HomeMy WebLinkAboutArborist Report
426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91007
Prepared for:
Phillip Chan “PDS Studio Architect LLC”
711 S 1st Ave
Arcadia, CA 91006
August 14, 2018
Prepared by:
Javier Cabral Consulting Arborist
International Society of Arborists # WE- 8116A
1390 El Sereno Ave
Pasadena, California 91103
(626)818-8704
jctcabral@sbcglobal.net
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 1
Table of contents
Summary ----------------------------------------------------------------- pg. 3
Background and assignment Summary ------------------------------ pg. 3
Tree Identification ------------------------------------------------------- pg. 4
Tree Pictures ------------------------------------------------------------- pg. 5 thru 8
Site Plan ------------------------------------------------------------------ pg. 9 & 10
Tree Evaluation & recommendation ---------------------------------- Pg. 11
Arborist Recommendation and signature pg. ------------------------ pg. 12
Assumptions & Limiting Conditions Summary --------------------- pg. 13
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 2
Summary
Mr. Chan,
You have retained my consulting arborist services to provide a tree recommendation for one Olive tree
located in the front yard of the property described as 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006. You are in the
planning stages of demolishing the existing single family home and rebuilding a new one story single
family home.
The tree in question has one 13 inch diameter trunk and eighteen other trunks between 1 and 5 inches.
This Olive tree has been converted to a 10 ft. high by 11 ft. spread topiary by constantly trimming it as if
it were a hedge plant. The natural height of this Olive tree if it had not been trimmed would be between
25 and 35 ft. with a canopy spread of between 20 ft. and 30 ft.
Background and assignment
PDS Studio Architect is a luxury home designing corporation that has been hired my consulting services
to inspect, asses, and make a recommendation for this tree based on its current health and the provided
site plan for the proposed new single family home.
Mr. Chan has requested that I provide the following arboricultural services:
1) Identify and inspect the tree on the property.
2) Asses the current health and make recommendations based on my findings.
The following report is based on my analysis of tree, site plan, and surrounding landscape. For the
purpose of this report I will address this tree as Tree # 1.
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 3
Tree # 1
Olive “Olea europea” (9 ft. from the existing home)
DBH = 13 inches --------- Height = 10 ft. --------- Spread = 11 ft. Condition = good, as poodle trimmed
tree
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 4
Tree # 1
9 ft. to existing home
10 ft. high Olive tree
Tree # 1 (facing east)
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 5
# 1 Olive tree should be approx. 25
to 35 ft. tall if not poodle trimmed
Tree # 1 (Canopy from underneath)
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 6
Branches are twisted and snarled
around each other due to the nature
of the poodle trimming.
Tree # 1 (Canopy from underneath)
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 7
Tree # 1
Branches are twisted and snarled
around each other due to the nature
of the poodle trimming.
Tree # 1 (Canopy from underneath)
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 8
Branches are twisted and snarled
around each other due to the nature
of the poodle trimming.
Tree # 1
Site Plan
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 9
Site Plan
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 10
TREE # 1 EVALUATION
1) This is an outwardly healthy Olive tree with a main trunk diameter of 13 inches and multiple
other trunks between 2 inches and 5 inches. The leaves are of good size and color, the branch
structure is very poor for a standard tree because of the topping practice used to poodle a tree as
if it was a bush or hedge plant.
2) This Olive tree has been poodle trimmed. When a tree is trimmed in this manner it forces the
branches to grow horizontally instead of vertically and the result is a branch structure that its
branches are wrapped and snarled around each other similar to a weaved basket. To restore this
tree to a natural form the canopy will have to be completely cut and topped because there is no
way to unwind the maze of rigid branches. Like any tree topping is not a recommended tree
practice because of the large cuts that later form cavities where future growth will sprout and
bear branch weight.
3) Transplanting this tree is also not a good idea based on the information that construction will
likely begin during the current summer or early fall when temperatures are very hot. This is the
most challenging time of the year to transplant trees due to their high water needs and the effects
of root loss on their ability to absorb and take up water. There is a high chance that the expensive
transplant will fail for due to the root loss, high heat, high water demand for the tree, and root
loss.
4) The excavation for the proposed new foundation is approximately 5 ft. away from the Olive
tree trunk. Olive trees have a very large flare root system. These are the roots that buttress
outward and away from the trunk and into the soil. Sometimes the root flare diameter on Olive
trees is many times the diameter of the tree trunk.
FINAL RECOMMENDATION OLIVE TREE # 1
1) Based on the above mentioned assessment of this Olive tree, it is my opinion that it is not a
good candidate for transplanting because of its structure as a large poodled bush, the likelihood
of failure due to the hot season if transplanted, and root loss during the hot weather. The
excavation for the foundations would likely have a moderate to significant effect on the health of
the tree if it were to remain. It is my recommendation that the best approach is to remove
this tree and replace it with a box tree that has a good branch structure and has not been
poodled or topped. This will significantly increase the total canopy lost by removing this short
Olive tree. A 36 inch box tree will have a initial height of approximately the same height or taller
with a canopy spread of about 6 ft. and can be trained and pruned into a good shade bearing
specimen tree.
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 11
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 12
ARBORIST DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
Arborist: Javier Cabral Date: August 14, 2018
Arborists are tree specialists who use their education, knowledge, training and experience to examine
trees, recommend measures to enhance the beauty and health of trees, make recommendations to prevent
or minimize damage to trees during and after construction projects, and attempt to reduce the risk of
living near trees. Clients may choose to accept or disregard the recommendations of the arborist, or to
seek additional advice.
Arborists cannot detect every condition that could possibly lead to the structural failure of a tree. Trees
are living organisms that fail in ways we do not fully understand. Conditions are often hidden within
trees and below ground. Arborists cannot guarantee that a tree will be healthy or safe under all
circumstances, or for a specified period of time. Likewise, remedial treatments, like any medicine,
cannot be guaranteed.
Treatment, pruning and removal of trees may involve considerations beyond the scope of the arborist’s
services such as property boundaries, property ownership, site lines, disputes between neighbors, and
other issues. Arborists cannot take such considerations into account unless complete and accurate
information is disclosed to the arborist. An arborist should then be expected to reasonably rely upon the
completeness and accuracy of the information provided.
Trees can be managed, but they cannot be controlled. To live near trees is to accept some degree of risk.
The only way to eliminate all risk associated with trees is to eliminate all trees.
Name of Client: Phillip Chan
Address: 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia CA 91007
Phillip Chan 426 Cortez Rd. Arcadia, CA 91006 August 14, 2018
Javier Cabral / Consulting Arborist Pg. # 13