More to this than meets the eye

Eric Frei · 17th February 2007, 04:53 PM

OK, here's the deal. Guy emails me from USA and wants a quote to clean palms at this house. I have to ring tenant and organise etc.

I get out there and tenant has had enough of all the seeds dropping from the palms. Around the back is slate tiled etc and if you walk around bare foot it's not nice stepping on seeds.

Now the tenant cant reach them anymore with the ole saw on a pole, is scared to use a ladder and they shouldn't have to anyway. Like the tenant mentioned imagine if they're on a ladder cutting off seeds and fell!

Anyway, I took a bunch of pictures. The golden canes are stalky and fruiting a bit to prolifically, however they're entombed in their locations and may bust the wall.

The Alex palms are busting the wall.

The cuban's out the front a pumped up, receding root ball in a raised garden and already leaning toward the road. Not good.

So, you can go there and be a dummy, give a price to clean and that's it or look at it long term.

Sean Freeman · 17th February 2007, 05:24 PM

The way I look at it yes you have to give him the benefit of your experience and knowledge of the palms.

You know these palms in Brissy much better than him and I'd agree of the group, the Cubans don't look good.

SF

Eric Frei · 17th February 2007, 05:37 PM

OK.

The key issue is that the fruiting is never ending. Unlike trees which flower and then seed these palms it's a year round thing. As soon as you cut off the seeds another bunch grow.

The palms will grow taller and perhaps make more damage to structures. The Cuban's out the front got a double whammy, weed mat plus raised clay garden bed.

Jeff Darby · 17th February 2007, 07:50 PM

Hi,
I would explain to the customer why its prudent to remove,on the safety side of things as well as the continual cost of maitenance not only the cleaning side of but address the damage these palm are already done to the surrounding structures.. and if he is unlucky and one or more goes over and hits some one it will cost him more than the cost of removal, let him decide from there,you cant do more than that...at least you will know you gave good advice.

If they dont action it,everytime we go back we quote higher to cover our time.

justoon · 18th February 2007, 07:20 AM

Ekka.Give him 2 written quotes to do both 1 to clean and 1 to remove.On the one to remove explain to him why these things are so and why you strongly recommend him to do so.This then covers your duty of care and you have made him aware of the problems that you see.It is then up to the customerto choose which way to go, but you have done everything that you can.

jim1nz · 19th February 2007, 06:12 PM

Sounds like that one is a cash on completion only...

Eric Frei · 6th March 2007, 08:22 PM

did the job today and here's a little video footage of the cuban's getting felled.

Cuban Royal Palm Felling

17th February 2007, 04:53 PM	#1
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	OK, here's the deal. Guy emails me from USA and wants a quote to clean palms at this house. I have to ring tenant and organise etc. I get out there and tenant has had enough of all the seeds dropping from the palms. Around the back is slate tiled etc and if you walk around bare foot it's not nice stepping on seeds. Now the tenant cant reach them anymore with the ole saw on a pole, is scared to use a ladder and they shouldn't have to anyway. Like the tenant mentioned imagine if they're on a ladder cutting off seeds and fell! Anyway, I took a bunch of pictures. The golden canes are stalky and fruiting a bit to prolifically, however they're entombed in their locations and may bust the wall. The Alex palms are busting the wall. The cuban's out the front a pumped up, receding root ball in a raised garden and already leaning toward the road. Not good. So, you can go there and be a dummy, give a price to clean and that's it or look at it long term. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

17th February 2007, 05:37 PM	#3
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	OK. The key issue is that the fruiting is never ending. Unlike trees which flower and then seed these palms it's a year round thing. As soon as you cut off the seeds another bunch grow. The palms will grow taller and perhaps make more damage to structures. The Cuban's out the front got a double whammy, weed mat plus raised clay garden bed. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

17th February 2007, 07:50 PM	#4
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,059	Hi, I would explain to the customer why its prudent to remove,on the safety side of things as well as the continual cost of maitenance not only the cleaning side of but address the damage these palm are already done to the surrounding structures.. and if he is unlucky and one or more goes over and hits some one it will cost him more than the cost of removal, let him decide from there,you cant do more than that...at least you will know you gave good advice. If they dont action it,everytime we go back we quote higher to cover our time. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

6th March 2007, 08:22 PM	#7
Eric Frei Admin - Owner Palm & Tree Services in Brisbane Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,994	did the job today and here's a little video footage of the cuban's getting felled. Cuban Royal Palm Felling __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Palm and Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

17th February 2007, 05:24 PM	#2
Sean Freeman Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,981	The way I look at it yes you have to give him the benefit of your experience and knowledge of the palms. You know these palms in Brissy much better than him and I'd agree of the group, the Cubans don't look good. SF

18th February 2007, 07:20 AM	#5
justoon Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boyne Island Posts: 54	Ekka.Give him 2 written quotes to do both 1 to clean and 1 to remove.On the one to remove explain to him why these things are so and why you strongly recommend him to do so.This then covers your duty of care and you have made him aware of the problems that you see.It is then up to the customerto choose which way to go, but you have done everything that you can.

19th February 2007, 06:12 PM	#6
jim1nz Mature tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: International, Germany Posts: 473	Sounds like that one is a cash on completion only...