Confessions: I spiked a trim today

[Bermie]

So I spiked BIG trim today...

A casuarina well over 70', loads of vertical leaders with no branches, left way too long for a reduction and was threatening to take out the whole power supply if the branches broke in a storm, whole neighbourhood with power turned off, mega multi millon $$ neighbourhood, road, power lines below.
I was dropping 15' tops out, had to rig some. The others worked the power side from a high lift, I did the back.
There was no way I could have done the tree without spikes in the time we had.

My only concession was that casuarinas are a noxious weed, they can take a beating and survive everything, eventually they will probably be removed, they were not a vital or critical part of the landscape, in six months you wont be able to see where my spikes were...

Ok, I feel a bit bad, but yes, we spike casuarinas!

 

[pdqdl]

You're so small and light, you wouldn't do to much harm anyway. I suppose that might be different if you didn't care.

 

[Nailsbeats]

Good for you! Got it done in the time allowed and stayed safe. Do what you have to do, that's the secret. Now stayed tuned for the spike police.

 

[pdqdl]

From other posts about the casuarina trees, I suspect that she secretly took a savage delight in spurring up that tree. From what I hear, they are no good to have around.

 

[tree md]

LOL, I spiked a few a couple of years ago too when the work load was heavy from ice damage. Mostly in the back forty on rural properties. I still got well above the stems before I dug in. You do what you have to. None of the trees were a critical part of the landscape. Here in the past couple of years I have been leaving the spikes at home when I'm only doing prunes. I have found that I will find a way to get up there and make my cuts when the money is on the line and I have no spikes to fall back on. I heard the first thing Cortez did when he got to the New World was burn his ships that brought him and his crew here. It was make or break.

 

[S Mc]

Lady, you are one of the toughest cookies I know! You have had my admiration and respect for quite awhile, and if you say it had to be done that way. Then it had to be done that way. Enough said.



Sylvia

 

[tree md]

Here's the thing, It's obvious that you try to do tree care Bermie. It's not easy rigging big stuff spikeless. From the pictures I've seen you do big work. There are those who try to care for trees and do aesthetic work and there are those who spike everything they climb for a quick dollar. I think everyone knows which category you fall in.

I am not a real finesse climber (although I am working to be). My niche is large removals. I am not the guy with every gadget up there with a handsaw (although I try to wear that hat when it is asked of me). When we had our large ice storm here the best thing I did for myself is ask for help and hire a certified arborist to work with me. He had much more experience at repairing trees than me and was much more efficient at spikeless prunes. I used him on most of the delicate jobs while I concentrated on removals. I think one of the biggest things to making it in this business is knowing your limitations and knowing when to ask for help. Also, it sounds to me like you were doing more of a line clearance job. I know that when doing line clearance safety to the climber outweighs aesthetics to the tree, as it should be. Sounds to me like ya done good kid.

 

[Bermie]

Thanks gang!

I got put into the tree about 50' up with the lift, so unless you use binoculars those dreaded spike marks don't show! And I did use a handsaw for the top two leaders, they were at about 60' RIGHT in front of my face, and I was only standing on about 10" of tree!
Anybody want to see a picture of the beastie tree?

 

[ozzy42]

From other posts about the casuarina trees, I suspect that she secretly took a savage delight in spurring up that tree. From what I hear, they are no good to have around.

:agree2:They are another [invasive species]gift from our good friends down under.

Where I'm at ,they top them at about 50ft till they can save up enough $$to top them about 12inches below ground level.

As far as spikes in them go,,,,I am almost 200lbs,and can barely get them in 1/2 in or so .Dam things are like climbing concrete bridge pilings.


Let's see them pics girl

 

[treeseer]

(although I try to wear that hat when it is asked of me).

well gosh that sure is a huge concession! :monkey:

Note that Bermie did not spike the bottom 50'. Inviting rot into the base of a tree next to a transmission line would not be smart. Wounding younger tissue up high, much less of an issue. I've done the same on sprawling sweetgums.

Outside of emergencies, there no justification for spiking the base of any tree.

Yes we get ll kinds of crap coming up from down under!
But they have gotten a lot

 

[S Mc]

Of course!

Me, too.

 

[treesquirrel]

INFIDEL!!!


Just kiddin....

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Now stayed tuned for the spike police.

My stand on gaffing a trim is that those who do it all the time do not take in the value of the tree. I have no problem when an arborist makes a decision to spike up a tree that is being treated as a partial removal to save cost on the job.

When I am doing bluff work for line of site trimming I will gaff up skinny poles that would take longer to set a line then do the actual work.

It is when the partially skilled workers gaff up a tree that is expected to stay in the landscape for generations were the "do no more harm then necessary" part of me comes out.

 

[pdqdl]

....Yes we get all kinds of crap coming up from down under!
But they have gotten a lot

Yes! Ask the Aussies how well they like all those bunny rabbits that we sent them!

 

[tree md]

well gosh that sure is a huge concession! :monkey:

Note that Bermie did not spike the bottom 50'. Inviting rot into the base of a tree next to a transmission line would not be smart. Wounding younger tissue up high, much less of an issue. I've done the same on sprawling sweetgums.

Outside of emergencies, there no justification for spiking the base of any tree.

Yes we get ll kinds of crap coming up from down under!
But they have gotten a lot

No concession at all Guy. Just stating that I specialize in large removals and advertise as so. However, when I am asked to prune I do the best job I can for the client.

 

[ozzy42]

I'm seeing some double standard start to come out here .


I guess it is ok to hook the tree if you are certified arborist?

 

[asthesun]

So I spiked BIG trim today...

A casuarina well over 70', loads of vertical leaders with no branches, left way too long for a reduction and was threatening to take out the whole power supply if the branches broke in a storm, whole neighbourhood with power turned off, mega multi millon $$ neighbourhood, road, power lines below.
I was dropping 15' tops out, had to rig some. The others worked the power side from a high lift, I did the back.
There was no way I could have done the tree without spikes in the time we had.

My only concession was that casuarinas are a noxious weed, they can take a beating and survive everything, eventually they will probably be removed, they were not a vital or critical part of the landscape, in six months you wont be able to see where my spikes were...

Ok, I feel a bit bad, but yes, we spike casuarinas!

grats!! welcome to the 'hack' club.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I'm seeing some double standard start to come out here .


I guess it is ok to hook the tree if you are certified arborist?

No, it is wrong for any worker to hook a tree with value to it's owner.

If the owner needs you to hack on the tree, and to the best hack job you can, in the least amount of time, then there may be an excuse for doing so. As long as the owner knows that it is not the best thing for the tree. From the sound of it, she thinks that the entire treatment may not have been the best thing for the tree, but the only practical way to keep it in place cost effectively.

I do not rule out any legitimate tool for occasional use. It is when certain tools and techniques are the rules, as opposed to the exception, when I object.

Say when a climber gaffs up every tall conifer because the can "tiptoe" up the thick barked trees without any damage; Not taking phelogen into consideration.

 

[Adkpk]

So I spiked BIG trim today...



Ok, I feel a bit bad, but yes, we spike casuarinas!

Your penance will be a tall fruity drink, "spiked" with your favorite rum. That should work on the bite of guilt. :greenchainsaw:

 

[ozzy42]

No, it is wrong for any worker to hook a tree with value to it's owner.

If the owner needs you to hack on the tree, and to the best hack job you can, in the least amount of time, then there may be an excuse for doing so. As long as the owner knows that it is not the best thing for the tree. From the sound of it, she thinks that the entire treatment may not have been the best thing for the tree, but the only practical way to keep it in place cost effectively.

I do not rule out any legitimate tool for occasional use. It is when certain tools and techniques are the rules, as opposed to the exception, when I object.

Say when a climber gaffs up every tall conifer because the can "tiptoe" up the thick barked trees without any damage; Not taking phelogen into consideration.

All i"m saying John is that I have made similar post about spiking a step or two if needed,way up in the canopy,and was crucified for it.I Never said I get up every tree ,and stomp the day lights out of them,but still caught hell because i would dare hook a prune.

Some on here post as to sugest it is ok for an arborist to make the call to "spike them a little",but let somebody old school with 25 yrs exp take their spikes out of the trucks on a prune,and everybody calls him a hack.

BTW,I have never spiked the lower base of a trim,as I use heavy duty werner ladders to get in the canopy,or a lift.Easier than spiking,and 5x faster.