ANSI A300 Standards for Tree Care Operations

Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance - Standard Practices

Current List of ANSI A300 Standards:

Pruning - ANSI A300 Part 1-2008, revision of ANSI A300-1995. Buy it now!

Support Systems (Cabling, Bracing, and Guying Established Trees) - ANSI A300 Part 3-2006. Buy it now!

Lightning Protection Systems - ANSI A300 Part 4-2008. Buy it now!

Management of Trees and Shrubs During Site Planning - ANSI A300 Part 5. Buy it now!

Transplanting, ANSI A300 Part 6-2005. Buy it now!

IVM, ANSI A300 Part 7-2006 Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM). and Electric Utility Rights-of-Way Buy it now!

Green Industry Standards Dictionary: A TCIA Publication, is available in our online store. Buy it now!

TCIA MEMBERS: Log in for preferred pricing! Then click on Standards.

Current A300 Projects:

ASC A300 Spring Meeting Notice 2009

Meeting Date: March 17-19, 2009
Location: Manchester, NH

Click here to access the Fall 2008 Meeting Report

The contact is Bob Rouse: Rouse@TreeCareIndustry.org

FAQs

What are ANSI A300 standards?
They are industry standards developed by a committee called the ANSI-accredited Standards Committee (ASC) A300. The committee has representatives from a broad and diverse group of industrial and governmental organizations. The standards dictate the requirements and recommendations of the tree care industry for satisfactory performance of tree care maintenance. This means tree care companies who perform work according to ANSI A300 standards are following accepted industry practices for tree care maintenance operations. Go to the standards Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more!

Who should use ANSI A300 standards?
TCIA Accredited companies are required to follow ANSI A300 standards and to provide clients with work specifications written according to ANSI A300 standards.  Learn more about TCIA Accredited companies.

All tree and landscape companies doing tree and shrub care should use A300 standards in order to: 

• be certain the work your company performs meets industry standards;  provide common language and understanding between your sales, administrative, production personnel, and clients; 
• write estimates based on accepted-industry terms to help limit costly litigation and provide a clear estimate with work specifications that outline exactly what work is to be done.

Municipal arborists, governmental agencies, and grounds managers should put contracts out to bid with work specifications written according to A300 standards in order to: 

• communicate to the company exactly what work is expected to be completed in the contract; 
• compare submitted bids on level playing field

Consumers should ask that work estimates be be written according to A300 standards, and that work to be performed will meet A300 standards, in order to: 

• know exactly what work the company is proposing be done to your trees;  have a means of comparing estimates from competing companies; 
• have a means of gauging how the work that is done compares to your expectations. See the Better Business Brochure on how to hire a qualified tree care company.

A300 informational articles now available:

• Learn about How to Write Pruning Specs (PDF - 19 KB) by reading this article written by ASC A300 chair, Tim Johnson.   Learn about the A300 Tree Fertilization Standard by reading How-to use Tree Fertilization Standards (PDF - 767 KB)  -- a TCI magazine article written by Tim Johnson, chair of the A300 committee. Learn about the A300 Tree Support Systems Standard by reading What's New in Cabling, Bracing, and Guying (PDF - 166 KB) -- a TCI magazine article written by Michael Roche, certified arborist and TCIA-member Tree Care Company owner. Learn how using the A300 Standards can make your business more profitable by reading A300 for Improving Business (PDF) -- a TCIA Reporter article written by Ron Rubin, former TCIA Representative to the A300 committee.
• View the standards development flow-chart (PDF) to understand how a draft eventually becomes a standard.

What A300 standards are available?

ANSI A300 Part 1 - Pruning

This figure from ANSI A300 Part 1 shows that a pruning cut to remove a branch at its point of origin is made close to the trunk or parent limb, without cutting into the branch bark ridge or collar, or leaving a stub. Also, branches too large to support with one hand are precut to avoid splitting of the wood or tearing of the bark.

This part of the A300 standards applies to pruning operations. A300 Part 1 Pruning addresses:

A300 Pruning standards recognize four basic pruning types and specialty pruning:

• Clean: Selective pruning to remove one or more of the following parts: dead, diseased, and/or broken branches.
• Thin: Selective pruning to reduce density of live branches.
• Raise: Selective pruning to provide vertical clearance.
• Reduce: Selective pruning to decrease height and/or spread (consideration must be given to the ability of a species to tolerate this type of pruning).

Specialty pruning is also recognized. Consideration must be given to the ability of a species to tolerate specialty pruning. Also, specialty pruning is accomplished by using one or more of the four pruning types listed above.

Espalier: The combination of pruning, supporting, and training branches to orient a plant in one plane.

Pollarding: The maintenance of a tree by making inter-nodal cuts to reduce the size of a young tree, followed by the annual removal of shoot growth at its point of origin.

Restoration: Selective pruning to improve the structure, form, and appearance of trees that have been severely headed, vandalized, or damaged.

Vista pruning: Selective pruning to allow a specific view.Topping (PDF) -- the reduction of a tree's size using heading cuts that shorten limbs or branches back to a predetermined crown limit -- or Lion's Tailing (PDF) -- the removal of an excessive number of inner, lateral branches from parent branches -- are not acceptable pruning practices! Topping and Lion's Tailing are not acceptable pruning practices!

Learn how to write pruning specs online!
TCIA's Tree Care Academy™ can take you through a step-by-step process online for writing pruning specs compliant with ANSI A300 (Part 1) - Pruning. Click here for more information!

ANSI A300 Part 2 - Fertilization
This part of the A300 standards applies to fertilization operations. A300 Part 2 Fertilization addresses:

• Alternative fertilization techniques 
• Fertilization area 
• Fertilization practices 
• Fertilizer applications 
• Reasons for fertilization 
• Sub-surface dry fertilization 
• Sub-surface liquid fertilizer injection 
• Surface application 
• When to fertilize 
• And more!

A300 Fertilization standards provide some basic definitions related to fertilization:

• In the absence of soil and/or foliar nutrient analysis, fertilizers with higher ratios of P₂O₅  and K₂O should be avoided.
• Slow-release fertilizers with a minimum 50 percent WIN should be preferred due to site considerations and plant sensitivity

ANSI A300 Part 3 - Tree Support Systems, a. Cabling, Bracing, and Guying

This part of the A300 standards applies to cabling and bracing operations. A300 Part 3 Tree Support Systems addresses:

• Bracing objectives 
• Cabling objectives 
• Dead-end bracing 
• Guying established trees 
• Installation practices 
• Reasons for tree support systems 
• Through-bracing 
• Tools and equipment 
• Tree-to-ground guying 
• Tree-to-tree guying 
• Types of bracing systems 
• Types of cabling systems 
• Types of guying systems 
• And more!

A300 Tree Support Systems standards recognize four basic cabling types (cabling systems should be designed using one or more of these types):

a. Direct: Direct cabling consists of a single cable between two tree parts, e.g., two limbs, two stems, or a trunk and a limb (three direct cables shown).

b. Triangular: Triangular cabling consists of connecting tree parts in combination of threes. This method should be preferred, when maximum support is required (two triangular systems shown).

c. Box: Box cabling consists of connecting four or more tree parts in a closed series. This system should be used only when minimal direct support is needed.

d. Hub and Spoke: Hub and Spoke cabling consists of a center attachment (hub) with spans (spokes) of cable radiating to three or more leaders. Hub and Spoke cabling should only be used when other installation techniques cannot be installed.

ANSI A300 Part 4 - Lightning Protection Installation

Photo copyright Johnny Autery, used with permission

This part of the A300 standards will apply to the installation of lightning protection systems. A300 Part 4 Lightning Protection Installation will address:

• Conductors 
• Connectors and fasteners 
• Ground terminals 
• Installation practices 
• Lightning protection objectives 
• Lightning protection materials
• Reasons for lightning protection systems 
• Tools and equipment 
• And more

A300 Lightning Protection Installation will outline in it's ANNEX when to install Lightning protection systems in trees and which trees should be considered candidates for lightning protection:

• Trees with trunks within 10 feet (3 m) of a structure, or with branches that extend to a height above the structure, should be equipped with a lightning protection system because of the danger of side flash, fire, or superheating of the moisture in the tree, which could result in the splintering of the tree. (NFPA - 780 F-1)
• Trees of historical interest; trees of unusual value; shade trees within 10 feet (3 m) of a building; trees with branches overhanging buildings; tall trees in recreational or park areas; trees that are more likely to be struck by lightning due to their location, such as isolated trees on a hill, in a golf course, or in a pasture, etc.; and similar trees; should be equipped with lightning protection systems.
• Lightning protection for trees is intended to safeguard trees against damage caused by lightning; protected trees should not be considered a safe haven from lightning strikes.
• Lightning protection is usually not necessary for small trees located within the zone of protection of a larger tree's lightning protection system.

Go to the A300 standards Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more!