Emerald Ash Borer Ash Tree Removal and

Replacement Fairfax County Urban Forest Management

Forest Pest Division

Common Questions Why do I need to cut down my tree?

Ash trees in particular become very brittle after dying

Dead limbs are liable to break and fall causing potential injury to persons or property

DEAD TREES = Potential Hazard!

Common Questions (How) Do I need to dispose of the wood after

I cut an ash tree down? The ash wood quarantine is no longer in

effect locally for Virginia National quarantines prevent movement of

ash wood/products to other states such as Delaware, North Carolina, Maryland www.emeraldashborer.info (latest quarantine info)

In general it is good practice to not move firewood

Common Questions Do I need permission from Fairfax

County to remove a dying or dead ash tree from my property?

Most instances will not require permission from Fairfax County

Special exceptions such as:Chesapeake Bay Resource Protection Areas

(floodplains and riparian areas)Tree Conservation Area and other tree protection

covenants on the original plat/deed

Common Questions Do I need permission from Fairfax

County to remove a dying or dead ash tree from my property?

Hazardous tree exceptions If there is a tree which poses an immediate threat to private

property or general public-REMOVE TREE ASAP ○ UFMD can help you determine later if replanting is needed

If you aren’t sure if your have these covenants, contact Urban Forest Management Division and we will help you. Call 703-324-5304, TTY 711.

Common Questions How do I hire a tree care company or arborist?

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/environmental/how_to_hire_arborist.htm

Tree Care Company Quality Checklist Employees are members of professional

organizationsInternational Society of Arboriculture (ISA)Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA)American Society of Consulting Arborists

(ASCA)

What is a Certified Arborist? Certified by ISA to follow science-based

guidelines on:How to prune a tree, selecting high quality

trees to plant, diagnosing tree disorders (including EAB), evaluating hazardous trees

A certified arborist has passed a rigorous examination by the ISA which follows industry standards

Must sign of “code of ethics”

Tree Care Company Quality Checklist Company provides proof of insurance

Personal and property damage/general liability

Worker’s compensation Availability of client references Contracts are written which describe the

scope of the work to be done, costs and time frame

Sample Certificate of Insurance

Resident Tree Contract Checklist Beware of door-to-door solicitors Request 3 or more quotes from qualified companies Contact Fairfax County Consumer Affairs

DepartmentContact the Better Business Bureau

Read contracts carefullyDoes the contract cover everything as promised?Provide as much detail as to your needs as possible (e.g.,

when you want the work done, how the property will be accessed)

Find out how trees and debris will be disposedWill the contractor remove the stump and how

Tree Replacement Replace dead ash trees with other native tree

speciesGood examples are located in Chapter 12 of the

Fairfax County Public Facilities Manual http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/publications/pfm/chapter12.pdf

Plant a variety of different speciesDiversity is a proactive approach to insects or

diseases that may emerge in the future

How to properly plant a tree

http://na.fs.fed.us/pubs/uf/tom/090202_tom_hr.pdf

Summary If you choose to remove a tree, do your homework Get quotes from several tree care companies

before you decide on a treatment Get proof of licenses, certifications and insurance Inspect contracts thoroughly If you choose to replant, select diverse, native tree

species Visit www.goodtreecare.com to find a tree care

company endorsed by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

For more information, please contact:Fairfax County Urban Forest Management Division:

Forest Pest Management Branch703-324-5304, TTY 711

PestMail@fairfaxcounty.govA Fairfax County, Virginia Publication March 2015