Arborist Reports

Partial Listing of Clients

Tree Appraisals Projects

• Law Office of Borton, Petrini & Conron, LLP. Los Angeles, CA
  
• Law Office of: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, LLP. Los Angeles, CA
• Law Office of Daniels, Fine, Israel, Schonbuch & Lebovits, LLP. Los Angeles, CA
• RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA
• Koning & Associates, San Mateo, CA
• Law Offices of Winters & Krug. San Francisco, CA
• Law Office of Watten, Discoe, Bassett & McMains. Orange County, CA
  
• Liberty Mutual, Laguna Beach, CA
• Kemper Insurance, Laguna Niguel, CA

Tree Risk and Hazard Assessment Projects

• Laurel Properties, San Francisco, CA
• Paloma Summit Apartments, Orange County, CA
• Rancho Los Alamitos Historic Ranch and Gardens, Los Angeles, CA
• Tru Mark Real Estate Management, Los Angeles, CA

Personal Injury and Property Damage Projects

• Law Office of Leviton, Diaz & Ginocchio, Inc. Los Angeles, CA
• Law Office of Mansell and Mansell. Los Angeles, CA
• County of San Mateo. Redwood City, CA
• Law Offices of Chong & Chong. Hawaii
• Law Offices of Lewis, Brisbois, Brisgbard and Smith. San Francisco, CA
• Law Office of Brent Scott. Orange County, CA
• Law Office of Michael Hearn. Orange County, CA
• Law Office of Bremer, Whyte, Brown & O'Meara. Newport Beach, CA
• Law Office of Callahan McCune & Willis. San Diego, CA
• Law office of Avila & Peros, LLP. Orange County, CA
• Law Office of Rager & Noiroux, LLP. Orange County, CA
• Law Office of Best Best & Krieger, LLP. Indian Wells, CA
• Law Offices of Cota, Duncan & Cole. Sacramento, CA
• Law Offices of Freedman & Taitelman. Beverly Hills, CA

Tree Root Projects

• Law office of Leonard Broudy. Los Angeles, CA
• Law Offices of Prout and Levangie. Sacramento, CA
• Law Offices of Newmeyer and Dillion. Newport Beach, CA
• Amber Property Management. Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
• USAA Insurance. San Diego, CA
• Safeco Insurance. Los Angeles, CA
• Markel Insurance Company. Los Angeles, CA
• Law Office of Borton, Petrini & Conron, LLP. Los Angeles, CA
• Mercury Insurance. Garden Grove, CA
• Capital Insurance Group San Diego, CA
• Wexco International. Beverly Hills, CA

Fire Damage Projects

• Chubb Insurance. San Diego, CA
• ITS Insurance Group. Santa Barbara, CA
• Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Santa Barbara, CA
• Travelers Insurance. Santa Barbara, CA
• Westmont College. Santa Barbara, CA
• Newport Insurance Company. Orange County, Ca

Tree Protection During Construction Projects

• AT&T. San Francisco, CA
• NBC Universal Studios. Los Angeles, CA
• City of Mission Viejo. Orange County, CA
• Sullivan, Workman & Dee, LLP. Los Angeles, CA
• City of Huntington Beach. Orange County, CA
• First Pacific Builders. Pasadena, CA
• LINC Housing. Pasadena, CA
• Modjeska Historic House and Garden. Orange County, CA
• Temple Beth Tikvah. Orange County, CA
• Pacific Construction. Irvine, CA
• Canyon Palms Properties, LLC. Coto de Caza, CA

Fire Damage Claims

The Tea Fire in Santa Barbara County occurred near a historic and outdated tea house in the hills of Montecito. With wind gusts up to 90 mph, the fire quickly spread during the twilight-hour dubbed sundowner winds. The blaze rapidly reached the thick eucalyptus and oak tree stands, nearby Westmont College and the surrounding homes.

We were assigned the task of assessing the value of hundreds of fire damaged amenity oak trees, eucalyptus trees, sequoia trees, pines, olive and palms over 80 acres. In order to accurately assess tree and landscape plant inventory for this insurance claim, our team worked closely with personnel with direct knowledge of the trees, plants and site layout. Although the most commonly used method to determine tree valuation is the trunk formula method, our formulas also consisted of cost of cure and cost replacement methods.

Evergreen Arborists Consultants, Inc. has the experience, knowledge and staff to handle large tree fire insurance claims thoughout California.

Tree Risk & Hazard Assessment

Most of us have witnessed the destruction of a tree that has damaged property. Trees fall on and through houses, cars and block walls. Trees can fall for many reasons. Some of the reasons trees fail can be severed roots due to construction, poor root structure, poor pruning maintenance practices or decay. Tree roots can also be destructive by cracking and lifting a home's foundations, driveways or walls.

We also have probably heard stories of trees causing personal injury or death. A tree near a sidewalk may lift the sidewalk creating a possible trip and fall hazard. Tree branches falling from a tree's canopy can bring a lot of force causing severe injury or death. Similar to the reasons for tree failure, branches may break due to wind, poor attachments, poor pruning maintenance practices and decay.

Through the years, Evergreen Arborists Consultants, Inc. has experience in examining thousands of trees. We evaluate a tree's signs and symptoms ranging from decay, poor branch structure, poor pruning and maintenance practices and roots. The fundamental goal of tree risk assessment is to help minimize development of hazardous tree defects and help reduce the risks trees may pose. No tree is without risk but a tree risk and hazard evaluation may help reduce possible personal injury and property damage from falling trees or branches.

Insurance Claims

Evergreen Arborists & Consultants, Inc. staff of certified arborists and licensed landscape contractors are qualified to give expert opinion on multi-level casualty claims. Insurance companies prefer working with our staff because of our diverse background in both landscape and tree issues.

We are prompt and responsive in meeting deadlines and working within budgets. Our reports are organized, easy to read, and on time. We summarize our reports with clear, specific, informative, and to-the-point findings.

Our staff is comprised of knowledgeable, motivated, and dedicated experts who are willing to go the extra mile for our clients. We canvass each site in order to provide insightful details. Communication lines remain open to ensure a prompt response to all requests.

Why Trees Fall Down

The potential for trees to fall over is increased when tree roots are severed or cut caused by digging and trenching. Tree roots play a critical role in anchoring a tree. Tree roots extend outward much more than down into the soil. If the major support roots are cut on one side of a tree, the tree may fall or blow over. Severing roots, even a couple of feet away from a tree, can severely damage its nutrient uptake as well as its stability system which may create a hazard. Trees with severed roots may lean or show symptoms on the side of the tree with root damage.

Construction may also be deadly to nearby trees. Tree decline may be the result of severed or damaged tree roots. If roots are severed, some buds and twigs may immediately die, weakening the tree. The weakened tree may begin to show decline symptoms such as lack of vigor and reduced growth. Other stress symptoms can include wilt or early fall color. Trees may survive and recover if the damage does not exceed twenty five percent of the total root zone.

Unless the damage is extreme, the trees may not die immediately and may take several years before the tree shows signs of root damage. With the delay in symptoms, one may not associate the loss of the tree with construction work.

The ability to repair construction damage to trees is limited. Therefore, the single most important step action one can take during construction is protecting the root zone around all of the trees. The fences should be placed as far out from the trunks of the trees as possible. As a general guideline, allow foot of space from the trunk for each inch of trunk diameter. The intent is not merely to protect the aboveground portion of the tree but also its root system. It’s important to remember that the root systems extend much farther than the canopy of the tree

Tree Appraisals

Tree and landscape appraisals are needed for a variety of reasons. Some appraisals are required for settlement of litigation or insurance claims, loss of property value, or establishing plant values for plants that may have been damaged during construction. Other appraisals are needed to assess plant damage or plant loss due to a fire.

Many of our appraisals involve a tree or trees that have been damaged by unwanted trimming or removed while the homeowners have been away on vacation. We strongly recommend documenting any damage or loss with photos, even if the tree or trees have been removed. Photos or videos that show the tree or trees may provide enough information for an appraisal.

Because trees and plants may have value, it is important to hire a qualified appraiser who is skilled in tree and plant valuation.