I have been out of the commercial tree work for about 7.5 years now and recently I found this website. I was just curious how many of you out there left commercial tree work in a park or arboretum? I myself have been working on a golf course as an in-house arborist since I left the residential tree work.
In-house Arborists
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groundsmgr
ArboristSite Operative
I got laid off back in 01 after 911. (actually the day before my wedding. Thanks Steve) But anyways I took a job a a custodian at a school. 2 months later the groundskeeper was canned and i steped in his position. I have built up the dept since i took it over including doing the tree work. Also I am a one man show for 2 schools do everything from sports fields mowing and tree work. For a total of about 100 acres.
I hope to go back in commercial on my own, but as a part time gig.
scotty
I hope to go back in commercial on my own, but as a part time gig.
scotty
lync
ArboristSite Operative
I really stepped in it. I got laid off 2 years ago and with an internet application, and my wife's help (she's incredible) I'm a an Arborist/Climber /pruner, at the New Yorlk Botanical Garden!
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
That is cool, do you guys do "cloud pruning" in the Japanese Garden?
I don't think that I could come back to residential work. I do everything with regards to trees to keep me busy. We have some really big trees here on the golf course and can be quite challenging at times. I don't miss the getting the job done on time so you don't miss the daily quota.
Glad to hear you are doing well. I was cutting down a large limb of a red oak that overlook a solarium of a house when the that happened. I can clearly remember that day.
That's great! How big is the garden? I bet you are busy in the winter more than your are in the summer?
M.D. Vaden
vadenphotography.com
Your post reminds me of thoughts while passing big properties like Nike or Intel.
I'd like to see the day when some companies begin to loosen a few extra funds and start in-house landscape and tree care departments again.
There often seems to be more pride put into properties by in-house employees. Probably more so with the landscaping care. I think that arborists tend to care quite a bit even if they are hired by contract.
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
I was working for one of the oldest private CC's in Wisconsin, I too can vividly remember the sequence of events around me. "our" generations Kennedy Assassination. My Dad hated JFK as a philandering weasel, but could not wish that on anyone. He can remember that day still.
lync
ArboristSite Operative
Golf:
NYBG is 250 acres. 50 of which are forest the rest contain trees native to
places all around the world. In the winter we do most of our removals and big prune jobs, the rest of the year we repair storm damage, do ornamental pruning and in the spring and fall tree planting/tree transplanting b&b. Since the place is open 6 days a week at 10 am there is a lot of quick in and out jobs nobody wants to hear chain saws and chippers during their visits. Certain areas are not accessable to motor vehicles so it makes for some interesting rigging and climbing. We also do removals indoors inside the conservatory where some palm trees have grown to 70 feet and are breaking the glass panels. This is one of the best positions I have held, I like it there.
NYBG is 250 acres. 50 of which are forest the rest contain trees native to
places all around the world. In the winter we do most of our removals and big prune jobs, the rest of the year we repair storm damage, do ornamental pruning and in the spring and fall tree planting/tree transplanting b&b. Since the place is open 6 days a week at 10 am there is a lot of quick in and out jobs nobody wants to hear chain saws and chippers during their visits. Certain areas are not accessable to motor vehicles so it makes for some interesting rigging and climbing. We also do removals indoors inside the conservatory where some palm trees have grown to 70 feet and are breaking the glass panels. This is one of the best positions I have held, I like it there.
I hear you on the "quick in and out jobs". Working on the golf course present its challenges just like a garden where there are lots of people. We do tree work all year round and just like you guys, most of our big removals are done this time of the year. The only time we do anything big in the summer, is when there is a storm damage. We have to stop the chainsaw or chipper when someone is taking a shot or putting.
lync
ArboristSite Operative
Golf Course work
I always liked when we got a contract for a golf course. My old boss would get some jobs that would last the whole winter. Of course watching out for the greens and fairways made them challenging. On one occassion a cross country skier came out of nowhere and passed throught the drop zone. Another time during a warm spell a foursome passed throught the course as we were working, earlier that morning we had been launching found golf balls with the bigshot when they got to the approach they had 25 balls to choose from hmm which one is mine?
Corey
I always liked when we got a contract for a golf course. My old boss would get some jobs that would last the whole winter. Of course watching out for the greens and fairways made them challenging. On one occassion a cross country skier came out of nowhere and passed throught the drop zone. Another time during a warm spell a foursome passed throught the course as we were working, earlier that morning we had been launching found golf balls with the bigshot when they got to the approach they had 25 balls to choose from hmm which one is mine?
Corey
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
Where I was they did big stuff in winter because they would be fixing the fairways anyhow. I could do some large products on mondays since they were closed, as long as it was pristine by opening on tuesday. It got interesting, I would lose track of time and mi amigos would just take off 1/4 hour before quitting time
No chainsaws durring hours, just handsaws.Where I was they did big stuff in winter because they would be fixing the fairways anyhow. I could do some large products on mondays since they were closed, as long as it was pristine by opening on tuesday. It got interesting, I would lose track of time and mi amigos would just take off 1/4 hour before quitting time
I had a few guys left to dump the brush and took off right at quitting time while me and another fella were chipping. I had that staighten out pretty quick.
When I first got on the golf course, my boss at the time did not mind if we damage the rough as long as everyone is safe. We were taking down everything in the height of the season; just watch for golfers. In the winter time we would just do maintenance stuff for the course. My boss now, wants to wait until the course is close and the ground is hard to do all the big stuff. I like winter removals much better as there is not much damage to turf when you drop a big tree.
John Paul Sanborn
Above average climber
I got canned because I did not have a clue as to the politics of that level of society. The acting president of the CC was a corporate lawyer who had memorized Dirr, so he thought he was an Amateur Arborist. He was buying crap trees, crane planting size, for this memorial tree program. I asked one of the vendor nurseries to help me steer him to better stock....I was back to consulting the day after he visited the nursery
Bermie
Addicted to ArboristSite
I've done a couple of jobs on golf courses...
One was two removals on the side of the fairway not far from the tee...it's a bit disconcerting when golf balls wizz past you at 40'...then you see all the dents in the trees right where you are!
The other job was a reduction, again on the side of the fairway, approach to the 13th...cones and all set up in the cart road...a party comes right through, one cart stops right under the tree, despite the cones, branches groundie in hard hat and high viz...one guy who had hit his ball in the rough sauntered under the tree, looked up and says...'ah, a tree surgeon...' turned out it was our Premier, and some buddies, complete with bodyguards...man, I coulda flattened him! He should fire those bodyguards...they didn't even look UP!
One was two removals on the side of the fairway not far from the tee...it's a bit disconcerting when golf balls wizz past you at 40'...then you see all the dents in the trees right where you are!
The other job was a reduction, again on the side of the fairway, approach to the 13th...cones and all set up in the cart road...a party comes right through, one cart stops right under the tree, despite the cones, branches groundie in hard hat and high viz...one guy who had hit his ball in the rough sauntered under the tree, looked up and says...'ah, a tree surgeon...' turned out it was our Premier, and some buddies, complete with bodyguards...man, I coulda flattened him! He should fire those bodyguards...they didn't even look UP!
beastmaster
Addicted to ArboristSite
My dream job would be to work,"in house", at a large arboretum. Where I am employed now we work at two botanical gardens, located at universitys. But there strapped for money and only use us on big or difficult jobs. I'ed happily volunteer and work for free but it'ed be a big conflict of interest. I was at the getty art museum in LA, they have amazing trees, I wonder if they have in house tree care?
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