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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER
QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
SPRING 2015
IN THE NEWS
A FATHER AND SON’S JOURNEY TO FIDS
AND FIBERS 2015
1-2
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
3
DON’T MISS OUT - WE HAVE TWO $1500
SCHOLARSHIPS - APP DUE APRIL 3rd
4
STATE REPORTS
6-9
THANKS TO ARBORMASTER
11
BRISTOL AGGIE UPDATE
13
CONIFERS IN THE URBAN LANDSCAPE
14-16
TREE FUND UPDATE
17
2015 NEC OFFICERS
JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN NEW ENGLAND
UPCOMING EVENTS & ISA EXAMS
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19
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A FATHER AND SON’S JOURNEY TO FIDS AND FIBERS 2015
NEW ENGLAND CHAPTER 2015 SPLICING WORKSHOP RE-CAP
By Doug Doll
I came across Fids and Fibers by the Fireside [the New England Chapter ISA 2015 Splicing
Workshop] while looking for an event to travel to with my son for his 10th birthday. We signed
up and made travel plans from Milton, Florida to Weare, New Hampshire and the excitement
began to build. I own a small tree care company in Milton and my son, Tyler works most days
with me. He loves tree work as much as I do. Fids and Fibers is a 3-day workshop perfect for
anyone interested in learning to splice ropes used in arboriculture. The workshop is held at
Renaissance Acres Tree Care and put on by owner, Mark Przekurat.
Doug and Tyler Doll discuss a splice at the workshop. Photo
courtesy Mark Przekurat
The day before our flight
was to leave snowy
conditions in Atlanta caused
the airline to cancel our
flight. Due to poor weather
forecasts throughout the
southeast, I was unable to
reroute our travel and we
were forced to cancel our
trip. Tyler and I were
bummed. About an hour
after we canceled the trip
Tyler called me and asked
what I thought about renting
a car and driving. I Googled
the directions and learned it
was 22 hours each way. I
asked, “Tyler, are you sure
you want to spend 44 hours
in the car over the next 7
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
days?” He adamantly replied, “Let’s do it Dad!” I found a car to rent, left work and rushed home
to pack. We departed home with 36 hours to make it for the class. Five hours into our trip we
hit snow. The Carolinas got six inches of snow but we never had a problem. At around 2:00
a.m. we pulled into a gas station and put the seat back to catch some sleep. Four hours later we
were rolling again.
Since we were rushed to leave I did not get to plan my route much and was heavily relying on
Google to get me there. We made it to Renaissance Acres at around 1:00 a.m. and were
greeted by a very sleepy Mac Swan who pointed us upstairs to our room. We would be sharing a
room with about 12 miles of rope. It was the most rope I’d seen in any one place and Tyler
thought it was amazing too. We were finally falling asleep after 14 states and a short
unintentional detour on NYC’s famous Broadway. Google must have thought it was faster than
staying on the interstate.
Tyler Doll works on a
splice. Photo courtesy
When morning came we awoke to
Doug Doll
the smell of egg casserole and the
bustle of 18 people in a wooden
farm house. We got right to work
splicing 16-strand. Our first
project was a lanyard with an eye
splice on one end and an
aluminum snap spliced to the
other. We learned a ton and not
just from Mark. It was great to
be in the company of so many
arborists and small business
owners. The room was full of
experience. I shared a table with another small business owner and one of his employees who
were very knowledgeable, particularly when it came to tree biology. My other table mate was a
salesman who sold tree care and was an experienced splicer and climber. I learned a ton from
those guys.
We went on to learn to splice Tenex as well as double braid. We made several products: a ring
and ring friction saver, an X ring sling and numerous eye and eyes to name a few. We left with a
significant supply of fiber to practice on once we got home.
On the way home we stopped in
Indianapolis at the TreeStuff.com
headquarters. Phil Whitten who manages
ABR was at the workshop and offered us a
tour of the splicing department. We were
able to break some of our splices on their
break test machine and were very proud
when they broke well above the
manufacturer’s average breaking strength.
Tree Stuff as well as Shelter Tree, Sherrill
Tree, All Gear, New England/Teufelberger,
Plymkraft, Samson Ropes, Yale Cordage,
and Marlow Ropes made this workshop
possible because of their generous support.
2015 group photo. Photo courtesy Mark Przekurat.
Our total driving time tallied nearly 50
hours. Was the workshop and trip expense worth it? Getting the only guest bed at the
workshop was much appreciated. Soaking up first-hand knowledge regarding several aspects of
the business was extremely valuable. Spending the entire week with my son learning and
discussing Fids and Fibers was priceless.
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
By Bear LeVangie
Hello New England arborists and tree geeks. We have moved our clocks forward in
anticipation for spring and yet the days are still cold and the snow is falling as I write.
The Ides of March suggest we should beware. Well, I can only think of what we need to
beware. So may I suggest you be aware of your daily commute and icy driving
conditions, climbing in brittle trees, preventing frostbite on your fingers and toes, and
beware of sun damage on your nose!
Spring begins a wonderful time of change. Birds started coming back to New England
after their long and arduous migration and many mammals are already in the throes of
their mating rituals. So why is it that this season of rebirth tends to sneak up on so many of us?
Start planning your Arbor Day events. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island
celebrate Arbor Day on the last Friday in April—this year on April 24th, Vermont’s is on the first Friday
in May, May 1st, and Maine celebrates Arbor Day for a whole week—the third full week of May. If each
one of us teaches someone to plant a tree, we can “start another forest” in 2015. Together we can
make New England a better place to live, one tree at a time.
Free Money! Yup you read that right! Hey tree studying students… April 3rd is the deadline for
applications. If you are looking for an additional boost to further your education we are offering two
$1,500 scholarships. Apply now to get a jump start. The application is available on our website:
http://www.newenglandisa.org/files/2015/NEC-ISA_ScholarshipApplication2015.pdf
The great state of New Hampshire will host our 49th annual conference this year. We will be at the Red
Jacket Resort and Spa in North Conway on October 25, 26, and 27. With an exciting line-up of
speakers and pre-workshops, start planning your family vacation now. Our location offers an indoor
water park, arcade, and restaurant. North Conway offers amazing fall foliage, wonderful hikes,
shopping, great food, train rides, the NEC Annual Trek des Trees, and so much more for everyone in
your arborist family! Registration will open in late spring. In closing, remember that life is short so
breathe deep, enjoy the small things, Bear.
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
$1,500 STUDENT
SCHOLARSHIP
DUE APRIL 3, 2015
If you are a student in need of cash –
fill out an application form.
Applications are due April 3rd. Click
here to apply:
http://newenglandisa.org/scholarships.html
2015 ARBOR DAY GRANT
DUE MARCH 28, 2015
This grant awards $1,000.00 to a
town, organization or community who
demonstrates need to promote and
support their Arbor Day celebration.
To apply go to:
http://newenglandisa.org/files/2014_NECISA_ArborDayGrant.pdf
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
STAT E REPOR TS & NEWS
CONNECTICUT: Charlie Iselin [email protected]
Down here in Connecticut, we are still trying to dig our way out of winter. As I write this, we are
expecting a coastal snowstorm for the first day of spring. I can’t complain too much after seeing all
the pictures of Boston this winter. That looked painful. And to keep it in perspective for all of New
England, I read a news report from Siberia, where a village lost their steam generator, the only heat
source for the entire neighborhood, when they were in the middle a lovely stretch of -40 degree
temps.
As we enter spring, we are gearing up for an active season of educating our residents and tree care
professionals about the threat of the emerald ash borer. We are currently organizing an EAB workshop
to be held in Middlefield, CT, in early spring. Check the CTPA website for details www.ctpa.org. Our
summer meeting will be on July 16 in Farmington and will offer a wide range of educational
opportunities. This fall we are working to organize a tree law workshop or possibly a talk on
communication skills for arborists.
Vegetation management practices by our two electric distribution companies are still under review by
the Public Utility Regulatory Authority and the General Assembly. Most recently, the Connecticut
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection drafted a second set of questions for each of the
utilities. The responses are requested back to the DEEP by March 24th, and this should be interesting.
A lot of the questions focus on the quality control of their “pruning” practices, as they have repeatedly
stated that, “all their work is done according to industry and ANSI standards”. They have even gone
as far as mentioning the ISA. In the course of their “Enhanced Tree Trimming” or ETT program, this
has certainly not been the case. Anyone with the smallest amount of knowledge of proper tree pruning
practice can spend ten minutes driving the roads of Connecticut and clearly see that this is not the
case. That’s all for now. Enjoy spring; I know this one will feel good.
MASSACHUSETTS: Rick Harper [email protected]
Staying up to Date
In the last newsletter we encouraged readers to avail themselves of the many educational events that
the winter season brings. From the MA Tree Wardens Annual Conference in Sturbridge, to New
England Grows in Boston, to the Annual UMass Spring Tree Conference in Amherst, these were but a
few of the opportunities that were plentiful and indeed worthwhile. If you couldn’t make it to any of
these, you may have chosen to “attend” one of the UMass Urban Forestry Today webcasts for free
ISA/MCA in the comfort of your location of choice. Or perhaps you are already studying
Arboriculture/Urban Forestry as a fulltime student – remember that the ISA Student Scholarship
season is once again upon us. Seize the opportunity and apply…it may be well worth your time!
Plant Health and Snowcover
Though for simplicity’s sake we typically categorize winter injury into two categories - acute freeze
and thaw OR chronic desiccation – it is important to note that there are other types of injury
associated with frosty weather and some of them warrant discussion after the winter of 2014-2015.
Branch – and indeed, entire plant – breakage due to excessive snow/ice accumulation can be an
important component of winter-related “injury.” Due to the heavy snowfall this winter – especially
January and February – many urban landscapes have amassed piles of snow to the point where
shrubbery and even small trees have been essentially covered with the white stuff. Urban foresters
and arborists should remember to take care to not damage these plants further with snow removal
efforts and to inspect them for structural integrity as snow cover continues to melt. And take
heart…with the long days, more intense sunlight and shorter nights, all of that snow will indeed soon
be a memory!
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
Pests and Trees in Massachusetts
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) - The infestation continues to expand in Berkshire and Essex Counties. The
DCR Forest Health Program will again be releasing the two biological controls (parasitic wasps) hoping
to get them established in the infested areas. Massachusetts now has a statewide quarantine on the
movement of ash products. This means that ash can be moved within the quarantine area but you will
need a current compliance agreement with the USDA APHIS to move any ash products outside of
the regulated zone. Also we recommend limited movement of ash within the state boundaries in order
to slow the spread of EAB.
Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) - The first delineation survey of the 110 square mile ALB regulated
area has been completed and staff are now working on the second cycle surveys. There continue to
be pockets of infested trees found back in some of the core areas where the initial infestation was
located back in 2008. This is not unexpected as staff goes back through some of the zones that were
initially inspected back in 2009/2010. Infested trees are removed as soon as they are found and
ground/aerial tree surveys will continue.
Hemlock Wooly Adelgid (HWA) - The cold winter temperatures have definitely played a part in
reducing the amount of HWA in hemlock stands. Recent monitoring done for the US Forest Service
indicates upwards of 80% mortality on overwintering HWA in areas checked across the state. MA DCR
continues to work with the USFS on releasing biological controls.
Winter Moth - To soon to tell whether this insect will be as big a problem in terms of
defoliation compared to last spring. Based on last fall/winter male winter moth flight numbers,
defoliation in 2015 could be greatly reduced.
To read more about winter injury, visit: http://plantclinic.cornell.edu/factsheets/winterinjury.pdf
To attend the University of Massachusetts ‘Urban Forestry Today’ noonhour webcasts (12:00 p.m.–
1:00 p.m.) visit www.joinwebinar.com and input the 9-digit access code:
Winter Series: “Structural Soils”
March 26 – Structural Soils II: The Practitioner’s Perspective (#131-121-483)
Spring Series: “Pests and the Urban Forest”
April 30 – Pests of the Urban Landscape (#119-819-267)
May 21 – Technology, i-Tree and Pest Management (#121-999-467)
Special thanks to Ken Gooch, MA DCR, for the pest update.
MAINE: Jon Hanisko [email protected]
According to the calendar, the first day of spring is March 20th. I am not sure it is going to feel like it
then, but the days are slowly getting warmer, and it is staying lighter longer, and even though we are
getting 3 inches of new snow seemingly every night, it has to get here eventually.
On January 21st the Maine Arborist Association held its first
joint meeting with the Maine Landscape and Nursery
Association. The logistics of the meeting were a drastic
difference from years past, but I am pleased to report that
the meeting was a success. There were approximately 30
vendors and 350 attendees. With a good foundation to build
on we are excited to make the event bigger and better next
year.
Once buds finally begin to break we will be keeping a close
eye on the Winter Moth population. It seems to be establishing itself with some ease, but with the cold
temperatures we have experienced, perhaps we will see a stall in population growth. Another insect
that doesn’t seem to want to go away is the Browntail Moth. Although the populations are drastically
reduced from what they have been, they are still popping up in different locations every year.
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
Coming up on April 4th, the MAA will be holding its annual work project. This year’s location will be the
Maine Audubon in Falmouth, Maine. We are fortunate to always get a great turnout for a great cause.
So as the snow continues to melt and the mud season approaches, we can only hope that the spring
and summer bring warmer days, with only just enough rain, and many Red Sox victories. Because
after this winter we definitely deserve it!
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Sara Sankowich [email protected]
As I write this report, the forecast calls for more snow and it’s hard to remember that spring is right
around the corner! Don’t forget that Arbor Day is coming up on April 24th. Have you made plans to
plant your tree(s) yet? Looking for some Arbor Day reading? Check out the Arbor Day Foundation’s
New Hampshire 2014 State Report at
http://www.arborday.org/states/statepages/New%20Hampshire.pdf The UNH Cooperative Extension
also has great resources including a list of Ice Storm Resistant Trees, which may be useful if we have
to weather more winters like those we’ve had recently. As we look to prune damaged trees and plant
new ones this spring, keep in mind planting the “Right Tree in the Right Place” and always call DigSafe
first. Happy Spring!
Rhode Island: Tom Morra [email protected] (temporary RI state rep)
Greetings fellow New Englanders! I hope that from wherever you are sitting that you can no
longer see any more snow! I know that I have certainly seen enough of it. Winter was way too long,
and it did not seem to want to let go! But spring is here, and with it the hopes of a good season in
store for everyone.
Here in Rhode Island, we have a few cool things in store. The Rhode Island Tree Council, in
conjunction with the Providence Parks Department and Forestry Division, will be hosting what they are
calling "Tree Huggapalooza" on Saturday, April 25, at 1:00 p.m. in Roger Williams Park. They will be
attempting to break the Guinness Book world record for tree hugging, which is currently held by
Portland, Oregon. We will be looking for volunteer tree huggers, as well as some climbers to get up
into the trees, both for tree hugging and tree climbing demonstrations. Check out the Rhode Island
Tree Council Facebook page and website (RITree.org) for more information on this and other
upcoming tree related events.
On April 11, some local climbers and I will be doing some tree pruning for a great program in
Smithfield Rhode Island called 'Revive the Roots.' They are a nonprofit organization that helps people
get back to nature in many, many ways, including maintaining walking trails, offering community
garden space, teaching children and adults about permaculture and the environment, and many other
great programs. We are looking for volunteers that would like to help prune some of the trees over
their walking paths and recreational areas. Check out their website at revivetheroots.org.
Other than those specific events, I'm just hoping for a decent spring with some warmer weather in
store… I'm also hoping that our invasive pest issues do not trend in the wrong direction this year, but
as has been shown before, a bad winter does not necessarily have adverse effects on invasive pest
populations. I'll report back on that next time… Until then, stay green!
VERMONT: Beth Fuehrer [email protected]
Greetings from Vermont! I trust that most everyone is looking forward to spring as much as I am.
This quarter I wanted to suggest a bookmark to add to your 'Favorites' list, in case you haven't done
so already: www.vtcommunityforestry.org
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
This is the website for the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program (VT UCF), a wonderful
outreach organization we have in the state that promotes stewardship of our urban and community
forests. Please check it out, and visit often! Upcoming there are two opportunities available- one, VT
UCF is seeking a community to host an Arbor Day event (for May 2nd, Vermont's Arbor Day is May 1st),
and additionally, there is $40,000 available in grant funding to be used to develop and sustain
community tree programs. The application deadline is April 10th. VT UCF also offers a bi-monthly
newsletter, TreeMail, which is a great way to keep in touch with events and news throughout the state.
Vtcoverts.org is an organization which promotes the education of landowners and interested folks on
the subject of healthy forest stewardship, sound ecological practices, and forest management for
wildlife diversity. They are offering a free intensive training workshop held May 15-17, in East
Charleston, VT. Check out their website for more details.
In the meantime, I'm keeping my eyes ever peeled for telltale signs of maple sugaring and dreaming
of evenings when we start hearing the spring peepers... two of my favorite signs of this time of year.
Please do be in touch with me if there is anything I can do as your state representative. (802) 3432303, or [email protected]
David C. Hawkins, Consulting Arborist
Certified Arborist for over 35 years

Tree and Landscape Appraisals

Expert Witness Services

Arboriculture Educational Programs

Tree Risk Assessments

Street Tree Inventories

Ornamental and Shade Tree Maintenance
CERTIFICATIONS

MCA # 1425· RI Licensed Arborist # 696

ISA # NE-0541-B (Board Cert. Master Arborist)

American Society of Consulting Arborists Member

Mass. Tree Warden’s and Foresters Assn. Exec.
Board

Tree Care Industry Association CTSP #959
EDUCATION

Stockbridge School of Agriculture - AS 1980 –
Arboriculture & Landscape Operations

University of Massachusetts - BS 1988 – Urban
Forestry

State University of NY-Syracuse - MS 1994 –
Forest Resource Management/Urban Forestry
154 Buffam Road, Pelham, Massachusetts, 01002
(413) 253-4266 office/fax · (413) 237-5106 mobile
· email: [email protected] ·
www.ufstrees.com
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
A HUGE THANK-YOU TO ARBORMASTER FOR SUPPORTING OUR
TREE CLIMGING COMPETITION
The New England Chapter is pleased to announce the 2016 ArborMaster Climbing
Kit Prize Package for the Tree Climbing Championship (TCC), held in conjunction
with the chapter’s 2016 Tree Climbing Championship (TCC) event.
This climbing kit is being offered to each ISA chapter champion (both male and
female, if applicable)! The package is intended to help equip the chapter
representative(s) for the International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC)
Competition.
Each prize package includes:
 Arborist Technical Helmet by Petzl, Husqvarna Composite MulitPurpose Ax, and Husqvarna Technical Pro Zipper Apron Wrap Chap
 Silky Tsurugi Curve Hand Saw
 Tree Squeeze provided by Buckingham
 150’ ArborMaster® Climbing Line with eye splice from Samson
 OREGON® Tool Bag
 Vermeer logo’d Camelback Water Bottle
 50% savings for an ArborMaster® 2-Day or 3-Day Hands-on Training
Module
Sponsored by:
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
BRISTOL AGGIE UPDATE
By Seth Cook
Despite the massive accumulation of snow this winter,
students have been braving through the bitter conditions
here in the arboriculture department at B.C.A.H.S. and
have been keeping busy developing their arbor skills and
knowledge. The sophomore class is currently learning how
to tie a variety of essential knots which they will need to
know well before going out into the industry. These knots
will enable them to better understand the climbing
systems they will be using for tree work. The
sophomores are continuing to learn tree ID and have now
begun their study of tree biology.
The junior class has been working on developing/updating
their portfolios and resumes for use when applying for a
future job. Juniors will be tested on their employability
and professionalism through a simulated job interview in
the coming weeks. The juniors recently ventured into the
snow-covered regions of the campus to perform various
tree pruning operations. Term 3 marks the start of tree
ID for the junior class. They will be adding to the
collection of trees covered during their previous year as
sophomores.
Preparations are under way for the
senior class cumulative tree ID final
which will cover tree identification
dating all the way back to their
sophomore year. The senior class
has been busy researching for their
upcoming equipment presentations.
They will dive directly into TCIA’s
Tree Care Academy’s Aerial Lift
Operator Specialist training once
finished with their equipment
presentations. Upon completion of
the TCIA training, students will receive a certificate of
completion from TCIA. These TCIA certifications are being
integrated into the curriculum for all arbor classes.
New Distributor of
Mauget Products
Several extra-curricular opportunities are being seized by the
young arbor students. A select group of arbor students have
been training to compete in an FFA forestry competition. The
group traveled
to East
Hampton for
the competition recently, represented the school well
and made the arbor program proud. The
department is buzzing with news of our upcoming
Arbor Day celebration and Tree Climbing Jamboree
(both will be in early May). Our jamboree is almost
exactly like an ISA Tree Climbing Competition and
our students love the opportunity to compete as
industrial athletes.
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
CONIFERS IN THE URBAN LANDSCAPE:
By J. Casey Clapp, Richard W. Harper and H. Dennis P. Ryan III
The basis for proper function is proper design. When designing an infrastructure system for a
municipality, engineers and planners must take many different criteria into consideration to ensure
that the system functions correctly and accomplishes the given objectives for that site or region.
These criteria may include efficiency, costs and returns, current or future conflicts, and components
available for use. The urban forest, as a part of the infrastructure system of a municipality, is no
different. Just as when civil engineers take on the task of building a road network, urban foresters
should strive to create an urban forest network that works as efficiently as possible, avoids major
conflicts, provides a high return, and uses the best tools available.
In our introductory article we discussed some of the benefits associated with the use of evergreen
conifers in urban plantings. These benefits include helping to increase the tree species diversity of the
urban forest, increasing annual rainwater interception and annual pollution absorption, and the
promotion of urban wildlife diversity. In this article, we will discuss important considerations that
must be taken to ensure that conifers add value to the urban forest. It is important to use these
different infrastructure components in the appropriate places; it is important to properly design the
urban forest to ensure its optimal functionality.
Due to seasonal changes and tree functional type (e.g. evergreen conifer, broadleaf deciduous,
broadleaf evergreen), some trees provide services during certain times of the year, while providing
less of those services – or even disservices – at other times. For instance, an evergreen tree provides
summertime shading, which is generally regarded as a positive attribute, but also wintertime shading,
which may be a negative attribute. A deciduous tree, however, provides this same summer shading
benefit, but does not maintain a thermal buffer or privacy barrier during the wintertime, which can be
a negative attribute. These types of attributes must be considered in order to design and implement a
dynamic and effective green infrastructure system.
Wintertime shading is a notably important aspect to consider when planting evergreen conifers in the
urban landscape in New England, and most notably when planting them as street trees. Ice buildup on
roads can cause significant issues, so it is necessary to allow for optimal winter sun exposure on
streets. In New England, the sun strikes on the southern exposure and casts shadows to the north.
Thus, planting evergreen trees on the south side of an east-west oriented street will cause a shadow
to be cast over the street during the winter. This conflict may be avoided, however, by planting
evergreen species on the north side of the street and deciduous species on the south side. By
employing this technique, one can obtain greater tree species diversity and the same year-round
ecosystem services that were discussed in part I, while still gaining beneficial winter sun exposure.
Furthermore, shade-tolerant evergreen conifers may be established within the vicinity of a permanent
object (i.e. building) that is already casting shade. Because the road is already shaded, the evergreen
conifer does not cast further shading, but does contribute positive ecosystem services. By taking sun
exposure and aspect into account, conifers can be included as street trees without causing conflicts by
way of disservices during winter. In addition to proper placement along streets and travelled areas,
installations of evergreen conifers may be designed to function as living screens.
Due to their dense, evergreen foliage, many evergreen conifers can efficiently block sight, sound, and
wind. By using evergreen conifers as thermal buffers and wind blocks around a building, the
building’s efficiency can be increased by up to 25% by limiting the amount of heat loss due to cold air
infiltration, or by the cooling of the building shell via passing wind. Used as audio or visual barriers,
evergreen conifers can also help to muffle unwanted road noise from highways and block unsightly
views. Salt-tolerant species of conifers can also act as buffers between roads and nearby areas that
may be sensitive to road salts. By planting evergreen conifers around freeways, the noise, sight, and
salt pollution can be better contained to those areas. Evergreen conifers can also absorb pollution and
particulate matter that is emitted from highway traffic and block water spray continuously throughout
the year. Though the buffering benefits from evergreen conifers are obvious, they may also be
planted as part of a strategy to help decrease the urban heat island effect often associated with urban
settings.
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
It has been shown that outdoor spaces with high leaf area indexes (LAI) have lower soil, surface, and
ambient air temperatures. LAI is a measure of how dense a tree canopy is, or how much leaf cover is
present over a given unit of area. The higher the LAI, the denser the tree cover is. Studies have
found that areas with high LAI have cooler soil and surface temperatures by 7°C (12.6° F) and 6°C
(10.8° F), respectively. Many conifers maintain dense crowns year-round with high LAI. Planting
evergreen conifers therefore helps to keep small outdoor spaces, or microclimates, cool. By cooling
enough of these microclimates throughout the urban environment, the macroclimate may also be
influenced positively where the effects of the urban heat island may begin to be addressed.
According to inventory data from across the United States, conifers appear to be notoriously
underrepresented as street trees. Of the trees inventoried in Portland, Oregon (just under 40,000),
only 2.2% were determined to be evergreen conifers. Chicago, Illinois featured only about 9.1%
coniferous street trees, while Boston, Massachusetts had notably no conifers listed in their top 25
species that comprised 96.7% of their street trees. Minneapolis, Minnesota featured only 0.3%
conifers, Charlotte, North Carolina 8.5%, and Berkeley, California only 4% of their community tree
inventories, respectively. These numbers equate to the simple fact that cities are not taking full
advantage of the benefits that may be derived from increasing their numbers of evergreen conifers.
Urban populations derive numerous personal benefits from urban greenery that include reduced stress
and increased quality of life, as well as healthier birth weights for newborns and more productive
workplaces in what can potentially be more aesthetically-pleasing communities. Indeed, at no point
are the aesthetic benefits of evergreen conifers more apparent then when deciduous leaves have
turned brown and the trees themselves have become barren. Our hope is that evergreen conifers
grow to become better recognized as key components of green infrastructure systems that can offer
significant returns through their ecosystem services when they are incorporated into the design and
installation of the contemporary urban forest.
Table 1: Coniferous trees that may be well-suited to urban conditions.
Common Name
Scientific Name
Zone
Ht (ft)
Soil
Evergreen?
Western Redcedar
Thuja plicata
~5-8
~100
Moist, nutrient rich;
Yes
Chinese hemlock
6
~80
Moist to semi-dry
Yes
Incense cedar
Japanese
cryptomeria
Tsuga chinensis
Libocedrus
decurrens
Cryptomeria
japonica
~5-8
~50
Moist well-drained to dry
Yes
~5-9
~60
Yes
Dawn redwood
Metasequoia
glyptostroboides
~4-8
~100
Wide range of soil types
Wide range of soil types,
can do wet soils and
pollution well
~2-7
~60
Wide range of soils types,
prefers well-drained
~2-9
~65
~6-8
~4-9
Norway spruce
Eastern redcedar
Giant sequoia
Bald cypress
Picea abies
Juniperus
virginiana
Sequoiadendron
giganteum
Taxodium
distichum
No
Yes
Yes
~100+
Wide range of soils types
Tolerant of dry soils,
prefers moist, welldrained
~70
Dry to saturated soils
No
Yes
For more information on selecting and establishing conifers in the urban environment:
Aurders, Aris G. and Derek P. Spicer. 2013. Encyclopedia of Conifers: A Comprehensive Guide to
Cultivars and Species. Royal Horticultural Society and Kingsblue Publishing: London.
Dirr, Micheal. 2011. Dirr’s Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs. Timber Press: Portland, Oregon
: [email protected]
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
Gerhold, H.D., N.L. Lacasse, W.N. Wandell. 2001. Landscape Tree Facsheets (including evergreens for
screens), Third Edition. The Pennsylvania State University.
Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder (online)
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfindersearch.aspx
Wyman, D. 1965. Trees for American Gardens. Macmillan: New York.
J. Casey Clapp, MS, earned his Master of Science Degree from the University of Massachusetts,
Amherst, in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry. He is an ISA Certified Arborist currently working as a
consulting arborist in Seattle, WA.
Richard W. Harper, BCMA, is the Extension Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental
Conservation at UMass Amherst.
H. Dennis P. Ryan, Ed.D., is Professor and Program Coordinator of the Arboriculture/Urban Forestry
Program at UMass Amherst.
Clapp, J. C, Ryan, H. D. P., Harper, R. W. & Bloniarz, D. V. (2014) Rationale for the increased use of
conifers as functional green infrastructure: A literature review and synthesis. Arboricultural
Journal, 36(3):1-14.
: [email protected]
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
THE TREE FUND UPDATE—March 2015
TREE Fund awards over $200,000 in new research grants
The TREE Fund is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2014 Fall Cycle awards. These seven new awards bring the total amount the foundation
has funded to more than $2.6 million since 2002.
Click here for details: http://www.treefund.org/home
NEW scholarships available! College students who are residents of Pennsylvania or Delaware and enrolled in a program related to
arboriculture/urban forestry are eligible to apply for the new $2,000 Horace M. Thayer Scholarship. Female students can apply for the $2,000 Fran
Ward Women in Arboriculture Scholarship as well. Funded by Penn-Del Chapter ISA, online applications at www.treefund/scholarships.org are due
June 1.
Applications are open at www.treefund.org for the following research grants and scholarships as well: Robert Felix Memorial Scholarships:
($3,000) due April 1, Hyland R. Johns Research Grants: (up to $25,000) due April 1, John Wright Memorial Scholarships: ($2,000) due May 15
Many thanks to our major contributors in February 2015: These supporters contributed $2,500 or more last month.
Arizona Public Service
Lentzcaping, Inc. Asplundh Tree Expert Co.
National Grid
Florida Chapter ISA
Ohio Chapter ISA
Nominate an outstanding volunteer for the Ken Ottman Award. Do you know someone who has gone “above and beyond the call of duty” in
advancing the TREE Fund’s mission? Submit your nomination before the April 1st deadline at our website. The coveted beer stein award will be
presented at the 2015 ISA Conference in Orlando.
Register TODAY for the 2015 STIHL Tour des Trees to take advantage of the new contests and promotions we’re offering to help you fundraise!
Join us for a week of fun in the Florida sun October 25-31, 2015. Proceeds from the Tour support tree research and education programs benefitting
the world’s urban forests and the workforce that cares for them. Learn more about the Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale Tour at www.stihltourdestrees.org.
Sponsors—contact Mary DiCarlo at 630-369-8300 x-202 by April 1 to renew or enroll as a Tour sponsor and reserve space for your logo on the
Tour jersey.
Save the date! Make plans now to join us at the Gaylord Palms Resort the evening of August 10 for the TREE Fund’s annual Raise Your Hand for
Research Live Auction. Auctioneer Graham Crow returns for the fun along with the popular “Pick Your Paradise” excursions to Bali, Italy and Africa.
Your auction purchase supports the TREE Fund, helping to keep the world’s urban trees healthy and the tree care workforce safe. See you in
Orlando!
Mark your calendar: “Emerald Cash Borer: It Will Cost You Money - Ways to Manage the Ash Cash Flow”
You don’t want to miss Dr. Rich Hauer’s (U. of Wisconsin Stevens Point) discussion on the economics of managing an EAB invasion in this FREE
webinar on April 28 at noon (Mountain) / 2:00 p.m. (Eastern).
What’s a cash-strapped city forester to do when EAB comes knocking? Back up your strategy with science and the tough decisions get easier. Dr.
Hauer’s investigation of EAB management options will save you time and money!
No preregistration required; CEUs available from the following organizations: International Society of Arboriculture, Society of American Foresters
This research was partially funded by a John Z. Duling grant from the TREE Fund. Special thanks to Utah State University Forestry Extension and
Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands for hosting this webinar, and to Bartlett Tree Experts and The Davey Tree Expert Company for their
support.
: [email protected]
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
2015 OFFICERS
PRESIDENT – Bear LeVangie
[email protected]
WEBSITE MANAGER – Melissa LeVangie
PRESIDENT-ELECT – Brian Sullivan
[email protected]
NEWSLETTER EDITORS – Mollie Freilicher &
Heather Leff
TREE FUND LIAISON – Aaron Dickinson
[email protected]
VICE-PRESIDENT – Fred Perry
[email protected]
PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES -
PAST PRESIDENT – Bill Conn
[email protected]
NICHOLAS BRAZEE
[email protected]
TREASURER – Julie Coop
[email protected]
HEATHER GREEN
[email protected]
SECRETARY – MOLLIE FREILICHER
[email protected]
DAN MELLO
[email protected]
ISA CoR REPRESENTATIVE – Anne Marie
Moran [email protected]
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT - Heather Leff
[email protected]
CERTIFICATION LIAISON – Danielle
Fitzko [email protected]
CONNECTICUT REP – Charlie Iselin
[email protected]
MAINE REP – John Hanisko
[email protected]
MASSACHUSETTS REP – Rick
Harper
[email protected]
NEW HAMPSHIRE REP – Sara
Sankowich
[email protected]
RHODE ISLAND REP – Tom Morra
[email protected]
VERMONT REP – Beth Fuehrer
[email protected]
TCC CHAIRPERSON – Bruce Duffy
[email protected]
: [email protected]
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
NEW ENGLAND JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Technician - Turf Care Services
Boston (North Shore)
Carpenter Costin seeks a turf care technician for our
Plant Health Care Services Department
(insect/disease management programs and
fertilization for trees, shrubs and turf). Please forward
resume to [email protected] or call 781/5981924 and ask for Bonnie. For more information on
Carpenter Costin Landscape Management, please
visit our website at www.carpentercostin.net
Landscape Maintenance Crew Leader
Boston (North Shore)
Carpenter Costin Landscape seeks Landscape
Maintenance Crew Leader. Please forward resume to
[email protected] or call 781/598-1924 and
ask for Bonnie. For more information on Carpenter
Costin Landscape Management, please visit our
website at www.carpentercostin.net
Experienced Climber – Full Time,
Portsmouth, NH
Northeast Shade Tree in Portsmouth, NH is looking
for an experienced climber for full time work. 1 to 2
years of experience, rope and saddle, clean driving
record a must. NEST works within the NH, ME and
MA seacoast. Contact David Steadman at
[email protected] or 603-436-4804
Multiple Openings
New York and Connecticut
CW Arborist has positions open! Come see/call/email
us if you are interested in becoming a territory
arborist, a climbing, pruning, plant health care arborist,
any or all of the above! All inquiries can be directed to
[email protected] in confidence or call Mike 631-324-6138. We look forward to hearing from you!
Arborist Sales Representative
Boston (North Shore)
Carpenter Costin an Arborist Sales
Representative. Please forward resume to
[email protected] or call 781/598-1924
and ask for Bonnie. For more information on
Carpenter Costin Landscape Management,
please visit our website at
www.carpentercostin.net
ISA Certified Arborist
NYC Area
Branching Out Consultants seeks an ISA
Certified Arborist. Please submit resume to
Karen Flores:
[email protected]
Arborist Crew Leader
Holliston MA
Tree Specialists, Inc. is seeking a mature,
career-oriented practicing arborist, with a
genuine interest in caring for trees
To apply for this position, email a cover letter
and resume to [email protected] or
call (508) 429-8733 to set up an interview.
Turf Technician 3
New Hampshire & Vermont
Chippers Inc. is seeking a Turf3 Technician.
Call or email John Keefe to arrange for a
confidential interview 866-683-6222,
[email protected]
Full Time Positions Tree & Shrub Care
CDL Driver/ Equipment Operator
Boston (North Shore)
Carpenter Costin seeks a CDL Equipment
Operator. Please forward resume to
[email protected] or call 781/598-1924
and ask for Bonnie. For more information on
Carpenter Costin Landscape Management,
please visit our website at
www.carpentercostin.net
TREE CLIMBER/ARBORIST
Central VT - Woodstock, VT
ArborScape LLC is seeking a trained,
experienced, climber/arborist. Please Call: Cyrus
802.457.5797 or [email protected]
Climber/Bucket Truck Operator
Westwood, MA
Bark Busters Tree Service is seeking a Climber
/ Bucket truck operator. We have a rear mount
ALC waiting for a driver. Call Paul at 617 9998705
Arborist Climber
New Hampshire & Vermont
Chippers Inc. is seeking an Arborist Climber.
Call or email John Keefe to arrange for a
confidential interview 866-683-6222,
[email protected]
Arborist Grounds Operations Specialist
New Hampshire & Vermont
Southern Pioneer Valley, MA & Northern CT
Experienced Climber
Beverly Farms, MA
Chippers Inc. is seeking an Arborist Grounds
Operations Specialist. Call or email John Keefe to
arrange for a confidential interview 866-683-6222,
[email protected]
ArborTech Tree Services is currently accepting
resumes for full-time positions starting spring
2015. Please e-mail resume with references to
[email protected]
Plant Healthcare Specialist
Beverly Farms, MA
Plant Healthcare Specialist
Fairhaven, MA
Aspiring Arborists
Amherst, NH
Bartlett Tree Experts is currently searching for a
Plant Healthcare Specialist to join the team at our
Beverly Farms, MA office. We will help with relocation
for the right candidate!! Contact Michael Santora at
[email protected] or 203-323-1131 if interested.
G. Bourne Knowles Co. is looking for a
licensed, qualified individual to add to our plant
health care department. If you would like to join
our growing team please contact us via email at
[email protected] You may also call
us at 1-800-564-8146 or stop in at 267
Huttleston Ave., Fairhaven, MA 02719
Lee Gilman & Associates seeks exceptional
climbers committed to train and advance with
guidance from a licensed and Board
Certified Master Arborist. Inquire
with [email protected] or at 603-2495042.
Bartlett Tree Experts is currently searching for
an experienced Climber to join the team at our
Beverly Farms, MA office. We will help with
relocation for the right candidate!! Contact
Michael Santora at [email protected] or
203-323-1131 if interested.
NOTE: DETAILED JOB POSTINGS CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEBSITE: www.newenglandisa.org
: [email protected]
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NEW ENGLAND ISA NEWSLETTER
SPRING 2015
NEC-ISA
P.O. Box 435
Norwell, MA 02061
Share your experiences…
The NEC-ISA is offering $100 to the ambitious person who would like to
undertake writing an article (500 words) for our newsletter.
It can be anything related to arboriculture, a story you would like to share.
Call now or email to discuss - All participation encouraged.
CALL THE OFFICE TODAY – WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
WHEN & WHERE
Upcoming Calendar SPRING Events 2015
AREA ISA CERTIFICATION EXAMS
2015 HAPPENINGS
– for complete listing &
for more detailed information, visit our CALENDAR at
www.newenglandisa.org
April 23
Developing
an
Invasive
Plant
Management Program - UMass Extension
April 27
Scouting for Early Season Landscape
Pests – Umass Extension
May 2
CT Tree Climbing Competition
June 13
New England Tree Climbing Competition
Smith College, Northampton, MA
Date
April 24
August 7
October 27
November 6
December 12
Location
City, State
UMaine
Orono, ME
UMaine
Orono, ME
Red Jacket Resort North Conway, NH
UMaine
Orono, ME
UMaine
Orono, ME
For information and scheduling of ISA exams
in New England, contact Danielle Fitzko
[email protected]
SAVE THE DATES
2015 Tree Climbing Competition
June 13, 2015 – Smith College
2015 CONFERENCE: NORTH CONWAY, NH
OCTOBER 25-27 – RED JACKET
2016 CONFERENCE: BURLINGTON, VT
NOVEMBER 6-8 – HILTON, BURLINGTON
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