How to Recognize—and Prevent—Hazard Trees

Tree City USA Bulletin #15—Sources for More Information

Some excellent publications are available that expand on the material presented in Bulletin No. 15. Here are two books that we recommend:

• A Photographic Guide to the Evaluation of Hazard Trees in Urban Areas
  by Nelda P. Matheny and James R. Clark

  This is a very thorough treatment of a very important topic. This 72-page book is well illustrated and presented in a style that is easy to understand. Evaluation methods and forms are included, and a description of structural failure histories for over 100 species and cultivars. Available from

  International Society of Arboriculture

  P.O. Box 3129

  Champaign, IL 61826-3129

  Also available online at www.isa-arbor.com

• Tree Risk Management
  by E. Thomas Smiley, Bruce R. Fraedrich and Neil Hendrickson.

  50-pages and illustrated. This “how-to” publication includes the results of research that can be used in helping to decide if decaying trees are still safe, or more likely to fail. Available from

  Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories

  13768 Hamilton Road

  Charlotte, NC 28278

  704-588-1150

Leaflets

Probably no other single individual has done as much research and public education about understanding tree decay and hazards as the late Dr. Alex Shigo, former chief scientist and project leader with the USDA Forest Service. His various publications and other materials are now available online. Of particular interest here is his leaflet, Tree Hazards—13 Questions That Could Save a Life. For more information, please visit

More Information

Call: 402-474-5655
Monday–Friday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CST