Our Tree Timeline

2003 – In 2003, to improve safety in the tree care industry throughout the United States, TCIA (then the National Arborist Association) and federal OSHA entered into an Alliance Agreement. Under this agreement, both parties sought to better communicate safety issues and freely exchange educational materials in an effort to assist TCIA members with safety.

1996 – Inception of Family Tree Care

1991 – TCIA was accredited as a standards-developing organization with ASC A300 as the consensus body on June 28, 1991. ASC A300 meets regularly to write new standards and review and revise existing ANSI A300 standards. The committee includes industry representatives with broad knowledge and technical expertise from residential and commercial tree care, utility, municipal and federal sectors, landscape and nursery industries, and other interested organizations.

1991 – Dr. Alex Shigo publishes “Modern Arboriculture” This is significant because it really solidified the way that the modern arborist cares for trees. We rely heavily on Dr. Shigo’s research and publications whenever working with a tree.

1950s – Innovation, inspired by life on the farm, drove the design and testing of various products. During a test in 1953, an operator hit the wrong lever on a prototype stump cutter, causing the wheel to cut in an unintended direction. Since it cut five times faster, a new design was developed. It’s this spirit of learning from failure that has continued to drive design for decades.

1970s – Shigo and fellow researchers publish several studies proving tree wound dressing ineffective and demonstrating its inability to fight decay.

1970 – Stihl releases the 030 AV which it the first saw to be effectively used in “limbing,” (pruning) this dramatically changes the way trees are pruned by allowing workers to follow the recommendation of pruning branches behind the branch collar. Previously, workers ignored the recommended practice, choosing to cut the branch at its narrowest point just beyond the collar. This was because they only had handsaws.

1954 – Stihl invents the BLK chainsaw, one of the first saws light enough to be brought in an aerial setting (https://www.stihlusa.com/information/corporate/about-us/stihl-company-history/).

1927 – The first mass-produced gas chainsaw enters production, made by Dolmar.

1926 – Andreas Stihl produces the first chainsaw. It was an electric two-man saw weighing 106 lbs and used in mill yards (https://www.stihlusa.com/information/corporate/about-us/stihl-company-history/).

1924 – The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is founded.

August 16, 1922 – Foundation of the Connecticut Tree Protective Association (CTPA)

August 21, 1856 – The Charter Oak estimated to be over 1,000 years old in Hartford, Connecticut falls in a severe rain and wind storm.

1756 – Mr. Buchting suggests that when pruning, the branch collar should not be removed. This was revolutionary because up to this point in time humans had been taught to cut the tree branch as close to the trunk as possible. Although it looked neat and tidy, it actually removed the section of the tree that is important for wound healing and decay compartmentalization.

October 31, 1687 – One of the first drafts of the Constitution of the United States of America is hidden in the Charter Oak in Hartford Connecticut.