Celebrate Arbor Day

Hallelujah!

Spring has sprung, trees are in leaf, and songbirds are singing in celebration of Arbor Day. In Alaska Arbor Day is observed on the third Monday in May. It is celebrated on different days in other states depending on spring tree planting conditions.

Arbor Day was founded in 1872 in Nebraska by J. Sterling Morton who wanted to bring shade and beauty to the treeless prairies by planting fruit trees. The Morton family’s other claim to fame was the Morton Salt Company that depicted a logo of a little girl with an umbrella with the caption “when it rains it pours” on their table salt boxes.

From the time trees are planted through maturity proper care is important as there are many factors that affect their survival. In the same way we humans need a good doctor to help us survive through our lifetime, trees will have optimum survival if they have a good doctor arborist. There are many tree companies the homeowner may find in the phone book but not all are arborists. The highest caliber professional arborist is a Certified Arborist who has taken and passed an examination conducted by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). The 4-hour exam questions cover knowledge of these domains: tree biology; identification and selection; soil science; nutrition and fertilization; installation and establishment; pruning; cabling, bracing, and lightning protection; insect and disease diagnosis; hazard tree assessment; trees and construction zones; urban forestry; climbing and working in trees; and tree worker safety. There are several ISA Certified Arborist tree companies currently working in the Matanuska Valley and Anchorage. There are some tree businesses that will self-proclaim to be arborists just to make an extra buck, so buyer beware! When you need an expert professional tree surgeon get an estimate from an ISA Certified Arborist for they will go out on a limb for you!

Bill Jardel, ISA Certified Arborist

Palmer, Alaska