December 14, 2018
Association Updates

Dear MAA Members,

As we move into the Holiday season, we would like to thank everyone for their support of the Maryland Arborist Association over the past year! We have had many successful events in 2018 and are looking forward to more as we move into the New Year.

The first of which will be our Winter Seminar taking place on January 22 and 23, 2019 at the Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center in Ellicott City. John Ball of South Dakota State University will be the keynote speaker of the event, discussing the new Z133 manual and diversity in community forests on January 22. Other presentations at the event include a hands-on plant diagnostic demonstration, Air Spade work, the Spotted Lanternfly, chiropractic care, pollinator protection, and more! Registration for this event is now open and can be found by clicking here .

Other events coming up in 2019 will include Arborist Day, a Spring Pest Walk, and a Fall Safety Day. Arborist Day 2019 will be held on April 13 at Adkins Arboretum on the Eastern Shore. A small group met back in October to perform a site walk, where hazards were identified and a work plan was created for the event. Planning for our other events is still underway but keep an eye out for more details coming soon!

Stay Safe!

Lindsay Thompson
MAA Executive Director
(443) 262-8491
Photos from our 2019 Arborist Day Site Walk - Adkins Arboretum in Ridgely, MD
Thank You to our White Oak Sponsors
Sugar Maple Sponsor
Boxwood Blight Diagnoses
Following heavy rains, University of Maryland Extension has gotten numerous boxwood blight diagnoses this fall. Symptoms include black lesions along the stem and leaf spot, also paired with excessive leaf drop. It is important to be on the lookout for this disease to prevent it from spreading to other plants. Preventative fungicide application on non-affected plants is also encouraged.

The Dilemma with Ginkgo’s
University of Maryland Extension Specialist Stanton Gill recently encountered a case of female Ginkgo’s planted in a neighborhood that were labeled as male by the nursery supplier. Upon further investigation, he read online that while a grafted plant is developing in an in-ground nursery, it may be possible for it to convert from a male to a female fruit producing tree. Stanton asked Richard Olsen, Director of the US National Arboretum, and Keith Warren, JF Schmidt & Son Co., to weigh-in on the issue.

Common Winter Tree Care Issues
A recent blog post from the Tree Care Industry Association discusses common winter tree care issues that customers should be aware of. The post discusses warning signs and treatment recommendations for issues including Winter Burn, Frost Heaving, Salt Damage, Animals, and more.

New LTE's - Congratulations!
Congratulations to the following individuals who passed recent LTE   exams:
James “Donald” Manifold
Andres Solis Molina
Joshua Brent
Jose Argueta
Scott Baron
Ashley Paul Freeman
Ryan Williams
Thomas Joseph Schmitt
Karen Chen
Jose Luis Barahona
Diana Elizabeth Salazar-Lopez
Donald Zimar
Prince Kiepea
William Lee Gaither 
Roy Clement
George Collins
Steven Darrow
William Duggan
Miguel Estrada
Joshua Franz
Steven McCauley
James R. McCrumb Jr.
Joseph Stevens
Z133 Safety Standard Now Available in Spanish
The latest edition of the Z133 Safety Standard is now available in Spanish. The Z133 Safety Standard was developed for the arboriculture industry under the procedures of the American National Standards Institute. The 2017 revision provides the most current criteria in the United States for arborists and other workers engaged in arboricultural operations.

Tree Care Work: Falls and Falling Object Hazards
There are many serious hazards in tree care work. This Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Hazard Bulletin focuses on the hazards from falls and falling objects which can result in serious injuries or death. These hazards also account for a high proportion of the tree care fatalities investigated by Federal OSHA.

Registration is now open for the MAA’s 38 th Annual Safety and Pesticide Recertification Seminar, held at Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center. Multiple credits will be offered for MD LTE, MAC-ISA, TCIA, SAF, and Pesticide Applicators. Full agenda can be found by clicking here . 
The annual Advanced Landscape IPM PHC Short Course is a recertification short course for arborists, landscape supervisors, IPM monitors, advanced gardeners, and others responsible for urban plant management. Pesticide applicators and ISA credits available.
Chessie Green, as it is known within the industry, is a two-day event packed full of engaging and informative horticulture education. The symposium will be held on February 20 and 21, 2018 again at the Maritime Institute. We are proud to be celebrating Chessie Green’s 16th year! Come for the great education and enjoy the networking, vendor showcase, and silent auction (to benefit scholarship). 
The MAC-ISA Tree Climbing Championship is an event in which climbers of our chapter compete and showcase their climbing skills. All climbers rotate through five different stations, which are timed and judged by a team of volunteer judges. This year’s event will be held at Morven Park. 
Maryland Licensed Tree Expert exams are administered on the second Wednesday of each month at the Department of Natural Resources Headquarters in Annapolis. Upcoming exam date s are January 9 and March 13, 2019 . To register, please contact Ms. Romcesa Estep, 410-260-8531.