What are tree care "standards"?

• Standards are specific principles or criteria, established by authority or convention.
• Tree care standards are being developed by American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the primary US organization fostering the development of technology standards.
• ANSI is working along with representatives of the nursery, landscape, and tree care industries, as well as university researchers.
• Here are the standards currently available:
• ANSI A300 Part 1:--Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance--Standard Practices (Pruning)
• ANSI A300 Part 2:--Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance--Standard Practices (Fertilization)
• ANSI A300 Part 3:--Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance--Standard Practices (Support Systems: Cabling, Bracing, and Guying)
• ANSI A300 Part 4:--Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance--Standard Practices (Lightning Protection)

• To begin with, they provide a uniform vocabulary for tree care.
• The standards also clarify the job to be done, protecting both parties.
• In addition, using them will promote good arboricultural practices. Tree care terms and techniques are defined carefully, and their appropriate use is explained.

How do you use them?

• These standards should be used in all relevant tree care contracts.
• Anyone contracting for tree service, whether for private, corporate, institutional, or public trees, should add the following sentence to any agreement:

• Any one supplying tree service should write the bid using the standard terms in a standard manner (such as "cleaning" or "salt index").
• Also, tree care professionals should follow the standards to demonstrate that they follow a specific and carefully considered program of tree management that is considered the norm for the industry.
• "Best Management Practices" booklets have been published by the ISA as aids  in the interpretation and implementation of the ANSI A300 guidelines.