The Importance of Adhering to ANSI Z60.1 Standards When Buying Trees from a Nursery
The green industry significantly impacts our environment and economy. Upholding proper standards in the purchasing and planting new trees is central to this sector. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has crafted pivotal standards—ANSI Z60.1 and ANSI A300—to ensure consistency and accuracy in tree measurement and labeling.
The American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) developed ANSI Z60.1 to target the nursery sector. This standard fosters uniformity in nursery stock measurement and labeling, ensuring they meet specific performance benchmarks. It lays out guidelines for measuring, labeling and evaluating the performance of nursery stock, including trees, shrubs, and other woody plants.
Conversely, the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) formulated ANSI A300, focusing on the broader care of trees, shrubs, and other woody plants. This standard highlights best practices for planting, pruning, cabling and bracing, lightning protection, and tree risk management, promoting optimal care of trees and woody plants.
Delving into specifics, ANSI Z60.1 recommends measuring trees at 6 inches (15 cm) above the ground for those with a caliper of fewer than 4 inches and at 12 inches (30 cm) above the ground for trees with a caliper of 4 inches or more. This method simplifies measurement and proves especially practical for smaller trees. On the other hand, ANSI A300 advocates measuring the tree trunk at breast height (DBH), typically defined as 4.5 feet (1.37m) above the ground. This method aligns with the industry standard and is widely employed for professional purposes like tree inventory, assessment, and research.
Illustrating the conflicts from varied measurement standards: a nursery received a 30-tree order from a municipality, specifying a 2-inch caliper. Upon delivery, the municipality, measuring the trees at breast height (DBH), found them to be one and three-quarter inches in diameter, unlike the nursery that measured 6 inches above the ground per nursery standards. This led to a dispute, with both parties asserting their correctness. The municipality ended up planting the slightly undersized trees. The trees would have met their specifications if they had ordered a 2 1/2-inch caliper based on nursery standards.
When engaging with nurseries, landscapers, and landscape architects for planting trees, specifying the use of the ANSI Z60.1 standard is imperative. This standard provides a robust framework for measuring, labeling, and evaluating nursery stock, promoting accuracy and consistency in the green industry. Adhering to ANSI Z60.1 ensures that nursery stock meets specific performance standards, paving the way for a more sustainable and well-regulated green industry.
Adhering to ANSI standards transcends maintaining high-quality nursery stock or ensuring proper tree care—it fosters a sustainable, well-regulated green industry. Embracing these standards is a step towards a greener, more sustainable future, underscoring the importance of informed, science-based practices in the green industry.
References:
American National Standards Institute. (n.d.). ANSI Z60.1-2018. American National Standard for Nursery Stock. Retrieved from https://www.ansi.org/
International Society of Arboriculture. (n.d.). ANSI A300. Standards for Tree Care Operations. Retrieved from https://www.isa-arbor.com/
American Nursery and Landscape Association. (n.d.). ANSI Z60.1-2018. American National Standard for Nursery Stock. Retrieved from https://www.anla.org/