
orist s a
ss
a rb
Nebraska Arborists Association
521 First Street
Milford, NE 68405
www.NEarborists.org
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PERMIT NO. 1359
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Call the NAA office for more information at
402-761-2219 or email staff@nearborists.org.
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