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Staying on TRAQ

Continuing education is vital for arborists to stay at the peak of their profession.  The science of arboriculture is constantly expanding its knowledge base, both in terms of what we know about trees, and about ways to keep ourselves, and our clients, safe.  Conscientious arborists pursue the voluntary certifications offered by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and other professional organizations.

At Almstead, we require our arborists to be certified or licensed. Many of our arborists have additional levels of certification as well. This year, four of our arborists (one in each of our offices) and our CEO became Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ).  We congratulate Ken Almstead, Gary Norman, Tim Katenkamp, Dan Dalton and Ryan Duff for reaching a new level of expertise.

Tree Risk Assessment is a process of estimating the probability of tree failure – an essential part of any arborist’s work – using criteria developed by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). In their intensive TRAQ training, they learned more about how to evaluate the level of risk presented by a tree based upon its location, its physical characteristics, and many other criteria such as wind exposure.

The methodology behind TRAQ provides a systematic way of evaluating and communicating the level of risk associated with any tree. This evaluation is a tool to help tree owners decide whether a tree should be retained, removed, or whether risk mitigation techniques (pruning, cabling, etc.) should be considered. As our professional education expands, we now understand more about the science behind why some apparently healthy trees fail – while others continue to grow with a cavity big enough to drive a car through!

Our arborists are not the only ones going back to school at Almstead. All our crews meet weekly for a class to review safety procedures, tree care techniques, important changes in regulations, and other issues.

We’ve even developed our own training program for Plant Health Care and Lawn Care Technicians who, under the direction of our arborists, are responsible for keeping our clients’ trees, shrubs and lawns healthy. One of the things that differentiates Almstead from many other companies that care for properties, is the level of expertise and education of our technicians. They are trained to understand the signs of disease, pests or lack of proper nutrition in the landscapes they work on. Because of this expertise, they are able to recommend the right solution for the right situation.

Understanding what they see when they visit a property allows our technicians to intervene before many problems become serious. Tailoring the remedy to each situation is environmentally responsible, encourages a sustainable landscape, and reduces the cost of maintenance.

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