Urban Forestry

Managing Trees in Urban Areas

Trees and other vegetation are living infrastructure, and serve an important role in urban environments. Just as buildings, utilities, and roadways must be maintained, the living infrastructure must also be managed for function and safety.

The key to correct management is the understanding that all of the features of the urban environment impact one another. Soils, water, structures, and trees all interact in complex ways.

As arborists and urban foresters, we work to maximize the benefits of urban trees, and to minimize costs and conflicts.

Slopes and Erosion Control

Trees and other vegetation serve a vital function in stabilizing steep slopes and controlling erosion. Tree roots reinforce both the topsoil and the deeper soil strata. Plant foliage and ground covers catch and slow runoff. Plants consume groundwater, preventing oversaturated soil conditions. Incorrect land management practices can leave slopes prone to landslides, slumpage, another failures.

At Arbor’s Edge, we take into account many factors when managing slopes and bluffs. We consider soil texture and profile, the type and diversity of plant species present, site drainage characteristics, and the presence of invasive plants. Sometimes geotechnical methods are needed to supplement vegetation. These include retaining walls, drainage systems, and geotextile fabrics.

At Arbor’s edge, we offer both slope assessments and management options to help guide your slopes toward long term stability.

Pre-construction Assessments

The single biggest cause of tree decline and death in urban areas is construction. Builders aren’t trained to manage trees, and are often completely unaware of the damage that their work can cause. Construction can damage trees in ways that create immediate hazards that aren’t always readily apparent. Severe root cutting destabilizes whole trees. Land clearing often leaves stands of trees susceptible to blowdown. Soil compaction and changes in hydrology can severely impact tree health over time. Many of these impacts aren’t reversible, so prevention is crucial.

Arbor’s Edge offers pre-construction assessments that will help protect your investment in your property, while also protecting your trees and green spaces. Construction is a necessary part of urban life, but with planning, it can be done in ways that don’t damage the living infrastructure.

Call Before You Dig: Construction And Tree Root Damage

Many people don’t know that construction can severely damage tree roots, weakening a tree’s health and stability.

Root damage from construction is one of the leading causes of tree decline and death in urban areas. Very often trees are damaged in the construction of new homes or outbuildings, and then later become hazards to those same buildings.

Learn why you might want to call an arborist before you dig.

Pre-purchase and Post-purchase Inspections

Buying real estate is the single biggest investment most people will make in their lives. Smart buyers take the precaution of having real estate inspected professionally. A home inspection, for example, can reveal many expensive problems that aren’t readily apparent.

Hidden costs and dangers can also be found in the trees and green spaces outside of the home. Trees that look stunning in the listing photos may actually be hazardous. Many trees in urban areas have either been completely neglected, or improperly managed. Years of neglect and mismanagement can result in trees that appear healthy to the untrained eye, but contain serious structural defects.

At Arbor’s Edge, we offer both pre-purchase and post-purchase inspections of your trees and green spaces. We can give you the peace of mind of knowing that the trees at your new home are healthy and sound.

Contact Arbor's Edge Today

(360) 627-0237

Joshua Dallen, Owner

ISA Certified Arborist PN-8167A
License #: ARBORE*874RU

Service Area

North Olympic Peninsula
Licensed. Bonded. Insured.

Contact

Phone: (360) 627-0237
Email: josh@arborsedgetreeservice.com