Taking bold action yields tree preservation results.

[M.D. Vaden]

Maybe a few of you remember my post from months back, about me being "released" by a landscape contractor. It was the outfit in Medford, OR, shoe-horning trees into 3 root barrier panels resembling a pot in the ground. Not to mention the 4 inches of river rock put in the hole to supposedly help drainage. It was my belief that I was given the boot in association with that. I had given them a print-out from the city, documenting the REQUIREMENT to do otherwise: panels parallel and along the curb, allowing root growth room.

Anyhow, this damage was going to get into the hundred of street trees: 4 crews installing about 3 trees per house each, every 8 days. So I called the developer and mentioned this. I said that there was a ton of work I could get in there to remedy tree problems, but that I'd let him work it out with the contractor first so that a bunch of homeowners wouldn't raise hell about tree issues first.

Weeks ago, I heard from the city arborist that a meeting with that landscaper was scheduled. That meant to me, that the developer actually acted on the message and info I left.

Today, I saw one of the crews and stopped to say Hi. The first thing they said was "are you the one responsible for us planting trees the way we are?"

I said, well are you sticking them into circles still? They said no, but a new way - the city of Medford's way. And they said thanks, because it was a heck of a lot easier to do it that right way. No more scraped trunks, no more inconsistent backfill, etc..

Then the owner drives up and starts verbally warning me - pegging me as a trouble maker, making a bad name for myself. He said it's a small town and that I better watch myself.

Wrong thing to say to M. D. Vaden !!!

I railed on that guy. My fingers were both pointed at him. I reviewed how I told him he was messing up. That I gave him the printout. I reminded him about how his website boasts of a team of experts, then mentioned that the best tree expert he had then - me - was shunned. (Great idea - turn a deaf ear to a Certified Arborist like thier an ignoramous).

So I told him that he screwed up, that he broke the codes, that he had warning, that he caused it to come before the developer.

I think his crew was shocked to see this on the street in Jacksonville.

This landscape contractor warned me this was a small town. Yeah, he's right and it's small. It only took me about 15 minutes to call the developer again. I thanked him for taking action about the trees. And I asked him for a small favor. To watch my back for me as I get started in the area, and if he hears any contractors pegging me as a trouble maker, to help keep stories in context. I let him know what transpired.

So one or two guys are mad at me. But apparently a whole bunch of landscape workers are much happier about tree planting and are now getting experience doing it right.

The city arborist is satisfied, and a developer will have several hundred homeowners with much better trees, not to mention reduced liability himself.

So I'm going to take comfort in the happy multitude and brush off today's irritation - although it is hurtful when professionals jump your case for trying to do something beneficial.

 

[clearance]

Good for you, I remember your post from before. Some here think I am a tree murdering hack, whatever, I know that trees need to be well planted. The planting is just like a biulding, the foundation is what everything rests on, do not scrimp on high psi concrete or rebar, just because its underground. It is right to take the time and do it right, whats a few extra bucks or time in relation to the life of the tree?

 

[treeseer]

Excellent post, clearance.:rockn:


Mario, you are building a reputation for quality that will take you far! In a short time, you won't notice the grumbling pissants.

 

[Tree Machine]

The result is what ultimately counts. Your intervention corrected an expensive and involved project from being mediocre. You got the project in line, got it on track for the future and instead of the project getting a D, the project gets an A.

Things that are done wrong can sometimes not be undone, and you just have to live with what was created. Mario SHARED his expertise to the benefit of the trees, the people, and the community sharing the space with the trees over the next few decades.

MD, I think that is pretty large of you. You wanted to see the thing done in excellence and you stepped up to see that it was. Bold action is sometimes what it requires. Action creates results and you :rockn: .

Now, the friction you got from the owner, that's because of the universal rule, kinda related to Murphy's Law, but it's really its own animal. It's that saying that goes, 'No good deed goes unpunished.' I get a bit of that too, but it's the price we pay for doing the right thing. Thank you for helping so many trees without ever touching one of them.

 

[rbtree]

GOOD going, Mario!!! It's obvious that your actions were solely with the trees' (and the city's and the property owners') well being in mind. Likely, the ignorant landscaper will leave well enough alone. If he has an inkling of common sense, he knows he's been gotten the better of. Maybe he'll learn from it, maybe not....

 

[Tree Machine]

Probably not, rb. He'll go on thinking he was right. Some people are addicted to being right, and they'll stick to their guns, even if they're pointed at their own head.

Mario, I think he owes you a 12-pack and a sincere apology. There IS an opportunity for the two of you to be greater than the sum of the parts, unless the landscape dude is a 'tard.

 

[treeseer]

"it is hurtful when professionals jump your case for trying to do something beneficial."

Mario, now that the sting of the confrontation has worn off, look at the above. You have such generosity of spirit that you called this guy a professional, when he is the landscaper verison of a hack! If you have some spare time in the future, you could:

1. Check up on the project in question, and verify that the work is done to the letter of the specs, codes, Standards and BMP's. You know the town is not as good at inspecing as you are.

2. Go to this jokers other projects and clients and see that they know about the BMP's. Since they only cost $5, they take only a small investment to put into the right hands to raise the quality of the environment in your town. If they have ded/dying trees, link the cause and effect for the owners' edification (and possible warranty/legal action).

3. That joker is right, you are in a small town. It ain't big enough for good work and his style, so one of them has got to go!

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Most arbos are driven by the desire to do whatever is necessary to keep a tree on track to having an existance that will allow it to live to maturity. By speadking up, in a professional manner, you showed that these trees will have the benefit of being planted correctly. Great story.

This shows what a passionate Certified Arborist can accomplish.

Congrats!

 

[hobby climber]

Way to go!!! HC

 

[RedlineIt]

M. D.Vadan,

How to go, brother! Stuck to your guns, and followed through to a good result. Excellent!

You didn't want to work down to those standards, anyway. Or, sub-standards may be a better word.

A piece of advice, if you haven't seen the potential already. Cultivate a relationship with that City Arborist. He contacted you about the meeting with the landscaper, time to call him back to let him know how positively things went with the planting crew, (ignore the negativity of the landscaper boss for now), maybe set up a face-to-face.

But you're smart, I'm sure you're on it already!

Again, great job, M. D. V.


RedlineIt

 

[M.D. Vaden]

Thanks for the encouragement.

I did call the city arborist today to thank him for following up with that landscape company owner. And I mentioned the comments from the employees, how they like the new method of planting better.

The city arborist told me today, that it was the developer that called him first, and that after the developer found out the right standards, that he called the landscape contractor.

So that established what I thought - that the developer realized the importance of doing work the right way.