Hi Dale,
Different country so my experiences are not 100% relevant to you. I
would observe that if anyone can change their minds it will be you.
Educated explanation and the stock that you can show them must be a huge
advantage.
A word in defence of tree surgeons, if I may. I've met loads of them and
one is a member at our club. None of these are the butchers that they
are often painted as. A great many of them object to the methods that
they are forced to employ as much as we do. It's the utility companies
regulations and cost cutting that force these timesaving measures.
OTOH A friend had his entire collection damaged by a careless crew who
cut and dropped major tree limbs, without a thought, into his back
garden.
At least you can be there all the time to ensure that nothing is done
that you don't want doing.
Best of luck
Kev Bailey
Vale Of Clwyd, North Wales
-----Original Message-----
From: Internet Bonsai Club ] On Behalf
Of dalecochoy
Sent: 16 November 2004 19:00
To:
Subject: [IBC] It's Power Line tree trimming time again.
I wonder how many other readers have problems with tree trimmers
butchering trees near power lines as I seem to every 3-4 years.
The last time the trimmers came through our area my wife and I and a few
neighbors were aghast at the trees we saw trimmed as they came our way.
Ruined pines/spruce and slingshotted deciduous trees.
As they got near our house my neighbors caved in but I told them no way
they'd trim my trees like that.( BTW, I DO have a large pin oak that is
right next to lines). A few days later they sent a local power company
guy to my house to "talk", and it turned out he lived a few blocks away.
He handed me a thick stack of Shigo's notes and figured he'd impressed
me. I took him back to my garden and showed him about 200 bonsai in pots
and then we started to talk seriously :) We actually got along ok. He
had his crew come in a couple days and he stayed with them while we
discussed the tree as they trimmed it. They did, actually, a pretty nice
job. Certainly better than all my neighbors! He was shocked that I let
them take down an ash tree coming up directly under lines ( that I
didn't want anyway) and that I ASKED him to trim my Sunburst Locust that
was nearing the lines. They rounded it very nicely and I could now spray
the damn caterpillars every year w/ no problems.
OK, now 4 years later, enter ASPLUNDH, the new butcherers of the streets
coming my way ( last time it was a different company that had the
contract) . As they neared my neighborhood they sent out the forward guy
.. Again I told them no way unless I'm here. A week or so later they
came, i was home, I watched them "slingshot" my neighbors and said no
way when they said they'd have to take off most of the tree because NOW
they go 12 feet from lines and no longer Round out" trimming but either
remove, cut side off or "y" cut. He said I'd get a letter about what day
someone would be here to do the job and they'd bring cops if need be!!!
I got a letter the other day, no date mentioned, just "within 30 days".
OK, I'm here all day anyway. It included a letter from the power
companys ARBOREST along with pics of their accepted method of butchering
now and an explanation of how the new guidelines are due to RESEARCH
explaining that Topping, stubbing or ROUNDING OVER or shaping is no
longer a recommended way to do trimming because it , quote,
""eliminates foliage and buds containing next years growth. This stress
to the tree stimulates the production of vigorous, crowded, poorly
tapered and weakly attached shoots called water-sprouts. Since the use
of energy has been redistributed within the tree, it is less resistant
to pest problems and prone to decay. The rapid growth is deceiving and
is not an indication of good health. Topping destroys the natural
structure of the tree and makes it more susceptible to breakage""
Now, again they site Shigo as their back-up and the practices accepted
by the American National Standards Institute A300-1995 Standard
Practices for Tree Care Operations, The International Society of
Arborculture, The National Arborists Association, The American
Association of Nurserymen, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources
State Urban Foresters.
Now, I look at their "Acceptable" drawings of how to trim, and I see
local large trees cut down to the trunk in the center with untouched
long "Y" branches maybe 20-30 feet on either side, or complete sides
removed with a half-"Y" side extending way out and I can almost hear
these trees cracking in the wind with owners being forced to spend
thousands on their removal when a windstorm tears them in half!
Since when does "rounding" a tree while trimming foliage ""increase the
chances of decay and disease and significantly decrease the service
reliability and tree health"" ??
This group seems more non-tolerating to discussion than the last and
it appears the tree trimming company is wanting to do less work for
their multi-million dollar contract.
Have others out there had good luck getting these people to "trim nice"
when on their property or is this becoming more of a "no questions
asked" deal anymore.
I'm wondering if a "no" when they come and forcing them to bring police
the third trip would actually get them to "trim nice" to avoid any
further hassle or return trip.
Regards,
Dale "Play By The Rules" Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio, Hartville, Ohio
http://www.WildThingsBonsai.Com
Specializing in power wood carving tools.
Yakimono no Kokoro bonsai pottery of hand-built stoneware
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