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Ask Our Experts - Q & A Archive View the current Q & A on our Home page Previous topics: 8/13/09 Q: What is a certified arborist? What services do they provide, and how can I find one to hire? A: Certified arborists are trained tree professionals licensed by the International Society of Arboriculture. Certified arborists must pass an extensive test and have at least three years of professional experience as well as ongoing education. Not all those who advertise as being tree care professionals are certified arborists – make sure you hire one who is. Arborists can prune trees of all sizes, inspect and treat trees for pests and diseases, and safely remove dead or unsafe trees. Arborists can also plant trees, provide emergency tree care, remove stumps, and address issues such as fertilization. More information on the services an arborist can provide can be found here. Certified arborists in the Seattle area can be found through the International Society of Arboriculture. More information on how to hire an arborist can be found here. One caution: a quality arborist will never recommend the “topping” of a tree. This is the practice of cutting off the central leader, or main trunk, of the tree at any height. This is an extremely hazardous practice that could make your tree less safe, more costly to maintain, and eventually kill the tree. 1/5/2009 Q: I have a terraced backyard on a very steep slope The slope is covered in English ivy and blackberry. I'd like to take them out and replace them with native or less invasive species, but I'm concerned about destabilizing the soil. Can you give some advice about timing and the rate of replacement? I'd like to plant some trees, too. Which trees have roots that will stabilize soil and grow well on slopes? I would like them to be tall enough to provide some privacy as well. A: Removing ivy and blackberry from your yard is a great idea. When removing the ivy and blackberry it is important to remove as much of the root system as possible; for ivy it’s the running roots and for blackberry it’s the large subterranean root balls. This will minimize the amount of plants that will re-sprout. The best time of the year for invasive removal and planting is right now. The soil is soft and the roots are easier to remove. This is the best time to plant as the dormant plants have a chance to get established before our long dry summers. A mixture of trees and shrubs work best for slope stabilization. Their roots stabilize the soil at different depths. Here is more information on trees for slope stabilization. The Green Seattle Partnership does forest restoration in Seattle parklands throughout the city. They have many sites that deal with invasive removal on steep slopes. They are a great source and variety of hands-on innovative ideas for slope restoration. 11/12/2008 Q: The mother of a close friend of mine recently passed away. Are there any public spaces were we could plant a commemorative tree or dedicate a tree in memory of my friend's mother? A: Memorial trees in public spaces are a very special way to celebrate life and honor the memory of a loved one. There are two programs that can help you plant trees in public spaces. The Seattle Parks Foundation has a tree donation program that works with individuals to either plant or sponsor a tree in memory of a loved one in a city park. The Green Seattle Partnership has many opportunities to plant trees in Seattle’s forested parklands as part of a massive urban forest restoration effort. There are restoration sites throughout the city that will be planting native trees and shrubs throughout the fall/winter planting season. Though the Green Seattle Partnership does not have a memorial tree program, this is a way to plant a tree that will benefit the urban forest. 09/05/2008 Q:Years ago someone planted 2 cedar trees on the strip between the sidewalk and curb in front of my house. These trees are huge and are under power lines. The city at some point topped the trees and continues to cut and butcher them every year. It is a shame but I think these trees are better to be cut down. Is the city able to help me take care of this? A: Our City Light experts had this to say: It sounds like the trees are too big for their location and have to be trimmed to maintain a safe clearance around the power lines. Seattle City Light maintains a 10 foot clearance around the high voltage electrical lines by having electrically qualified tree trimmers safely prune the trees ( http://www.seattle.gov/light/neighborhoods/nh4_trtr.htm ). Long term, it makes more sense to replace trees like this with smaller trees that don't require such extensive pruning to protect electrical safety and reliability. Seattle City Light will replace trees when we are working in a neighborhood so you may have to wait until we come back. When work is upcoming, we leave door hangars for residents whose trees are going to be pruned. Use the contact numbers on the door hangers to discuss opportunities for potential removal and replacement of your trees through the Urban Tree Replacement program (http://www.seattle.gov/light/neighborhoods/treetrim/tt3_replace.htm ). Planting the right tree in the right place is key to keeping Seattle green. 04/09/2008 Q: Who maintains the trees on my planting strip? A: All planting strip trees are regulated by the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), but only a percentage are maintained by SDOT. If a tree was planted by a property owner, or has grown naturally, the property owner is responsible to maintain the tree. If you are unsure who may have planted your tree, you can call (206) 684-TREE (8733) to obtain information about maintenance responsibility. |
