The WCISA, a nonprofit organization comprised of more than 3,000 arborists in Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada, has announced a series of structural pruning classes to be held across the state of California.

The Western Chapter International Society of Arboriculture has announced a series of structural pruning classes to be held across the state of Calif.

Attendees will learn from Dr. Ed Gilman and Brian Kempf as they describe and demonstrate current structural pruning strategies that improve architecture on young, medium-aged and mature trees.

They'll discuss not only how to improve structure and reduce the likelihood for failure, but also how the tree will respond. This is an interactive hands-on program where you will watch a tree being pruned and provide input. Active participation is expected of attendees.

The meeting qualifies for 5.75 ISA CEUs.

Structural Pruning Workshops with Dr. Ed Gilman and Brian Kempf
November 17 Los Angeles
November 18 San Diego
November 20 Santa Rosa
November 21 Sacramento

Agenda

8:00 am Registration

8:30 am Welcome, introduction, key concepts
What is structural pruning? How did it begin? Who uses it and why? How do I do it? Brian Kempf starts off the day with the basic and advanced techniques he uses every day he prunes trees. He will describe the lessons learned and mistakes he has made in the last 15 years of pruning trees throughout California.

9:30 am Biomechanics and the science of tree structure sells tree work
Dr. Ed Gilman focuses on the practical experience of many arborists, and the applied research that supports structural pruning as the heart of risk reduction strategies. You will be surprised that simple mechanical concepts can be understood by our customers when explained using understandable terms.

10:30 am Break

10:45 am Pruning methods that improve tree structure
Pruning practices appear to be based more on culture and tradition of tree care in a region than on any other factor. Despite ANSI pruning standards, methodology varies greatly from region to region, and from one town to the next within a region. Adoption of well-written specifications can advance our professionalism by clarifying customer expectations. Research inspired by the ANSI standards comparing pruning methods, pruning practices, and pruning responses with the long view will be explained in light of improving structure and reducing risk.

11:15 am Evaluate trees of various ages in the field pruned last year
In-field inspection of trees pruned last time will show us all how trees responded to pruning methods applied to a variety of shade trees. Past and new attendees alike will "see for themselves" how trees responded to structural pruning methods. Did we remove too much, not enough, about the right amount? We find out together, live.

12:00 pm Lunch (Provided)

1:00 pm Hands-on structural pruning exercises on young and old trees
Pruning the correct live branches can have a dramatic impact on how trees respond to gravity and storms. Structural pruning, designed to reduce growth rate and weight on co-dominant limbs, is the most effective method of minimizing damage from increasingly harsh weather conditions. These methods will be demonstrated and discussed on as many trees as we have time to prune.

3:30 pm Discussion of day's experiences and pruning

4:00 pm CEU Sign Out *Please allow up to 6 weeks for processing of CEUs

For more information about the WCISA, please visit wcisa.net.

Association news and events are listed at landscapearchitect.com. To view the calendar of upcoming events, visit www.landscapearchitect.com, go to the Associations/Events" tab and click on "Search for Events."

If your association has news and/or events that you would like featured on landscapearchitect.com, please send your information via email to associations@landscapearchitect.com