ARBORICULTURE

Surface rooting can cause damage to structures and create a tripping hazard . All photos by John C . Fech

By John C . Fech

When trees near a sports field , in a park or on a campus grounds become problematic , removal is a good option . However , knowing when a tree is really problematic or just looks problematic is a really tough endeavor indeed . An extra caveat is that tree removal is a political football , with emotional complications and challenges . With all of this in mind , sports field managers need to get it right ; to remove the bad ones and keep the good ones . The step-by-step process of assessing the condition , seeking guidance from a certified arborist , identifying and prioritizing specimens , communicating effectively with stakeholders , and implementing the plan will bring success to a sometimes daunting endeavor .

START WHERE YOU CAN When faced with a big concern like tree removal , it can be difficult to know how and where to start . Most often , this is because the task seems overwhelming . Instead of feeling the need to tackle and accomplish the entire objective / outcome , it ’ s often helpful to lower the expectation a bit – especially if you ’ re not totally equipped or you ’ ve never done this before . A guiding phrase from tennis great Arthur Ashe provides some excellent advice in this regard : “ Start where you are , use what you have , do what you can .”

14 SportsField Management | January 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com