How people react when we prune trees in front of their house

[treedimensional]

Some of them are appreciative. But some of them are assholes.
This guy yesterday was such a piece of work, he began by talking down to us, as if we were uneducated idiots who knew nothing about tree biology: "when I studied botany in college, we were taught that trees photosynthesize this time of year, and they need their leaves to do that, yet you are removing them, has science changed since I went to college?" (all in the most condescending and sarcastic tone he could muster). What a fuckhole.  Yep, we're volunteer dumbasses who desperately need someone like you to teach us. What was that big word again? Photo-what?
 
Vent over. 

[mrsreynolds4]

"I'm sorry, trees need leaves, whaaaat? They just told me to cut some of those stick things off."

What an ass.

[purrbox]

Well, dang, it's not like you're taking all the leaves off.

[treedimensional]

I'm better now.
I've been pruning 4, sometimes 4 and a half hours a day in this heat. Going on 2 weeks. Pro bono, of course, on city-owned trees. We've been doing clearance pruning, so branches don't smack people on the sidewalk, and they don't scratch cars.
Most people are very nice, and I usually pick up clients this way.

Oh, here's another gem: I'm pruning trees in the median strip of a quiet residential street. Guy comes out and, gesturing toward a small tree in his front yard, asks if he can BORROW MY SAW to prune it. I reply, "No." He becomes indignant, and repeats "NO?!" sounding completely astonished. I ignore him and keep working. Seriously, when the power company is working on the utility lines, do you ask to borrow a voltage meter? WTF. Hire an arborist or buy your own damn saw.

[mrsreynolds4]

Jul 19, 2013 19:51:12 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

I'm better now.
I've been pruning 4, sometimes 4 and a half hours a day in this heat. Going on 2 weeks. Pro bono, of course, on city-owned trees. We've been doing clearance pruning, so branches don't smack people on the sidewalk, and they don't scratch cars.
Most people are very nice, and I usually pick up clients this way.

You do this pro bono?  Is that common?
I always figured if they were trees the city was responsible for, someone was hired to maintain them. 

[treedimensional]

Jul 19, 2013 20:47:13 GMT -5 mrsreynolds4 said:

Jul 19, 2013 19:51:12 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

I'm better now.
I've been pruning 4, sometimes 4 and a half hours a day in this heat. Going on 2 weeks. Pro bono, of course, on city-owned trees. We've been doing clearance pruning, so branches don't smack people on the sidewalk, and they don't scratch cars.
Most people are very nice, and I usually pick up clients this way.

You do this pro bono?  Is that common?
I always figured if they were trees the city was responsible for, someone was hired to maintain them. 

A lot of communities have volunteer Tree Stewards because their budgets don't provide for tree care. We have over 110,000 trees and 3 arborists. No, 2 arborists. The other guy just retired.

[stellarose]

I need a lot of pruning at my place, is this the time of year i should hire someone?

[stellarose]

By the way, I meant to comment on your post that people are baffling sometimes. I can't believe that guy asked to borrow your tools. He was probably hoping you would just say, I'll come over and do it for you!

[treedimensional]

Stella, most trees are best pruned in dormancy (winter), which is what the first jerkface was confronting us about. However, a lot of them can be pruned at other times of year. And shrubs have various optimal pruning times as well. Do you need help with a particular tree/shrub? Chances are me or someone else here knows the answer.

[stellarose]

Thanks treedimensional! I honestly am very overwhelmed with my yard. I will make a list and repost for your opinions.

[NitaX]

Jul 19, 2013 19:50:04 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

I'm enough of a smartass I probably would have said that yes, science has indeed changed since then.

With an added, I'm sure in your day the World was flat.