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August 2020: TCIA Magazine "In our roles as business leaders, supervisors, gear inspectors and safety trainers, we see tons of climbing gear. An alarming portion of that gear is unmaintained, poorly configured or beyond its reasonable service life. Those observations led us to ask, who is responsible for the condition of a climber’s life-safety equipment? Is it the climber or the company? Who is responsible when climbing gear fails? With a combined 23 years in this profession, we still felt unclear of the answers. So we went on a research journey and spoke with a variety of industry experts, safety professionals, insurers and accident investigators. We reviewed OSHA regulations, ANSI standards and manufacturer documentation for common climbing gear. Here’s what we learned."   Click here to read the full articl e in TCIA Magazine This article is based on a presentation by Craig Bachman & Mike Tilford at TCI EXPO 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At Tree133, we strive to help fellow arborists improve safety and skills. Contact Craig  to learn how we can help you and your crew.

Leyland cypress  (Cupressus x leylandii) is a hybrid species resulting from a cross between the Alaskan cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkantensis) and the Monterey cypress (Cupressocyparis macrocarpa) .   It is a popular choice for privacy screening because of its extremely fast growth rate - quickly growing 40-60 feet high and over 15 feet wide. In prime growing conditions, they can reach 100 feet tall and 50 feet wide. In the Pacific Northwest, Leyland cypress  is often an inexpensive and well-intentioned planting, but quickly takes over yards and driveways, damaging nearby fences, shading out gardens and overwhelming urban landscape. Craig Bachmann , Lead Arborist for Tree133, often refers to this as "the alligator in the bathtub." Before you know it, the tree is out of control. Should I plant a Leyland Cypress hedge? What seems to be an inexpensive and easy privacy screen will need annual trimming to maintain the hedge form. These trees are aggressive growers so a small upfront investment to plant may become a significant investment of time and dollars to maintain. Can't we just top the trees once they get too big? Topping actually encourages faster lateral growth and a "candelabra" shape with multiple tops that are difficult to contain. Topped Leyland cypress develop large, upright limbs that are more prone to failure. Read more from the University of Washington Elisabeth C. Miller Gardening Knowledgebase . Can anything be done to help my Leyland cypress trees that are bare and "browned out?" Leyland cypress are generally very tolerant of hard pruning. However, pruning that removes all green foliage from a limb will result in a dead stub. Like most conifer trees, Leyland cypress do not have "latent buds" that begin growing in response to pruning. Instead, new foliage grows from the tips. Unless these trees are contained - hedged or hand pruned - appropriately at a young age and then regularly maintained, these interior "dead zones" become visible and a lasting problem. What happened to my Leyland cypress under the wires? Trees that are growing into and around wires may be cut back hard during city safety clearing. Seattle City Light will notify homeowners of upcoming pruning. Contact the certified arborists at Tree133 with questions about how to manage and maintain trees on your property.

Birds, insects and small mammals all use trees for nests, nurseries, storage areas, foraging, roosting, and perching. If a tree needs to be removed, rather than cutting it to the ground, it may be possible to retain valuable habitat with a snag. In this video, Karsten  explains how arborists help preserve urban wildlife habitat, imitate wood breaks that happen naturally and create bird boxes to provide nesting cavities. Want to learn more about snag trees? Living with Wildlife  is an excellent resource from the PNW ISA and Plant Amnesty. Are you curious about what birds you might see in your yard and neighborhood? For those living in Washington State, Seattle Audubon provides an Online Guide to the Birds of Washington State    Everyone at Tree133 cares deeply about preserving trees and promoting a healthy urban forest. If you have questions about trees in your landscape, contact a professional arborist at Tree133

A canopy anchor is a climbing system that anchors the rope in the canopy of a tree. While a moving rope system (MRS) typically uses a canopy anchor (or tie-in point), a stationary rope system (SRS) creates the option of a canopy or basal anchor. Why would we use a canopy anchor? When is it better than using a basal anchor?   Read the rest of the printed article  in the March Issue of TCI Magazine Craig Bachmann is a Certified Treecare Safety Professional, ISA Certified Arborist, TRAQ Certified Tree Worker – Climber Specialist and an experienced safety/skills trainer. He is also an event head judge for the International Tree Climbing Championship . Tree133 is a TCIA member tree care company and Craig regularly speaks at industry events and conferences.

Check out Craig's newest article for tree care professionals in this month's TCI Magazine: Thinking Critically About Life Safety Carabiners. Additional articles and podcasts from Craig: Climbing Gear: A Growing Risk to Tree Companies   Importance of Equipment Inspection   Craig Bachmann is a Certified Treecare Safety Professional, Certified Arborist/TRAQ, Certified Tree Worker – Climber Specialist  and an experienced safety/skills trainer. He is also an event head judge for the International Tree Climbing Championship .

In April 2022, Seattle City Council passed Council Bill 120207  requiring that all tree service companies must be REGISTERED  with the Department of Construction & Inspections ( SDCI ). Tree133 is an SDCI Registered Tree Service Provider: LIC-TSP-18493. We are obligated to follow the rules passed by the City Council and are committed to helping our Clients navigate the requirements. UPDATE - SPRING 2023 Seattle Tree Codes and public posting Requirements continue to evolve. As of April 2023, a public notice must be created and posted online on the Seattle Services Portal Public Notices  web page at least 3 business days prior to performing reportable work and at least 6 business days prior to removal of trees 6 inches in Diameter Standard Height (DSH) or greater. "Reportable work" is defined as the removal of live branches 2 inches in diameter or greater, pruning or removal of live roots 2 inches in diameter or greater, or removal of live branches constituting 15 percent or more of a tree's foliage-bearing area. Support from Tree133 We will assist you with the public notice requirement to make sure it contains the correct information and specific details for EACH tree to be pruned or removed. Additional service details are available in your formal proposal document from Tree133. Tree133 will use our Seattle Services Portal Account to create your public notice We will print and post your public notice at the time of your tree care project You will receive a copy of the notice for your records Mission Tree133's mission is to preserve trees and empower people. We deliver this mission by providing sound advice and quality care for your trees. As Seattle's Tree Protection Codes  and requirements evolve, we are committed to following these rules with integrity and transparency. These new requirements are a significant change for all tree service providers and property owners throughout the city. We are working with other local arborists in the newly formed Seattle Arborist Association  to grow our urban forest through advancement and support of the profession of arboriculture. Do you have questions about Seattle Tree Code and what it means for our neighborhoods? Submit questions and concerns  directly to your City Council Person.

The June 2022 TCIMagazine, a leading publication for professional arborists, featured an article by Craig Bachmann, the manager and Lead Arborist at Tree133. Learn about how contract climbers can support your business in both a professional training capacity and job profitability. For the complete article, click here . See Craig at a Professional Event in 2022 After a few years of virtual presentations, Craig is excited to be back on the road for a busy season of presentations and tree climbing competitions! Portland Tree Climbing Competition  - Portland, OR Rocky Mountain Regional Tree Climbing Competition  - Denver, OR Treetopia  - Oakland, CA North American Tree Climbing Championship  - St. Paul, MN PNW ISA Annual Training Conference & Climbing Competition - Coeur d'Alene, ID Puget Sound Tree Climbing Competition  - Seattle, WA ISA International Training Conference  - Malmo, Sweden International Tree Climbing Competition  - Copenhagen, Denmark TCIA Expo  - Charlotte, NC

On a sunny day in November, urban forestry leaders, advocates and researchers from around the world gathered to climb some of the largest trees in Seattle at the Urban Canopy Leadership Summit. Professional Arborists from the PNW, including Craig Bachmann of Tree133, came together and helped climbers reach new heights. Developed by David Anderson of Canopy Watch International , these events aim to empower personal and scientific discovery by actually getting people IN the trees. Isabella Breda, a local Seattle journalist, got into a harness and navigated her way to the top of a majestic maple. She shared her experience in the Seattle Times. By the grace of a carabiner, harness and a sturdy rope, I gently swung in the breeze, hidden within the crown of the towering European beech tucked behind the Seattle Asian Art Museum at Volunteer Park on Sunday afternoon. It’s one of Seattle’s largest trees by volume, the arborists tell me, with a trunk spanning nearly 6 feet across.... Read More   Want to learn more? Watch David Anderson's TED talk, The Transformative Power of Climbing Trees .

On a recent episode of the industry’s only podcast focused on all things tree and landscape, Craig Bachmann - Lead Arborist and Company Manager of Tree133 - discusses how he got into the field late as an arborist and his transition from “suit guy” to “tree guy.” Click to listen   Joe Aiken & Korey Lofy combine over 60 years of industry knowledge and experience and will discuss some of the trends, concerns, and opportunities in the fields of forestry and arboriculture.

As a local, family-owned business, Tree133 is deeply connected to our Seattle neighbors. As professional arborists, our focus is tree preservation. We also support our community through volunteering and donations to local organizations. The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI)   LIHI  provides housing for low-income, homeless and formerly homeless people to help them develop self-sufficiency. Tree133 has specifically contributed to support the construction of tiny homes . Build Lake City Together (BLCT) BLCT , an initiative of the Children’s Home Society of Washington, is a collaborative and inclusive neighborhood planning process to improve quality of life for all residents and give rise to a neighborhood of opportunity. Tree133 regularly volunteers for community clean-up days organized by BLCT. Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) SAS  saves the lives of animals through adoption, foster care, spay and neuter programs and community outreach. We adopted our dog Charlie-girl  from SAS in 2022. PlantAmnesty   PlantAmnesty  provides education, resources, and advocacy to promote quality tree care and preserve urban green spaces. Tree133 participates in volunteer tree pruning events to care for needy and deserving gardens in the Seattle area. Nathan Hale Horticulture & Urban Farm   This program provides high school students with hands-on experience in horticulture, urban farming, environmental science, entrepreneurship and citizenship. As a member of their Friends Organization, Tree133 also supports the Urban Farm by regularly providing wood chip mulch for the farm and other projects throughout the Seattle school district.

The professionals and arborists of Tree133 recently attended TCI Expo 2023. This is the world's largest tree-related conference and trade show. Over 4,000 arborists and tree professionals from North America and beyond attended this years's Tree Care Industry event. The seminars, demonstrations and exhibits provided valuable opportunities for our entire team to grow our tree science knowledge and technical skills - all essential in our daily work of pruning and preserving trees in the Seattle area. This is also an opportunity to earn continuing education credits which are required to acquire and maintain Certified Arborist credentials. Two members of our team - Craig, Lead Arborist & Karsten, Field Supervisor - presented an educational seminar for more than 150 attendees, called "Can You be Rescued: Simple Solutions to Improve Climber Safety." It was a great opportunity to share our knowledge and help fellow arborists focus on safe climbing techniques when working in the trees.

Tree133 is excited to partner with TreeU for this professional arborist qualification program. During a half-day video-based training, Craig Bachmann - Lead Arborist and Manager of Tree133 - shares knowledge and skills for professional arborists to safely, confidently and efficiently operate chainsaws. Check out the preview below. Available for purchase exclusively at TreeStuff .