c/arborists

Spent 4 hours trying to get a squirrel out of my chipper

Had a job in Oak Park yesterday clearing some storm damage. Finished chipping a big limb, turned the machine off, and this little gray squirrel just darts right up the feed chute like it's a condo. I mean, it was in there. Tried banging the sides, shining a light, even propping a ramp with some branches. Nothing. My helper said, 'Just turn it on, it'll leave,' but no way was I doing that. Ended up waiting it out with a bag of trail mix for like 3 hours until it got bored and left. Has anyone else had an animal pick the worst possible place to hide?

Mulch mistake almost cost me a customer's prized oak

I used to think more mulch meant better tree care. A customer's oak started wilting, and I was stumped. After talking to an arborist friend, I found the mulch was too deep and holding water. I reduced it, and the tree bounced back in weeks. Now I always check mulch depth first.

DAE see fewer birds nesting in city trees lately?

I was pruning a client's oak and realized I hadn't heard any chickadees all morning. This used to be peak nesting time, but now it's just quiet. My guess is the insect population crashed, so the birds moved on. It's a bad sign for tree health too, since birds eat pests.

Update: My storm damage call yesterday made me question the always no-spikes approach. It was safer and faster for that tree.

Appreciation post: Why I go slow with tree checks before storm time

Most teams rush to finish before the deadline, but I think waiting and looking close pays off. Last season, by taking extra days to check each tree, I kept three big maples that did not need to come down.

Noticed the city's mulch volcanoes killing young trees on my block.

Keep mulch away from the trunk to avoid stem girdling roots.

Soil test wait times are messing up my project plans.

Just found out the lab is swamped with samples after the wet season. Now I have to tell clients their trees will be planted later!

Showerthought: My lazy stump grinding habit almost cost me a toe...

That close call with the grinder... I'm never skipping safety boots again.

After a raccoon family moved into my work zone, I see tree cavities differently.

In my experience, I always filled small holes right away. But seeing a mom raccoon use one to keep her kits safe had me rethinking quick fixes. Your mileage may vary, but now I check for wildlife first.

DAE use smell to catch tree issues early?

I was looking at a sick pine and got a whiff of something sour. It tipped me off to a fungal infection I would have missed. Now I make it a habit to smell around trees during checks.

My first boss taught me to listen for hollow sounds in trunks with a mallet (simple but effective).

I remember when assessing a tree's stability was mostly about experience and a few trusty tools. Now, with all the new gadgets (some of which I can't even pronounce), it feels like we're losing touch with the basics. How do you balance old-school knowledge with all this new tech?

DAE know why an elm tree would have spotty yellow leaves?

Was out checking a client's elm tree yesterday and spotted random branches with yellow leaves. No visible bugs or damage on the bark, which is weird. The soil seems ok, but idk if that's the issue. Anyone else run into this? What's the next step for figuring it out?

My cousin's hack job on the maple tree still haunts me

He grabbed garden shears for branches as thick as my wrist, making ragged cuts that won't heal right. I had to explain why proper pruning saws are needed for tree health. Family help is nice, but without the right skills, it does more harm than good. Now I politely but firmly handle all tree care myself.

Showerthought: Homeowners trying to help with the chipper just make things risky for everyone.