Tree Inventory
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The value and usefulness of tree inventories is increasingly being realized by businesses, college campuses, cities and other organizations.
Whenever managing a resource, the first step is to know what you have. This is the most basic function a tree inventory provides. The depth and complexity of a tree inventory varies depending on the ultimate purpose of the inventory.
Most tree inventories require each tree to be assigned an identification number. A metal tag with this number stamped into it is attached to the tree during the tree survey. A hand-held computer is used to capture the tree’s location and enter other assessment information. Typical tree information we are requested to capture includes tree species, tree height, tree diameter (DBH), crown spread, condition/health, existing tree-infrastructure conflicts, diseased trees, hazardous trees and maintenance recommendations.
A professional tree inventory requires experienced arborists to effectively and efficiently identify the tree species, assess the health of a tree, diagnose any problems and prescribe the proper treatment. Knowledgeable arborists can perform a tree inventory any time of the year, and some of our largest tree inventories have been done during the winter months.
Municipalities led the way in Michigan in realizing the value of tree surveys but, early tree inventories were nothing more than pages and pages of numbers and columns. Now, with the advent of improved software and common usage of GPS and GIS technologies, a tree inventory is a much more interactive and a useable tool for managing the urban forest. Homeowners, land use planners, project managers and contractors can now have an overhead view of their trees in relation to streets, buildings, infrastructure and proposed construction with a higher degree of clarity and accuracy.
Tree inventory data is useful in assessing the value of the trees, and that figure can make a powerful argument for ongoing tree maintenance. Many cities or private property owners are surprised when the monetary value of the trees under their ownership is calculated. Oftentimes, tree worth is thousands or hundred of thousands of dollars for private property owners and millions for municipalities.
A tree inventory is instrumental in developing a tree pruning or removal schedule. Until you know what you have, and the condition it is in, it is difficult to effectively plan and budget for maintenance. A tree inventory will allow tree maintenance personnel prioritize work and develop a plan to efficiently take care of their trees. Crews can be provided maps or GPS coordinates and know exactly which numbered tree they need to prune or remove.
Land developers and project managers are also finding the value in a professional tree inventory. Seeing the trees from an aerial perspective provides developers a clear view of where trees are located in relation to other existing or planned buildings or infrastructure on a site. This often leads to better planning of proposed construction. Not only can tree removal costs be reduced, but property assets (your trees) can be preserved, which will ultimately increase the value of the finished project.
Preserving valuable trees reduces mitigation/easement costs for developers in two ways. First by identifying building/infrastructure options that reduce or eliminate the removal of trees and secondly by identifying trees that are dead, dying or diseased that should not be included in mitigation costs.
Natural resource managers in Michigan have used our tree inventory skills as well, but for a different purpose. Our arborists have done surveying and locating of invasive species such as swallow-wort, purple loosestrife, buckthorn, reed canary grass, phragmites and garlic mustard on several state-owned properties.
Data collected from a tree inventory can be saved as a .csv file, that can be opened and modified in Microsoft Excel; in a .kml file, that can be imported into Google Earth; or in .gpx or .shp file formats used by GIS and mapping programs.
Organizations that are finding increasing value in a professional tree inventory include:
• Municipalities
• College campuses
• Gas & electric utility companies
• Land developers/builders
• Property management companies
• Business/corporate campuses
• Master-planned communities
• Homeowner associations
• Park managers
• Estate owners
• Condominium associations
• Planning commissions
• Department of Natural Resources
• Engineering companies
• College campuses
• Gas & electric utility companies
• Land developers/builders
• Property management companies
• Business/corporate campuses
• Master-planned communities
• Homeowner associations
• Park managers
• Estate owners
• Condominium associations
• Planning commissions
• Department of Natural Resources
• Engineering companies
It’s been our experience that clients seeking tree survey, tree inventory and tree tagging services are looking for a higher caliber tree service that is also aligned with their corporate or community values.
● Leonard
Owen Tree Service provides tree, lawn, and landscape services to the following cities and towns:
Genesee County, Michigan:
● Burton
● Davison
● Flushing
● Goodrich
● Linden
● Otisville
● Clio
● Fenton
● Gaines
● Grand Blanc
● Montrose
● Otter Lake
● Flint
● Genesee
● Lennon
● Mt Morris
● Swartz Creek
Lapeer County, Michigan:
● Almont
● Brown City
● Columbiaville
● Imlay City
● Metamora
● Peck
● Attica
● Clifford
● Dryden
● Lapeer
● North Branch
● Sandusky
● Hadley
● Mayville
● Otter Lake
● Silverwood
Macomb County, Michigan:
● Armada
● Clinton Twp
● Grosse Pointe
● Macomb
● New Haven
● St Clair Shores
● Centerline
● Detroit
● Grosse Pointe Farms
● Ray
● Sterling Heights
● Chesterfield
● Eastpointe
● Grosse Pointe Shores
● Memphis
● Romeo
● Utica
● Clinton
● Fraser
● Grosse Pointe Woods
● Mt Clemens
● Roseville
● Warren
● Harrison Twp
● New Baltimore
● Shelby Twp
● Washington
Oakland County, Michigan:
● Auburn Hills
● Bloomfield Village
● Ferndale
● Orion
● South Lyon
● Berkley
● Clarkston
● Franklin
● Madison Heights
● Ortonville
● Southfield
● Beverly Hills
● Clawson
● Hazel Park
● Milford
● Oxford
● Troy
● Bingham Farms
● Commerce Twp
● Highland
● Novi
● Pleasant Ridge
● Walled Lake
● Birmingham
● Davisburg
● Holly
● Oak Park
● Pontiac
● Waterford
● Bloomfield
● Detroit
● Huntington Woods
● Oakland
● Rochester
● West Bloomfield
● Bloomfield Hills
● Farmington
● Lake Orion
● Oakland Twp
● Rochester Hills
● White Lake
● Farmington Hills
● Lathrup Village
● Orchard Lake
● Royal Oak
● Wixom
St. Clair County, Michigan:
● Algonac
● Casco
● East China
● Harbor Beach
● Lexington
● Peck
● Allenton
● Clay
● Emmett
● Harsens Island
● Marine City
● Port Huron
● Berlin
● Clyde
● Fair Haven
● Jeddo
● Marysville
● Richmond
● Brockway
● Columbus
● Fort Gratiot
● Kimball
● Memphis
● Sandusky
● Capac
● Cottrellville
● Goodells
● Lakeport
● North Street
● St Clair
