This is certainly not a glamorous subject nor one that can be infused with a

little humor a la TREEMAN. However, this is truly an important subject and needs

to be addressed at this time.

     We in the tree service industry see damage to property on a very regular basis.

It’s the reason we get about 1/3 of all calls.

     Trees are so pervasive in our everyday life that we tend not to “see” them.

     We should.

     A monster limb dropping on your home WILL get your attention as will many

of the negative things that can happen (and does) on a daily basis. One of the worst

things that can happen is going on right NOW and you can’t see, hear, or feel the

effects. But it is happening right under your feet.

     Root intrusion.

     Those who have already paid the absolutely ridicules price associated with

FOUNDATION REPAIR can tell you all about root intrusion.

     O.K. So what is root intrusion?

     The roots from trees close enough to your HOME, GARAGE, DRIVEWAY,

SIDEWALK, PATIO, etc, are “looking” for the food and water that power tree growth. As they grow bigger and bigger, they exert an upward force on your concrete/wood structure above. Over time, they can/will lift a house. The pressure (weight) of the structure above ground on uneven portions of the slab WILL crack/damage/destroy the slab. And can severely impact your wallet.

      How can you tell if this could be happening to you?

         1.) If a tree has limbs over your house, it has roots under it.

         2.) If you can see big roots ABOVE ground anywhere close to a structure,

              you most likely have roots under it.

         3.) If your sidewalk/driveway is uneven and/or cracking, that’s a sure

              sign there are roots under it.

     Soooo, what to do?

     First, call a PROFESSIONAL tree company for a REAL assessment of the

situation. If you call the local “2 guys and a chainsaw”, the results can be tragic.

No kidding. Tragic.

     This is one of those times in life when you get EXACTLY what you pay

for.

     Call Geddie Tree Service LLC. Ask for Mike, Jay, or Kimble.

                                       TREEMAN

     I know that I need to be somewhat careful so as not seem to be picking on

this young (connected) generation but twice in two weeks is a little MUCH

for TREEMAN. I’m told that every generation has its own issues. I’ve

been around long enough to see “baby boomers”, “gen X”, “gen Y”, ”the lost gen”,

 and am now meeting “the CONNECTED GENERATION”.

     OUCH!

     I’m told that this generation hasn’t lived a day of their lives (past 8 years old)

without a cell phone, internet, facebook, etc.

     I’m starting to realize just how BAD this can be for our society.

REAL PHONE CALL

     Q: How much do you charge to cut down a tree?

     A: Many factors are involved especially LOCATION, SIZE, DANGER,

         EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS, PROXIMITY TO DWELLING, and

         on and on and on….

     Q: Well, this tree (don’t know what kind) is about 30” at the bottom and

          is 60 to 70 feet tall. How much is that?

     A: I don’t know. It’s not possible to do any real cost estimate without seeing

          it. Our ESTIMATES are always FREE and I will be glad to come look

          at it and give you a FIRM price.

      Q: No. I don’t want to do “all that”. Can’t you give me your price? I already

           looked it up on GOOGLE!

       A: DO WHAT???

       Q: click

     I went to Google. Found “Average cost of tree removal”.

     STUNNED. SHOCKED DISBELIEF.

    Some BLOGS on the net actually put a NUMBER on TREE REMOVAL. AND,

because it’s on Google, it MUST be correct.

     OMG!

       Q: HEY GOOGLE. HOW MANY FINGERS AM I HOLDING UP?

       A: UHH???

      FOLKS. Get a grip. What I’m going to tell you next is important.

      NO ONE can give you an honest answer about tree service costs without

seeing the overall picture.

       Not even TREEMAN.

                                                                 TREEMAN

    Recently, we had a call from a very confused young lady. It seems one of the

“drive-bys” stopped and pointed out that a tree in her front yard was dead and

it should be removed. She is a college student living in a home owned by her

dad so she thanked him and ignored it.

    The “drive-by” knew an opportunity when he saw it and didn’t give up. He

beat on her door several times and finally got through to her that action was

NECESSARY in this instance so she thanked him and called us.

     The information above sets the stage for the “rest of the story”. If this sounds

a little BIZARRE, welcome to the realities of the CONNECTED GENERATION.

      INITIAL PHONE CALL

           I asked her what kind of tree it was?—She didn’t know.

           Did it have leaves or pine needles?—She couldn’t tell.

           How would I know which tree it was?—Only 2 trees in front yard; one on left.

      INITIAL VISIT

           You could see the DEAD PINE tree from a block away. Of the THREE big trees in the front, 2 of them OAKS, the pine COULD NOT have been more obvious.

            There was a HUGE scar from lightning.

            Pine bark beetles had SAVAGED it.

            Not a pine needle left clinging to this MISERABLE pine.

      OH, did I mention this tree was right beside the driveway?

      She drove within 2 feet of this tree every day and did not notice anything wrong. She

thanked me and I left after giving her a “slow-time-of-year” price for complete removal

and debris haul away. It was a VERY low price.

      A week later, I was in the area and decided to call on her.

      The big pine was down, hacked up, and on the street.

      The first section of driveway was cracked across and no longer level.

      Welcome to the DARK SIDE of the tree service industry.

      About 3 days later I received a call from her dad (lives out of state) wanting to

know why the debris pile was still in front of the house since I HAD ALREADY

BEEN PAID (cash) to remove it and WHEN was the guy coming to fix the driveway?

      Not being in the best of moods after being accused of criminal activity, TREEMAN’S

reply was a little UN-Christian. I’m sure I said NEVER or something to that effect.

      THE TAKE-AWAY FROM ABOVE:

        1.) The young lady above does NOT know (to this second) whom she gave

$500.00 cash to.

        2.) After profuse apologies, we cleaned up the mess for a nice profit.

        3.) The driveway is still busted.

        4.) The “drive-by” is still out there knocking on doors.

        5.) NEVER pay before the job is over.

        6.) Don’t do business with someone who “needs” payment in CASH.

        7.) Most of all, take the time to KNOW who you are dealing with.

                                                TREEMAN

    Looking back over our very successful year and forward to this new one, I’m struck

by the truth in these words: “some things don’t change”.

    Planning for equipment needs going into 2012 is a challenge all by itself. Putting

new technology in the mix just adds to it.

    We know from experience that good equipment/technology is a MAJOR Key in

our success.

    Why?

    Price competition!

    Regardless of who you are (UNLESS you de gov’mint), PRICE is still going to

be the DECIDING factor. Since the average person rarely, if ever, actually NEEDS

tree services, he/she may well believe that the finished product is the same from

all sources.

   UHHH…NO.

   Ever see a yard/landscaping nightmare? How about smashed concrete drives? Do

I need to mention the HOUSE/GARAGE/FENCE? I’ve seen REALLY bad results

visited on good people whose only mistake was an incorrect assumption.

   That’s one thing that doesn’t seem to change but there’s another “biggie”.

   No matter how new the technology, or how great the equipment, it ALL

comes down to the people who actually DO the work!

   Many, many projects are still done by hand. Simply put, there is just NO way to

get to the problem with anything other than your feet. And TONS of debris must

be moved out just like it’s always been done: old fashioned “people power”.

   Some things don’t change.

                                                        TREEMAN

    Mid January in Mississippi may sound early to be thinking about landscaping

and tree issues.

    I can assure you that it’s the CORRECT time.

    Unless this is the most “unusual” year in a long line of “unusual” years

for this tree service company, the Strong Storm Season is rapidly approaching.

Very quick changes (warm/cold/dry/wet) in the weekly weather pattern are

rushing through this area.

    No stability…NONE.

    Tornados, high straight-line winds, super rain events, the rare ice storm, and

any number of other smaller disasters are absolutely guaranteed over the next

three months.

     Now is the time to use the most overused word in the English language: PROACTIVE.

    Yeah. I know.

     Sure. Look for the big stuff like leaning trees (three last week), roots breaking

through the soft/wet ground at the base of trees, large limbs on the ground or

hung up in the canopies, and other simple indicators of a possible BIG problem.

But don’t fail to note the following: DO NOT LET ANY LIMBS FROM ANY

SOURCE TOUCH YOUR ROOF. You will not believe the amount of damage

a small limb can/will do to your house!

    Can you say “DEDUCTABLE”? (apologies to the late Mr. Rogers).

    Hey! Get off the couch and just go LOOK. We are talking REAL money

here.

                                                       TREEMAN

a significant tree problem. In many newer subdivisions in central Mississippi, the

hardwood trees that are such an integral part of the landscaping are either in distress

or dying. The cause is almost always root disturbance/compaction that occurred as

a result of heavy equipment usage during the lot clearing process prior to building

the home.

As we enter another hurricane and strong storm season, you will want to be

aware of your trees near the home. Many of these hardwoods are dying from

the top down and are shedding limbs at an increasing rate (Do you have to pick up

sticks before you mow?). This process started happening from two to five years

after your home was built.

Three options await the homeowner:

(1) Do nothing. Mother Nature will bring down a dead tree.

(2) Try to conserve the tree. If it’s not too late, the tree can be

“dead wooded” and topped out at a very reasonable price.

(3) Remove trees that are a clear danger to your or your

neighbors property. There are few trees that cost more than

your home insurance deductable to remove…TREEMAN

Treeman’s Blog

WWW.geddietreeservice.com

601-573-6753

  We are not the only industry that experiences seasonal “lulls”. They just seem

to come at the most inopportune times in the tree removal business.

   The one we are coming out of has been BRUTAL.

   REAL companies have gone out of business. The unlicensed, uninsured

“independents”, also know as “2 guys with a chainsaw”, have knocked on

every door with so much as a shrub in the yard.

   The phone rings daily with requests for employment from QUALIFIED

tree climbers, equipment operators, experienced ground hands, and even

a competitor’s crew chief!

    The traditional Holiday Season slowdown ( read: dead stop) from Thanksgiving through Christmas, was extended well into 2012 due to soaking rains coupled

with warmer than normal temps.

     Oh. Something about “the Economy”.

     Geddie Tree Service knew it was coming and prepared for it. We didn’t buy

new 4 wheelers for deer camp. We kept our contractors working until the week

of Christmas.

     It’s just too bad that Aesop’s Fables aren’t taught in grade school anymore.

Google “ The ant and the grasshopper”. I know Morality Lessons are frowned on                   since personal responsibility doesn’t seem to matter.

      Shame….

      Well, the point of this short message follows: If you need tree work now, you

had BETTER do your homework!

      CALL EVERYONE’S INSURANCE COMPANY!!!

      Many have a certification document that is WORTHLESS due to non-payment.

      Also, the cheapest PRICE may be a sign of panic.

      Be careful out there…TREEMAN

     Although PART 1 was written with a little “tongue in cheek”, I can assure you

that the issue of  a serious pine bark beetle infestation  is no laughing matter!

     This is December and we have already had a few cold snaps. Sap moving in

the pine trees should have been long over…NOT SO. I am still being called to

look at pine trees that are under SEVERE attack and have almost no chance

of survival. The strangest part is how the beetles are selecting which trees

to attack. I see pine trees with no visual signs of damage, located in the middle

of a stand of “like” trees, simply overrun by these predators. These beetles

are highly selective and deadly. If you want to take no chances on losing any

surrounding trees, they can be sprayed cheaply ( around $30.00/ea.) by a

QUALIFIED company. We are NOT talking about 2 guys and a chainsaw

here. If the beetles are ALREADY in the tree, save your money.

     Oaks are hardly fairing any better.

     With no weather event evident, I have seen many established oaks simply

give up the ghost and fall over.

      Sure, age and core-rot take many, many of these trees.

      These are not the ones I’m talking about.

      Many more just “fall over”.

      Why?

      I don’t have a definitive answer but I do have my suspicions.

      ANSWER: 3 years of drought, severe weather events, landscaping practices,

FAILURE TO DO EVEN A MINIMUN OF MAINTENCE, overcrowding,

etc., all play a part in this ongoing event.

      The SWEET GUMS are dying from the top down everywhere I look.

      Folks, wringing your hands will not change anything. Make the decision to

do simple trimming, pruning, and fertilizing and you have a fighting chance

to save your trees. Or sit on your duff and visualize what YOUR yard is going

to look like without them.

                                                 TREEMAN

      Your favorite TREEMAN got a call from a property management company

based in Memphis, Tn. last week.

      We at Geddie’s are blessed with many diverse sources from which we

receive the opportunity to build on our current success. Having worked our

way onto the “first page” of GOOGLE, YAHOO, and BING, we are positioned

to be seen, vetted, and contacted by individuals and businesses who own/manage

property in the Jackson, Ms. Metro area as well as our Hattiesburg/Pine belt

area.

       Anyway, after describing a pine tree removal project for us at an apartment complex

that his company manages, Chris and I took a moment to “chat”.

       I’ve stated in several of my blogs that this is a very strange year for tree service

in our area.

       Guess what?

       We ain’t alone…

        At just ONE large complex in Memphis, his company has spent $60,000.00

( yeah, that’s DOLLARS) removing Pine Trees and they don’t know why. Chris

told me that they had brought in a Government Agency to do soil sampling after

all local means to determine causality were exhausted.

        Results?

        Not a CLUE.

        If they had called TREEMAN, they would have had the answer MONTHS

ago. They could have sent a JET, put me up at the RITZ, and bought me all the

ribs I could eat at the RENDEZVOUS and still spent only a fraction. IF they had

just called.

        THE ANSWER IS: A long, long, time ago near a planet far, far, away, DARTH

and the boys were testing a “DEATH STAR”. One of the “rays” missed its target,

crossed millions of light years, and was diluted to a point where it could only

kill pine trees on small planets in areas where “SOUTHERN” is the language.

        I can prove it!

        In June, when the temp kept exceeding 100 degrees, I got a “CHILL” (out

of nowhere ) while standing in the sun and lately I’ve noticed something VERY

strange!

        Individual hairs on my head are turning GRAY.

        That’s proof positive!

                                                                       TREEMAN

   Now that’s a very good question.

   Mainly because no one is looking at leafless trees.

   Well, maybe a few dedicated tree service pros.

    The truth is that it’s hard to distinguish between similar trees (same make and model),

even for the professional. Of course, there are the “traditional” clues such as larger limbs

coming out of the tree for no apparent reason, tree bark littering the area, and parasites (such as toadstools, ferns, and fungus) in evidence on the surface of the tree. Other, more

subtle clues such as woodpecker holes, the presence of carpenter ants, or it just looks

“different” from those in the same area, should make you aware/alert.

   WHY?

    Simple answer: trees DON”T NEED LEAVES to fall on your house, garage, fence,

or you…

     Dead trees are totally unpredictable. Tree service personnel HATE dead trees as

they are the most dangerous “unknown” we face. We manage the risk due to

experience but make no mistake, we are alert and aware!

     Consultations are FREE. It costs you nothing for me to look at your trees. If you

even suspect an issue, call us. Our mothers taught us it’s better to be safe than sorry.

                                                                    TREEMAN