Why Your Trees Need Care — And Your Patience

JUN

23

Dear residents,
Thank you for your patience as our crews and equipment move through your narrow streets. I know our presence can feel disruptive, so I’d like to explain why we’re there — and why the work matters for you and your families.

Your city has hired us not only to prune trees but also to assess them. Most of the time this is done visually; other times we use more specialized methods. The goal is simple: your elected officials want healthy, beautiful trees, but they also want you safe living near them. They brought us in because we are trained, certified, and committed to understanding tree biology at a deep level. Trees don’t always reveal their intentions, and predicting their future behavior is impossible — that would take more than one lifetime. But what we can do is make informed decisions based on proven science and industry standards.

As certified arborists, our instinct is always to preserve a tree whenever it’s viable and safe to do so. Humans and trees were designed to function together — they remove carbon dioxide and return oxygen, and our communities benefit from shade, beauty, and cooler streets because of them.

But not all trees require the same type of care. Sometimes “more is less,” and other times “less is more.” Our industry standards limit us from removing more than 25% of a tree’s live foliage. That means our pruning must be thoughtful and strategic. Every cut must move us toward the goal: providing safe clearance for vehicles and pedestrians while reducing liability for the community.

In our company, we follow a simple motto: “We do what is right for the tree while reducing the liability for the community.”
I emphasize reducing because trees are living organisms. Just like humans, they change, grow, adapt — and sometimes decline. No one can eliminate all risk, especially in dense urban environments where trees are asked to grow around sidewalks, asphalt, water lines, hydrants, underground utilities, and overhead communication and power lines. Imagine being designed to grow freely… then suddenly being expected to fit inside modern city grids and tight spaces.

Even with the best care, issues will arise. Sometimes trees will fail us, and sometimes we will fail them. What matters is that we continue to value their benefits — cleaner air, shade, beauty, and a healthier community.

If we can all take a breath, step back, and empathize with both the challenges trees face and the work required to keep them thriving, we can move forward with patience and understanding.

Thank you for trusting us with your urban forest.