"The "Evaluating Tree Defects" field guide is an excellent resource for seeing the different types of tree defects, guidelines for evaluating those defects, and guidelines for evaluating tree decay. The field guide is often used by Arborist's to show to their customers while evaluating their trees. The field guide is 34 pages with 58 color photographs and 43 illustrations. The field guide explains how to evaluate the major categories of tree defects with eighteen easy to use field guidelines. There are several examples of each type of tree defect. Additionally, there are sections on the common defects of each species, resistance to decay by species, basic tree mechanics, terminology, and safety issues for arborists."--Pub. desc.

Trees add to our enjoyment of outdoor experiences whether they're growing in forests, parks, or urban landscapes. Too often, we are unaware of the risks associated with defective trees, which can injure people and damage property. There has been more interest in tree risk management in recent years because of safety and liability concerns that result from preventable accidents. Recognizing hazardous trees and taking proper corrective actions can protect property and save lives. A tree is considered hazardous when it has "structural defects likely to cause failure of all or part of the tree, which could strike a 'target' and cause an unacceptable degree of injury or damage." A target can be a vehicle, building, or a place where people gather such as a park bench, picnic table, street, or backyard.