Released: April 17, 2002

With Trees, Forgetting Simple Rules Can Be Costly – Or Deadly Mistake

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The lessons seemed like everyday common sense. But the examples showed how costly even well-meaning mistakes can be for professionals, communities and even homeowners when they work with trees.

Victor Merullo – a nationally known expert on trees and liability law – emphasized during Kansas Forest Service-sponsored training in Manhattan last week that people can end up in court, as well as financial trouble, if they don’t remember:

* Know any state statutes and city ordinances relating to trees in the area where you’re working.

* Use good judgment. Taking chances and/or working without needed skills or equipment can deal a fatal blow – to nearby living creatures, buildings and your pocketbook.

* Make sure you have permission from the property owner before doing any tree work – on that person’s property or on the part of that person’s tree that extends over into an adjoining lot.

"I suspect we can get into trouble because the guidelines actually are so simple. We can take them for granted when we should be taking them very seriously all of the time – homeowners included, if they do their own pruning," said Kansas State Forester Ray Aslin.

Merullo presented his law-related lessons to arborists, utility line and parks workers, and community officials at the state’s annual Urban and Community Forestry Training.

"We were extremely fortunate to be able to offer his, as well as all of our other training sessions at no cost," said Eric Berg, community forestry coordinator for the Kansas Forest Service.

J. David Mattox, urban forestry supervisor for the City of Manhattan, provided participants with equipment demonstrations, hands-on training, and discussion of new technologies and techniques in tree care. Kansas State University horticulturists Ken Schroeder and Emily Nolting presented a session on designing for small urban spaces and selecting species that tolerate harsh urban conditions.

Kansas Forest Service staff also led an overview of recommended tree planting and pruning practices, plus tree-related insect and disease identification.

The Kansas Forest Service has long-time cooperative ties with K-State University Research and Extension programs with each providing in-kind services for the other and with local Extension offices serving as an outlet for information about this and other forest service programs.

More information about trees and the Kansas Forest Service also is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.kansasforests.org/.

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus, Manhattan.

Story by:
Kathleen Ward, Communications Specialist
kward@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News