What an arborist does that a tree crew might not
Most tree companies are very good at taking trees down. An arborist’s job is to decide whether they should come down at all. That means understanding how trees grow, fail and defend themselves, and being willing to say “keep it” when keeping it is right.
In practice, the most valuable arborist visits around Columbia answer one of these questions:
- Is this big tree over the house safe to keep through another storm season?
- Why are my pines dying, and can I stop it spreading?
- Can this tree survive the construction we are about to do?
- What does the HOA, insurer or buyer need in writing?
South Carolina has no state arborist license. Certification by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is voluntary and shows training and testing in tree biology, pruning and risk. Ask any arborist what credentials they hold, and ask to see them.
Common tree problems in the Midlands
Pine bark beetles. Southern pine beetles, Ips engraver beetles and black turpentine beetles all attack loblolly and other pines around Columbia. Southern pine beetles can produce four to six generations a year in South Carolina, and high populations can overwhelm even healthy pines (Clemson HGIC). Signs include pitch tubes on the bark, reddish boring dust in bark crevices and crowns that fade from yellow-green to red-brown. Prompt removal of infested pines is the main control. See pine beetles in Columbia.
Hypoxylon canker on oaks. A fungus that lives in many oaks and takes over when the tree is badly stressed by drought, root damage or construction. Bark sloughs off in patches to reveal a crusty tan, grey or black layer. By the time it is visible, the tree is usually declining fast and the wood beneath can become brittle (Clemson HGIC).
Heart rot in water oaks. Water oaks grow fast and age early. Older trees often carry decay in the trunk and major limbs behind a healthy-looking crown. Conks at the base, cavities and dead limbs in the upper crown are clues.
Leyland cypress canker. Leyland cypress, planted as quick privacy screens across Midlands subdivisions, often suffers from canker diseases in hot, humid summers, especially when crowded or drought-stressed. Brown, dying sections appear branch by branch.
Root damage from construction. Trenching for utilities, new driveways and grading within a tree’s root zone can kill it two to five years later. A tree protection plan before construction is far cheaper than removing a dead tree after.
Tree risk assessment for storm season
Hurricane season starts June 1. A spring risk check on the large trees near your house is the best value in tree care: it tells you what to deal with now, at normal prices, rather than in an emergency. A good assessment looks at:
- the target: what the tree would hit, and how often people are there;
- defects: decay, cracks, weak unions, dead limbs, root problems, lean;
- site conditions: saturated clay north of the Fall Line, drought-prone sand south of it, recent construction;
- options: monitor, prune, cable, or remove.
Written reports for HOAs, insurers and home sales
Sometimes the question is not just “should this tree come down” but “can you put that in writing”. Common cases around Columbia:
- HOAs that require approval before removing a tree, especially in newer Lexington and Northeast Columbia subdivisions;
- Forest Acres permit applications, where a governed tree needs city approval and the work must be done by a contractor licensed with the city (City of Forest Acres);
- insurers asking you to deal with an overhanging tree before renewing a policy;
- home sales, where a buyer’s inspector flagged a tree.
A report describes the tree, its condition, the risk and the recommendation, with photos.
Pesticides and treatment
Some tree problems can be treated with insecticides, fungicides or fertilizer, but many cannot. In South Carolina, commercial pesticide application is regulated by the Clemson University Department of Pesticide Regulation, and anyone applying pesticides as a business needs the right license. If a treatment is recommended, ask who will apply it and what license they hold.
