Arborist Assessment Report: Big leaf maple in front of 18 Amber Place

Assessment report: Big leaf maple in front of 18 Amber Place.

Photo shows subject tree in relation to its surroundings.

Photo taken by Michael Gye on March 11, 2016

Red arrows point to pavement damage from radial root expansion.

Photo taken by Michael Gye on March 11, 2016

Observations, discussion, conclusions.

This still young and vigorous Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) is causing significant root damage to the driveway. Its roots have already reached the two adjacent buildings and may have already started to colonize the building perimeter drains as well as undermining the adjacent garage slab. This is a fast growing species reaching diameters exceeding one meter and heights up to 30 meters. It belongs in a park or a field, not in this cramped location.

Recommendation.

Obtain a permit from the Municipality to have it removed. The stump should be routed below the driveway grade and covered with soil. If the tree must be replaced use a slow growing shrub or a flower border rather than a tree.

Please call the writer if you have any questions or need further information.

Yours truly,

Michael Gye, Consulting Arborist Michael Gye Urban Forestry Ltd.

Arborist's Disclosure Statement

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, 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.

Arborist 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 neighbours, 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.

Assumptions and Limiting Conditions

1. Any legal description provided to the consultant is assumed to be correct. Any titles and ownerships to any property are assumed to be good and marketable. No responsibility is assumed for matters legal in character, nor is any opinion rendered as to the quality of any title. Any and all existing liens and encumbrances have been disregarded, and any and all property is appraised/evaluated as though free and clear, under responsible ownership, and competent management.
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