Davey Tree Flipbooks

11 July/August 2026 | THE DAVEY BULLETIN Through her white oak decline research, Roz Remsen, technical advisor, Davey Institute, was able to fi nd solutions to the condition. The work aids Davey's mission of providing excellent client service while helping white oaks thrive. "This research aligns with Davey's goals of doing our jobs the right way," Remsen said. "We cannot control the stress the weather has on trees or the stress an urban environment has on them, but we can help white oak trees fend for themselves by always working to improve how we care for them." While studying at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Remsen, technical advisor, Davey Institute, sampled white oak trees and bur oak trees across seven counties at 30 sites in the Chicagoland area, comparing the differences between the healthy and declining trees through soil and site factors. The research was published in the International Society of Arboriculture's peer-reviewed journal, Arboriculture & Urban Forestry. It has also been published in Illinois Arborist Association's newsletter and Davey's Research Symposium summaries from 2024 and 2025. DAVEY EXPERT OFFERS TIPS FOR WHITE OAK TREE CARE Remsen found that the declining white oak trees she sampled had several differences from the healthy bur oak trees, such as compacted soil, poor drainage, clay-like soil, lower zinc levels and higher levels of sodium. Water mold, root rots and bores, which trees become more susceptible to when they are stressed, were also found in the samples. Solutions to combat white oak decline, according to Remsen, include: Reducing compaction; biochar and compost applications; and addressing irrigation and drainage issues as necessary. Trees should fi rst be stabilized by addressing opportunistic pests and diseases, when possible, to buy time to address soil issues. This includes testing and treating oaks for water molds, like Phytophthora root rot. "I wanted to get to the root of the issue with declining white oaks," Remsen said. "White oak trees grow slowly, so they are harder to replace, and they offer great ecological benefi ts as well as benefi ts for residents. This research helps preserve these valuable trees." A declining tree stands at The Morton Arboretum in Illinois, a botanical garden and research center that aided Roz Remsen in her study. Get to Know... Richard Dodson When did you start at Davey and what are your current responsibilities? I started at Davey in 2021. Now, as an engineering project coordinator, I am in a supervisory position. Most recently, I oversaw the low voltage design project where we are tying together two cir- cuits in Boyertown, Pennsylvania. I was involved with coordinating, managing and designing all aspects of the project. What is the most memorable project you've worked on? Defi nitely the circuit tie-in project in Boyertown. We worked on tying in two circuits to increase the overall reliability of the substation. It also involved large distances of circuit line, including increasing the number of primary conductors on the circuit, 100-foot bucket truck work and challenging easement work for new lines and equipment. It was a time-sensitive project for many different reasons, and we completed it to the client's satisfaction. Who is someone at Davey who has had a big impact on your career? Ben Peterson (division manager, UAM) and Clark Ristaino (area manager, UAM) were with me on day one of the low voltage design proj- ect. They helped me get it off the ground. What is your favorite music genre? I like just about all music, but if I had to pick a time period, it would be the 1980s. What is your hidden talent? I know how to drive manual transmission and currently drive a manual transmission car. Richard Dodson engineering project coordinator, DRG UAM EXPERTISE Scan the QR code for Roz Remsen's research. Scan the QR

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