Shade Tree Notes Blog
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Volunteers Needed! Join Us at the NYS Fair

  • “How can I tell if my tree is a Sugar Maple and not a Norway?”
  • “Is it too late to save my Ash?”
  • “What is all this green crusty stuff growing all over my tree?”
  • “How can I find an arborist where I live?”

Each year, for many years, the New York State Arborists booth has been the practical, hands-on, instructional place at the NYS Fair to talk about trees. Every square inch affords a wealth of references used to answer questions about tree identification, insect attack, fungi, utility conflicts, and pruning good and bad. The booth is paneled with diverse woods, and one side of the booth table is packed with many “please touch” items for kids.

NYSA is still looking for members who can volunteer to help answer questions and distribute information this year for our booth in the Horticulture Building.

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Rain Fails to Dampen Enthusiasm for Tree Climbing Championship

June 24, 2023 - Twenty-six climbers checked in from across New York State and beyond for the 2023 NYSA Tree Climbing Championship at Washington Park in Albany, NY. With light rain falling in the morning, and unpredictability in the weather forecast through the weekend, the event got underway with the understanding that safety would guide the day. Heavier rain later would make it necessary to put the Work Climb and Speed Climb on hold.

Still, the rain did not dampen the enthusism of the climbers, spectators, or the many volunteers. Multiple local news agencies also came out including ABC affiliate News 10 who interviewed President John Wickes in studio HERE and CBS affiliate WRGB who interviewed TCC Chair Josh Galiley HERE. A special video was created by Norman Robinson from the NYC Parks Department HERE.

(Pictured above, left to right, are NYSA TCC winners Stephanie Littenberg, Eamon Burke, Daniel Barnes, and Sam Schunk.)

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Top Tree Professionals to Compete at Washington Park in NYS Tree Climbing Championship

Remember climbing trees as a child? Well, these athletes take it to a different level!

About twenty-five tree care professionals from across New York State will demonstrate speed, skill, and excellence on June 24 when they compete in the New York State Tree Climbing Championship at Washington Park in Albany, NY. The competitors work for various tree care companies across the State will compete in events designed to show off their skill including Work Climb, Speed Climb, Aerial Rescue, Throwline and the Ascent Event.

The top competitors go on to compete in the Master’s Challenge. The winner of that event will be named New York State Champion and will represent New York State at the ISA International Tree Climbing Championship. Last year’s winner, Pedro Meza of White Plains, NY, will return to defend his title.

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Support the 2023 Tour des Trees!

The New York State Arborists are longtime supporters of the TREE Fund and the Tour des Trees.

This year, the 2023 Tour des Trees will take place from Tuesday, September 26 thru Monday, October 2 starting in Reno, NV, passing Lake Tahoe, and ending in Half Moon Bay, CA. Registration closes on July 31, but there are only about 30 rider slots still available.

What is the Tour des Trees?

The Tour des Trees is an annual long-distance cycling adventure which serves as the primary public outreach and community engagement event for Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund). Since 1992, Tour des Trees riders have cycled through communities in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., planting trees, educating children and shining a light on the work done by arboriculture professionals and the importance of science-based tree care.

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Are You an Incidental Line Clearance Arborist?

By Jim Maloney, National Grid

Are you an Incidental Line Clearance Arborist? Have you discovered the utilities’ long-held secret to determining what voltage you’re working nearby? Is it counting how many discs make up the insulator? Nope. Pssst. Peek at the transformer. You’ll find a label on most of our newer ones stating what voltage its designed for. Can’t find a transformer, the line is crackling overhead and the hair on your arms are standing up? You might want to ask your local utility for I’m positive that you’re not where you should be!

But how about configuration? Do you know how that distribution was designed? Is it Delta or Wye? And why does that matter? Your safety is why.