Reading work orders

[wiley_p]

I've been having a tough time figuring out what EXACTLY the term center means in regards to pruning. often a work order will say center and deadwood 3 birch, the deadwood part isnt open to interpretation but center? does that mean gut the middle of the tree? That doesnt seem right, it seeems to suggest lion's tailing, again bad. does it mean any branch going back to the center of the tree is to be removed? I've asked several individuals what this means and not one can really tell me including the one who writes the prescription. Any thoughts from more experienced Arborists?

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by wiley_p
I've been having a tough time figuring out what EXACTLY the term center means in regards to pruning. not one can really tell me including the one who writes the prescription.

The term is not in ANSI Pruning Standards and I've never heard or used it. If the spec-writer doesn't know what it means why is the term being used? He/she needs to know what they are talking about or the specs are worse than useless.:alien:

 

[Base]

having thought about it, if i was to have a wild guess i would say that it is refering to the balance of the tree ie turn the tree into a lolli pop nice and central trunk, just a idea............

 

[kowens]

99%of the customers i talk to know nothing about ansi or
anything about trees it is up to you to ed. your customers

 

[kowens]

i agree 100%

 

[trees4life]

I would check with whoever wrote up the order. If you interpret it incorrectly, you likely can't fix it. If the customer aint' happy, ain't nobody happy.

 

[rumination]

if the guy that wrote the work order doesn't even know what he means, then I'd say that gives you free license to trim the tree however you feel is best. You can't disobey orders cause noone even knows what the orders are!

 

[Lumberjack]

But a pink slip is pretty international language.


Carl

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by rumination
I'd say that you can't disobey orders cause noone even knows what the orders are!

I'd say the opposite holds true as well. If the specs are written using terms like "centering", and the spec writer claims to be unaware of their meaning, then it's anarchy. You can't conform to specs that have no meaning.

Get the terms defined, or it's potentially a lot of trouble for the contractor. It'd be easier all around if the contractor plays a part in the rewriting. Crowns are raised, thinned, cleaned or reduced--never "centered". A lot of work went into ANSI--why not spend the $15. and use its universal language?

 

[rbtree]

wiley,

LOL. Are you hoping Tom C or some of the Evergreen loonies read this board?

Scott Baker and I had a good laugh sometime ago, discussing the flyer that Evergreen uses...."Centering" isnt the only term they use or technique they promote and perform that is off base...as I know you know.

Sounds like you need to give the TC and the salesmen some in depth lectures!

Cheers

 

[wiley_p]

Well thanks guys I was afraid I was being a little unreasonable about questioning the term. I do what think needs to be done to the tree, realizing that I have a hell of alot to learn but applying pruning decisions based on tree biology and site conditions, species and also trying to address "trimming" issues the client may have. Now the issue is just the name and the fact that if the customer has any questions about the work that was done or actually opens a book or turns on a computer they are going to say "What is this centering stuff?" also it leaves work to be done up to the individual arborist, and my feeling is that some basic guidelines should be in place along with the experience of an arborist on site. I think the problem may be solved I got copies of the ANSI guidelines for pruning and that will be implemented with the sales arborists as well as the production arborists. As the newly certified arborists are learning the certification they got was just the beginning something new should be learned every day.

 

[rbtree]

Good on ya, wiley.

Hey, I just sent ya an email.