Tree Care Technician Manual

🌳 Welcome to the Tree Care Division

Welcome to Richter's Beautification / GreenX Lawn Care. You are now part of a team that takes pride in delivering exceptional tree and shrub care to residential and commercial customers. Your work directly impacts the health, beauty, and longevity of the landscapes entrusted to us.

As a Tree Care Technician, you are more than an applicator. You are a diagnostician, a consultant, and a representative of the Richter's Beautification brand. Every property you visit is an opportunity to demonstrate professionalism, technical knowledge, and genuine care for the customer's landscape.

This manual is your primary reference. You are to read it thoroughly, keep it accessible, and consult it whenever you encounter an unfamiliar condition, code, or procedure. If something is not covered here, ask your manager before improvising.

🎯 Company Mission

This mission applies to every service we provide — lawn care, tree and shrub care, pest management, and specialty programs. You are to internalize this mission and let it guide your decisions in the field. When you are unsure whether to take an extra step for a customer, the answer is yes.

Superior Customer Service Means:

• Arriving prepared and professional
• Communicating clearly through condition codes, specialist notes, and invoices
• Proactively identifying problems before the customer notices them
• Offering solutions (upsells) that genuinely benefit the landscape
• Leaving every property cleaner than you found it

Environmentally Responsible Practices Means:

• Applying products accurately and at correct rates
• Avoiding drift, runoff, and over-application
• Recognizing when a problem requires cultural correction rather than chemical treatment
• Following all label instructions and regulatory requirements

🌿 Tree Care Philosophy

Trees and shrubs are the backbone of any landscape. They provide structure, shade, privacy, and aesthetic value. Unlike turf, which can recover from damage in weeks, trees and shrubs represent years — sometimes decades — of growth. A misdiagnosis or missed treatment can result in irreversible decline or death.

🛡️ Tree Care Services Overview

As a Tree Care Technician, you are responsible for delivering the following programs and services:

👤 Role of the Tree Care Technician

You are to fulfill three primary functions at every stop:

1. Diagnostician. You are the eyes on the property. Systematically inspect trees and shrubs for signs of insect activity, disease symptoms, nutrient deficiencies, structural problems, environmental stress, and cultural issues. Document every observation using the condition code system (Chapter 3).
2. Treatment Specialist. Apply scheduled treatments accurately and on time. Carry the knowledge to identify when additional or alternative treatments are warranted. Understand product labels, application rates, and timing windows. Never apply a product you do not understand.
3. Customer Educator. Through specialist notes, condition codes, and face-to-face conversation, keep the customer informed about what you found, what you did, and what they can do to support landscape health.

⭐ Quality Philosophy

Quality is not something you turn on for inspections and turn off when no one is watching. Quality is how you operate at every stop, on every property, every day.

• Every code entered. If you see it, you code it. No exceptions.
• Every surface blown clean. Sidewalks, driveways, walkways — every time.
• Every invoice complete. Specialist notes filled in, products recorded, ratings entered.
• Every upsell considered. Not to pad numbers, but because the customer deserves to know what would help their landscape.
• Every piece of equipment maintained. Buggy cleaned, paddles scraped, hoses coiled, truck organized.

📚 What Comes Next

• Chapter 2: Routine Stop Procedure — the step-by-step process for every property visit
• Chapter 3: Tree & Shrub Condition Codes — the complete reference for documenting what you observe
• Chapter 4: Tree Care Upsells — the complete reference for recommending additional services
• Chapter 5: Treatment Programs — detailed protocols for all programs
• Chapter 6: Safety & Chemical Handling — PPE, spill procedures, drift management
• Chapter 7: Sizing, Gallons & Pricing — plant sizing, gallon calculations, and pricing tables
• Chapter 8: Chemical Mix Rates — fill charts for pesticides, fertilizers, and systemic insecticides by tank volume
• Chapter 9: Quick Reference — at-a-glance summaries for condition codes, upsell triggers, timing, and formulas

You are to familiarize yourself with all chapters before your first day in the field.

🔄 Tree Care vs. Lawn Care Stops

The routine stop procedure described in this chapter originates from the standard Richter's Beautification field procedure used across all service lines. Many steps reference lawn-specific tasks. As a Tree Care Technician, you are to follow the same general framework but focus your inspection and treatment activities on trees and shrubs.

📝 Step-by-Step Routine Stop Procedure

Step 1: Clock In and Prepare

Turn on your tablet and open Mobile Live. Clock in at the start of your shift. Ensure your tablet is charged, your route is loaded, and your truck is stocked before leaving the yard.

Step 2: Navigate to the Property

Follow GPS to the correct address. Double-check the address before exiting the truck. Treating the wrong property is one of the most serious errors you can make — it wastes product, creates liability, and damages customer trust.

Start your timers on the tablet before exiting the truck. Time tracking is essential for route efficiency analysis and labor costing.

Step 3: Deploy Equipment and Flag the Lawn

Retrieve the buggy from the truck. Place the service flag in the lawn to indicate that treatment is in progress.

Step 4: Apply Treatment — Observe Everything

During treatment application, apply products while simultaneously conducting a thorough visual inspection. Observation happens while you work.

While treating, you are to recognize and note:

• Weed species and severity
• Grass types and condition
• Disease symptoms (leaf spots, wilting, discoloration)
• Insect damage (chewing, stippling, galls, frass, webbing)
• Cultural problems: turf cut too short, thin/bare areas, recently seeded areas, compacted soil, poor drainage

Tree and shrub conditions to identify:

• Insect activity (see Chapter 3: Tree Insects)
• Disease symptoms (see Chapter 3: Tree Diseases)
• Dead or dying branches
• Excessive mulch / volcano mulching
• Girdling roots
• Winter damage
• Deer or rabbit feeding damage
• Chlorosis or nutrient deficiency
• Pruning needs
• Species identification for program recommendations

Step 5: Park and Secure the Buggy

After completing the application, park the buggy at the bottom of the truck ramp and shut it off. Do not leave the buggy running unattended.

Step 6: Targeted Weed Treatment

Grab the hand can or pull the hose to target hard-to-kill weeds requiring spot treatment. Common targets include crabgrass, wild violets, oxalis, and ground ivy (creeping charlie).

Step 7: Be PRO-ACTIVE

Go the extra mile at every stop:

• Treat edges, borders, and hard-to-reach areas
• Inspect the back yard even when only the front is contracted
• Check tree bases, under canopies, and along fence lines
• Remove obvious debris from treated areas
• Note conditions that may not have a code — describe them in specialist notes

Step 8: Blow Off All Surfaces

Use the blower to clean all sidewalks, driveways, and walkways. Before putting the blower back:

• Blow off the buggy — fertilizer buildup causes corrosion
• Scrape and clean paddles — buildup causes striping on subsequent lawns

Step 9: Secure Equipment and Close Up

Put the buggy and blower back on the truck. Close and secure the gate. Verify nothing is left on the customer's property. Check that hoses are coiled and no equipment is dragging.

📱 Tablet Procedure — Documentation

Quick Call Log

Enter Quick Call Log entries for issues requiring immediate manager attention: customer complaints, safety hazards, property access issues, equipment malfunctions, and conditions you cannot identify. Forward all entries to your manager.

Product Usage Recording

If a product category was not used, tap the X to remove it. Do not leave unused products in the log.

Condition Codes

Enter ALL condition codes for everything you observed. This is critical for three reasons:

1. Customer communication — codes generate descriptions on the invoice
2. Front office awareness — the office uses codes to anticipate calls and plan services
3. Service history — codes create a permanent record enabling trend analysis

Upsells

Review the property for upsell opportunities. Consider:

• Does this property have crabapple or pear trees → Crab & Pear Program?
• Are trees showing nutrient deficiency → Deep Root Feeding?
• Are there chlorotic trees → Micronutrient treatment?
• Would evergreens benefit from → Winter Protection?
• Are there pest or disease issues → Additional targeted treatment?

Environmental Conditions

Enter temperature, wind speed, and lawn rating (1–9) at each stop.

Specialist Notes

Use this space to explain what you found in plain language, tell the customer what they can do, recommend additional services, and acknowledge positives. Write as if speaking directly to the customer.

Print and Deliver Invoice

1. Print the invoice and any applicable coupons from the tablet
2. Separate the customer copy from the office copies
3. Place the customer copy in a door hanger bag
4. Hang the bag on the customer's front door handle

Do not leave invoices on the ground, under mats, or in mailboxes (placing non-postal items in mailboxes is a federal violation).

🌲 Tree Care-Specific Adaptations

• Equipment: May use backpack sprayers, hose reels with spray guns, soil injection equipment, or trunk injection tools rather than the standard buggy.
• Application focus: Primary targets are trees and shrubs, not turf. However, still observe and code turf conditions.
• Inspection scope: Look up (canopy), look down (root zone, mulch), and look close (bark, branch unions, leaf surfaces).
• Product categories: Insecticides, fungicides, fertilizers, anti-desiccants, and soil amendments specific to tree and shrub care.
• Timing: Some applications are highly time-sensitive (dormant oil before bud break; fungicide at green tip). Follow the seasonal calendar.

📌 How to Use This Chapter

Codes are organized into four categories:

1. Tree/Shrub Conditions — General property and plant health observations
2. Species Identification — Record plant species present for program tracking
3. Tree Diseases — Fungal, bacterial, and other disease observations
4. Tree Insects — Insect pest identification and activity

For each stop, scan all four categories and enter every code that applies. Multiple codes per stop are expected and encouraged.

📌 Upselling Philosophy

Upselling is about building blocks — think marathon, not sprint. Every visit is an opportunity to identify what the property needs and recommend the right service at the right time. Document what you see, recommend what helps, and let the program build over multiple seasons.

🌿 Standard Tree & Shrub Care Program

The standard program consists of multiple visits throughout the growing season to provide:

• Fertilization — Deep root feeding with essential nutrients (18-3-6, Essential, Bio Nutrient, Bio Nutrition, Vegamin, and other specialized formulations)
• Insect control — Foliar sprays and systemic treatments targeting active and preventive pest management
• Disease control — Fungicide applications for common tree and shrub diseases
• Monitoring — Condition code documentation at every stop to track plant health over time

🍎 Crab & Pear Program (UCP)

Upsell Code: UCP

Crabapple and pear trees are highly susceptible to leaf-spotting diseases (primarily Apple Scab and Cedar Apple Rust) that require more intensive treatment than the standard program provides. The Crab & Pear Program delivers additional fungicide applications specifically targeting these diseases.

Why It Matters

• Apple Scab causes dark, olive-green to black spots on leaves and can lead to premature defoliation
• Leaf litter from infected trees must be cleaned up — fallen leaves harbor spores that re-infect the tree the following spring
• Cedar Apple Rust requires two hosts to complete its life cycle: juniper and crabapple/apple or pear

When to Recommend: Any property with crabapple or pear trees should be evaluated for this program.

🌱 Deep Root Feeding (UDR)

Upsell Code: UDR

Deep root fertilization delivers nutrients directly into the root zone of trees and shrubs. This is especially important for plants in urban and suburban landscapes where soil may be compacted, nutrient-deficient, or lacking in beneficial biology.

Products

Deep root fertilizer blends containing nitrogen, potassium, chelated iron, and systemic insecticide (where applicable), plus micronutrients and beneficial compounds.

Why It Matters

• Trees in landscape settings do not have access to natural nutrient cycling found in forests
• Compacted soil prevents roots from absorbing water and nutrients effectively
• Deep root feeding improves overall tree vigor, making plants more resistant to insects and diseases
• When combined with systemic insecticide, provides season-long pest protection from within the plant

🌲 Conifer Programs

Conifer trees (spruce, pine, fir, hemlock, cedar, juniper, arborvitae) face a unique set of challenges in Southeast Michigan.

Common Conifer Diseases

Common Conifer Insects

Treatment Approach for Conifers

1. Preventive fungicide applications early in the season for needle diseases
2. Foliar insecticide sprays timed to insect emergence
3. Deep root fertilization with systemic insecticide for season-long protection
4. Dormant oil applications in early spring to control overwintering insects and eggs

💛 Chlorotic Tree Treatment (UCT)

Upsell Code: UCT

Chlorosis is the yellowing of normally green leaves due to a lack of chlorophyll, indicating a nutrient deficiency — most commonly iron.

Common Causes

• Iron deficiency (most common)
• Manganese deficiency
• High soil pH locking out nutrients
• Poor soil drainage
• Root damage or compaction

Treatment

• Chelated iron applications (foliar or deep root injection)
• Soil amendments to address pH issues
• Deep root feeding to improve overall nutrient availability

When to Recommend: Any tree or shrub showing yellow leaves with green veins (interveinal chlorosis). Pin oaks and red maples are particularly susceptible.

🍂 Verticillium Wilt Treatment (UVT)

Upsell Code: UVT

Verticillium Wilt is a soil-borne disease that affects the vascular system of trees and shrubs. It is particularly devastating to Japanese Maples and Barberry bushes.

Symptoms

• Wilting of leaves on individual branches
• Leaf scorch and browning
• Dieback of branches, often on one side of the plant
• Dark streaking visible in the wood when a branch is cut

Treatment

There is no chemical cure for Verticillium Wilt. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and supporting plant vigor:

• Deep root feeding to improve plant health
• Proper watering and mulching
• Pruning out dead and dying branches (sterilize tools between cuts)
• Avoiding mechanical damage to roots

❄️ Winter Protection Program (UWN)

Upsell Code: UWN

Winter protection treatments help evergreen plants survive Michigan's harsh winters. Broadleaf evergreens and certain conifers are especially vulnerable to winter burn, desiccation, and freeze-thaw damage.

Target Plants

Boxwood, Yew, Holly, Rhododendron, Juniper, Cedar, Hemlock, Spruce, and Arborvitae

Treatment

• Anti-desiccant sprays applied in late fall to reduce moisture loss through foliage during winter
• Deep root feeding in fall to ensure plants are well-nourished going into dormancy

Related Condition Codes

🔬 Specialty Treatment Methods

Dormant Oil Applications

Dormant oil is applied in early spring before leaf-out to smother overwintering insects and eggs on branches and twigs.

Effective Against: Scale insects (Cottony Maple Scale, Euonymus Scale, Lecanium Scale, Elongate Hemlock Scale), Adelgids, Mites, Overwintering insect eggs

Timing: Early spring, before new growth emerges.

Trunk Injection (Arbor Systems)

Trunk injection delivers pesticides, fungicides, or nutrients directly into the tree's vascular system through ports drilled into the trunk. Used for large trees where foliar sprays cannot reach the canopy effectively.

Wedgle Direct Inject

The Wedgle Direct Inject system delivers micro-doses of pesticide or nutrient into the tree's cambium layer without drilling holes. Less invasive than traditional trunk injection.

Two Reference Charts in Your Binder:

1. Wedgle Direct Inject Pest Timing Chart — which pests to treat and when
2. Wedgle Direct Inject Disease & Nutrient Timing Chart — which diseases/deficiencies to treat and when

🧴 Chemical Products — Tree Division

🧤 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

You are to wear appropriate PPE for every application. At minimum:

• Chemical-resistant gloves when mixing, loading, or applying any pesticide product
• Safety glasses or goggles when mixing or spraying
• Long sleeves and long pants during all applications
• Closed-toe shoes or boots — no sandals, no open footwear

For specific products, always refer to the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) in your binder. The SDS will specify additional PPE requirements including respiratory protection, face shields, and chemical-resistant aprons.

📦 Chemical Storage and Transport

1. Keep chemicals contained in truck shelving or with borders to prevent movement during transport
2. Drive appropriately for road conditions — most chemical accidents happen during transport
3. Chemical containers must be sealed when not in active use
4. Never store chemicals in the truck cab — only in the designated containment area
5. Check for faulty hoses or valves before starting each day. Leaking equipment during transport is a spill.
6. SDS sheets are in your binder at all times with critical information about every product you carry

💨 Drift Management Plan

When applying liquid products — especially at elevated spray heights for tree canopies — drift is a significant concern. Drift can damage neighboring properties, ornamental plantings, vehicles, and structures.

Rules for Drift Prevention

1. Check wind conditions before every spray application. Record wind speed in the tablet.
2. Do not spray in high winds. If conditions are unsafe, move to the next stop and return later.
3. Be aware of neighboring properties — especially gardens, vehicles, pools, and outdoor furniture.
4. Reduce spray pressure when possible to minimize fine droplet formation.
5. Use the lowest effective nozzle height for the target canopy.
6. Apply during calm morning hours whenever possible — wind is typically lowest before 10 AM.

🚨 Chemical Spill Contingency Plan

Any chemical spill is to be cleaned up immediately to prevent the spill from reaching storm drains or waterways. Do not focus on the cost of the cleanup or the loss of product. Focus on controlling the spill.

Step 1: Assess the Spill

• Is the spill on concrete, in the lawn, or near ornamentals?
• How much product was spilled?
• Is anyone at risk (bystanders, animals)?
• Refer to the SDS for the specific product spilled

Step 2: Contain the Spill

• Use your Spill Kit and proper PPE as recommended by the SDS
• Surround the spilled pesticide with a barrier so it cannot spread
• Use absorbent materials (dry absorbent, sawdust, or kitty litter) to soak up liquid
• Use containment snakes to create barriers
• Do NOT use absorbent material on dry pesticide — sweep dry product instead
• Never add water to a spilled area — it will spread the spill

Step 3: Clean the Spill

• Dry pesticides: Sweep up and place in a waterproof container
• Liquid spills: Absorb with spill kit materials, place in container
• Soil spills: Excavate contaminated soil and place in a container. Replace with clean soil.
• Label the container with: product name, person who cleaned the spill, and date
• Use the smallest amount of liquid needed for cleaning — more liquid = more waste to dispose of

Step 4: Decontaminate

• Clean all equipment used in cleanup
• Remove and wash PPE
• Change personal clothing and launder under hot water as soon as possible

Step 5: Location-Specific Notes

• Inside an enclosed area: Ventilate by opening doors and windows
• Outside: Keep foot traffic and animals away from the spill area

📞 Emergency Contacts

📋 SDS (Safety Data Sheet) Reference

Your binder contains SDS sheets for every product you carry. Each SDS provides:

• Company and product identification
• Trade and common names
• Typical uses and chemical composition
• Hazard identification
• First aid measures
• Fire fighting measures
• Accidental release measures (spill procedures)
• Handling and storage requirements
• PPE recommendations
• Disposal considerations

🌲 Tree-Specific Safety Considerations

Trunk Injection Safety

• Trunk injection creates wounds in the tree. Follow Arbor Systems or Wedgle protocols precisely.
• Use clean, sterile injection equipment. Cross-contamination can spread disease between trees.
• Dispose of injection tips and seals properly.

Spray Height Safety

• Tree spray rigs operate at heights that create unique drift and exposure risks
• Never spray directly overhead without face/eye protection
• Be aware of overhead power lines when positioning spray equipment
• If a tree exceeds your safe spray range, code it C03 and do not attempt the application

Deer & Animal Encounters

• If you encounter an aggressive animal, do not approach. Leave the property and notify the office.
• Report wildlife damage using appropriate codes (D01, D02, RF).

📏 Shrub Size Codes & Gallon Multipliers

Use visual references to assign the correct size code. When in doubt, round up — it is better to slightly overestimate than to run short.

Formula: Shrub Gallons = Quantity × Size Multiplier

🌳 Tree Size Codes & Gallon Multipliers

Tree gallons are calculated using DBH (Diameter at Breast Height) — the trunk diameter measured at 4.5 feet above ground.

Formulas

• Tree Spray Gallons = Quantity × DBH × Size Factor
• Tree Deep Root Gallons = DBH × 1.2 gal/inch (all sizes)

🏗️ H-Size Trees (20+ feet)

Trees sized H are out of scope for foliar spray programs. They are too tall to effectively spray from the ground.

• Mark as size H and flag for trunk injection (TIB)
• H-size trees appear in the injection section of the inventory, NOT in spray gallon totals
• Quote trunk injection at $149/tree flat rate
• Common injection candidates: Ash (EAB prevention), Elm, Hemlock, and any tree >20'

🌿 Hedgerow Calculations

Long continuous hedges (e.g., 60-foot arborvitae screen) can be measured by linear foot:

Alternatively, count individual plants if they are clearly spaced. Use whichever method gives a more accurate count.

🍎 Crab & Pear (CPP) Gallon Calculation

CPP uses a separate formula because it targets specific disease-susceptible trees:

💲 Pricing Tables

TSP — Plant Health Care (5 apps/season, Apr–Oct)

CPP — Crab & Pear Program (3 apps, 14–21 day intervals)

DES/DEF — Deep Root Feeding (Spring or Fall, 1 app each)

WIN — Winter Protection (1 app, November, evergreens only)

Other Services

⏱️ Sanity Check: Output Rate

Your sprayer outputs approximately 3 gallons per minute. Use this to reality-check your gallon totals:

If the calculated gallons don't match what you'd expect to spray on that property, re-check your inventory before moving on.

📅 2026 Application Timing

📌 How to Use These Tables

These tables show the quantity of product (in ounces unless noted) to add for each tank volume. Use the column matching your tank size. These are mix rates — the amount of product to put in the tank. For End Use Dilution rates (what you record on the tablet), refer to the separate End Use Dilution cheat sheet in your binder.

📋 Program-Specific Mix Charts

Your physical binder contains program-specific mix charts for each treatment program. These charts show the exact chemical combinations for each round:

🏷️ Condition Code Cheat Sheet

Tree/Shrub Conditions (26 codes)

Key Disease Codes (16 codes)

High-Priority Insect Codes

💰 Upsell Trigger Map

When you see these species or conditions, recommend the corresponding upsell:

📅 Program Timing At-a-Glance

CON (Conifer): 4 rounds Apr–Sep  |  CHF (Chlorotic): up to 2/season as needed

📐 Key Formulas

📞 Emergency Numbers