Upcoming Conference

Following Dr. John Ball, Lew Bloch, author of Tree Law Cases in the USA, will join us. The revised and expanded 2nd edition of Tree Law Cases in the USA is an excellent reference guide for arborists, municipal attorneys, and municipal commissioners with information on 200+ arbor-related cases. Lew will provide a discussion of real tree law cases involving fatalities, personal injuries, property damages, neighbor disputes, storm damages, and monetary appraisals of damages, as well as a discussion of tree law through the eyes of an arborist.

The afternoon session this year will be split into two concurrent sessions. The Municipal Track is geared toward the municipal commissions and DPW personnel and the LTE/LTCO Track is geared toward the licensed professional and tree companies in the industry.

On the Municipal Track, we welcome Paul Cowie, principal of Paul Cowie and Associates. Paul will address "Inventory Complete – Now What?"

Joe Greipp, Director of Robert A. Winters Arboretum at Meadow Lakes in Hightstown joins us to discuss what shade tree commissions and DPW personnel need to know about the recent implementation of the Tree Expert and Tree Care Operator Licensing Act and the importance of an LTE/LTCO's performing work in the municipality. He will share with us information on how to link into the NJ Board of Tree Experts to find qualified/certified LTE/LTCO's and how an LTE/LTCO license differs from other certifications such as TCI or ISA.

We will hear from Municipalities throughout the State of New Jersey whose outstanding efforts have greatly contributed to the field of urban and community forestry in New Jersey.

At the same time on the LTO/LTCO Track, we welcome back Rich Buckley, Director of Rutgers University Soil Testing and Plant Diagnostic Services who will provide us with an invasive pest update in the State of New Jersey.

Steve Chisholm Jr. will discuss how to become a respected LTE/LTCO contractor to a municipality. The talk will be about the importance of getting to know shade tree commissions and DPW personnel within a municipality. It will address how a municipality will now depend on the licensed professional under the Tree Care Act for guidance and education about the trees on municipal property. We will talk about how a contractor makes contact with a municipality, builds a reputable contractor relationship and provides a professional, valuable service and address why the LTE/LTCO license differs from other certifications such as TCI or ISA and debate the difference between the municipal client and the private client.

Dr. Richard Hauer, Professor of Urban Forestry from the University of Wisconsin, will discuss the science and BMP's of tree planting and establishment to promote tree growth and longevity. Ever get in a heated discourse on whether or not to remove or not remove burlap from planted trees? This talk will dig into the topic and present the first known study on the full-removal, partial-removal, and non-removal of burlap and wire baskets. Techniques and approaches to implement with containerized and container-grown trees are also presented. The steps you should and can easily take to promote tree establishment will be discussed.

On Friday morning we welcome Dr. Gary Watson from the University of Illinois. Dr. Watson will join us and give us a summation of the topics discussed at last year's Landscape Below Ground IV conference. The Landscape Below Ground Conference is a forum that presents the latest research and management practices in all aspects of tree root development in urban soils.

Following Dr. Gary Watson, Wayne Dubin, VP and Division Manager from Bartlett Tree Experts and Mike Zichelli, Director of Planning and Development in Glen Ridge join us to discuss "Pruning and Specs." Wayne played a large role in the writing of the new A300 Pruning Standards. Preparing specifications for pruning municipal trees is important because they become the basis for contract obligations. The municipal commissioner, the municipal arborist and the contractor should all be familiar with the basic terminology used in pruning specifications in order to eliminate any misunderstandings and to ensure that trees receive the correct treatments. Both Wayne and Mike will share with us their thoughts on the A300 Pruning Standards and writing clear and concise specifications.

Once again, the afternoon session this year will be split into two concurrent sessions. The Municipal Track is geared toward the municipal commissions and DPW personnel and the LTE/LTCO Track is geared toward the licensed professional and tree companies in the industry.

The Municipal Track opens with Larry Kuser, Principal of Fernbrook Nurseries. Larry will present his thoughts on how important it is for communities to communicate with nurseries in order for the municipality to get what they need in nursery stock. Municipalities and nurseries need to spend more time communicating and coordinating together so that the nurseries could plan to provide a market of diverse species. Larry will present list groupings on a 10-20-30 rule, but in small, medium and large groupings and on easy sites/difficult sites, or fast grow/slow grow groupings. He will educate us on what is quality material from a nursery and how to get it.

Carrie Sargeant, Coordinator of the NJ Urban and Community Forestry Program joins us to help us navigate the NJ Community Forestry Portal explain how to check on the municipality's good standing with the State, advise where to find grants and funding available to the municipalities and guide us on how to be sure to meet respective deadlines. Lots of information to help make our job as municipal shade tree commissioners easier.

Dr. Richard Hauer, Professor of Urban Forestry from the University of Wisconsin, will address the cost of NOT maintaining trees. Arborists, urban foresters, and decision makers often look at urban trees and green infrastructure as a cost. The cost of planting, maintaining, and removing vegetation often gives way to a pause during times of budgeting and decision making. Are these urban actions really costs, or an investment that pays dividends? Discover that the costs of NOT properly maintaining the urban forest is greater than proper maintenance.

Opening the LTE/LTCO Track, Dr. Beth Brantley, Technical Support Specialist from the Research Labs at Bartlett Tree Experts joins us to discuss IPM planning with municipalities. She will talk about ways in which municipalities can be successful with IPM planning and how good initial investments will result in long term benefits. Pest and pathogen case studies will be presented along with alternatives that you might not have considered in the past!

Jerry Bond joins us to share his thoughts on field estimation of tree load potential. The last three decades have seen an explosion of research on tree bio-mechanics. In this presentation, Jerry will address how to use this research information in the field. Many practical examples, combined with key scientific insights, will demonstrate a straightforward method of incorporating field estimation of tree-load potential into risk assessment.

John Linson, principal of The Shade Tree Department, will discuss the wrong tree in the wrong place. You didn't plant it, but it is your problem now! Attendees will learn how to resolve tree conflicts above grade, at grade, and below grade. Understand why good trees go bad and what you can do about it.