TCI Magazine Audio Edition

BY ANDY JONES, CTSP, AND NICK GREENWOOD, CTSP  Over the first three installments of this series, we’ve explored the role of supplemental tree-support systems – why they’re needed, how they’re installed and the equipment required to implement them effectively. While these systems play a crucial role in mitigating risk and extending the life of structurally compromised trees, installation is only pa...

BY PATRICIA CHAUDOIN Sometimes doing the right thing is just, well, the right thing to do. And for Mark Stephens, owner of Eager Beaver Tree Service in Floyds Knobs, Indiana – and a Certified Treecare Safety Professional (CTSP), a Board Certified Master Arborist (BCMA), Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ), pesticide applicator licensed and a New Albany (Indiana) city arborist – it’s the only way...

BY RICK HOWLAND Hydraulics are one of a tree care pro’s best friends, powering tools that lift and move heavy objects and debris, or doing specialty work like cutting, digging or grinding. The growing proliferation of tool carriers and hydraulic tools has expanded the capability of almost every arborist operation and, by transferring tasks from the human to the machine, improved safety and prolong...

BY MONICA HEMINGWAY, Ph. D. As a licensed arborist and marketing strategist for tree care companies, I’ve seen my fair share of industry transformations. But none quite matches the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize how we operate our businesses, serve our customers and grow our bottom line. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY TAMSIN VENN “Luck Runs Out, But Safety Is Good For Life” So says a post on the Tufts Tree Service LLC Facebook page. It could be owner Brandon Tufts' guiding principle. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY JOHN BALL, PH.D., BCMA, CTSP During the past year, natural disasters rippled across the country, from hurricanes in the East to wildfires in the West. These disasters destroyed properties, disrupted essential services and, tragically, resulted in the loss of lives. They also left a trail of shattered and fallen trees in their wake.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clic...

BY KEVIN BREWER, BCMA, RCA In today’s competitive green industry, professional arborists, landscapers and plant-health-care providers face mounting pressure. Stabilizing revenue, managing rising labor costs and navigating a market of price-sensitive customers make the road to sustainable growth a winding one. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY NOEL BOYER As I visit with my tree friends in person and online, I often hear of the challenges we all face as we work to keep our customers happy and our team safe. There are a lot of important pieces to our safety programs, including training, equipment inspections and maintenance and documentation. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY KOREY CONRY, CTSP There are many aspects to being a successful trainer, but for the sake of this article, we are going to focus on just one: building and presenting effective PowerPoint presentations. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY JIM KASPER How did your tree-work journey begin? Did you grow up in the midst of arboriculture, a member of a family team? Did you, like me, stumble upon men swinging – precariously! Wildly! How are they doing that? – far above you as you passed them on the street? Maybe you simply needed a job and answered an ad in a local listing. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clic...

BY CRAIG BACHMANN, BCMA, CTSP, TRAQ The goal of “zero incidents” is an impossible standard. As a profession, we have promoted this concept, but it is simply not realistic. While safety is always a priority, arboriculture is performed in a high-hazard environment, and every day requires thousands of decisions with incomplete information. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by cli...

BY SARA DREISER AND RICH ALEXANDER On December 31, 2024, a man in Massachusetts barricaded himself in his house after shooting at a line-clearance crew with a high-powered air rifle. The crew was working down the road from his house, with no direct connection to his property. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY LEO ROLDAN, CTSP, QT I presented on this topic at TCI EXPO ’24 in Baltimore, where I had a great audience and received excellent feedback. When I started working on that presentation, I realized we had never really addressed language and cultural barriers for our tree workers.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY DON STARUK We asked about a dozen arborists, all of whom have been contributors to TCI Magazine at one time or another, if they had an example of a time when personal protective equipment (PPE) made or could have made a difference on the job. Could they briefly recount a time when PPE saved the day? Or when the lack of it cost or nearly cost someone an injury, or worse? Remember to get your fre...

BY LINDSEY PURCELL, BCMA Conditions of concern may be defined as tree issues that the client and arborist perceive as unacceptable. In my experience, they usually fall into one or more of three categories. Typically, it is about structure, clearance and appearance. (Photo 1) Our task, as arborists, is providing solutions to these issues.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by c...

BY DAVID M. ANDERSON, CTSP Looking back to my high school years, I realize that although I had passion, I was not the strongest student and lacked direction upon graduation. I was lucky enough to see a job ad for a small company as I started my professional career. The company was Olde Colonial Tree and Landscape, and the owner was Jay Ippolito.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magaz...

BY EDWARD MORROW You’ve seen it – improper pruning, unforgiving topping, suffocating mulch volcanoes; it’s 2025, like, why do we still see mulch volcanoes? And if you talk to enough property owners, you may hear mountains of tree myths and misconceptions. What’s an arborist to do? In this article, we’ll climb into another facet of tree care: urban-forestry education.  Remember to get your free sub...

BY SUSAN DIPIETRO TCIA offers two scholarships for travel and related expenses for women in the industry to attend TCI EXPO and take part in the Women in Tree Care (WITC) Pre-Conference Workshop held there each year. The winners for TCI EXPO ’24 were Jabeen Ratanshi of Ontario, Canada, and Katie Kranich of Delaware.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY RICK HOWLAND You may know the name Ash Connelly. If you don’t, you will. She is arguably one of the fastest up-and-coming young guns in tree care. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY TIM BARTELT Human nature tells us to give of ourselves and to give back to our community. Your company vehicles probably drive by a dozen places every day where people could benefit from your giving. And chances are, your kids or your neighbors’ kids are those people. We’re talking about the local high schools – both vocational/technical schools or general education. Remember to get your free s...

BY NOEL BOYER, BCMA, CTSP We all know how hard it is to find good help right now. While hiring great help is a challenge, it’s just the first part of building a great staff. Your company is probably a mix of experienced help, untrained new hires and everything in between. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY DAVID RATTIGAN At law school, observers tell you, the biggest thing they teach is not the law. Instead, they teach you a different way of thinking. How to think like a lawyer.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY TAMSIN VENN A passion for tree climbing and supportive, on-the-job training led Jenny Rexroad to her dream job as climber and crew chief at Madison Tree Care & Landscaping in Milford, Ohio, where she has worked since March 2019. Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .

BY KATHY GLASSEY Pesticides are an essential tool in protecting plants from harmful pests, diseases and weeds. It’s crucial that those involved in the production, distribution and application of pesticides understand the importance of adhering to regulatory standards. In this article, I’ll explain why compliance isn’t just a legal requirement, but a key part to ensuring safety, environmental prote...

BY LUKE SCHEBERL Soil organic matter (SOM) is one of the most critical components of a healthy urban soil. While it is often a small component (<8%) of soil, it influences nearly every aspect of that soil’s ability to support tree health.  Remember to get your free subscription to TCI Magazine by clicking here .