Comments on: The City Prunes My Trees http://thegerminatrix.com/2009/08/22/the-city-prunes-my-trees/ by Ivette Soler Sun, 28 Apr 2013 02:17:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: germinatrix http://thegerminatrix.com/2009/08/22/the-city-prunes-my-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-860 germinatrix Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:20:21 +0000 http://thegerminatrix.com/?p=450#comment-860 Hi Sarah! I nominate myself for Los Angeles Tree Czar! (I hope I get a fabulous crown to wear while I'm out enforcing good tree pruning practices!) Hey Michele D! You are HARDCORE - I couldn't pay ... I'd rather stand underneath one of the sycamores and wait for the inevitable huge branch to fall on me - and then I'll sue the pants off the city and pay for all the fancy tree work my little garden desires! Susan my dear! Somehow, I doubt that my status as a some-time garden sidekick to a day-time talk show host would have impressed these guys. I need to carry a video of my 'Worm Compost' segment just for the occasions my landscape design credibility just doesn't go deep enough. I think my being able to cuss them out in Spanish did impress them a little, though... I have to say - that has come in handy more times than I can count! XO! Hi Sarah! I nominate myself for Los Angeles Tree Czar! (I hope I get a fabulous crown to wear while I’m out enforcing good tree pruning practices!)

Hey Michele D! You are HARDCORE – I couldn’t pay … I’d rather stand underneath one of the sycamores and wait for the inevitable huge branch to fall on me – and then I’ll sue the pants off the city and pay for all the fancy tree work my little garden desires!

Susan my dear! Somehow, I doubt that my status as a some-time garden sidekick to a day-time talk show host would have impressed these guys. I need to carry a video of my ‘Worm Compost’ segment just for the occasions my landscape design credibility just doesn’t go deep enough. I think my being able to cuss them out in Spanish did impress them a little, though… I have to say – that has come in handy more times than I can count! XO!

]]> By: susan morrison (garden chick) http://thegerminatrix.com/2009/08/22/the-city-prunes-my-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-859 susan morrison (garden chick) Wed, 26 Aug 2009 01:48:16 +0000 http://thegerminatrix.com/?p=450#comment-859 What a story! I am simultaneously crying at the state of your neighborhood trees, while laughing and the thought of you chewing out the maintenance crew in as many languages as the situation called for. Did you mention you were a TV star? They might have listened better. What a story! I am simultaneously crying at the state of your neighborhood trees, while laughing and the thought of you chewing out the maintenance crew in as many languages as the situation called for. Did you mention you were a TV star? They might have listened better.

]]> By: Michelle D. http://thegerminatrix.com/2009/08/22/the-city-prunes-my-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-852 Michelle D. Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:33:00 +0000 http://thegerminatrix.com/?p=450#comment-852 you can do what I did several years ago. pay for a permit with the city and hire an independent arborist to come and fix the city's hack job. The cost, about $ 1200.00 - out of pocket with no reimbursement. you can do what I did several years ago.
pay for a permit with the city and hire an independent arborist to come and fix the city’s hack job.
The cost, about $ 1200.00 – out of pocket with no reimbursement.

]]> By: Sarah from Toronto Gardens http://thegerminatrix.com/2009/08/22/the-city-prunes-my-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-846 Sarah from Toronto Gardens Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:09:18 +0000 http://thegerminatrix.com/?p=450#comment-846 I think all cities should have Tree Czars whose job it is to stop these kinds of massacres from happening. Trees are such a valuable resource in a city and they need to have expert care. And, as you say, it wouldn't take a huge amount of time to give these cutting crews a course on basics, would it??? This Crazy Maintenance approach is the equivalent of filling potholes in a city with play-dough. Sure, you can't see the hole any more, for now, but it in no way solves the problem, rather it makes it worse. I think all cities should have Tree Czars whose job it is to stop these kinds of massacres from happening. Trees are such a valuable resource in a city and they need to have expert care. And, as you say, it wouldn’t take a huge amount of time to give these cutting crews a course on basics, would it???

This Crazy Maintenance approach is the equivalent of filling potholes in a city with play-dough. Sure, you can’t see the hole any more, for now, but it in no way solves the problem, rather it makes it worse.

]]> By: germinatrix http://thegerminatrix.com/2009/08/22/the-city-prunes-my-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-836 germinatrix Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:20:39 +0000 http://thegerminatrix.com/?p=450#comment-836 Hi Claire! My dream of England is that it is a country where everyone has horticultural savvy and an inherent respect for all things planted - I don't want to know that bad tree pruning (PRUINING!!!) exists! But I have to accept that in reality, a woman like me is running out into the street, yelling in broken, strangled Polish (I am assuming the backbone of the hort workforce must be Polish there, as it is Hispanic here). I pray she is not you! I want your trees to be un-massacred and your neighbors to never see you in the enraged, unfashionable state mine did! Oh, Sweet Rebecca, I KNOW you feel this as keenly as I do! Isn't it just the worst? Sometimes I see the grews doing their dirty deeds areound town and it is all I can do not to pull over and go mad on them! About two months ago, I saw a crew topping a the hell out of a block full of street trees Jacarandas that were STILL IN BLOOM! What a travesty! This thoughtlessness knows no bounds. I agree with you - a strongly worded letter at the least, but a full on petition or sit in might be in order! Hey there Cityslipper! YES! The Barry Manilow analogy is perfect - and props to you for working Barry Manilow into a comment about pruning street trees (this is one of the reasons I am a follower of yours!) I know that there are a number of caring hort professionals that would be more than happy to donate their time to give a workshop to city tree cutters - like you said, even an hour would be helpful! I wonder if city bureaucracy would allow for that... hmmm... Urban Eden! I can believe I forgot the wonderful PRUINING!!!! It MUST become a part of the lexicon, because it is totally in evidence all over the place. PRUINING must be dealt with! Thanks for reminding me of the term that was coined a few months back! Hey there Nicole - you know, LA County has a Dept of Urban Forestry that is totally dysfunctional. The ideals were great, but there is no implementation - they are supposed to do all urban tree maintenance to ensure that trees are properly cared for - and still, this is what we get. Anyone who prunes a street tree, especially an old one, risks a big fine. I'd gladly pay for these sycamore to be properly cared for! I wish I could make my side street private, like yours ! Tendril, bummer is the word. In a way, I am very happy that the guy got nervous and left the tree with the most half-assed cutting job ever - I would have DIED if he would have gone crazy like they usually do an TOPPED them. Better that the tree uses it's own sense and drops branches when it has to rather than these hackers PRUIN them! XO! Dearest Leafer! NOOOOOO! How could they do that LIVE OAKS??? Of all trees to not know how to deal with - oaks have to be cut with finesse! And I'm sorry - TOPPING a REDWOOD??? WTF?? You are right - correct plant choice is crucial, but like you pointed out, many of these old trees were there before the power lines! AAAARRRRGGGG! I feel a protest march coming on... I swear, Loree - reading all of the comments is making me so mad that the next time I see a tree cutting rig when I'm driving around, I might have to pull over and seize control. I might end up being the next Julia Butterfly (was that the tree-sitters name?), chained to a cherry picker and on a hunger strike! Its a worthy cause! XOXO! Hi Claire! My dream of England is that it is a country where everyone has horticultural savvy and an inherent respect for all things planted – I don’t want to know that bad tree pruning (PRUINING!!!) exists! But I have to accept that in reality, a woman like me is running out into the street, yelling in broken, strangled Polish (I am assuming the backbone of the hort workforce must be Polish there, as it is Hispanic here). I pray she is not you! I want your trees to be un-massacred and your neighbors to never see you in the enraged, unfashionable state mine did!

Oh, Sweet Rebecca, I KNOW you feel this as keenly as I do! Isn’t it just the worst? Sometimes I see the grews doing their dirty deeds areound town and it is all I can do not to pull over and go mad on them! About two months ago, I saw a crew topping a the hell out of a block full of street trees Jacarandas that were STILL IN BLOOM! What a travesty! This thoughtlessness knows no bounds. I agree with you – a strongly worded letter at the least, but a full on petition or sit in might be in order!

Hey there Cityslipper! YES! The Barry Manilow analogy is perfect – and props to you for working Barry Manilow into a comment about pruning street trees (this is one of the reasons I am a follower of yours!)
I know that there are a number of caring hort professionals that would be more than happy to donate their time to give a workshop to city tree cutters – like you said, even an hour would be helpful! I wonder if city bureaucracy would allow for that… hmmm…

Urban Eden! I can believe I forgot the wonderful PRUINING!!!! It MUST become a part of the lexicon, because it is totally in evidence all over the place. PRUINING must be dealt with! Thanks for reminding me of the term that was coined a few months back!

Hey there Nicole – you know, LA County has a Dept of Urban Forestry that is totally dysfunctional. The ideals were great, but there is no implementation – they are supposed to do all urban tree maintenance to ensure that trees are properly cared for – and still, this is what we get. Anyone who prunes a street tree, especially an old one, risks a big fine. I’d gladly pay for these sycamore to be properly cared for! I wish I could make my side street private, like yours !

Tendril, bummer is the word. In a way, I am very happy that the guy got nervous and left the tree with the most half-assed cutting job ever – I would have DIED if he would have gone crazy like they usually do an TOPPED them. Better that the tree uses it’s own sense and drops branches when it has to rather than these hackers PRUIN them! XO!

Dearest Leafer! NOOOOOO! How could they do that LIVE OAKS??? Of all trees to not know how to deal with – oaks have to be cut with finesse! And I’m sorry – TOPPING a REDWOOD??? WTF?? You are right – correct plant choice is crucial, but like you pointed out, many of these old trees were there before the power lines! AAAARRRRGGGG! I feel a protest march coming on…

I swear, Loree – reading all of the comments is making me so mad that the next time I see a tree cutting rig when I’m driving around, I might have to pull over and seize control. I might end up being the next Julia Butterfly (was that the tree-sitters name?), chained to a cherry picker and on a hunger strike! Its a worthy cause! XOXO!

]]> By: Loree/danger garden http://thegerminatrix.com/2009/08/22/the-city-prunes-my-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-833 Loree/danger garden Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:24:22 +0000 http://thegerminatrix.com/?p=450#comment-833 OMG...I don't understand why this is acceptable to the city. Or anyone. Recently a follow Portlander wrote of the destruction/trimming of the trees at our neighborhood grocery/home store. I thought it couldn't possibly be as bad as she wrote. Until I saw it in person. An untrained 6 year old with a chain saw couldn't have done a worse job. I don't know how you kept from climbing in that rig and taking over! OMG…I don’t understand why this is acceptable to the city. Or anyone. Recently a follow Portlander wrote of the destruction/trimming of the trees at our neighborhood grocery/home store. I thought it couldn’t possibly be as bad as she wrote. Until I saw it in person. An untrained 6 year old with a chain saw couldn’t have done a worse job. I don’t know how you kept from climbing in that rig and taking over!

]]> By: Laura Livengood Schaub http://thegerminatrix.com/2009/08/22/the-city-prunes-my-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-832 Laura Livengood Schaub Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:48:15 +0000 http://thegerminatrix.com/?p=450#comment-832 Oh Germi, don't even get me STARTED on this topic! My last house had 7 huge live oaks along the back property line. Which also happened to be near where the power lines were. Every year the power company would send out crews to do terrible things to them (basically shear a big notch out of their upper canopy) with no sense of respect for the tree. I've also seen Sycamores, Redwods and Liquidambars topped at 20'! There's probably a lecture about right plant/right place in here somewhere when it comes to power lines, but my oaks had been there longer than the phone poles had. Poor things (And LOL about the image of you in foam curlers and fuzzy slippers...I've scared a few Asplundh workers myself!) Oh Germi, don’t even get me STARTED on this topic! My last house had 7 huge live oaks along the back property line. Which also happened to be near where the power lines were. Every year the power company would send out crews to do terrible things to them (basically shear a big notch out of their upper canopy) with no sense of respect for the tree. I’ve also seen Sycamores, Redwods and Liquidambars topped at 20′! There’s probably a lecture about right plant/right place in here somewhere when it comes to power lines, but my oaks had been there longer than the phone poles had. Poor things (And LOL about the image of you in foam curlers and fuzzy slippers…I’ve scared a few Asplundh workers myself!)

]]> By: Alice Joyce http://thegerminatrix.com/2009/08/22/the-city-prunes-my-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-829 Alice Joyce Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:58:06 +0000 http://thegerminatrix.com/?p=450#comment-829 Merde! Germi, A topic that I don't like to get started on because I see red. Pruning is an art, but the basics can be taught in ways that would keep this sort of destruction from taking place. But then we would have to be living in a civilized society, and I'm not certain that we are. Save a buck, destroy a tree. Or don't save a buck, and wreak havoc anyway. Bummer!! Merde! Germi,
A topic that I don’t like to get started on because I see red.
Pruning is an art, but the basics can be taught in ways that would keep this sort of destruction from taking place. But then we would have to be living in a civilized society, and I’m not certain that we are. Save a buck, destroy a tree. Or don’t save a buck, and wreak havoc anyway.
Bummer!!

]]> By: Nicole http://thegerminatrix.com/2009/08/22/the-city-prunes-my-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-827 Nicole Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:38:06 +0000 http://thegerminatrix.com/?p=450#comment-827 I totally understand your frustration. Since we live on a private road we have to do and pay for everything-but I guess the upside is that we don't have to deal with this senselessness. I totally understand your frustration. Since we live on a private road we have to do and pay for everything-but I guess the upside is that we don’t have to deal with this senselessness.

]]> By: Urban Eden http://thegerminatrix.com/2009/08/22/the-city-prunes-my-trees/comment-page-1/#comment-826 Urban Eden Sun, 23 Aug 2009 01:36:09 +0000 http://thegerminatrix.com/?p=450#comment-826 Oh lady, I would have been just as crazy as you, with upset tummy to boot. Did you scream "BUT YOU'RE PRUINING THEM??" :> Oh lady, I would have been just as crazy as you, with upset tummy to boot. Did you scream “BUT YOU’RE PRUINING THEM??” :>

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