Geddie Tree Service

                    HARD QUESTIONS/ANSWERS ABOUT “CHARACTER” TREES

    Even a mountain has a finite lifespan.

    This is a very serious topic in the Tree Service industry because it directly brings

into play landscaping issues for many, many homeowners; both wealthy and those

of more modest means.

    A “CHARACTER” tree can be thought of as the FOCAL point in your landscaping

picture. It’s been there forever and is as comfortable to you as old shoes. It was there

before you were and, you think, will be there for your grandkids.

   What If?

    I got a call last week from an “old line” family representative for a consultation

dealing directly with this issue. Their landscaper had put them in touch with a local

(respected) arborist and I was to be the “second opinion”.

   The majestic old Red Oak had probably seen the Civil War. It bore the scars of

lightning as well as scars from innumerable child swings tied to it through the decades.

   Unfortunately, it also bore many parasites, both fern and fungus, and limbs were

dropping steadily from it’s massive canopy.

   Speaking with the landscaper left no doubt about how strongly this tree was ingrained

in the lives of the family. If possible, it was a decision packed with more EMOTION

(for Them) than the decision to “put down” your loved family dog.

    Could it be saved?

    No. It was a shell, hollow even below ground level.

    It’s only future was the natural progression of all things, both “great and small”.

    This family made the decision to remove the tree while they are out of the

country next week. Their landscaper promises the evidence of it’s existence will be minimal by the time they return.

    Many times TREEMAN is asked to do what can be done to “save” these

trees. The unscrupulous thrive on this situation. Consultations are free at Geddie Tree

Service. Take the time to be an educated buyer.

                             TREEMAN

                                              IT”S OFFICIAL!

      Well, it’s official.

       I know for sure because the WEATHERMAN said so.

       Said so right on the air!

       Said that there would be an extra MONTH of ALLERGY season this

year and he had never heard of such a thing!

       Convinced me that this was a weird year.

       He didn’t talk about the “dustbowl” year Texas is straining under. Or the

wildfires there. Or the “non-wind event” Hurricanes that caused super flooding

north of NEW YORK. Or even the earliest Snowfalls ever in the plains.

       Oh no.

       O.K. So what’s this got to do with Tree Service?

       Just looking back over this year’s blogs would answer that one…

       This is by far our busiest year. Neither the men or equipment have caught

a break and that includes January.

       Pine Bark Beetle outbreaks over our entire zone. Trees literally falling over

on clear days. Homeowners hiring us to remove EVERY tree on their property

that could “potentially” hit their homes if they fell. Yes, that includes Old Line Oaks.

       Huge colonies of army ants. Honey Bees. Wasps.

       One HUNDRED degree days at the first of June!

       I wonder how many times I’ve heard “that tree was NOT dead 2 weeks ago”.

It sure was when I looked at it.

       I think you get the picture…

       Look. TREEMAN has been very hard pressed to formulate an answer to homeowners trying to find any answer to “what happened to my tree(s)”. Until now.

       The answer: There is an extra month of allergy season this year!!!

       YEP. Just ask the weatherman.

                                                                   TREEMAN

                         TIMES ARE TIGHT IN THE TREE SERVICE INDUSTRY

    Every day we get REPORTED TO that our economy is coming out of the deepest

recession in living memory. Not So. Somebody must really want to get certain “officials”

re-elected regardless of competence. That is a political statement, and probably doesn’t

belong here, but TREEMAN has a REAL right to his opinion. It’s called the First

Amendment.

   I base the above statement on what we see day to day in our business and first hand

knowledge of two more small businesses that I am privy to. Both are in trouble and

neither are run by fools.

   O.K.

   What’s this got to do with Tree Work?

    This is a cautionary tale for my readers who have come to expect a “heads up”

from this company.

     Geddie Tree Service is successful because we use a BUSINESS MAN to run

the company as a Business. Sounds simple…FAR from it.

     Many of our competition (those that are left) are in serious financial trouble. This slowdown has shut down many who bought equipment on “payments” and couldn’t adjust to a simple principle: cash flow.

     Several times a week, we are getting calls from tree service employees who tell

us there is no work for them and they are hurting. They NEED a job.

     Advertisers are calling us in panic mode.

     Owners of some of these companies are calling us to sell us their equipment.

     Homeowner’s are only doing truly necessary tree work.

     Here it is: in times like these, you had better check out that person trying to

sell his services. Does he REALLY have insurance. If he is out of business next

week, who will handle his (now yours) problems. Please be an educated buyer!

    “Those who consider only price are lawful prey”.

      Call TREEMAN and avoid expensive mistakes