Certified arborist in Memphis, TN
Not sure if a tree is sick, dangerous, or fine? Our ISA Certified Arborist looks at it and gives you a straight answer, whether that means saving it or taking it down.
- ISA Certified Arborist
- Tree health checks
- Risk checks before storms
- Honest save-or-remove advice
What an ISA Certified Arborist is
Anyone with a chainsaw can call themselves a tree guy. An ISA Certified Arborist has earned a credential from the International Society of Arboriculture. To sit for the exam, a person needs about three years of full-time tree care experience or a related degree. The exam itself is 200 questions over three and a half hours, covering tree biology, soils, pruning, diagnosis, safety, and tree risk.
The credential is not for life. Certified arborists must earn 30 continuing education units every three years or retake the exam to keep it.
For you, that means the person looking at your tree knows the difference between a tree that looks rough and a tree that is actually failing. A lot of healthy trees get cut down that did not need to be, and a lot of dangerous ones get left up because nobody looked closely.
When to call an arborist
- Leaves turning brown early, thinning, or dying back from the top
- Mushrooms, cankers, oozing, or bark falling off the trunk
- Cracks, splits, or a new lean
- A big tree near the house you want checked before storm season
- Root damage from a new driveway, trench, addition, or pool
- A permit, HOA, real estate, or insurance question about a tree
Sources: ISA Certified Arborist guide.
Tree problems we look for in Memphis
These are the issues Tennessee extension and forestry experts list for trees in our area. Some can be managed. Some mean the tree has to go.
Bacterial leaf scorch
Brown, scorched leaf edges in late summer that come back worse each year. It hits pin, red, and scarlet oaks, plus elm, sweetgum, sycamore, and red maple. It is spread by leafhoppers and has no cure, but pruning and care can buy years.
Hypoxylon canker
Bark sloughing off to show a crusty tan to black fungus. Most common in large, mature trees after long droughts. By the time it shows, the tree is often too decayed to keep near a house.
Oak wilt
Found in Tennessee in the past with no recent detections, according to the state Division of Forestry. The main prevention is not pruning oaks from March through July.
Emerald ash borer
A beetle that kills ash trees. It was first found in Tennessee in 2010 and has since been confirmed in more than 60 counties. If you have a big ash, have it checked.
Pin oak chlorosis
Pale yellow leaves with green veins, caused by soil with a high pH that locks up iron. Common where pin oaks were planted near concrete and fill.
Fall webworm
Silky tents on the ends of pecan and persimmon branches in late summer. It looks bad, but complete defoliation usually does not kill a healthy tree.
Sources: UT Extension on bacterial leaf scorch, Tennessee Division of Forestry on hypoxylon canker, Tennessee Division of Forestry on oak wilt, Tennessee Division of Forestry on emerald ash borer, Iowa State Extension on pin oak chlorosis, Mississippi State Extension on fall webworms.
Roots, soil, and construction damage
Most of what kills big Memphis trees happens underground. The Memphis area sits on deep loess, a fine, wind-blown silt, and a lot of local yards have heavy clay on top. According to UT Extension in Shelby County, many tree roots here only reach the top 18 inches of soil, and more than half are in the top 6 inches.
That is why a new driveway, a trench for a sewer or gas line, a pool, or heavy equipment parked under a tree can kill it a few years later. The damage is done to roots you cannot see. If you are planning work near a big tree, have an arborist look first. Simple steps like fencing off the root zone or routing a trench to the side can save it.
The same shallow roots explain why so many trees tip over when the ground is soaked and a storm hits.
Sources: Memphis Area Master Gardeners on tree roots, USDA, Memphis soil series.
What our arborist checks
A visit ends with a clear answer and a plan, not a sales pitch.
Tree health
Leaves, bark, and canopy for signs of disease, pests, and stress common in Memphis oaks, maples, and pines.
Structure and risk
Weak forks, cracks, decay, root problems, and lean, plus what the tree would hit if it failed.
Pruning plan
What to cut, when, and why, so the tree grows stronger instead of weaker.
Cabling and support
Whether a weak fork can be supported with cables or rods, which the A300 standard treats as support, not a cure.
Save or remove
A straight answer on whether the tree can be saved. If it cannot, we can remove it safely.
Permit help
Some cities, like Lakeland, need a certified arborist to verify trees for a removal permit. We can help with that.
Sources: TCIA, ANSI A300 Part 3, Lakeland city code.
Trees that cause trouble in Memphis yards
Some of the most common trees in Memphis neighborhoods are also the ones that cause the most problems as they age.
- Water oak: grows fast but is more weak-wooded than most oaks, and trunks often rot by about 50 years old.
- Bradford pear: brittle wood and weak branch angles. Older trees often split in half. It is also invasive.
- Silver maple: brittle wood that breaks in storms, and roots that clog sewer lines and lift sidewalks.
- River birch: drops leaves and twigs in late summer dry spells from drought stress.
- Pin oak: prone to yellow leaves from iron chlorosis in high pH soil.
Planting new trees? We can suggest stronger choices for the spot and keep them away from power lines and foundations.
Sources: LSU AgCenter on water oaks, NC State Extension on Bradford pear, University of Missouri Extension on silver maple, Clemson Extension on river birch, Iowa State Extension on pin oak chlorosis.
Arborist questions
What is an ISA Certified Arborist?
A tree care professional certified by the International Society of Arboriculture. Candidates need about three years of experience or a related degree, pass a 200-question exam, and must earn 30 continuing education units every three years to stay certified.
Can you tell if my tree is dying?
Often, yes. Dieback from the top, early leaf drop, bark sloughing off, fungus at the base, and cracks are common signs. An arborist can tell the difference between a stressed tree that can recover and one that is failing.
Can you save a sick tree?
Sometimes. Pruning out dead wood, protecting the root zone, fixing water problems, and managing some pests can bring a tree back. Some problems, like bacterial leaf scorch, have no cure but can be managed for years. If the tree cannot be saved, we will tell you.
Why are the leaves on my oak turning brown at the edges in August?
One common cause in Tennessee oaks is bacterial leaf scorch, which browns leaf margins in late summer and gets worse each year. Drought can look similar. An arborist can help tell them apart.
Is there emerald ash borer in Memphis?
Emerald ash borer was first found in Tennessee in 2010 and has been confirmed in more than 60 Tennessee counties. If you have a large ash tree, it is worth having it checked.
Do I need an arborist or just a tree service?
If you already know the tree has to come down, you need a tree service. If you are not sure, or the tree is valuable, have an arborist look first. We do both.
Can an arborist help with a tree permit?
Yes. Lakeland, for example, requires trees to be verified by a certified arborist as part of its tree removal permit. We can help with the tree details for the application.
Want a tree checked?
Call to set up a visit with our arborist.