ISAT is the Texas chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Every year ISAT puts on the Texas Tree Climbing Championships. The winner of our Texas competition qualifies to represent our chapter in the international tree climbing championships (ITCC). Just to be clear, the ISA is truly an international organization. There are 37 chapters and 9 associate organizations. 20 of them are US and 17 other countries.
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category.August 26, 2011
All About the Texas Tree Climbing Competition
August 21, 2011
2012 Texas Tree Climbing Championships
The annual Jamboree for Texas tree climbers is coming to Austin again next spring. If you haven’t been before you should come! Two action-packed, tree-climbing days will culminate to yield the 2012 Champion who’ll earn the right to represent our state/chapter in the international championships in Portland, Oregon next summer. (keep reading…)
March 18, 2011
Rainwater Harvesting / Collection
As much as I want to believe that my exhaustive arborist knowledge and skills are the saving grace for all trees I encounter, the reality is rain does more good than anything I can dream up. Unless…if I could provide trees with rainwater on demand! Hello rainwater harvesting. Did you know that irrigation water from a well or the city’s supply is vastly different than rainwater? (keep reading…)
March 14, 2011
Now Hiring Arborist / Salesman
We are currently looking to hire an ISA certified arborist for a sales position. Come join our team of knowledgeable tree workers and help keep Austin Green! (keep reading…)
February 12, 2011
Google Earth Fun
This post really isn’t all that useful from a tree point of view. But, this blog is my playground, and so here is the most recent thing I’ve been playing with: Google Earth API. I got my hands on a file that shows all the “potential”oak wilt sites in Texas based on some questionable aerial imagery diagnosis. (keep reading…)
September 19, 2010
No Tree Left Behind
Trees are the original green. I’m talking about the green movement. Almost every community across the country has some kind of tree ordinance these days. We know trees make a big contribution to the health and beauty of our living space, but what is the best way to ensure trees get what they need to sustain. After all, we’re insisting the trees remain, but they’re only beneficial to us as healthy, lush canopies. Unhealthy trees fall down. That’s just how it works. That’s what old trees do as they die. All too often the tall green objects we covet aren’t allowed the conditions they need to thrive. The solutions is that every tree needs to be addressed as an individual…”No Tree Left Behind.”
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August 2, 2010
A Tree Climbing View From Above
Every now and then I like to do a fun climb. It really is a relaxing and peaceful thing 
for me to do. However, I wouldn’t recommend it for the average Joe. I have all the right safety equipment and know how to (hopefully) keep from breaking my neck.
July 18, 2010
How to Grow Fruit Trees
Growing healthy fruit trees can be very rewarding. There is nothing more satisfying than eating something you have grown yourself. However, fruit trees can be very frustrating. If you lose your crop, 
you miss out for the whole year. There are a number of things to consider when growing fruit trees. Here are some good tips to help you along your way.
site conditions
Ideally, You would want about 7-8 hours of direct morning and mid-day sun with some filtered shade in the afternoon on a well drained site with irrigation. It is rare to (keep reading…)
June 30, 2010
Tree Rings –Using Dendrochronology to Age Trees –Counting Rings
Counting rings is the tried and true method for determining the age of a tree. Dendrochronology is the science of counting tree rings to determine tree age and to identify extreme and unique environmental events. Scientists use certain trees, such as bristlecone 
pine, that have slow growth rates and live for a very long time, to map out long sequences of weather patterns. These sequences are use to compare to known events, and to help develop base lines for carbon dating. In some regions dendrochronologists have more than 10,000 years sequenced. There are some problems with counting rings. Some of them surmountable and some not.
May 9, 2010
Treaty Oak in Austin
The Treaty Oak is a southern live oak (Quercus virginiana) located in Treaty Oak Park on Baylor St. between 5th and 6th downtown. This historic tree is said to be over 500 years old. In 1927, our green piece of history was inducted into the American Forestry hall of fame. They said it to be the “most perfect specimen”of a tree in north America. The Treaty Oak is the last tree standing from a group of trees known as the Council Oaks. The grove was 14 trees strong at one time.
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I'm Keith Brown, owner of Austin Tree Experts. This is my repository of tree knowledge. I hope you find what you are looking for.
