This happened: My poor tree. UPDATED

[2curlydogs]

That's my beautiful linden. I was so irate that I left them a message last night that was apparently the first thing they got this morning because I got a call before 8 to arrange to meet to discuss.

They shouldn't have even been on my property. I had requested a copy of their workers comp coverage before they did any work. I hadn't received that.

We're meeting at 10:30. This should be good.

[treedimensional]

What happened?

[2curlydogs]

They completely lopped the top of. Took out the central leader, did no other structural pruning.

This is what it looked like last summer.

[nomad100]

Oh no! That is so not good. Give them hell.

[shamrockshake]

WHO did it?

[treedimensional]

OMFG!
OMFG I would FLIPTHEFUCK out over this! Who did this??!

[2curlydogs]

The certified arborist we hired. *sigh* They checked out in all other respects. Good references, reviews, current certifications.

They also pruned the maple. Mainly cleaned it up, but did no training for a central leader that I can see. But at least they didn't fuck it up.

They also took down our dead river birch and mugo pine, but did not grind out the stumps as requested.

[2curlydogs]

May 28, 2015 8:50:53 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

OMFG!
OMFG I would FLIPTHEFUCK out over this! Who did this??!

You should have heard me last night. I was storming around my yard screeching and cursing.

[downtoearth]

Poor tree. What can they do now? Is it just going to be bushy forever and not grow tall?

[2curlydogs]

May 28, 2015 10:28:16 GMT -5 downtoearth said:

Poor tree. What can they do now? Is it just going to be bushy forever and not grow tall?

I'm thinking the best one can do now is trim down the other branches to properly re-shape it and re-establish that central leader.

I have PHOTOS of the structure without leaves.

He's here. Off to scream.

[simpsongal]

OMG, I'm so sorry. And you did everything right to ensure these quacks knew what they were doing

[2curlydogs]

Ok. The lack of stump grinding was because they need to coordinate with Diggers. Fine.

We talked about the work order, which apparently said "reduce multiple laterals to promote growth". As I pointed out, they reduced the fucking central leader and left all the goddamned laterals. He was appropriately apologetic and we agreed what he would do to fix and re-shape the tree.

He's giving the maple a bit more of a shave right now, especially to address the split that was happening in the main central spire. I'm watching him like a hawk. He's on to the linden after that.

I shall be calling their office though to discuss the fact that they shouldn't have fucking been here yesterday in the first place.

[treedimensional]

I would post before and after pics on LinkedIn groups (any & all grops that pertain to tree work)
and I WOULD NAME NAMES.

[pumpkin]

I have to admit that my tree knowledge is severely lacking so I can't fully understand, but sounds like you're justified in your anger. And your tree is beautiful!!

[treedimensional]

I am so sorry I don't live near you (I don't, do I?). This would NOT have happened.
When you first posted this (just the "after" pic) I was going to comment that your tree needed structural work, but I zipped my lip because you were obviously upset and I didn't know why. Now I do.

[2curlydogs]

May 28, 2015 11:04:00 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

I am so sorry I don't live near you (I don't, do I?). This would NOT have happened.
When you first posted this (just the "after" pic) I was going to comment that your tree needed structural work, but I zipped my lip because you were obviously upset and I didn't know why. Now I do.

I think I might have started crying if you had.

I'm still holding my hand close to my vest to see how much I blast them. He had to have taken off, like, 2 or 3 feet. That's YEARS of re-growth and I don't know if it'll be as straight as it was. 

My poor tree. 

ETA: Oh. No. You don't live near me. I'm in WI. Near Milwaukee.

But if you have a referral, I'll gladly take it.

[2curlydogs]

@merida - I would say small, local? 

Here it is now that he's finished. It's... well. Better. Ish. 



And a close up of the top now.



I put together a blog post. I also pictures of the maple there, which actually looks quite nice now.

wholeyard.blogspot.com/2015/05/caveat-emptor.html

[2curlydogs]

So, I fired off an email to the company with before and after photos around 1:30, requesting they call me to address this and also my other issues:

I would appreciate a phone call to discuss this, in addition to other concerns I have. Most notably:

* the fact that I had requested a copy of workers compensation insurance prior to any work being done and none was sent
* the fact that I had requested a call to schedule a time for service and no call was made
* the fact that NO communication was made informing me that someone would be out on my property yesterday
* OR the fact that there was no follow up communication regarding the need to contact Digger's Hotline in order to grind out the stumps.

You may reach me on my cell phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx

I haven't heard back.

How long do I give them to respond before taking to social media to start complaining there?

[treedimensional]

May 28, 2015 15:54:54 GMT -5 2curlydogs said:

So, I fired off an email to the company with before and after photos around 1:30, requesting they call me to address this and also my other issues:

I would appreciate a phone call to discuss this, in addition to other concerns I have. Most notably:

* the fact that I had requested a copy of workers compensation insurance prior to any work being done and none was sent
* the fact that I had requested a call to schedule a time for service and no call was made
* the fact that NO communication was made informing me that someone would be out on my property yesterday
* OR the fact that there was no follow up communication regarding the need to contact Digger's Hotline in order to grind out the stumps.

You may reach me on my cell phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx

I haven't heard back.

How long do I give them to respond before taking to social media to start complaining there?

You were overdue the first time I opened this thread. Other people need to know.

[treedimensional]

Your maple can still use some work.
It is young, and maple is a vigorous grower with opposite branch attachments. The laterals must be very heavily subordinated (as compared to the central leader). This probably isn't adequate suppression, unless you service it twice a year.

[2curlydogs]

May 28, 2015 17:01:55 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

May 28, 2015 15:54:54 GMT -5 2curlydogs said:

So, I fired off an email to the company with before and after photos around 1:30, requesting they call me to address this and also my other issues:

I haven't heard back.

How long do I give them to respond before taking to social media to start complaining there?

You were overdue the first time I opened this thread. Other people need to know.

Ugh. You're right. I know it. No matter how much they are trying or will try to "fix it", the simple fact is - it should never have happened in the first place. Anyone who spends a living doing this work should never have made that mistake. My only guess is the person was either completely inexperienced, drunk, high, or a combination of the 3.

I'm just treading the ground of not pissing them off so much that they won't agree to my suggestions regarding the bill. Right now I'm thinking no charge for the linden - obviously - and 10%? 20%? off the rest of the work - the bill without the linden would be $440. Replacing the linden at the same caliper would easily be about the same amount....

Noted about the maple. Frankly, though, I don't want them back. I'll try and handle it myself I guess. I'm probably going to have to do some trimming to the linden late this fall anyway once the summer growth is done, the leaves are down and I can see things more clearly.

[LadySusan]

That's crazy!

And this is why I'm afraid to hire arborists for the first time to come check out our yard.

treedimensional, you don't know anyone good in Portland, OR do you?

[treedimensional]

May 29, 2015 22:23:51 GMT -5 LadySusan said:

That's crazy!

And this is why I'm afraid to hire arborists for the first time to come check out our yard.

treedimensional, you don't know anyone good in Portland, OR do you?

Ruth Williams, Anne Brown. Both are well credentialed.

www.treesaregood.com/findanarborist/findanarborist.aspx

[treedimensional]

May 28, 2015 11:09:51 GMT -5 2curlydogs said:

May 28, 2015 11:04:00 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

I am so sorry I don't live near you (I don't, do I?). This would NOT have happened.
When you first posted this (just the "after" pic) I was going to comment that your tree needed structural work, but I zipped my lip because you were obviously upset and I didn't know why. Now I do.

I think I might have started crying if you had.

I'm still holding my hand close to my vest to see how much I blast them. He had to have taken off, like, 2 or 3 feet. That's YEARS of re-growth and I don't know if it'll be as straight as it was. 

My poor tree. 

ETA: Oh. No. You don't live near me. I'm in WI. Near Milwaukee.

But if you have a referral, I'll gladly take it.

I hope it's not Jeffrey Laufenberg. He's the city forester, so I don't knw if he's for hire. He's the more credentialed arborist in the city.

[2curlydogs]

May 30, 2015 19:12:17 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

May 28, 2015 11:09:51 GMT -5 2curlydogs said:

I think I might have started crying if you had.

I'm still holding my hand close to my vest to see how much I blast them. He had to have taken off, like, 2 or 3 feet. That's YEARS of re-growth and I don't know if it'll be as straight as it was. 

My poor tree. 

ETA: Oh. No. You don't live near me. I'm in WI. Near Milwaukee.

But if you have a referral, I'll gladly take it.

I hope it's not Jeffrey Laufenberg. He's the city forester, so I don't knw if he's for hire. He's the more credentialed arborist in the city.

No, not him. But that's a good name. I wonder if he'd come down and consult regarding the hardwoods behind our house.... We own about 8-10' before it becomes protected land and I've always wondered if we need to be doing more with it.

[LadySusan]

May 30, 2015 19:01:53 GMT -5 treedimensional said:

May 29, 2015 22:23:51 GMT -5 LadySusan said:

That's crazy!

And this is why I'm afraid to hire arborists for the first time to come check out our yard.

treedimensional, you don't know anyone good in Portland, OR do you?

Ruth Williams, Anne Brown. Both are well credentialed.

www.treesaregood.com/findanarborist/findanarborist.aspx

Thank you!