Fast forward pruning.

Just did a little bucket work for my second boss in the tree biz... circa 1982... he's the one that actaully gave me a primer on chainsaw use..

Anywho... I got done reducing three large oak limbs on two big trees, which finished the work we had talked about... then the foreman siad.. "he wants you to strip all these suckers too"... We're talkin 40' of sprouts each, on the south side of two tree that had been previosuly mercillessly elevated and which I had just removed the low hanging ends of three lower limbs which had been provoding a lot of shade for the trunks and root zones...

Put me in a tough spot... as a sub what choice did I really have.. fortunately the bucket was just barely out of side reach, which allowed me to neatly trim back the sprouts but not remove them... Foreman asked it I wanted a polesaw.. NO.. I came down, left the outriggers in place and waited for the boss.. He liked the look of the tree..

If he had insisted I probably would have obliged, but I won't in the future. When we talk I'll explain that I do not prune trees like that and why, and if he needs to "strip the suckers" he should call someone else. I don't need the work that badly.. That just rubs me wrong.. I hate the remorse of knowing i "shouldn't have cut those trees"..

All you folks that think "hey, its a just a tree".. wouldn't you be surprised if on your way to heaven God lets you in on a little secret... that the most sacred beings in all his creation are the trees that you cut so mindlessly".. Not sayin' its true, but it just might be!
 
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I had a lady in tears after working in her beautiful oak, and I was only taking out the mistletoe.

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I have an 85 year old client that LOVES this copper beech he planted over 40 years ago.. I cut ONE BRANCH, about 1.5" with a handsaw from the top of the chip box for driving clearance. His wife told me that he went inside because he was crying.

I have a good relationship with that man becasue I understand him. I handle his trees with extreme care and consideration, while at the same time not afraid to press hard for needed pruning that offends his "the tree knows best" attitude. he generally listens..
 
Bixler, this is what you are not.......

An arborist, or (less commonly) arboriculturist, is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. Arborists generally focus on the health and safety of individual plants and trees, rather than managing forests (the domains of Forestry and Silviculture) or harvesting wood. An arborist's scope of work is therefore distinct from that of either a forester or a logger, though the professions share much in common.
 
If you treat everything in the world like there's no shortage, things become scarce fast.

Bixler that's the most stupid shiit I've heard...
"Well if you just keep the tree for return work every couple years you will make more profit off of it than just wacking it down from the start. That may be true, on the other hand the client would be spending more money over the long run. They could simply have you remove the tree and plant an ornamental and be done with it. After all a tree is a tree."

Urban trees are an investment, cutting down a mature tree then planting an ornamental in it's place is not equal on so many levels.
 
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Bixler, this is what you are not.......

An arborist, or (less commonly) arboriculturist, is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. Arborists generally focus on the health and safety of individual plants and trees, rather than managing forests (the domains of Forestry and Silviculture) or harvesting wood. An arborist's scope of work is therefore distinct from that of either a forester or a logger, though the professions share much in common.

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Thanks for clarifying Ted
 
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If you treat everything in the world like there's no shortage, things become scarce fast.

Bixler that's the most stupid shiit I've heard...
"Well if you just keep the tree for return work every couple years you will make more profit off of it than just wacking it down from the start. That may be true, on the other hand the client would be spending more money over the long run. They could simply have you remove the tree and plant an ornamental and be done with it. After all a tree is a tree."

Urban trees are an investment, cutting down a mature tree then planting an ornamental in it's place is not equal on so many levels.

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Go cry about it
 
Forest trees are different than urban trees. They are not as valuable. They're just a total self supporting wonder. It seems we could be looking pretty out of touch if we keep turning our backs on the out of control disposal of forests.

Anyway the more money we say pull out of a tree with repeated prunings or whatever creates another exchange of money which starts an economic chain reaction of a bunch of people having to go to work. Or...
 
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Ok Tom D... time to lock her up. These guys just couldn't help themselves.

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Why lock it? I think we are getting into an interesting conversation about Arborists as opposed to tree cutters. The way I see it; if you can sell a long term management plan that includes annual or biannual visits for treatments and/or appropriate pruning that will prolong the period of acceptable risk for the client and community you are not only a good salesman, you are a good steward.
 
Well Ted, mostly because of the hysteria of simplyarbor, just seemed a bit dramatic that's all. It sounds rude, but that's my opinion. As for you, it's quite a claim to make on a personal level, telling me what I am or what I'm not. Again it's probably that east-coast accent I'm having trouble following. Not quite sure where you were going with that or what your point is.

When I have a city pruning arbo job I'll wear my cute little polo and talk about how to save the tree, go out and make a small fortune with my handsaw. Sthuper-duper! Right? But whatever, people want to save the tree, good for them and I'll do a fine job.

You see Ted, I am an arborist (whether I like it or not)... I wouldn't want you out there spewing mis-information, at least for you're own good. It's a nice topic to bring up... preservation vs. loading tree in truck and how it effects the world. But really I'm not out there clear cutting the rainforest, I simply enjoy performing a big wreck rather than an orchard ladder prune. Not saying all you city pruning arbos aren't great and all, I was just talking.

I don't try to be a good salesman or steward of the like, I try and do what I love and I love what I do, and the rest seems to fall well into place. I'm not trying to save the world, just out here trying to pay the bills. I don't need my respected colleagues making assumptions, or saying "Bixler that's the most stupid blank I've ever heard." Really? That's it huh? That's the most stupid thing you have ever heard. Wow thanks.
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And I thought I was a drama queen, my lord somebody get him a cocktail!
 
You speak of misinformation eh? I am not nor have I ever been employed by a muni. When I ran my own business I did have some contracts though. The "bixler, that's the most stupid comment" bit should not be applied to me because I didn't say it. I'm calling your stuff poop because you clearly said you do what the customer wants to get paid. You are not acting in the best interest of the human/tree relationship.

Ps. This is not an east/west coast thing.
 
I wasn't hysterical, just calling it like I see it.
I practice arboriculture and represent the industry as a steward for proper tree care, preservation, and the advancement of knowledge in the field.
 
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You speak of misinformation eh? I am not nor have I ever been employed by a muni. When I ran my own business I did have some contracts though. The "bixler, that's the most stupid comment" bit should not be applied to me because I didn't say it. I'm calling your stuff poop because you clearly said you do what the customer wants to get paid. You are not acting in the best interest of the human/tree relationship.

Ps. This is not an east/west coast thing.

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Ted...

I agree, the comment shouldn't be applied to you, what would make you think I applied it to you?

What does being employed by a muni have to do with the conversation?

Why would you mention that you owned your own business and had contracts?

Where did I say that I do what the customer wants to get paid? Be specific.

Ps. This is not an east/west coast thing.
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I wasn't hysterical, just calling it like I see it.
I practice arboriculture and represent the industry as a steward for proper tree care, preservation, and the advancement of knowledge in the field.

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Cool good for you... so do I. What's your point?
 
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your post said otherwise.

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Not quite sure what your talking about, or what your issue is. If I had to guess it's more about how you take my "post". You're gonna have to be specific i guess.

I was just chatting it up with Daniel, you came in and rained on my little parade. Said some rude jerky comment.

It's probably my inability to communicate, I've been known for having poor communication skills. And of course chopping down perfectly healthy trees for no good reason.


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It's all good Bix. Like you, I'm here to learn and enjoy the arborist community and sharing. Maybe our views differ in some ways, but in the end it's not worth squabbling over. My original post was pre-coffee, so it probably came off more harsh than I meant it to. Alohas!
Ian
 
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It's all good Bix. Like you, I'm here to learn and enjoy the arborist community and sharing. Maybe our views differ in some ways, but in the end it's not worth squabbling over. My original post was pre-coffee, so it probably came off more harsh than I meant it to. Alohas!
Ian

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No hard feelings tree brother... gotta love that caffeine.
 
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