Arboriculture: How a Landscaper should size up a tree
Field day sizing up a Robinia Pseudacacia
As a Landscape Architect, you may well be called in any given project to assess existing trees on a site.
You need to work within your capacity as a Landscape Architect and be aware that an assessment does not meet the complete analysis an Arboricultural Consultant would be able to provide.
Generally you'll be making an assessment from the ground (i.e. without drone access, possibly only with binoculars for augmentation.
You will however be able to assess the following by just looking
Foliage density - i.e. compared to an archetypal specimin is the foliage lacking?
Habit and aspect, the form of the crown and any directional growth (for example, an Aesculus hippocastanum (Horse Chestnut) examined in Greenwich Park showed signs of leaning, potentially from storm damage)
Virus, Pest or Fungal infections: the chestnut showed both leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella) and leaf mould (most likely guignardia)
With a couple of simple tools you can make further observations
A nylon mallet can be used to assess if the tree is hollow
A wire probe can be used to examine any holes or cavities
In all cases, findings should be logged, so that any future. assessment (such as the hole getting bigger) can be cross-referenced.














