Government organization getting their trees topped

Re: Government organization getting their trees to

Devil's Advocate

These trees are Pollarded.

The sales person for the job is one smart cookie. He told them how dangerous the tree are and if we pollard them they will not have any branches to break in the winter. Now considering this would be the tallest pollard that I have ever seen that means that Asplundh sales rep will have a large commission every year for the next 20-30 years until the trees are removed. Consider it the Christmas bonus since it is a government job.

Personally I see a bunch of firewood and mill logs for a remove and replace.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

Wow that was one aggressive topping job! You should have went right up and asked they guys on the job about it, got their take on what they were doing! It would have been interesting to see what they would have said about the job they were doing, and see exactly why and who instructed them to do so.

You notice them top any other trees in the area? I would keep an eye out and see if you can catch them in the act again or in the area soon. Maybe say something directly to them about it.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

I'm totally against topping but I've worked most of my 24 years in PA and this is common. Some areas of PA you can drive down one street and 1/2 the trees are topped. I've seen trees hit much harder than these, a few have died, most lived and should be removed. The Linden, (or is it a Norway Maple), was obviously topped before.

I don't agree with it but it is common depending on your location. From the responses in this thread I guess most of you don't see much of this, that's good.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

[ QUOTE ]
let me save you some time......They (Asplundh) do not give a rats [censored] as long as they are making a dollar.

[/ QUOTE ]I'm not sure that is true for the corporation, and I know that is not true for its employees, many of whom want to and do good work on trees.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

I need a pair of those rose colored glasses!
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

[ QUOTE ]
Devil's Advocate

These trees are Pollarded.



[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree.
The definition of 'pollard' does not include taking a mature tree and cutting off all the ends.
Pollarding is a process which begins when the tree is very young gradually building up knobs of callus wood until when the tree is mature there are no pockets of decay.

Calling that pollarding is incorrect but it is used to explain away improper tree work.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

sry my bad. It is a Norway maple. I noticed it when I went back for pics. I should have corrected myself.

If this tree was topped, it had since been reclaimed from it...no reason to do it again. It does have two large old wound from lower limb removal.

toppin does happen alot here. most companies in my area will do it (I think I am the only one in Lebanon that wont). It is bad when a home owner does it...I feel it is hundred time worse when goverment places do it.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

[ QUOTE ]
If this tree was topped, it had since been reclaimed from it...no reason to do it again. It does have two large old wound from lower limb removal.

toppin does happen alot here. most companies in my area will do it (I think I am the only one in Lebanon that wont). It is bad when a home owner does it...I feel it is hundred time worse when goverment places do it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree that there is no reason to top it again. I managed to draw a line showing the old topping cuts, even though I'm not good with editing.

Glad to hear that you refuse to do topping.
 

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Re: Government organization getting their trees to

Frans, I know that the trees are topped. I just figured that someone would have to say it.

This tree work is a joke. Someone went through a lot of work to lift that canopy head to that height so the building would not be obstructed. The sycamores that I am use to usually start crowning at around 15 feet or so, driving the scaffolding branches out. It is dissapointing to see that these have gone that way of the round over. At least they left a lot of stubs and did not head it off six inches from the trunk.

I have to agree with Blaster that if you are going to rape and pillage then those sycamores will handle it. I have seen very good reaction wood form in those trees closing topping wounds 30 years later.

Climbhightree - I would be curious to see if you could talk with the decision maker for the facility and see their take on the work. See if you can find out the driving force on the work decription, consumer? or Company?

I would also be interested to see what the long term plan for the trees, possibly even capturing the work, for the next 3-4 years as you restore the structure of the trees back until the epicormic sprouts take hold safely. I believe if pruned properly the wounds will close, providing one branch to replace the end and it may even be strong enough to let grow to the standard canpoy spread of 60-80 feet.

Good luck.

Also, if they do not want to go for that you could possibly sell them a remove and replace. Ease into it and have a great New Year.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

I call them asplundhites... worst thing a tree could ever get! no cure either! a year or two ago they topped every tree on the Scranton (Pa) courthouse property. (not asplundh but I wont give out names, it was a local tree hack)It really urks me because scranton makes you pay $175 for a contractor license to do work in the city but they dont give a rip what you do to the tree. you dont even have to get a permit to work on their street trees!
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

Is Asplundh a member of the TCIA and if so what is their policy on this work as a member?
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

Limes and sycamores will take a topping without problem...and ask for more.

Those trees will be here long after you and I are gone. Anyone who thinks they are candidates for removal and replacement because of this is truly a newbie.

What puzzles me is why would someone want to do that to a tree? Is it some unrational fear they will break? Sycamore and Linden are both really strong species.....

Thank god I have other hills to die on

santa.gif
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

[ QUOTE ]
Limes and sycamores will take a topping without problem...and ask for more.

[/ QUOTE ]Looks like a flat 6" wound on the central leader. It will survive, but it will certainly a problem.

MB, it may be standard chat at a bar 'n grill to slam an entire company based on the poor work of some crews, but it's not fair to the ones who try and do good work. I got no rose-colored glasses, just eyes open to the good that many in the company do.

Asplundh lost the line-clearing contract here, though their work was excellent. The replacements--100% hispanics from AL--are mutilators. The utility is happy cuz they get more clearance and they are cheaper.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

[ QUOTE ]
And let me save you some time......They (Asplundh) do not give a rats [censored] as long as they are making a dollar.

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe Asplundh's motto is "clearance - not appearance' Those pictures apparently give credence to that. What a hack job and a really bad one at that.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

Fortunately TREES are very forgiving. In just a short time the leaves will be on the tree and it will appear to the general public like nothing is wrong. Why is it that only the folks who know better are the one's that get the most upset? If the babies coming out of the maternity ward had their arms and legs cut off don't you think that folks somehow would respond differently! We blame this on innocence but it really is ignorance. The industry is plagued by this mutilating practice but it seems that few if any one cares to do much about it. The profession is often marred by individuals who only seek to make a buck with little consciousness of their quality of workmanship.
I commend the ISA for their efforts in trying to curb this disastrous pratice. It is still up to the Arborist to get the information in to the hands of the responsible decision makers. We need Accountability for decisions which are made outside the industry standard practice.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

[ QUOTE ]
MB, it may be standard chat at a bar 'n grill to slam an entire company based on the poor work of some crews, but it's not fair to the ones who try and do good work

[/ QUOTE ]

WTF are YOU smoking, son?
crazy.gif
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

[ QUOTE ]
Anyone who thinks they are candidates for removal and replacement because of this is truly a newbie.



[/ QUOTE ]

Why do consider remove and replacement decision a newbie consideration?

This is the same as very poor construction, sometimes it is cheaper, better, safer to just knock it down and start over.

With the growth rate of a sycamore you could replace with a 2" caliper tree and within 7 years have a well structured, intact canopy that is 40 feet high with the right conditions. The cost benefit over the course of the first five years would weight in favor of the replacement option versus bringing in a crew for the next five years conducting restoration pruning on an annual basis until it can be maintained on a 3-5 year pruning/inspection cycle.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

Why don't you send this to Asplundh and ask for them to reply to their work on this site? It would be interesting to see what their reasoning is behind this. Also, definitely not pollarding, and Norway maple suffers from sun scald when heavily pruned, not to mention topping.
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Anyone who thinks they are candidates for removal and replacement because of this is truly a newbie.



[/ QUOTE ]

Why do consider remove and replacement decision a newbie consideration?

With the growth rate of a sycamore you could replace with a 2" caliper tree and within 7 years have a well structured, intact canopy that is 40 feet high with the right conditions. The cost benefit over the course of the first five years would weight in favor of the replacement option versus bringing in a crew for the next five years conducting restoration pruning on an annual basis until it can be maintained on a 3-5 year pruning/inspection cycle.

[/ QUOTE ]

Those "right conditions" frequently only exists in books.

No restoration pruning will be needed - trees inherently know how to take care of themselves. Breaking and regrowing from stubs is a natural part of many species' life cycle.

Replace?? Hummm....baby...bath water.....
crazy.gif
 
Re: Government organization getting their trees to

[/ QUOTE ]
Those "right conditions" frequently only exists in books.

No restoration pruning will be needed - trees inherently know how to take care of themselves. Breaking and regrowing from stubs is a natural part of many species' life cycle.

Replace?? Hummm....baby...bath water.....
crazy.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Seems as if I hit a nerve.

Using your words "Natural" Means no intervention by us. Yes they do accomplish this task naturally. This past weekend we had natural all over this area with thousands of people out of power due to this natural breaking and regrowing.

I think the key here as Arborists is "managed" for the urban environment. One of the key factors is safety. So if calling me a Newbie, baby, bath water makes you feel better then I recommend that you keep the comments coming, personally I perfer gerber, gummy, and huggies.

I think with your above response, safety may not be a consideration in your long term management plan.

By the way "the right condtions" usually means proper planting, water and keeping uneducated pruners away from the tree.
 
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