Leveraging for Informed Management

For properties with abundant trees, having an accurate inventory and assessment is one of the most important tools an owner can develop. A comprehensive tree inventory creates a detailed record of every tree on your land, providing invaluable data that allows for proactive maintenance and care.

In this article, we’ll look at the key reasons every property owner needs a tree inventory and how partnering with a certified arborist can provide maximum benefits.

Quantify Your Assets

A major advantage of a tree inventory is quantifying the dollar value of your trees as assets. By documenting details like tree species, size, health, and location on your land, an arborist can provide estimates of the ecosystem services, increased property values, and other benefits conferred by your trees. For commercial properties like golf courses or campuses, knowing the monetary value of your trees also helps justify the costs of proper tree care and protection to decision makers.

Identify Risks and Maintenance Needs

A crucial part of tree inventories for certified arborists is identifying potential risks. By carefully inspecting each tree for defects, diseases, dead limbs, leaning, and other hazards, dangerous issues can be flagged for correction. The inventory allows you to prioritize maintenance tasks like pruning, cabling, pest control, and removals where they are needed most. This preventative care helps minimize property damage, legal liability, and costs over the long run.

Plan for the Future

Once you have a baseline record of your property’s trees, you can use it to plan for the future. Inventory data guides strategic tree planting, so you know which areas need more trees and the optimal species to select for specific locations. It also allows you to monitor tree health over time and intervene at signs of decline. With a detailed inventory, you can take a proactive vs. reactive approach to maximizing benefits provided by your urban forest.

Convey Information Visually

Tree inventories developed by certified arborists often include detailed GPS mapping and tagging that provides visual representations of your property’s trees. These maps and digital tools make it easy to convey tree information to stakeholders in an intuitive, user-friendly way. Visuals are extremely helpful when communicating with property managers, grounds crews, insurers, and others to implement strategic tree management.

Documenting your trees with a professionally developed inventory is one of the wisest investments you can make as a property owner. Partnering with a qualified arborist provides you with the expertise to unlock the full value of your tree assets. Contact a certified arborist today to have your trees inventoried and start leveraging data to protect your investment for the future.