When arborists agree

Stumpsprouts

Stumpsprouts

Been here much more than a while
Location
Asheville
I just looked at a dead pine tree which I’m bidding as a crane removal. It could be felled, but I gave it an 80% chance of doing what we would want it to do and clearing an adjacent white oak and fence… not good enough chances to chance it.

The client looked at me and said she just got another arborist out to look at it and he gave it exactly the same percentage chance of a successful fell.

I just love when that happens.

Anybody have a similar story?
 
Not sure if this counts, but a while back I looked at an ash tree that looked unhealthy and I know emerald ash bore has affected our area.

I personally don’t treat EAB (but may look into starting at some point) so I referred them to someone else that I thought may be able to better assist.

Not long after I found out they came out and looked at it, determined it was being affected by EAB and treated it and pruned out whatever needed to go.

Was nice to find out they were able to preserve the tree.
 
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Theres (usually) no absolute right or wrong with trees. So much depends on what the client REALLY wants and what they actually tell you (and the three others that have been before)

You can blather on for 30 minutes, write reports about reduction, cabling, feeding, mulching. They’ll nod sagely and you drive away feeling like a real hero, only to see it removed by someone else a week later.

Usually because the other fella has said something along the lines of ‘yes, we can do all that, but it’ll cost the same as a removal, which you’ll have to do in 5 years anyway’
 
And sometimes that is true, there are businesses almost as scummy about 'treatments' as about removals. I guess that is where reputation comes in, but most homeowners are operating with very limited information and it's hard to blame them for that.
 
In my experiences when it comes to removals I've found there's very little I can do to change a person's mind. No matter how assinine the reason is. Too many leaves to rake, makes a mess, is going to spontaneously combust, etc. Once they've called me to remove a tree, in their mind that tree is already gone.

It's unfortunate that I've removed some beautiful trees. But at the end of the day it's part of the job and unlike dubious practices such as topping, I don't have an ethical issue with removals.
 
Boomslang said:
In my experiences when it comes to removals I've found there's very little I can do to change a person's mind. No matter how assinine the reason is. Too many leaves to rake, makes a mess, is going to spontaneously combust, etc. Once they've called me to remove a tree, in their mind that tree is already gone.

It's unfortunate that I've removed some beautiful trees. But at the end of the day it's part of the job and unlike dubious practices such as topping, I don't have an ethical issue with removals.
Click to expand...
I had a guy contact me to remove a large pondo like 50" dbh maybe larger very tall straight and healthy, he wanted it removed for a tv dish, we told him 10k to fall it and chip the brush in hopes of encouraging him not to do it.
 
If I was in that situation there would be a pool of 4 other companies to choose from. Tons of tree companies in my area but very very few that actually know what they are doing.
 
Undeciduous said:
Clients know better then the professionals right? Its like the classic request " I would like to have this removed for the cheapest price" Well cheap and quality are most of the time like oil and water.

Sometimes the best thing to do is just, hand them the proposal, walk away and let them make their own decision.
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I learned this a good while back. Best not to detail out how best to take the tree down. Anything from them taking it as ‘advise’ for a diy project, to false expectations.

There have been a good couple of times, where I made a last minute call to fell the tree vrs climbing (or in reverse). Other than needing to know what’s going on underground the client doesn’t need to know all the details. This can be as simple as ‘mark out all underground utilities within one tree length.
They’re simply so many variables. Such as who is on the crew that day, weather, season, and more. The end result is the same.
 
Boomslang said:
In my experiences when it comes to removals I've found there's very little I can do to change a person's mind. No matter how assinine the reason is. Too many leaves to rake, makes a mess, is going to spontaneously combust, etc. Once they've called me to remove a tree, in their mind that tree is already gone.

It's unfortunate that I've removed some beautiful trees. But at the end of the day it's part of the job and unlike dubious practices such as topping, I don't have an ethical issue with removals.
Click to expand...

I’ve had a few instances where when I visit a property a client is looking to remove an otherwise healthy tree because of issues like too much shade, overpowering the yard space, etc. But if I think it’s possible I usually will first offer pruning as a first step alternative, explaining that some specific pruning of certain branches, etc. may be all that is needed to open the area up (or whatever) and that they can always decide to remove the tree later on if it doesn’t resolve whatever the issue is. And I’ve had some clients opt for that option and end up being satisfied and happy with the result and the fact that they are able to keep the tree. And in other cases like you said, they just want it gone even if there may be other alternative options.

Not that I try to talk them out of a removal, but instead walk them through some possible alternatives that they may have not considered before making a final decision. Because in some cases I’ve found some people would actually prefer to keep the tree, but think total removal is the only way to resolve an issue.
 
Stumpsprouts said:
Anybody have a similar story?
Click to expand...
I'm still new at this, especially at the estimating part, but one time I think I did it perfectly. I was asked to bid a BIG job (for me) - four removals, 24" dbh and 30" red maples, 36" black walnut, and 64" silver maple. Only a few branches were over a shop. Silver maple roots were lifting and cracking the concrete floor of the shop. Anyway, I was trying a new method of walking around, estimating hours for each tree, putting the numbers together, and I gave the homeowners a price before I left the property. $4500. They looked a little surprised and asked if that was really my price. A few days later I called to find out if they made a decision. They said a large tree company, before I came, had given them the price of $4400. I felt highly affirmed that day. Good bid! (And the job was probably too big for me anyway, would have had to rent a skidsteer.)
 
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