TREE PRESERVATION
Soil Management
A tree's health is greatly influenced by its location and the soil in which it grows. Some of the most common negative impacts and urban tree faces involve soil fertility and mechanics. Most of these impacts are a direct result of human interface. The soil both "feeds" the tree (soil fertility) as well as provides space for things like water transport and gas exchange (soil mechanics). Soil compaction, construction damage, erosion, and exposure are common problems in the urban environment and can negatively affect the health of urban trees. Remediation of these problems often involve a compound approach that can include introducing nutrients, amending the soil, addressing water levels, and addressing human impact to root zones.
Pest Management
Many species native to our area can face threats from invasive pests. Identification, monitoring and responsible use of control methods is our primary goal. Whether the control methods are mechanical, biological, or chemical, we strive to retain both the health of the individual and the ecosystem with a balanced approach.
Architectural Support
Cabling is the practice of providing additional support to the architecture of the tree in order to preserve the tree and/or protect potential targets from damage. It is always a preservation oriented approach aimed at maintaining trees that pose potential risks to people or property. There are two primary types of cabling systems which are dependent on the branch union to be protected, the species of tree, the nature of the target and the architectural strength of the tree. An assessment is typically needed to choose which system will be appropriate to the situation.
Lightening Protection
Lightning protection systems are another preservation minded approach for protecting heritage trees, focal points in a landscape, or any other tree where the environmental conditions are favorable for lightning damage and the property owner wishes to provide extra protection to retain the aesthetic and/or property value that the tree adds. Lightning systems are NOT meant to provide safety for people or structures near the chosen tree. A lot has changed recently in the ANSI standards and the arboricultural approach as our knowledge and data set grows. Living Leaf is at the forefront and is proud to offer consultation and installation of these systems.
