Almstead offers Tree Risk Assessment services for our customers. All our arborists have training and experience in tree risk assessment. In addition, most of our arborists have also undergone the more extensive Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) program offered by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA).

Based upon our clients’ requests and access provided, our arborists typically conduct a limited visual assessment of the significant trees throughout a property by looking for health and vigor issues and signs of decline or obvious defects (Level 1 Assessment). On a property or in a municipality or park-like setting this may consist of a drive-by, depending on the site and time of season. They may also do a basic assessment (Level 2 Assessment) of an individual tree by walking around the tree 360º and visually inspecting the condition of the canopy, trunk and exposed root flares. This Assessment could include sounding with a mallet to test for hollows, and probes to inspect levels of decay in the tree.

The TRAQ system utilizes a detailed tree risk assessment form that arborists complete while inspecting trees on a property. In addition to basic data, such as species, diameter of the tree at breast height (DBH), tree height and crown spread, it also requires the arborist to record and evaluate other detailed information about the location, conditions, defects in the tree’s trunk, crown, and roots, as well as potential targets if the tree or its branches fall.