Who Performs Professional Tree Risk Assessments?

Professional tree risk assessments are performed by certified arborists who have specialized training in tree biology and safety. Specifically, these evaluations should be conducted by professionals holding the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) from the International Society of Arboriculture.

In the Northwest Louisiana area, Miller Tree Service employs four TRAQ-qualified arborists who perform these systematic evaluations. These experts use various professional methods to determine tree stability, including:

• Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) to identify defects like cracks, leaning, or crown dieback.
• Sounding techniques using a mallet to detect internal decay or hollow voids.
• Probing suspected areas with specialized rods to measure rot depth.

Because of the liability involved and the specialized knowledge required to identify early hazard indicators (such as mushroom fungi or soil heaving), property owners are advised to avoid DIY methods and hire certified experts for these inspections.