Gulf Coast Arboriculture, LLC

Specializing in the care, preservation and appraisal of trees with the following areas of consulting excellence

• Tree planting and landscape projects
• Tree protection during construction
• Mitigation of damage to trees
• Disease and pest management
• Lawn and irrigation practices
• Appraisal of trees and landscapes
• Tree hazard evaluation
• Utility arboriculture
• Dispute resolution

Tree Planting and Landscape Projects

A premiere local landscape project for a major development with no arborist involved. Unfortunately the trees are dead.

Gulf Coast Arboriculture’s ISA certified consulting arborist can make the difference between success and failure for a landscaping project. Gulf Coast Arboriculture (GCA) can reduce or eliminate the high mortality rates associated with new landscapes. Mortality can be caused by lack of attention to such factors as: planting, irrigation design, water volume, soil quality, cut and fill operations, species selection, and root area. Unfortunately mortality generally occurs after the warranty expires. Also, since Florida has grades and standards for nursery-grown trees, GCA can grade your trees when delivered, ensuring they meet the grade you paid for.

Tree Protection During Construction (Tree Preservation)

Nice sculpture, but it had been a beautiful 40 inch diameter oak tree until the neighbor built the wall and cut all the roots off one side of it. The wall could have been built such that it didn’t damage the tree.

Healthy, structurally sound trees can increase the value of a project by up to 15%, yet typical development and construction results in both the intended and unintended destruction of trees. These problems can be avoided by including Gulf Coast Arboriculture on the design team. GCA can assess the value of existing trees and plan for tree preservation. GCA can advise on tree protection ordinances including the need to protect neighboring trees. GCA can establish tree protection standards for the development, help plan for non-destructive use of heavy equipment and help ensure that the installation of utilities, storm water and irrigation systems is done in ways that preserve trees. In addition, Gulf Coast Arboriculture can recommend and perform cultural practices to improve the health and structural condition of the trees to be preserved.

Mitigation of Damage to Trees

Trees can be damaged by wind storms, salt water intrusion, lightning, soil compaction and soil fill, construction, paving, and a host of other factors. Gulf Coast Arboriculture has decades of experience with such conditions throughout the Gulf Coast region. GCA can often mitigate damage through modern, scientifically-based tree care practices.

Disease and Pest Management

Systemic fertilization and fungicide treatment of a large oak tree.

Sometimes trees get sick or insects start to chew on their leaves or bore into their trunks. Gulf Coast Arboriculture brings both academic expertise and extensive field experience to ensure the correct diagnosis of such problems. GCA can often get rid of the pest and restore the tree to health. GCA can collect soil and leaf tissue samples for analysis to determine the exact cause of nutritional deficiencies. Likewise, when field observation does not yield an answer, laboratory analysis of samples from diseased trees can be completed to determine the specific pathogen that is causing the problem. Without proper diagnosis, treatment is usually both ineffective and costly.

Lawn and Irrigation Practices

Trees often decay, contract disease, or age prematurely because of the cultural practices we use for our lawns. Irrigation, herbicides, fertilization, soil compaction and improper soil pH can all negatively impact tree health. If the crown of your tree is losing leaf density (getting thinner each year), or small twigs are dying, Gulf Coast Arboriculture can help identify and eliminate the source of stress. GCA will also explain how good tree care will result in better lawn care.

Appraisal of Trees and Landscapes

Knowing the value of trees and landscapes is absolutely essential in problem situations. Gulf Coast Arboriculture can perform tree and landscape appraisals needed for such things as insurance claims for fire, accident or storm; trespass with damage to trees and landscapes; eminent domain activities from road-widening projects to utility right-of-way issues; and tree cutting or removal without a permit.

Tree Hazard Evaluation

Trees age, are battered by storms, and are damaged by human activity. Failure to take the condition of your trees into account can lead to expensive property damage, serious injury or even death. Gulf Coast Arboriculture can perform structural assessments which will enable you to take appropriate action before an accident happens. GCA should also be consulted when an insurance company refuses to renew a policy, recommending that limbs or trees be cut. An improper solution may lower your property value or create a larger liability later.

Utility Arboriculture

Sometimes utilities ruin the appearance of trees near power lines. Utilities may “top” the trees, cut large limbs, or destroy critical root zones when trenching for underground facilities. These practices lead to decay, future tree failure, and liability. Gulf Coast Arboriculture possesses industry-leading utility experience. GCA can teach line clearance tree trimmers how to avoid destructive techniques and how to prune while maintaining reasonable tree shape and character. GCA can recommend alternatives for installation of underground utilities which avoid cutting of significant tree roots. And GCA can also help settle disputes between utilities and property owners.

Dispute Resolution

Gulf Coast Arboriculture can assist in dispute resolution over tree damage by providing analysis of the species, the number of trees, their size, condition, the amount of damage, how the damage occured, the value of the trees, and other important facts. GCA's arborist has served as an expert in a number of cases concerning such matters as the violation of municipal tree ordinances, damage to trees as a result of tresspass, and eminent domain.