Posted by santabarbarasand on May 28, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is funny. When I lived in Ojai there was a day when people ditched school & took off work to protest trimming & cutting some oak trees that were in the park near the playground. These trees had been declared dead, diseased & dangerous by arborists who had examined them. One of the protesters climbed a tree and had to be removed by firemen after his legs fell asleep. Oaks are protected in Ojai, as they should be, but this took things too far. The playground was closed for months because of the protest to trimming the trees that were hanging over it. Eventually they were cut, in the early early hours of the morning and in secret. The outrage was HUGE!

A month or so later another tree fell on a family while they were having a picnic in their backyard and there were injuries. It could have been prevented if the arborists were allowed to do their jobs and if the public would also allow for appropriate cutting and trimming to be done.

This latest tree fall is an example of the same thing, protesters with too much time on their hands. Come on now, how many trees have to fall before the city protects its citizens from the oaks that they spend so much energy protecting? Part of the reason I wanted to live in Ojai is the abundance of Oak trees, they are so pretty! Part of the reason I moved was because of the danger that they pose in that city and the lack of protection that is provided from diseased trees.

Ojai, you need to examine those trees & cut the ones that are old & diseased before they fall on people and hurt them!

Posted by oxnard40 on May 28, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If an Oak tree falls on a house and nobody was home, Did it make noise?

Posted by ChrisP on May 28, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Santabarbarasand, i do agree... I have lived in Thousand Oaks most of my life and its a little ridiculous the protection these trees get. They are beautiful and should be protected, but when it comes to safety and potential property damage, break out the chainsaws!

Posted by iam_caine on May 28, 2008 at 2:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If a tree falls in Ojai, and nobody is around, did it make a sound? Other than that crushing sound. The houses made that.

Posted by fbgomerguard on May 28, 2008 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Trees on private property should belong to the property owner. government used to protect private property. Now government seizes control of your trees via local tree ordinances. Read the Ventura County tree ordinance, see for your self.

Think about this, You buy a oak tree from the nursery, plant it in your yard, watch it grow and when you need to trim it you need a permit at the cost of 100.00 what a joke. Check out the definition of a heritage tree. I suggest you never let a tree reach heritage status. I know of one that required a permit from the County at a cost of over 90,0000. That is beyond a joke its criminal.

These ordinances had to be passed on some obscure Tuesday while all the sane people were busy working earning money to support those who make such stupid laws. Yes I know trees are a valuable resource, most property owners recognize the value of their trees and as such will take care of them to the benefit of all.

Posted by santabarbarasand on May 29, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ojai is a funny little town. The founding fathers have a law that if the 4th of July falls on a Sunday they don't celebrate it on that day. I was so disappointed by that when I lived there!

Posted by arbormarcos on May 29, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well folks, as a professional tree consultant, my opinion is often sought to determine if a tree is going to fall down. The fact is that every tree will eventually fall if such an event is not preempted by the logger's axe. Tree ordinances serve a purpose in assuring that there is just cause to remove a tree that may pose a risk, and as with many laws, to keep in check that most perplexing aspect of human nature known as greed. In the case of Thousand Oaks, the ordinance was enacted far too late to protect the organisms for which the city celebrates its name. The majority of the Oaks there have been casualties of the developer's chopping block, and now it is difficult to find an Oak among the Eucalyptus which present far greater risks to human life.
So yes, if there is a tree on your property that you think may be hazardous, have it evaluated by someone that specializes in this aspect of Arboriculture. This person should not be the operator of a tree service company who's primary function of business is the cutting of trees for profit, or a Landscape Architect who specializes in applying principals of design. Search out a professional who has experience in the tree tops and also has credentials that substantiate his/her understanding of tree structure and mechanics. As with other professions, would you make an appointment with a Podiatrist if you had a coronary ailment? Or would you trust an intern to prescribe treatment for a life threatening condition?
The science of predicting tree failure is far from exact. There is no substitute for experience and continuing education when it comes to evaluating trees for safety. When hiring an Arborist inquire as to how long has this person been certified. It could save your house, it could save your life.

Posted by ebrockway on May 29, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

arbormarcos,
Good advice, maybe you could go through the permit process? How confusing it is. Like a do it yourself person who wants one stinking branch trimmed, a leader growing toward the house needs cut. Guy doesn't have the money to hire a "tree consultant", but does own a chainsaw.
Hmmmm, to whack or not to whack?

Posted by arbormarcos on May 29, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ebrockway,
Whack or not to whack? Pruning a tree is not just like giving it a hair cut. Hair grows back like it was before it was cut. Every cut made on a tree essentially trains the growth habit and structure of the tree. Poor pruning practices often lead to failure of the entire tree. A respectable consultant will help guide a do-it-your-selfer through the permit process. Tree ordinances vary in different jurisdictions. Permits are not necessarily required for each and every pruning cut.

Posted by arbormarcos on May 29, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PS to ebrockway;
In these recessionary times it is understandable that not all home owners can afford to hire a professional consultant. I too am a do-it-your-selfer. I also know the limits of my capabilities. If I need electrical work done I always call an electrician. I really can't afford to get electricuted or burn up the house. I am happy to advise homeowners on how and where to make a cut. But be careful, tree work is known to be one of the most hazardous trades out there. Many a do-it-your-selfer tree trimmer has wound up in the emergency room or morgue and or has had a misguided branch go through their roof.

Posted by fbgomerguard on May 29, 2008 at 6:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If I buy a tree, plant it in my yard where there were no trees and 15 years later decide to cut it down, what bussiness does the city have telling what to do with it?

In the case of Thousand Oaks because of delvelopment they're surounded by more parkland and dedicated open space than any city in the County.

Posted by arbormarcos on May 29, 2008 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

fbgomerguard
I agree with your 1st question, a nursery grown tree that was planted should not have the same consideration as a tree planted by nature 100+ years before so called "modern civilization" came in and began its swath. But the rationale of the parkland in "Thousand Oaks" hardly justifies the long term effects of development on what was once an "Oak Woodland".

Posted by creggsteffler on June 1, 2008 at 5:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

arbormarcos - "a nursery grown tree that was planted should not have the same consideration as a tree planted by nature 100+ years before so called 'modern civilization' came in and began its swath"??

That really begs the obvious rational question of : why the heck not?

LOL!! You lefty enviro-kooks are the silliest "swath" of "modern civilization".

Posted by arbormarcos on June 1, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

creggsteffler Do you have kids? What will they inherit? As for you and your's, we "lefty kooks" are here to keep folks like you in check.

Posted by noahsapothecary on June 4, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I know how to trim trees, have trimmed most of my trees all my life and resent having to pay yet another permit fee to the government to obtain their blessing to do anything to an oak tree above a certain caliper size. I see far too many examples of "professional" tree trimmers who mutilate trees to be comfortable hiring them. I have commonsense and have not injured myself or any home that I have owned. My solution to this problem - I don't plant oak trees.

As a biologist who believes in rational ecology, I have this question to landscapers: You do realize that there are lots of other native trees that could be planted, right? How come every bloody project plants oak trees, often in a place where in 50 or 60 years, it will be too large and become a risk to a home, a park or (especially in the case of Ojai) traffic.

We need to protect our environment, but until the State of California stops forcing Cities to meet unrealistic housing goals, trees will be cut down to make room for humans.

B Dawson

Posted by arbormarcos on June 23, 2008 at 3:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The scuttlebutt among tree folks around here is that a local arborist who is quite knowledgeable in tree consuming fungi spotted the fruiting body of a wood decay fungus in the tree and alerted the owners that it was at risk of failure. The tree [owners] elected to ignore the admonition, and yes the tree split apart.
Good thing nobody was hurt or killed.
Arborists are not here to just derive income from the permit process, we are the safety laison between people and trees.