whoops

active web site! my first posting got posted before the trimming posting-
glad it is a trim and not a cut down

By April

Just a trim????

Take a walk, bicycle, or drive by today and see for yourself.

Call it what you want but if just a "trimming", then the city would not now be so interested in this action to send out an inspector to photograph this scalping!!!

Tree Hugger

By Tree Hugger

According to the newspaper...

... it was only a matter of time. "The tree, estimated at 150 years old, was dying very slowly. Freezing temperatures from the 1950s and '60s killed enough of it to rot out load-bearing joints, or "knuckles," and make such a crash inevitable. ... Though the trees look naked now, their vegetation will return
in three months, Booth said. After a year they will be back to normal, shorter but leafy as ever. "

See this site for full text:
http://www.sptimes.com/News/061400/SouthPinellas/A__thump__in_the_nigh.shtml

I haven't been able to see the tree yet but have experience nursing along an old oak tree with bi-annual pruning (keep out the mistletoe!). A properly-pruned tree does look naked at first. A badly pruned tree looks butchered -- limbs cut in half, etc.

Also, licensed tree trimmers are familiar with city codes regarding tree maintenance and removal.

By Joe O'Connor

"Trimmed" trees are history!

Joe,
I also took notice of the tree "trimming" and contacted Pinellas Tree Service. Their "Certified" Arborist Mr. John Taylor,viewed the trees,and informed me that the severe trimming that was done last week has basically "killed" these trees. He indicated they will leaf out again and suckers will form, but because of the way the tree was trimmed, It will only be time before the roots will die. It was sad for me to hear this, and I do encourage the home owners to contact him directly for his qualified professional opinion about the quality of job that was performed. He also said that anyone can call themselves an "arborist" and go and purchase a license to trim trees, but a "Certified" Arborist does have to sit for a 4-6 hour qualifing exam, much like a broker or realtor would. I highly recommend you and the home owners call him at your earliest convenience. I spoke personally with the tree trimmers that were butchering those trees and they would not share their card with me, or any information that they were certified to be trimming trees. The 3 young guys told me they did'nt have to prove anything to me, and they said they don't even have cards? One said this was his dads business but when I asked what company did he own they said that was none of my business. Questionable!!!
Honestly I do not believe that they were certified at all. Pinellas Tree Service said a stop work order should have been served to them from the city.

By Deborah Mitrovka