Advanced or Level 3 Tree Risk assessment aerial or Piuc Sonic Tomography

When we are contracted to assess trees most people want a Level 2 Tree risk/hazard assessment this assessment is done from the ground and we visibly assess each tree for their health and more importantly their structure. This is done using our eyes and our Knowledge and experience looking for potential and obvious defects, we also use a steel probe (safer than hands and arms) so we can determine how much if any decay is present and also how deep the cavity may be. We also conduct a percussion test using a rubber mallet to Sound the tree to determine if the tree is hollow or solid. But what we do not have x-ray eyes so cannot see for the trunk or can we see defect’s up high in the tree and many times we recommend an Advanced assessment or Level 3 this could be an aerial assessment of the scaffold upper branch junctions, damaged along the trunk or the tree assessed may need to have the trunk assessed by a Picus Sonic Tomography to determine the amount of solid timber to decayed or hollow sections unable to be seen visibly and or a soil or tissue test to determine the course of the trees ill health. On most occasions clients decide not to do these tests as the cost is to high yes there is extra expense for these advanced assessments but what is the cost if you don’t do these test and the trees fails and causes damage or worst kills someone. Recently I conducted an Aerial inspection using a 24 meter Elevated Work Platform (EWP) to assess 2 trees both from the ground raised a concern the second tree defect was superficial all was good but the first on inspection had a large Hollow 600mm deep with at this section a Diameter of 700mm leaving a wall thickness off 100mm As this was a hollow used by birds we did some weight reduction and left the trunk as a habitat leaving the tree safe but also able to continue functioning Another client rang me up and asked if I can come an assess a tree that I had assessed 10 months ago and recommended a advanced assessment as this tree had a branch fail damaging a roof of 1 of their buildings and they were lucky that no one was using the path below when the branch failed. The cost of replacing the damaged roof and then now have to remove the tree loosing valuable shade and then replacing that tree is a far more expensive than hiring an Elevated work platform EWP (cherry picker) and myself for 2 hours when the defect could have been identified the limb removed. International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) recommends different levels of assessment from a walk/drive by a visible tree assessment and advanced assessment. When you are a manager/owner of an amenity tree it is your duty to maintain this tree and minimise risk that it poses to you your family, your home or buildings. To determine the structural integrity of the tree advanced assessments may need to occur, such as an aerial assessment with an Arborist using a Elevated work platform (EWP a.k.a. cherry pickers) or a Picus Sonic tomography, to sound the tree. For any or more information please contact me by phone, e-mail or leave a message on face book and I will contact you (If you do contact by Facebook please leave a Phone number and best time to call).

Tree Health

A tree’s health can be affected by many things mostly soil related issues or abiotic disorders such as water, too much or too little. I have, over the past couple of months, paid special attention to the weather, in particular the rain fall (I have recorded rainfall at my place since November 1993). December was dry until the 21st when we received lots of rain and as most will remember a very wet January, 127mm above the average and then February being very very dry ; only 35.5mm, that’s 174mm below average. That’s a short fall (Pun intended) of 47mm below average. With this we are having a very dry March with above Temperatures (hot and humid). We feel the heat and the humidity; some of us notice the rainfall. Overall, this affects us as we hopefully drink more water and can mostly take shelter from the heat. But what about our trees and plants are they coping or are they suffering from stress? Do the tree leaves look like they are weltering, are the new shoots brown or curling are they losing their leaves. These are all signs of the trees being unwell. During the hotter drier months trees can be put under stress, stress and ill health can be seen from the colour, density and size of the trees’ foliage. When we walk around our gardens and we see our trees’ foliage exhibiting any signs of deformity or loss contact Angophora Consulting Arborist for an efficient and accurate diagnosis of the problem/s. We can provide solutions to remedy the tree so it can be retained for many years as good healthy amenity trees providing many benefits such as shade during the hot weather. Trees and plants need to be watered. The water needs to be applied outside the hotter parts of the day, either early morning before 9am or late afternoon after 4pm. Water should be applied to the soil not the tree foliage. If you are concerned about your trees’ health please contact an Arborist such as Fred Janes at Angophora Consulting Arborist. A level 5 arborist (AQF level 5), qualified in the latest techniques using the International Arborist Associations’ Tree risk Assessments Qualifications (TRAQ). Fred can provide professional advice on how to mitigate the risk and allay any fears that you may have.