Canopy Preservation in the Hands of Tree Care Companies

Every residential tree is part of the overall tree canopy

March 9, 2023 | Alec Sabatini

Canopy Preservation in the Hands of Tree Care Companies

Canopy preservation and tree care are not opposing forces.

There is a universal dilemma in urban forestry.

Cities want to preserve tree canopy to provide a public service for their residents. However, the majority of urban forests are usually on private land. For example, 74% of Lexington, Kentucky’s urban tree canopy is on private land. It is a classic balancing act for any free society: the tension created when “public good” overlaps private property.

Local governments do have a few levers for influencing privately owned trees. Codes and ordinances, nonprofit partnerships, and public engagement and education can all be used to encourage or mandate homeowners to value and preserve their trees. Less discussed, is the role private tree care companies can play. 

 

 

Tree care companies have a pivotal influence on the privately owned part of the urban forest. They are a primary source of tree education for residents and the ones ultimately responsible for recommending and carrying out tree removals and tree maintenance. By making canopy preservation a factor in their tree work recommendations, companies have the opportunity to benefit the overall landscape of the region they work and live in.

 

 

How Can Private Tree Care Support Canopy Preservation

The ideal answer is young tree pruning. When tree care companies get the opportunity to preventatively prune young trees it sets them up for strong, healthy structure. That early work translates into less mature tree maintenance, and a better chance of keeping beneficial canopy around longer.

Unfortunately, opportunities to prune young trees don’t come up as often as they should. Most people call their local tree care company 10, 20, or 100 years too late, when a tree is looking dire or is threatening a structure. When an arborist gets to look at the tree themselves, it often becomes a balancing act between what the client wants and what the tree needs.

“Often, clients will request tree work that is unhealthy for trees because they assume that a hollow or a dead branch means a tree is “diseased” and at high risk of failure. This typically leads to many unwarranted tree removals.” said Danny Lippi, ISA Board Certified Master Arborist and co-owner of Advanced Tree Care Inc. “A qualified arborist can help identify and ascertain the structural and health-related problems within a tree and present a course of action that not only keeps a tree from being needlessly removed, but can help prolong the life of a tree, as well as mitigate any risks of failure that may be present.”

 

 

Every residential tree is part of the overall tree canopy

Assessing a tree and developing work recommendations is not always a case of black and white. There are going to be gray areas, and homeowners’ unskilled intentions can further muddy an obvious choice forward. This brings up a dilemma even the best tree companies have to face: the choice between taking action and moving forward with a tree removal, or making recommendations contrary to the owner’s request and risk losing the bid.

The best course of action for canopy preservation is to follow proper maintenance practices, as outlined in ANSI 300 and ISA Pruning BMP. Sometimes that will mean doing nothing. Proper tree care is both an art and a skill. Usually it will call for thoughtful pruning that is done with careful consideration of site objectives and client wishes in an attempt to save the tree, while minimizing the risk of failure to an acceptable level.

Tree care companies that operate with a preservation mindset are allies for cities working to grow their urban tree canopy. Having a reputation for prioritizing preservation is beneficial for business.

Any time you prune, it must have a reason. Always reduce a branch vs remove it when possible.

Danny Lippi, Advanced Tree Care Inc.

How A Preservation Mindset Benefits Tree Care Companies

Differentiation is the key to winning business in tree care. Finding an angle or niche that lets you stand out from the competition can make a big difference for the bottom line.

Getting on your city and/or state approved contractor list is one step towards standing out (usually by meeting their ISA credential requirements). We’ve heard from our municipal clients that tree care companies who have proven they care about canopy preservation are more likely to be awarded contracts. Not every government operates this way, but there are a growing number of communities that want to ensure the value they put on trees is reflected in their contractors.

There is a wave of funding coming toward cities. As IRA grant money flows from states to cities, the entire urban forest industry will feel the effects. Tree care companies that have positioned themselves as preservation-minded stand to benefit from better funded municipal governments.

It can also be beneficial for building referral relationships with other businesses. Advanced Tree Care, Inc, which operates in northern and central Florida, provides expert tree analysis, preservation, and maintenance, but does not perform tree trimming. When a project requires trimming, they pull from a list of companies they trust to properly value preservation. This relationship goes both ways. Advanced Tree Care, Inc gets calls from tree care companies when a project requires in-depth analysis.

Tree Care Companies and Canopy Preservation

Individual tree preservation efforts add up to affect an entire city’s canopy.

In many ways, public urban forestry is a big-picture endeavor. It involves looking at thousands of trees and working on a large scale to conserve and grow canopy across blocks and neighborhoods. If public urban forestry paints with broad strokes, then private tree care companies work with a fine-tipped pen.

The small, individual efforts of private tree care companies add up though. As the main actors in residential areas, private tree care companies have a significant role in preserving canopy, and there is a competitive advantage to do so.

For additional reading on ways to stand out from the competition in tree care, check out our free guide How to Bid and Win Higher Margin Work with Map-Based Software.

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Join Our Newsletter

Stay informed on the urban forestry industry with our monthly TREEbune newsletter, live webinars, and industry-specific content delivered to your inbox.

Urban Forestry Webinars

PlanIT Geo has a substantial on-demand webinar library. Get CEU credits, grow your knowledge base, and stay current on cutting edge industry technology.

Follow Us

We love to share industry-related news, software tutorials, blogs, and company news across our social channels.