guymayor
Branched out member
- Location
- East US, Earth
It's a Taxi in a Joni Mitchell song. 
"Tree Experts" and "Tree Preservation" companies; misnamed and misleading.
- Thread starter Raby Woodsman
- Start date
rockettree
Participating member
- Location
- Boulder, CO!
Bartlett I think.
- Location
- Seattle
Sounds like a plan Stan. I too always like to connect with like minded people; sadly, I find there are far too few of us in the world. If there were more of us, we would not looking at the impending doom that is set to affect each and everyone of us. I'm new here, can you send me some kind of private message so I can pass you my email?
- Location
- Seattle
Nice first post. Welcome to TH.... I'll flat out mention Evergreen TC as one of the worst out there.....STP not so much, John is a very knowledgable arborist. Their pruning standards are normally quite good.... though Dan Kraus has moved on..... Feel free to pm me....I've only been at this for 40 years......
Overall, the quality of tree care locally is much better than it was 15-20 years ago, in large part thanks to Cass Turnbull who educated homeowners and pros that listened....[/QUOTE]
Thank you Roger. I agree fully with your assessment of Evergreen. I cannot believe they are able to operate with their general incompetence and the fact that most of their business comes from sales people who are not required to have any knowledge of trees or tree care, going door to door on a commission basis, scare mongering the ignorant (and very often the elderly) into thinking their trees are all dangerous and need to be removed or at best (or should I say 'at worst' drastically wind-sailed / thinned or whatever stupid phrase describes an even stupider and misinformed practice). This is part of the reason for my post, in the sense that we need a greater quality of peer review and some higher level of licensing that takes tree care companies out of the general contractor / landscape 'professional' bracket and into a new professional category that means tree care companies have to meet a much higher standard of practice before they can go and ruin the urban landscape without risk of punishment.
I will keep my opinions about Mr H and of STP to myself, for the moment. Being a knowledgeable arborist is rather subjective in my opinion.
JeffGu
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Osceola, Nebraska
And here I was planning a trip to the grocery store's produce department to sort this thread out... 
- Location
- Seattle
Guy, thank you very much for your comments. I very much respect your input. I am not claiming to be an arboricultural prodigy, however I would like to point out that Mozart composed his first work when he was only five years old. I acknowledge that there is a great deal more to learn about trees and how they react and interact with the wider environment, however I hope that my passion for doing the right thing, for our environment first, our trees second and finally my customers and my company, that I will find my way, despite the general small minded view that many arborists seem to have when it comes to tree care.
Our biggest failing as human beings, is that we believe we can control everything around us and it seems as though we will stop at nothing to prove this to be true, despite the implications to the health of the planet. Many of the treatments that are available to spray and inject onto trees and plants are only deemed safe for use by organizations that have a vested interest in their availability and use. Just because the FDA or the EPA say something is safe to use, does not mean that it is. Another failing of humanity is our fickle nature; we believe what we are told. We should not.
Before I digress, I will cease. Thank you again for your input. I hope that I can prove you wrong in your assessment of having my own company where my ideals will be the motivation for its sustainability. Afterall, if we dont have ideals, principles and standards then what are we?
- Location
- Seattle
And here I was planning a trip to the grocery store's produce department to sort this thread out...
View attachment 35581
Perfect. The Citrus Expert Companies
- Location
- Seattle
Thanks for your response. Do you work alone or for a company?
sherwood7
Participating member
- Location
- Denver, co
Plus the margins are good
evo
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- My Island, WA
Both... 2-4 days solo for me, and employed for 3... All tree work. I have about 8-9 years in Arboriculture, and more in landscape
guymayor
Branched out member
- Location
- East US, Earth
Raby, good luck running your own show, if that is what you do.
Amnesty International does good work, and are experts on shrub and garden care. But when they call for removal instead of reduction, based on obsolete and unscientific 'rules', and short-term aesthetic bias, their anti-topping passion turns to hysteria, and we gotta consider others' experience.
Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Come and took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
‘Til it's gone
Amnesty International does good work, and are experts on shrub and garden care. But when they call for removal instead of reduction, based on obsolete and unscientific 'rules', and short-term aesthetic bias, their anti-topping passion turns to hysteria, and we gotta consider others' experience.
Late last night
I heard the screen door slam
And a big yellow taxi
Come and took away my old man
Don't it always seem to go
That you don't know what you've got
‘Til it's gone
- Location
- Seattle
Sadly, I think I should have kept the two topics separate as the main reason for starting a thread was more to do with the lack of quality control of people and companies doing tree work in North America. The PHC topic opens too many doors that confuse the issue far too quickly.
Retuning to my original motivation for leaving a post; there are too many companies doing bad work that goes unreported, unpunished and the result is that the general public do not know what proper and decent arboriculture is. The point I was also trying to make was that even self claiming 'expert' companies do not always do good work which is bad for everyone.
- Location
- Seattle
All on your island?
- Location
- Seattle
Guy, I understand what you are saying and agree that 'reduction pruning' can often be a fair recommendation instead of removal if the situation allows for it (many factors involved here). The problem here on the West Coast is the amount of property owners that have great views of mountains, lakes and other water ways into which their trees often grow. I have personally experienced the property owner asking for their trees to be topped (not reduced; blatantly cut at the level of the horizon without regard to the future health of the tree) so that their view is returned to them. The reason for doing it was purely financial on the tree company's part; yet another customer on their books. As supposed 'tree experts' who are all over the North American tree care scene, sponsoring events and trade shows and publications etc etc, this should not be their practice. In this regard, I understand Plant Amnesty's frustration and have seen far too much bad tree work by the supposed industry leaders to think there must be something better than this.
My company has already been created and my passion for changing the status quo is such that I hope that one tree at a time, I will help shape the public's perception of what is right and proper, so that the companies that do bad work will no longer be able to pretend to know what they are talking about, and will have to find another industry to ruin.
guymayor
Branched out member
- Location
- East US, Earth
Raby, I've cut a lot of trees at (or near) a specified height for vista. Cuts made to growth points demonstrates regard for health. It can be compliant with ANSI and other, more established, standards. work like the attached, for instance. In time you will see the lines between proper and improper lose their sharp edges, and the shrill opinions about tree dignity and the evils of topping and tipping will sound less compelling.
Yes, doing good work can change public perception, but be ready for a LOT of frustration at the pace of the change. And be ready for more frustration when making sales calls and settling for compromises to keep your boat afloat. I make compromises on almost every job.
Happy contracting!
Yes, doing good work can change public perception, but be ready for a LOT of frustration at the pace of the change. And be ready for more frustration when making sales calls and settling for compromises to keep your boat afloat. I make compromises on almost every job.
Happy contracting!
- Location
- Seattle
Yes they are. $250 per visit to spray for five minutes. It is a wonder anyone bothers pruning trees.
- Location
- Seattle
With no offense intended, I will have to aim to be a better arborist than you!
Haha! How rare, an arborist with an ego!
