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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visit…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Ma…

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 a…

BY JIM KASPER Justin Donahue, owner of Donahue Arborists in Honolulu, Hawaii, seasoned International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC) competitor and a veteran tree worker with more than 30 years in the industry, talks from a place of experience. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.…

BY LAWRENCE SCHULTZ When it comes to teaching climbing in the tree care industry, we need to focus more on strategy and efficiency. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

BY TIM AYERS, CUSP Everyone has become familiar with the term PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) over the past few years. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

BY KOREY CONRY, CTSP A tree worker’s guide to arriving safely to the job (while driving) Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.…

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. Rember to subscri…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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 own…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazi…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visitin…

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 r…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

BY AUDREY SELLEPACK What is a pesticide-compliance superhero? Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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 recurri…

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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 highligh…

by Rick Howland In 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 Batso…

By Joe 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 …

By Gordon Ho The 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 …

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.…

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 compani…

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 div…

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?” Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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…

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,…

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 i…

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 …

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. Rember to subscribe to TCI Magazine by visiting tcimag.tcia.org.Autor: TCI Magazine

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 …

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. Rember to subscr…