What do you do when you get scared of a tree for no reason?

TreeSpecialist

No one should take every job that comes their way. I have walked away from a number of jobs in my 35 years of tree work. A few wound up having people from other companies get hurt because the trees were too dangerous to climb.

When evaluating trees, a book by Klaus Matheck called "The Body Language of Trees" has saved me more than once. Get it, read it, and understand it.

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dov

Sounds interesting. I must admit I'm a book worm. It's on my 'to get' list.

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newguy18

I agree with part of this,if you don't think you can do a job,or if you're nervous,don't do it.On the other hand,i've never walked away from a tree and i kind of pride myself in doing really dead and dangerous trees,the kind that have been dead from anywhere from 1-20 years.

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old schooler

treeshaveneeds

I have done trees that are 5 years dead, 10 years, sometimes more - but I never enjoy doing them.
Seems to me, wanting to do really old dead trees is like a death wish. Why would someone of your experience and tenacity deliberately seek out a chance to die?

dannyboysfc

You take him seriously? He just talks big.

treeshaveneeds

Whether he just talks big, or actually does the work, either way laypeople will take him seriously, and wonder why the rest of us are so leery or adamant about refusing to do dangerous work.

We need to educate people about getting trees down while there are still some live branches on the tree. Even if you're paid $10 000 for a dangerous tree, if you die doing it, this barely covers your funeral, never mind what else you might owe. And almost all laypeople think dead trees are easier to do because there are no leaves on the tree, so there's less cleanup! So the job should be cheaper.

I try to educate my clients (or would be clients) that once the tree is dead, the price for removal doubles, or triples or even more. I have walked away from many trees that I was scared to even think about how to remove. And I have done a whole bunch, that when I found out what I climbed on, don't climb any more that day. Maybe not even the next day. Even more effective than walking away, is overpricing the tree. Then at least the client has an idea they have a BIG problem, and if I turn out to be the low bidder, at least I have some room to plan and take some time, try something new -- but get it done safely.

Pride on getting a job done is great. But common sense is a whole lot better. But, that is the problem with common sense. It isn't very common.

newguy18

No big talk Danny,i do trees that would give alot of guys nightmares,but i do alot of prep time[guy lines,straps,possible rigging scenarios,etc]I put at least a day or more into prepping these trees before any actual work happens.I'll probabley continue to do so,Oh and Danny if i'm ever in your neck of the woods and you guys have a really bad tree,i'm prove i'm not just talk.

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old schooler

treeshaveneeds

Hey Dov, I climbed one of those scary trees the other day. I went up the first tree to about 50 ft, and cut off the hazardous limbs and deadwood, and then threw a rope around the 2nd tree and lashed it to the first. THe 2nd was about 10 ft away to start, and pulled it about 4 feet closer. I needed to take off the dead branches above, and so threw my rope over the first dead branch and around the trunk, and slowly pulled myself up to the limb. I repeated this exercise for the next 30 feet, until I could get my rope into the live fork (at 90 feet) cutting the dead branches off (leaving a 2" stub) to hold the lanyard on the way up. And then I was able to cut off the dead branches on the second stem, and tie off the dead 3rd stem, before coming back down to the initial lashing point to cut off that dead stem. It was a really blowy day, and the stem I was climbing started about 6 inch diameter, and narrowed to about 3 1/2 by the time the rope was firmly in place. I was scared, the stem was blowing back and forth and twisting longitudinally. I was really afraid the stem would just break off, and there was nothing stronger nearby. I knew if I came down, I wouldn't want to climb back up, so I cleared my mind of all distractions, focussed solely on the job, asked God for some help, and inched my way up and down. But I was real glad to leave that tree and move on to the others.

THe lot has over 20 Black Walnuts (overplanted) and my job is to remove the smaller trees (no permit required) hazardous limbs and deadwood. I went up the first tree about 1130 and came down the 5th tree about 1830. I was sore, and really happy to get to the ground, and also happy those trees are now done.

angel07

It happens with me as I suddenly find myself under a large tree while walking down the road.
I just speed up to avoid the embarrassment.

second-gen_monkey

i've found a few trees scary, but i'm fairly new at this. when it happens i remember what i was told as a child, "you can pee your pants all you want, but you'll just have wet pants and shakey legs". i don't know about you but i can deal with shakey legs, but pee pants? ugh! i just stop thinking about the fear and do what i have to. unless i see a real danger i just hold my bladder and climb.

seano

Put a good song in your head, suck your balls up and tell yourself "its time to go to work man, this is my job"......works for me anyways.

Therrin

That is a very, VERY good point. Well said!!!

Solution!!! Take a nice hearty piss while still on the ground, hence no leaky bladder to come loose on you when you're up in it and thinking OH !!