Hi, I know this is not strictly an arboricultural question but just hoped someone may know the answer. Is there a recognized standard for landscape operations (like we have A300), or is it just a "write your own"????

Reply to post by James Causton, on March 01, 2000 at 19:35:40:

in British Columbia we have our own which is coauthored by the nursery trades and the landscape architects. Not everyone sticks by it but at least it provides a starting point for a uniform standard of practice.

Julian

Reply to post by James Causton, on March 01, 2000 at 19:35:40:

Jim: the library at CUH has had in the past printed landscape and nursery standards for various activities (planting, root ball diamater, etc).

Reply to post by James Causton, on March 01, 2000 at 19:35:40:

"Landscaping" include a lot of operations. The two big distinctions are construction / installation and maintenance. There is ANSI Z60.1 1996 the American Standard for Nursery Stock which deals with production and plant grading. There may be standards for the sprinkler and landscape lighting industries.

There are ordinances in local jurisdictions which proscribe certain plants or require certain levels of mainatined appearance or snow shoveled. Ther are local regulations that require certain new developments to meet certain planting standards.

There is a project at LSU to develop a Model Landscape Code which appears to be analogous to the National Plumbing Code, National Electrical Code or CABO Model Building Code. Theres a web site: http://www.design.lsu.edu/greenlaws/

Reply to post by James Causton, on March 01, 2000 at 19:35:40:

This is a good question. I was at a board meeting yesterday for AMTOP (Association of Montana Turf and Ornamental Professionals) of which I am on the Board of Directors. This issue was brought up on landscape maintenance and chemical applications. Well, not exactly with the ANSI standards but with the professional standards and high ethics of the professional industry. This should not only apply to the arboriculture industry but also to the landscape and green industry. I do not know of ANSI standards for this nor have I researched this. This could be a good tool. For our organization, their is concern for an individual who legally is able to study for a pesticide applicators license, take the test and proof of insurance in one day and be in business that afternoon. This individual would not need to know much of anything to apply chemicals other than to pass the exam.

Reply to post by Scott Cullen, on March 01, 2000 at 19:35:40:

Hi Scott, thanks for the reply. The need for finding Landscape Standards arises from a need to write a city tree/landscape ordinance. I would like to see national standards required in the document and have no problem with trees or nursery stock, we have them, but just dead end on landscape installation and maintenance standards. Interestingly enough I could not find any tree ordinance which mentioned A300, surely someone must have done it already, are you aware of any I could check out??
Thanks, James

Reply to post by James Causton, on March 01, 2000 at 19:35:40:

We completely re-wrote our tree ordinance last year. Our code deals with tree work, landscaping, pesticide application and fertilization.

The approach we took was language in the ordinance allowing the adoption of reasonable rules and regulations. In the R & R process, we adopted A-300, Z133 and the ISA tree Pruning Guidelines, and Department of Transportation Part VI standards for traffic control.

Just a quick note, ISA was very helpful in allowing us to reprint the pruning guidelines. ANSI would not work with us at all. Our attorney's opinion is that is you promulgate any rule, you must make them available to the end user (tree care worker) ANSI would not let us reprint. If you wish, email me and I will send you our current language.