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	A hole in the trunk or in a branch may or may not be cause for concern. Depending on where the fault or cavity is located and what species of tree it is, action may be needed. Options include monitoring the tree for changes, installing supportive cables, or decreasing the load carried by the compromised branch. Trees are able to isolate their injuries and reroute the delivery of water to the branch tips. If the cavity is not compromising the tree then leave for the bees, birds and squirrels to use!
	A tree usually has a single central trunk or leader that carries the tallest point in the tree. Sometimes a lateral branch will turn upright and compete with the central leader for the tallest point award. This can also occur when a tree's central leader is broken off and two new shoots develop where there was only one. This is called codominance and can lead to hazard and large failures. Often, as the two leaders grow, they grow closer together and then touch. Where they touch, the bark is trapped and also the crotch or 'V' catches debris. The debris and pinched bark is called an inclusion and is a perfect place for insects and decay to live. As early as possible in a tree's life, one of the leaders should be selected and the other reduced to form a sigle dominant leader. If a mature tree is exhibiting codominance the two trunks can be cabled together to prevent one from breaking out during a storm.
	Some small dead wood in trees is normal and to be expected but it can can signal when a tree is sick due to insect attack or disease. If the tree is growing in an open field then there is no reason to remove it and in fact dead wood provides great habitat for wildlife. If the tree is over your driveway, a playground or any public space it poses a hazard.
	Mature or "old growth" trees are trees that have reached their maximum height and spread. These trees are highly valuable and require special attention. Canopy cleaning, weight reduction, cabling, replacing turfgrass with wood chips around the trunk and reduced water and fertilization all help to keep them healthy. This Walnut at Saginaw Vinyard had deadwood removed to reduce weight and several branches at the perimeter of the canopy were removed to help the tree heal it's wounds and further reduce the stress on the leaning trunk. Cables were installed connecting the large left hand leader to the central trunk to serve as a backup support during wind events.
	This tree is showing strange growth at the union of several branches. A hazard evaluation can reveal if there is decay that could lead to branch failure.
	Ivy or other vines are not good for trees. Ivy conceals defects from view, overtakes small branches causing them to die and can consume entire trees cutting off the sunlight required for survival leaving a dangerous rotten tree in the center. Always remove Ivy from tree trunks before it becomes established. If you cannot remove the ivy from the canopy of the tree, at least cut the stems at the ground so it cannot take over. The ivy will die and remain in the tree but the tree will survive.
	Though topping trees has been proven to be harmful to trees and dangerous for people I still see it happening all the time. Rather than severely reducing the size of a tree, removal and replacement is a far better choice. A tree develops roots and branches in a balance. Whe a tree is topped it now has many roots and few branches. Because the roots are the engine for growth, the tree will react to the heavy pruning with rapid and unorganized growth. The new growth will grow large very fast but it will be weakly attached to the tree near the cuts. This creates a hazard and an expensive maintenance situation. Please do not top your trees!
	Here I am removing a dead branch in pieces. I am connecting a rope to the piece I am about to cut so it can be lowered carefully to the ground without harming the plants below.
	By climbing on rope rather than with spurs, I am able to position myself properly to safely remove a section. Make sure to ask your arborist if he or she climbs with spurs or with rope. Spurs should only be used when a tree is to be removed!
	Believe it or not I started climbing trees for fun! I am a trained treeclimbing facilitator and have taken people from the age of 6 to 66 up into the canopy. Recreational Tree Climbing was started over 25 years ago in Georgia by Peter Jenkins and as a result, over 500,000 people have learned to climb all over the world. Let me know if you want to try it - I love to watch people climb into the tree tops for the first time. To learn more about recreational tree climbing, visit www.treeclimbing.com and www.treeclimbingnorthwest.com.