piperm38•1mo agoProlific Poster

Refused to top a historic elm, even when the homeowner insisted.

Got a call to prune a massive elm in a historic district. The owner wanted it topped because leaves were clogging his gutters. I explained that topping harms trees and makes them unsafe. He offered double my rate if I just did it. I said no and walked. He hired someone else who butchered it. Now the tree is dying, and I feel sick every time I drive by. But my conscience is clean because arborists must stand firm on good practices.

3 comments

3 Comments

richard6691mo ago

My neighbor cleared his yard overnight, regretted it by spring.

iris_fisher5429d ago

Bet that 'clean slate' looked great for about five minutes before the mud slides started! Spring probably brought a lovely crop of weeds instead of grass, and all the birds he scared off are now laughing from my yard. Classic case of haste making waste, with extra dirt on top. Hope he enjoys his new mosquito breeding ground! Maybe next time he'll think before he chops.

mila_harris1mo ago

Good on you for saying no. Ugh, that's so frustrating. The owner was being short-sighted and just wanted a quick fix. You stuck to your guns, even when money was on the line. It's sad about the tree, but you did what a real professional should do. Your conscience is clean for a reason.