Tree Risk Assessment can tell your Arborist alot about the health of your trees, as at early stages of decline, the tree may not be showing exterior issues, as you can see in these photos. Decay from a variety of issues can begin deep within the heartwood of the tree, slowly working its way outward, which can result in hazardous limb or tree failure that is not easily diagnosed from just a view up and into the canopy of the tree.
TRAQ is an acronym for: Tree Risk Assessment Qualification, which is a credential earned by our arborists to participate in the specialized field of tree care developed and maintained by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Tree Risk Assessment is “a standardized, systematic process for assessing tree risk and providing information to tree owners and risk managers when making decisions that will promote the safety of people and property and enhance tree benefits, health, and longevity.”(isa-arbor.com)
The risk assessment process has a variety of levels of inspection, which may include a drive by visual inspection, sounding and physical inspection with next step recommendations, canopy inspection by a TRAQ professional aloft, resistograph and even soil sampling. At the final level, there would usually be significant identifiers of a problem such as fruiting bodies, visible cavities, presence of dead wood and insect (borer) infestation or Red Headed Woodpecker presence.
How can Tree Risk Assessment benefit me and my trees? Some trees do not have the capacity for pruning or plant health treatments once they have passed the threshold of safety. Having the information that you need beforehand can help you and your Arborist make the best decision together regarding what a tree can withstand or need to survive, and can also let you know when the time has come for removal. There are many options available for trees and shrubs that are showing signs of early decline. The peace of mind that our clients feel after the inspection process allows them to put away the worry of hazard, and more effectively plan for revitalization and replanting, when needed.
