whadja do today?

bck · Jun 16, 2021

And the sugar maples

treevet · Jun 16, 2021

Beech bark disease is bad news. Sugar maples can't live in my hood. No big ones left and there were giant ones. Go 100 mi.s north and they are doing fine. Too hot here now with temp change. Pushes V. Wilt.

bck · Jun 16, 2021

I just started noticing / paying attention to the beach trees, bark is splitting, dieback …
Have noticed the sugar maples declining for a while.

gorman · Jun 16, 2021

bck said:
I just started noticing / paying attention to the beach trees, bark is splitting, dieback …
Have noticed the sugar maples declining for a while.

Lot of sugar maples girdle themselves.

mikewhite85 · Jun 17, 2021

Removing some trees struck by lighting at the local elementary school today.

I'm putting in a prevailing wage bid for a school in New York clearing out about an acre of trees. We've never done prevailing wage work before. Do you guys have any advice or experience with that?

This same contractor just awarded me a huge silver maple removal job (prevailing wage) at another school we'll do next month. 6500 for the day. Bucket work and clean up. No crane. My guys already make close to prevailing wages aside from the extra $10 per hour fringe benefit. That should give me plenty of room.

Check out the stump! No, we're not grinding it!

mike515 · Jun 17, 2021

I did a bunch of stuff that I wanted to get done before I go on vacation tomorrow. I have prepared everyone and everything as much as I could. I've been gone plenty of times and left others in charge but this time is different because we're going to Isle Royale in Lake Superior for a 9 day backpacking/hiking trip. No cell phone or internet service.....there aren't even roads or cars on the entire island. So my son is getting the keys to the store and it's completely his show until I get back. I'm not too worried though (maybe just a tiny bit). We have good people and that won't change just because I'm gone.

tree MDS · Jun 17, 2021

mike515 said:
I did a bunch of stuff that I wanted to get done before I go on vacation tomorrow. I have prepared everyone and everything as much as I could. I've been gone plenty of times and left others in charge but this time is different because we're going to Isle Royale in Lake Superior for a 9 day backpacking/hiking trip. No cell phone or internet service.....there aren't even roads or cars on the entire island. So my son is getting the keys to the store and it's completely his show until I get back. I'm not too worried though (maybe just a tiny bit). We have good people and that won't change just because I'm gone.

I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure they’ll do fine without you. Lol.

mike515 · Jun 17, 2021

tree MDS said:
I wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure they’ll do fine without you. Lol.

They definitely aren't doing anything super crazy while I'm gone. I just don't want to have to wonder how some larger crane job went or whatever while I'm completely cut off from contact. They can do that stuff without me but once in a while they need me to do something or at least advise them (although none of them would want to admit that on any given day). I just want to enjoy our trip and know that they aren't jammed up with anything. Keep it easy and safe while I'm gone. It's different if I am at least available by phone but this time I am not....for 9 days.

mckeetree · Jun 18, 2021

mike515 said:
We have good people and that won't change just because I'm gone.

Dream on...

mikewhite85 · Jun 18, 2021

A project from the other day. The beginning part is security cam footage

mikewhite85 · Jun 19, 2021

Raised the flag for the Laurel Festival Parade today. It was a good advertising opportunity!

gorman · Jun 21, 2021

Day after Father’s Day is pretty depressing. You go from king of the castle to the everyday shlub/whipping boy in a matter of 24 hours.

tree MDS · Jun 21, 2021

Some maintenance on Lifty and the Giant this morning, then got Lifty back in his natural habitat, whipping up every dead Ash tree within striking distance. Not a bad Monday.

mikewhite85 · Jun 23, 2021

Question for you guys who have been doing this for decades. How long is your average GTC life cycle? 3-5 years? My wife keeps telling me that God is using them to humble me!

Also, I have one of these coming to me next week. Stoked!

tree MDS · Jun 23, 2021

These two worked nice together today. :yes:

I had the tractor there for the winch, but didn’t even need it. We had the chipper on the other end of the driveway to feed too. Lift got all eight ash from that one setup. Pretty sweet.