Advice needed on today’s bid

[B_Strange]

I need some help from the brain trust folks. I had a homeowner call me to look at a white pine that is 60’ or so and leaning towards his chicken coop full of game birds. He wants me to price it for removal and also to just remove one large 30’ lead and then girdle the top 1/3 so it will die and fall. I pointed out that I have no control of the dead top going where it won’t do damage if I girdle it and it could fail and hurt or kill someone.

I am right in not girdling the top 1/3 aren’t I? Pretty sure the answer is yes but wanted to make sure I was not being squeamish. I need the work but do not want to do something stupid. I am fairly certain my insurance company would not like the idea.

He had other trees that were straight forward bids.

Thanks!

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

Bid the removal and refuse the other! No sense in compromising your standards for someone. They will probably find someone’s cheaper anyway so you are probably stressing about it more than is needed
ps no dig there that’s just the way business goes

 

[RopeShield]

Girdle it and tie/rig it to itself. Take the money.
Pruning a top or girdling a top, is there much difference?
Still better than removing a viable tree/positive contributor.

 

[CanadianStan]

Why girdle the remaining top 1/3 instead of just pruning it entirely ?
Also, in your opinion, whats the likelihood of this tree falling and hitting the coop? Will it happen in the next windstorm, or in 50 years ?

 

[Basswood]

What about topping it to a relatively safe height, and leave the top for habitat?

 

[oldoakman]

To me, girdling the top and leaving it is in the same vein as the discussion in the swifter swing thread. You touch it you own it. I would leave that part alone.

 

[B_Strange]

Why girdle the remaining top 1/3 instead of just pruning it entirely ?
Also, in your opinion, whats the likelihood of this tree falling and hitting the coop? Will it happen in the next windstorm, or in 50 years ?

The homeowner asked for the 1/3. I suggested a prune but he wants the tree down as cheap as possible( his words). It’s leaning hard towards the coop. No immediate danger, which I pointed out to him. The biggest threat is the long lead. Remove that weight and it should be fine.

 

[B_Strange]

To me, girdling the top and leaving it is in the same vein as the discussion in the swifter swing thread. You touch it you own it. I would leave that part alone.

Thanks. I thought so but wanted confirmation. Thanks.

 

[B_Strange]

Girdle it and tie/rig it to itself. Take the money.
Pruning a top or girdling a top, is there much difference?
Still better than removing a viable tree/positive contributor.

Not wanting to take down a good tree needlessly. Thanks for mentioning that!

 

[B_Strange]

Thanks for the help folks. Homeowner decided to go with someone else. He said I was too high and I should do what he said since it is “his damn tree.” Healthy pine and the top leans away from the coop. I think i’ll take @oldoakman ’s advice and if I touch it I own it as a mantra. Thanks ya’ll.

 

[Serf Life]

He said I was too high and I should do what he said since it is “his damn tree.”

Well fuck that. It's not "his" tree anyways.

 

[evo]

The homeowner asked for the 1/3. I suggested a prune but he wants the tree down as cheap as possible( his words). It’s leaning hard towards the coop. No immediate danger, which I pointed out to him. The biggest threat is the long lead. Remove that weight and it should be fine.

Sorry dude, taking a 30 inch lead will not make the tree good

 

[Winchman]

What is the difference between a lead and a limb? Maybe you could point out limbs and leads on this big pine.

It's a little over three feet in diameter at the base. There's a huge limb(?) on the left that comes almost to the ground. The top seems to go every which way with large diameter leads(?).

 

[evo]

What is the difference between a lead and a limb? Maybe you could point out limbs and leads on this big pine.
View attachment 65147
It's a little over three feet in diameter at the base. There's a huge limb(?) on the left that comes almost to the ground. The top seems to go every which way with large diameter leads(?).

Near or equal in side (1/3 or greater) to the trunk where attached.

That is a nice tree, and I see what looks like a dozen or so reduction cuts would mitigate failure of some of those big limbs/leads

 

[Winchman]

Near or equal in size (1/3 or greater) to the trunk where attached.

Thank you. That tree and many others in the area of similar size/appearance were damaged by a hurricane in the mid-'80s. They'll probably all get really old, since their short height makes them less likely to be struck by lightning.

 

[B_Strange]

Sorry dude, taking a 30 inch lead will not make the tree good

Right. I may have mis typed that. It was a 30’ lead that grew at an angle away from the main trunk. It was what was threatening the coop. So my picture won’t load for some reason. But the lead was over 1/3 of the diameter of the main trunk but not as tall. You are in Washington state right? I’m sure you have more experience in conifers than I do. In your opinion is it acceptable to reduction prune that large a lead from a white pine? Trying to learn to sharpen my skills in conifers and not remove a tree if I don’t have to. I appreciate your input and time. Thank you!

 

[MA Arborist]

Cash only

 

[Barc Buster]

he wants the tree down as cheap as possible( his words).

These words to me are where I usually move on from a potential customer. Unless it's a situation I feel is an act of charity I feel like, I'm the boss I can pick and choose who I work for. Have some self respect. Do good work for a cheap skate and they will refer you to their cheap skate friends and family. Before you know it you are knee deep in these sorts of situations where your asked to compromise your standards in a lowest bidder wins situation.