Arboriculture: Integrated Management of Landscape Trees, Shrubs, and Vines (4th Edition) [Paperback]

Richard W. Harris (Author), James R. Clark (Author), Nelda P. Matheny (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130888826 | ISBN-13: 978-0130888822 | Publication Date: January 26, 2003 | Edition: 4

Regarded by many as an irreplaceable reference tool, this book describes the integration of the landscape environment (climate, soil, and related organisms), its effect on landscape plants, and how to manage both to obtain the desired results with reasonable effort. All aspects of tree, shrub, and vine care are covered, including plant structure and function, plant selection, site analysis and preparation, environmental influences on growth, soil, water and nutrient management, pruning, transplanting, and plant health care. A valuable handbook for professionals, including arboricultural consultants, arborists, urban foresters, landscape architects, landscape contractors (installation and/or maintenance), state and county horticultural extension advisors, park directors and staff (federal, state, regional, and local), street tree superintendents and staff, grounds superintendents and staff (golf courses, college and school grounds, cemeteries, condominiums, retirement communities, theme parks, etc.), arboretum and botanic garden directors and staff, nursery growers and retailers.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This revision examines the future of arboriculture in light of new information and maintenance practices. Readers will gain an understanding of plants and plant processes while improving their ability to analyze problems and practices. The text effectively integrates the management of the environment with the maintenance of landscape plans. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Back Cover

A comprehensive guide to the care of trees, this book covers all aspects of arboriculture from the fundamentals of tree growth and development to developing plant health care programs. It discusses aspects of site selection and modification including climate, and soil and water management. The book follows the tree from selection in the nursery to planting and aftercare through such routine practices as pruning, fertilization, support systems, and plant health care. Key management situations such as tree preservation, hazard assessment, and problem diagnosis are discussed in detail.

The fourth edition offers several new features that the student of arboriculture and practicing arborists will find valuable:

• Reorganization of topics to improve continuity of information
• Addition of overviews and summaries for each chapter
• Updated assessment of tree care practices such as soil amendments, mycorrhizae, and tree growth regulators
• Thorough evaluation of the benefits from trees (economic, environmental, ecological, and psychological) including examples of the most recent research on cost-benefit analysis of trees in urban areas
• Emphasis on special management situations such as structural soils, root-pavement conflicts, and remnant forests

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 592 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4 edition (January 26, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130888826
• ISBN-13: 978-0130888822
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,996 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book, January 8, 2000

By 

Paul D. West (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arboriculture: Integrated Management of Landscape Trees, Shrubs, and Vines (3rd Edition) (Hardcover)

Harris wrote the first edition of this book when trees were "trimmed" by the same people who patched asphalt and repaired park benches. It was a breath of rationality in a field that relied mostly on anecdotal information.

The new edition reinforces this work as the compendium of current thinking about how to care for trees. Clark and Matheny build eloquently on Harris's solid foundation.

The public participates actively in caring for trees and demands to know information found in this book. Why not plant the biggest caliper tree you can find? Can't you do something about the tree roots "breaking" up my sewer? Open the book and show them the brief but definitive answer that is easily found here.

I wish more citizen tree advocates would read this book. For that matter, I wish more arborists would too.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overflowing with information, June 24, 2003

By 

MZ (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Arboriculture: Integrated Management of Landscape Trees, Shrubs, and Vines (4th Edition) (Paperback)

Arboriculture is a science and art that is made up of many different contributing factors. This book does a very good job of covering them all. Any one of the chapters could be expanded into a book in itself. This thoroughly researched and written book is for the person who wants all of their information in one place. It is a textbook for the technically minded arborist, tree surgeon, tree farmer, or hobbyist. Don't look for this book to be entertaining or philosophical. Instead, buy this book for the knowledge held within. There is a lot to be learned from it. Every single page is filled with facts, figures, methods, and recommendations. You will find yourself reading every page a second or third time in order to catch it all. I refer back to this book on a regular basis, because there is no way I can remember it all. If you have any questions about the management of trees or shrubs, you will likely find it in this book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, February 25, 2006

By 

Michael P. Hugill (Bethesda, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Arboriculture: Integrated Management of Landscape Trees, Shrubs, and Vines (4th Edition) (Paperback)

Very complete and up to date information on Arboriculture. Chapters are well organized, highlighting what you need to know. Does a great job of covering the basics, but also gets into details and is fairly technical, without becoming unreadable. A must have reference book for the Landscaper.