That quote about 'treating every tree like a client' really stuck with me

I overheard an old-school arborist at the supply yard in Portland last week say that to a younger guy he was training. It made me think about how I approach my pruning jobs, especially on those big oaks where every cut counts. I usually rush through the smaller residential work, but that quote is making me slow down and think about each limb like it's a customer. Has anyone else changed their whole approach after hearing something simple like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

nina1471mo ago

What about the trees that aren't oaks or big money makers? That quote stuck with me too, but then I started thinking about the little dogwoods and cherry trees in those tight suburban yards. Those trees don't get the same respect because they're not towering or old. But they're still clients, right? I realized I was treating them like second class jobs just because they're small and easy. Now I slow down on every tree even the scrappy ones. The old man's lesson was about respect not just for the work but for the tree itself. You can't pick and choose when to care.

the_elliot1mo agoProlific Poster

Did you hear about my buddy who almost lost a hand pruning a little crabapple? He was rushing through it because it was "just a small job" and slipped with the chainsaw.