Trimming (MASSACRE) a Large Willow Tree

[@janderson8401]

Seeing you cut up one of the branches after it was dropped reminded me of the sign in the local music store when I was a kid. The owner sold and repaired musical instruments as well as teaching. He had a sign with his labor rates for repair work. It was something like $10/hr for basic repair, $15/hr if you watch, and $20/hr if you help. I’ve never seen this done in my area. We used to see a lot of trees butchered by the power company’s sub contractors who had some sort of formula for what limbs to remove to keep the lines relatively safe. There seemed to be no though to symmetry or balance. Home owners paying for tree pruning around here would not have the patience to wait several years for the tree to start looking good. They would just pay to have it taken down and pay someone else to plant another tree. My second summer working at the Silvermine Tavern, they put in a time clock. I worked in maintenance (actually had to help with installing the clock and the card rack) and my boss was an old carpenter named Johnny Hammer. Johnny was on salary and showed up between 7:30 and 8:00a.m. I usually arrived between 7:45 and 7:55. Before the time clock we just wrote what time we got there and what time we stopped work on a big sheet of ledger paper out side the manager’s office, so I had always written my official starting time of 8:00a.m. And then Johnny would say “ okay John, let’s go...” and we would start the first project of the day. After the time clock, Johnny would still say let’s go as soon as I walked in, so I was punching the clock at five of or ten of every day. Back then payroll took several days to process so our paychecks were a full week behind so after two weeks of clocking in early I was called into the owner’s office and told not to punch in before 8. Of course my boss who was in his seventies and on salary wasn’t going to change his habits, so off we would go at 7:50 and it wouldn’t be until 9:30 or 10 o’clock when I would get back to the kitchen where the time clock was to punch in. The rest of the summer, the head chef, another salaried employee, would punch my time card for me. Lastly, another story about showing up early. Just before My wife and I got married, I was working on an addition for a retired engineer. One day he was telling me how he once had a boss who judged his team by when they got to the office. As long as you were in your office before the boss got there, you were golden. You could take a 2 hour lunch, work on crossword puzzles at your desk or sneak out half an hour early, but all that mattered was getting to work before the boss who was always 10 minutes early

[@davec.3198]

The best take away from the BS other people have to go through working for other people...is to work for yourself.

[@janderson8401]

@@davec.3198 After about 25 years of being self employed I mostly agree with you. I just can’t see myself punching the 21st century equivalent of a time clock or having to abide by someone else’s dress code or whatever. But make no mistake, being self employed in the trades especially if you work directly for homeowners, does not mean you don’t have a boss. Every person writing you checks is your boss for that job. You are on more of an equal footing, but at the end of the job the one writing the check is the one who has to be happy. It also means there are times when you have to explain to customers that you can’t be in two places at the same time. By the way, the worst part of the time clock story was they needed an electrical outlet for the clock and called in an old electrician to do it and to take care of a few other things at the same time. Al, the electrician was about 70 and had just had cataract surgery, so I was told to help him with whatever he needed me to do. While we were doing the time clock he said that he had been working for over fifty years and had never had to use one of these “cursed things”. Inside my head I was saying “Oh shut up Al. I’m going to have to punch in and out on this the rest of the summer.”

[@fadetounforgiven]

EC: "Buy a small chainsaw" Also EC: shows up with a 30" bar chainsaw.

[@johnrosier1686]

I got a good laugh out of that.

[@fadetounforgiven]

@@jaredmckinlay3847 he is, but the joke, which I believe was on purpose, is out there.

[@1967Twotone]

"Oh great, the client is going to 'help' us." - Arborist crew (probably)

[@walterbordett2023]

There are some old arborists and there are some bold arborists. There are no old, bold arborists. Here is my weeping willow story. Two years ago we bought a nice 1948 vintage ranch house in Syracuse NY which featured a large weeping willow tree at the fence line of the lovely landscaped back yard. Two weeks before we closed one of the three main limbs of the tree failed and took out two sections of fence. The sellers had an arborist take down that limb, and fixed the fence. We were blissfully unaware of how bad the rest of the tree was. After moving in we met our wonderful next door neighbor who told us the saga of her fears that the tree would fall into her yard and do serious property and human damage. Turns out that the tree was planted on the boundary of three or four pieces of property and that the remining two main trunks of the huge tree were hollow and rotting to the extent that three arborist companies refused the job of taking it down. No bucket truck access and difficult manual access to remove the lumber and brush. Our neighbor did find a local company that had a tree climber on staff and was willing to do the work. We got three neighbors to share the cost of tree removal, fence removal and replacement, and some reseeding. It was apparent that the only practical route for removal of the wood and brush was by removing three sections of fence and a gate from my yard and two sections of fence in my neighbors yard. all the wood came out through my yard. The climber and three other men assisted with a Dingo walk behind skid steer crawler worked for two full days to dismantle and remove the entire tree one section at a time until the trunk sections could be felled safely. Three big straight trucks full of wood and one truck full of chipped branches and leaves. Bill for $7200.00 split three ways. It was dangerous work executed very well. The trunks were hollow and very seriously rotted inside. If they came down, one of them would have crushed part of the neighbors house and the other branch probably our house as well. I miss the tree but i am glad the risk is gone.

[@Kris5344]

Biggest piece of wisdom at the end: “Get to work 10 minutes early and do bit more than your share” That needs to go on a T-Shirt :)

[@jamesbizs]

That only works if your manager cares enough to notice, and cares if they do notice. Otherwise, everyone else will notice they have to work less.

[@millsbrian55]

@@jamesbizs that’s an unfortunately cynical attitude. It’s not about someone else noticing, it’s about developing yourself as a good human with solid, ethical habits in work and in life.

[@rivernet62]

@@jamesbizs partially true, and in the right direction. In a team environment, individualism can be harmful. If your manager is good, s/he knows the big picture, and your extra effort may be counterproductive. And as you say, if you do extra, by definition, you are doing someone else’s work. Much better wisdom is: do your work, all of it, and do it as well as is justified. Not every job is worth doing perfectly.

[@codymoreland4496]

@@millsbrian55 Getting taken advantage of your whole life doesnt make you a saint.

[@shanebreen6813]

@@codymoreland4496 putting in ten extra minutes isnt getting taken advantage of , it builds character , and if you view every job as if it was your own some day they will be

[@kurtdietrich5421]

Your advice is so basic, sound, and good. Pay attention. Practice. Learn. Be early and work hard. No short cuts. Patience. Be aware of your surroundings. It applies to all aspects of life. Thanks.

[@leviledbetter]

Situational awareness is golden. Literally two days ago A young man in my city was killed in a construction accident when a wall they were demoing fell on top of him and killed him and injured another. Stay safe no matter what anybody else tells you.

[@Rockhound1943]

I worked for three years summers in upstate NY on the ground crew for an outfit just like this. Great job, hard work kept me in shape and the pay once i learned to drive truck was top notch. All of you advice was spot on. The get there early is great advice my dad gave me and its why i was picked to go get my CDL on the company dime. Had it by the end of the first summer. Pushed me to the first crew and working with that crew meant working with "Moon" in the bucket or climbing the tree (got all the prevailing wage or high profile jobs). Moon was a wizard never a mistake and dropped all the limbs butt to the chipper... what a treat to watch work. Was never a good knot guy and I caught a lot of flack for it, put one "granny" knot in a fresh line and you have hell to pay and an evening spent with a awl and leather gloves trying to work it free. Get there early stay a bit late fill the jugs and get em the freezers for tomorrows water, print the maps (per-smartphones) and ASK QUESTIONS... man i liked that gig.

[@benparry5318]

"Buy a small chainsaw" EC immediately walks out with 48" west coast felling saw.

[@bearwoodcraft3591]

Love it I mean would we want it any other way really

[@scruffy6151]

That way he dies not have bend over as much when cutting lol. Somebody had to say it EC.

[@thomasprendergast6315]

I was laughing when I saw him. Lol

[@epicarj9895]

Big bar energy

[@TM-zp1jh]

LMAO

[@nickw8492]

Long-time listener, first-time commenter. Appreciate you giving a shout to the local arborist. It's unfortunate that they pollarded that beauty back in the day. Weeping willows are a great tree when NOWHERE near your septic. LOL. I appreciate everything you put out there. You're like the "this old house" of my day. LOL. Keep it up. Learn something new every time.

[@BrittCHelmsSr]

I'm one of the oldest on my team and the biggest thing I see lacking among my younger co-workers is the ability to actually show up for work, and to show up early (even on time would be an improvement). One my co-workers was nine minutes late logging in to take support calls this morning - and that is earlier than she usually clocks in. Management has blinders on or are focused on other productivity stats being requested by their one-ups and have allowed this to continue and grow. If we bring it up, we're told to "mind our own business" that it is a personnel issue. I appreciate you including this "arrive early" pointer in your video for those that are still developing their work habits - and for those that may have slacked off.

[@aerialrescuesolutions3277]

Well, after reading all the comments about this video, it's important to make a few key points and clear up a few things. The term Pollarding comes from an old practice that had/has "Specific" reasons and functions. If you do a little research you'll find it goes way back, and has a much broader actual definition and application then what is used in todays world. Just cutting a tree "Way back" is not Pollarding. And, having climbed well over 500,000 trees in the last 30 years, and studying and attending numerous seminars and workshops, it's important to know that; each tree is different, as a general rule, Willow trees near houses, septics, sidewalks, etc, are always gonna create problems and safety concerns. Great video and editing, the music was nice and Scotts voice and wise words of principle and practice are always great. Keep up the great work, and make every day a little better then previous one. Jim Tree, Certified Arborist. PNW chapter. Thank you

[@FishFind3000]

Exactly, NEVER prune any tree like this. Topping is terrible for them. They are confusing the works pollarding with topping and topping with HACK!

[@tomlynch9706]

Pollarding, it is more of a meme then a pruning practice, mostly. In my personal experience in Canada. I'm early in learning the trade, still it seems very apparent those who understand or care. And those who do not. Unfortunately many clients simply are set on "it's too tall" hack it back, no matter how much information they are given. The general public and industry is gaining tree care awareness, allowing for higher standards of work. Making a viable market for arborist that do care, if they have the patience to educated or walk away from some clients.

[@MattsAwesomeStuff]

You've climbed over 500,000 trees in 30 years? That's 17,000/year. If you work every day of the year, that's 45 trees per day. If you work 8 hours a day, that's 6 trees per hour. That means you've climbed a tree every 10 minutes, for 30 years, with no days off, or some equivalent amount? I dunno man... 10 minutes to climb, work, climb down, and move onto the next tree, 365 days a year (versus the 200 normal working days in a year, meaning you'd be hitting a new tree every 6 minutes)... seems a bit exaggerated.

[@johnsrabe]

MattsAwesomeStuff, Because I am a literal list, that set off a warning bell to me, too. But then I thought for a second, and realized that maybe Jim is in the habit of writing out his numbers. “500,000” looks specific. But “half a million“ looks more like a figure of speech.

[@bryanwarm2471]

I shall certainly vouch for the fact about willows near houses are problematic. I grew up with a string of large weeping willows in front of the house. Yes, branches large and small coming down with the least provocation and just generally the messiest tree all year requiring the most yard maintenance. But probably the worst aspect was the continual blockage of the clay sewer pipe. My father would certainly attest to this. I still carry images of the poor guy sweating it out desperately trying to break a hole through an Impenetrable root clog using a long heavy snake. Good luck, father!

[@thomasprendergast6315]

Loved it, as usual. Poll time: how many 30 and unders are watching? Scott repeatedly gives wonderful knowledge out, aimed at young guys. How many of us are actually in that age range, learning from a great teacher? And, as I suspect, how many of us are ol fogeys, watchin just cuz??

[@michaeldougfir9807]

Hi Scott, My family was a construction family. I worked with them enough to appreciate your channel greatly. In the mid '80s I was in a formal tree program with a southern California city; and have been an arborist ever since. This video was a surprise and a pleasure to watch. And I appreciate your explanation of the willow's growth habits and biology. May your video watchers take every bit of this video to heart. Including their WORK HABITS! If I may I wish to submit a name that will teach folks a great deal about the arbor business, including how to start, tools, how to do the work and much more. ARBORIST BLAIR GLENN. On KZbin. Thanks for another good presentation.

[@dankissinger1969]

Good morning you guy's. As always great info and thank you.

[@peterellis5626]

Words mean different things in different fields. In orchard, farming and forest management practice, "Pollard" means to cut the trunk of a fairly young tree off completely, about 6 to 8 feet above ground level. The purpose is to prevent it growing tall and force it to produce vast amounts of new young shoots, high enough up to be largely out of browsing reach for your livestock. After that firs cut, you then cyclically take off everything that has sprouted, eventually producing a big gnarly ball at the top that keeps right on pushing out new shoots. It's used for "tree hay" to feed livestock through winter, it's used to produce "chop and drop" mulch - especially when the tree is a nitrogen fixing variety. I'm stunned that your tree is that big at about 40 years old.

[@altheliterate]

I only remember one thing about weeping willows. You piss off your mom and she has a switch right there, and those suckers hurt!

[@josephtober9417]

“10 minutes early and do a little more than your share” fantastic advice!

[@mhks68]

10 minutes early, you’re “on time.” If you wanna prep or get a jump on the job you need a half hour minimum. Says an ex Marine but hey.

[@gofastwclass]

@@mhks68 I agree. I was always told "if you're on time, you're late."

[@bobsmith-ru7xp]

I'm always at least 15-30 minuites late, but I know what I'm doing when it comes to my simple little trade.

[@atVVV1]

I know a guy who showed up 10 mins late, parked in the fall zone and had his car crushed by a branch

[@HBSuccess]

Amen

[@JM-qy5yd]

Great tips! Especially the part of doing a little more than your share. Love it!

[@steveclark2426]

Words to live by “ get to work 10 minutes early and do a bit more than your share “ you bring up so many good values and hopefully more people hear this message. Keep up your great work and thank you for your videos.

[@dylanpeterson6192]

You always like to see something made in your hometown. I grinned a little seeing Versalift, Waco, TX on that mudflap. I know, and am loosely related to the folks that started that business.

[@TheDAVE858]

To work is a blessing. I wish in my earlier days I would have had a better attitude towards hard work. Watching your perspective on productivity & life satisfaction has helped reinforce a lesson life has taught me and occasionally have had to learn the hard way. Thanks for posting your videos. It has helped me learn a lot. God bless. Dave.

[@96tp]

I'm an qualified arborist and as my teacher said the 2 most important things to remember are: "1. Remember your chainbreak 2. Know where everyone is If everyone does that, the job becomes 90% safer"

[@lovejcdc]

Well sir add me to the list of people whose favorite tree ever is the weeping willow. My great grandparents had 2 massive weeping willow trees in their front yard and I grew up climbing and playing around them. My favorite thing was looking all up and down it for the locusts who had left their shell on the bark. Anyway great video

[@ethanheyne]

My grandma had a pretty big curly willow next to the driveway. It was pruned up when young, so not good for climbing (couldn't reach the first branches). One year it had so many caterpillars in it they were falling out all over the driveway. Big, fat, smooth green caterpillars, but I can't remember what butterfly mom said they'd be.

[@CarrotCaptain]

That is not pollarding. That was topping. The limbs were shortened with a heading cut. There is no "knuckle" that is from the previous pollarding cuts. It was cut in the middle of a branch.

[@FishFind3000]

Agreed, NEVER prune any tree like this. Topping is terrible for them.

[@whozyourdaddy]

As a certified arborist of nearly 20 years, what they are doing to this tree is called topping and it's a horrible practice which makes future growth on those cut ends more susceptible to storm damage. Selective pruning would have been a better choice for the heavy ends. Encourage certain leads to grow while pruning others back. A few reduction cuts over the house to take the weight off. Clearance pruning for the low hanging stuff. People will watch this and think it's correct. I like all the one headed cuts out of the bucket, too. Sorry, Essential Craftsman, this is not what modern arboriculture looks like.

[@CarrotCaptain]

@@whozyourdaddy More or less what I was getting at. Thanks for the more eloquent explanation.

[@davidforrest399]

@@whozyourdaddy Well said Sir. I couldn't have said it better.

[@turdferguson2982]

Nothing but a lot of future failure points. The company is guaranteed future work at least.

[@jakerogers6562]

Jeff Cooper's code of colors is a great concept for anyone to learn and always practice. Situational awareness is paramount, especially since tensions have been ratcheting up over the past four years. Whether in a tree or walking down the street, a man should be aware of his surroundings. Thanks EC for another awesome video!

[@purryegbert8609]

I love your channel and I think, perhaps, I love you! Keep making videos and sharing your knowledge and insights with the world!

[@actionhiro4222]

Weeping willows are one of my favorite trees to look at. They are not a tree I would plant near a house, septic system or a pave driveway. Their root system can be very destructive

[@ethanheyne]

Absolutely. Tree roots "listen" for water and go after it, and willows are especially fond of water.

[@skizzik121]

Former service plumber here now project manager and construction superintendent now. I used to know I would have a lifetime (of the tree at least) when I pulled up to clogged sewer job and saw a willow near in line with the roof vent. Always did those jobs for a bit less money just to make sure I got to come back next growth season :)

[@actionhiro4222]

@Harman P Johnson Lol dam spell check

[@michaeldougfir9807]

By the way Scott I was thinking about your video about a carpenter's use of string. This was while I was doing some building maintenance at our church. As with so many things I have you to thank for reminding me to use that string.

[@jonnybrown600]

Keeping your eyes wide open. We can use that advice in all aspects of life. Thank you.

[@staceygandy2009]

A lot of people never know that weeping willows do weep. Even a small young one. I never thought about it either. Until working for a county water department replacing a water meter box on a hot sunny day beside a 15foot tall small willow. I thought I was hallucinating from the heat but I couldn't actually feel a cool mist and actually could see the very light mist from the leaves/limbs. And I payed attention after that since and it is true as true could be. Small things can be so wonderful!

[@staceygandy2009]

Meant to say could feel the mist. Darn autocorrect.

[@bohansen98]

As a certified Arborist I was a little nervous when I first saw the title and opening of this video. I should have had faith in Scott! He gives great info as usual. Such a treat to see someone giving factual info based on the science of arboriculture for a change!!!!

[@UnbiasedInternetCommenter123]

Check out his latest video. The tree looks great!

[@horatiohornblower868]

That's what we call a navy hair cut! Happy new year to you, Scott, and to the whole family!

[@duanevanwinkle3488]

Like to see this tree again in the summer. Thx for video

[@alanpaige9192]

You and I have many different ideas about some inconsequential things ( circular saws being one) but the advice you give in this video ring true. Work ethic and as the smartest boss I ever had told me that the best safety gear means nothing if you don’t use your eyes ears and most important brain. He was my first boss and my big brother. He passed away shortly after I inherited our parents home. He was my mentor. He is the reason why I like your videos you have a lot of similarities. Happy new year’s hope you’re year is a good one

[@performensch]

The tree has a better haircut than me after weeks of lockdown ...

[@christophergruenwald5054]

I beg to differ.

[@michaeldougfir9807]

As a long time arborist I wish to suggest watching " arborist Blair Glenn ". Tell him you want to learn the trade. And about the tools, their use, about proper cuts on the tree and safety. Please tell him these things plus what you want to know.

[@PaydayGabeBCNV]

🙋‍♂️Happy New Year Mr. Wadsworth. Cheers 🍻 to you and your family. I've always found arborist's a fascinating career. As well as your previous experience as a lumberjack👍. I do love a good operating chain saw😁. And 10 minutes early, guarantees you'll never be late. Keep up the good work 👏 👍.

[@adamkendall997]

About 10 years ago I was out in the back yard, it was winter time, and it had just snowed about 6" that night. Out of nowhere an 8" branch probably weighing ½ a ton fell to the ground. It gave zero warning, not even a crack or snap before it fell. The only sound was it hitting the ground. I just happened to be looking in that exact direction.

[@mhks68]

People always say oh I’d do this or I’d do that. The way shit really goes down usually doesn’t leave you with “time to ponder” Love stories like yours.

[@richardmason7840]

Thanks Scott. Maybe it's time to plant a new willow just a little further from the house in a couple years it can replace the willow that is to close. Be Blessed!

[@lorennagy6018]

Looking forward to see how the willow grows. Keep up the good work.

[@casper7784]

Good advice , those guys did a great job!

[@connormatthews522]

very strangely satisfying process to watch, thank you for sharing

[@jakeschroeder1553]

This video reminds me of visiting my grandparents' backyard growing up. They had two massive willow trees that my cousins and I would play around. A couple of years ago, one came down during a windstorm and my grandparents decided it was time to take down both of them for safety. Now their backyard looks totally different but seeing this makes me remember what it was like back then.

[@CharlieM1219]

As always, great advice! Happy New Year!

[@masonlong7273]

I hope you’ll be doing a video on drywall soon

[@jjsuperalfadogg122]

Thank you so much for all your videos. Great wisdom passed on.

[@stevecupples2071]

Great vid Scott!

[@daleannharsh8295]

Didn't know that about the heart-wood. Thanks for explaining why the city 'murders' the jacaranda trees every couple of years.

[@aerialrescuesolutions3277]

The city does what they do because the Jacarandas are very weak wooded. The explanation and reasoning is not sound practice. I've climbed hundreds of Jacarandas and Willows, etc... Jim Tree

[@lancemcque1459]

Please give us a video update on this old man willow in a few years. I'm sure many would love to see it with new growth.

[@willkress8309]

I always figured you might as well cut a tree down if you were going to do that to it. Happy to have learned a little more about the technique.

[@susanbarbier5053]

On time is late. Early is on time.

[@mhks68]

Just made same comment. Half hour is early, fifteen minutes is early....and like you said on time is late and late, well late don’t work no more.

[@cutl00senc]

Tell that to the computer that I work for

[@bissiben]

Love the way you explain and your advices With love from France ❤️

[@kevincarlson6183]

It would be interesting to see more of Scott's life as a General Contractor. The work he took on and the overall experience he had.

[@UnbiasedInternetCommenter123]

A documentary on EC is needed

[@I_M_Nonno]

Time to plant a replacement for your grandkids to enjoy. That willow is an old timer for sure.

[@gabewhisen3446]

The weeping willow has been my favorite type of tree since I was 4 years old. Hard to belive I still remember the first time I seen one.

[@egonmilanowski]

We had to have a tree removed my parents' house and I kept one of the logs. Turned it into a board and inlaid into a table for my parents.

[@MrElemonator]

I grew up around 5 redwoods that have grown an unbelievable amount in my lifetime. We can truly change this planet with hard work and vision. Since it looks like there is space at your location it might be cool to plant a bunch of trees in a ring and in 30 years have prime tree house property. On the short term grow some sunflower for the bees health and I believe because it’s a deep rooting plant it will break up the soil naturally. I heard to switch growing location each year. I find it interesting you can tell direction from how the head points. Also sunflowers are drought tolerant once established. Cheers.

[@johnwildermuth3136]

Coppicing is a vaguely related technique done close to the ground. It causes thin shoots to grow more or less straight from the existing roots. Those can be used for things like fences.

[@tvolz40]

'Learn the habit of getting to work 10 minutes early and always doing a little more than your share', those are rules to live buy. Rules for success in your own image!

[@williamemerson1799]

Yep, massacre sounds about right.

[@MasterCivilEngineering]

👍👍👍📖📖📖

[@bkoz319]

ruined it

[@warrenmichael918]

@@bkoz319 give it 2 or 3 years and it will look really good again and healthier

[@johnpurdum8126]

Hack n Slay. Give it time. It will recover.

[@esmaistuu]

@@warrenmichael918 no

[@Guysm1l3y]

My parents had a weeping willow in their back yard, it was planted in the '60s and it finally got so bad and weak that they had to cut it down a few years ago but they left the 4 foot diameter stump as a memorial and a neat landscaping feature. They grow fast and make lots of shade but boy are they messy trees. And in our climate they always held onto their leaves until after it snowed, making cleanup in the spring a real "treat".

[@ethanheyne]

Another way they're messy: they'll probably drop sap all over your vehicle if you park under one.

[@davidb5978]

Some good advice I was told once is that you never want to wear open cuff gloves when you're tossing limbs into a chipper. Open cuffs can get snagged and drag you in. You want to wear knit cuff gloves around a chipper.

[@CarlosGarcia-y6k]

Chippers have a safety bar that you can immediately stop the chipper with.

[@pellebrink4001]

I see yellow text, i click. Great little videos in between spec house vids!

[@lancelenoir2875]

Those top handle saws are worth every penny.

[@westeed1]

5:30 haha! Are you trimming branches with a 36” bar. 👍🏼

[@mitchjones2821]

Bucking. Long bar so he can stay standing straight up and cut on the ground.

[@donotrobme9295]

Once pollarded, always a future customer

[@johnn2557]

Thanks for sharing that information as I never knew about that technique of trimming a willow! You learn something new everyday! Happy New Year!

[@aerialrescuesolutions3277]

This is not the way to properly "Prune" any tree. However, the situation calls for a certain approach, like Scott said. Each tree and location is different. Jim Tree

[@FishFind3000]

NEVER prune any tree like this. Topping is terrible for them.

[@scottbrown3444]

I grew up with a Willow in my front yard. planted by my dad in about '55 it was almost half again a big at that when we cut it down in '98. we all cried. I miss it still

[@MohsinExperiments]

I wated to watch your video and a few mintes later I got this notification wow😀

[@neerhindi6402]

thank you for everything I love your videos you are a true craftman neer from Israel

[@paulehlers2225]

OOHH-Man the love-hate relationship with large yard trees is real. I have a large old elm tree that I love the shade it supplies in the summer, but hate just about everything else about it. It's always shedding something off of it year around & every five to ten years I have to have it trimmed similar to your willow. I would probably be shocked if I added up the money I've spent over the years to have that tree trimmed. I've considered cutting it down, but just can't bring myself to do it because of how it helps keep my house cooler in the summer, so the love hate relationship continues!!

[@fuegofyter4952]

Situational awareness is a critical life skill!

[@littlewingpsc27]

It is amazing the tree can recover from that much heavy pruning. Of course since you planted it near the septic tank, you probably didn't need a leach field or ever have to worry about putting too much water into the septic tank. Willow trees love to drink.

[@joes2085]

Tell us more about the steel cables around all the main Trunks and how they come together in the center on a steel ring

[@michaelbirchall2247]

5:36 glad to see the company living up to its name!

[@MohsinExperiments]

I love trees so much that I have planted two trees in my 15*45 house. An both of them are grown up but not that big though.

[@mdrobnson3912]

Willows mean water. Take a shoot Skin the bark a couple inches Place it in the ground where you want a new one. If the water is similar, it'll grow. In your part of the country, I'd say it'll be a shoe in. One of my favorite trees They look so graceful and they grow quick.

[@feelthepayne88]

Wow I haven't spent a lot of time around wood chippers, the way that thing gobbled up that 8" log was terrifying.

[@thebigmacd]

I was a bit jarred watching that guy lean straight into the opening at 4:30 pushing some branches. No way that auto-shutoff bar is going to save him. Granted there was another guy watching but you know how reaction times go...

[@kyleallen1835]

My family loves willow trees 🌳

[@frontlinediy1814]

I'm looking at that thinking man I'm hlad I don't do that anymore. I worked 2 summers for a tree service. My hats off to the long term guys its tough work.

[@jorer33]

I work in tree care myself, and there's a push in the industry away from pollarding for the very reasons you stated; it's unhealthy for the tree and unsafe for anything around it. Unfortunately, it was "industry standard" for many, many years, and now we're stuck with it in a lot of cases. Some homeowners still request it for young, healthy trees, but we do our best to dissuade them, even if it means missing out on repeat business down the road.

[@northernnorm65]

The willow is definitely a love/hate tree love the look and the shade of them hate the mess they make

[@marshallmoneymaker8322]

I was told by an arborist, "If God want trees to look like that he would have given birds chainsaw feet."

[@mitchjones2821]

There is still situations where this is necessary and an accepted practice.

[@HollyBoni]

I was told that the Earth is flat.

[@marshallmoneymaker8322]

@@mitchjones2821 I don't doubt you sir. Well my trees will never look like that, I'll turn them into mulch first. lol

[@marshallmoneymaker8322]

@@HollyBoni I believe you, for it's the internet. lol

[@besearchingforwisdom6267]

If you had ever watched a tree "shedding" or blown over you would thank God for chainsaws, brains and birds with the feet God put on them. That Willow is alive now because they love it

[@kirkyorg7654]

happy Hogmanay to E.C and extended family i tip a wee glass in your honor cheers!!!!!🐔🦮🦮🦮 my son got promoted to manager position from hard work but it was mostly because he always showed up even when he was a part time kid and always took the extra shifts when the other kids didn't show up nothing spectacular just did the job and the bosses notice these things

[@papaw5405]

I hope you kept the woodchips. Pile them up and leave them alone for 2-3 years then put them on the garden. It's the best thing you can do for the soil.

[@kellywadsworth4495]

Yes! They are piled up and work great in the chicken yard

[@avguillen1]

50yr old feeling like a 10yr old watching this vid 😉. Great advice! Thanks for sharing!

[@Mucram-17]

The person up in the bucket pruning the tree is very smart to be wearing the helmet. I see guys all the time without one here in New Jersey and just makes me shake my head.

[@countrycraftsman5110]

This video and music made me think of "A shave and a hair cut 10 cents". Nice job one and all.

[@Carl-LaFong1618]

"Remember boys, it's not what you cut, it's what you don't cut." Mr. Anderson.

[@HairyMTB]

Funny you should mention the "Get to work 5min early and do a little more than expected". I firmly believe in this. For a living I do Architectural plans and detailing, over the COVID hard lock down in South Africa the company I worked for drastically cut our salaries, so I had to find private work to bridge the gap. One of the most recent projects I took on, my wife found a person looking for assistance with plans on Facebook ... I don't do Facebook :) ... the person left no contact details and did not respond to private messaging. So a little cyber sleuthing and I tracked down the clients cell no. and contacted her. Arrived at least 5min early and this secured the job for me ... she is a project manager and says she always tells her sons that if you are not 5min early for work, then you are late.

[@jej3451]

It's 10 minutes, slacker. Watch the video again!

[@HairyMTB]

@@jej3451 lol.... I will pickup my game 😅

[@brighamcardon5076]

@@jej3451 maybe he stays 5 minutes late as well 😉

[@wesbuckley5535]

Scott, you said "hybrid job". Have a look at August Hunicke. He is a PRO arborist, KZbinr and runs a website called "monkey beaver".

[@wildtimbrown]

I second this suggestion (and knew someone would beat me to it ;-)

[@andydsimmons]

Very interesting to see Happy New Year to you guys. NL.CA.

[@michaeljohnston4117]

My grandmother had a weeping willow in her front yard and someone hit it with thier car killing the tree. Everyone in my family volunteered to help cut the tree down

[@johnpossum556]

This is why I only plant dwarf trees these days. With a ladder and small electric chainsaw I can keep them all in check. I'm not so sure trimming that fungus ridden tree is worth it. Could die, but willows love water. Those and cottonwoods grow all over around here and people make walking sticks out of the diamond willow because of the pattern and that they are so light. Would have been nice to see you make a walking stick out of wood your family grew on their own property as its another chance to express yourself with your storytelling skills.

[@mabolzichjjl]

You've got more of a heart than me. I'd have a willow removed from my property faster than you can imagine

[@colinstu]

Why?

[@mabolzichjjl]

@@colinstu messy messy and not good for hot season grasses.

[@philipwebb960]

@@colinstu And because they are weak and short-lived trees.

[@1stGruhn]

As a guy formally trained in natural resource management, I hate seeing trees pollarded (we call it tree topping in my part of the world). But you are correct, once topped always topped. It does shorten the lifespan of the tree though. Always best to go in and remove the dead 1st then prune for growth direction and shape 2nd: never removing more than 30% of the canopy at any given prune. All that said, Willows (Salix) are quite hardy and can tolerate mass removal more than most genera. The natural history of a species or genera is vital to understanding not only where it is best planted but also informs you how to prune. Willows tend to be floodplain growers, often immediately next to rivers. They actually not only disperse seeds into the wind or water for seed transportation but also rely on floods to break branches off to transport downstream. The branches readily sprout roots and will grow into full trees if transplanted: the silt from floods acts as the transplanting method. It is why willows that occur naturally are often messy looking: they grow quickly and are often broken to pieces during floods. Rapidly grown wood typically mean weaker wood: so a quickly growing tree is one that generally has weaker branches due to less dense wood. The main reasons pollarding is bad is threefold. One, that much cut surface is a massive wound. The outer bark is like skin, it keeps out pests and diseases. Open sap wood is a magnet for fungus, bugs, and viruses: the most common tree pests and diseases. Second, clearing all of the canopy removes nearly all the leaf and flower buds. The tree devotes a lot of energy to producing those buds in the fall, really only storing a small excess of energy in the roots. That excess energy is primarily for finishing bud growth in the spring (to grow more leaves and to finish the development of the seeds) as well as to carry it over a bad year. Topping starts a tree off on a bad foot, greatly weakening it: it now not only has to grow new leaves and flowers but now has to grow back the branches on which those buds exist. Topped trees will also grow buds on odd parts of the trunk. It is stressed out and will try to get leaves at quickly as possible, you'll often see suckers (small branches at the base of the trunk) shoot out (this is also a sign of stress though some genera sucker out normally). And third, which you covered, the rapid new bud development leads to weak branches. This is why once topped always topped: the new growth will never be as strong as the initial growth and will need to be removed eventually (it will either be a controlled removal or an uncontrolled removal via wind or such).

[@Guysm1l3y]

Your novel is great and all but step 1 is: DO NOT PLANT A WEEPING WILLOW THAT CLOSE TO A FOUNDATION in the first place. If not for pollarding that tree would have to **actually** be murdered to keep it from threatening the house roof with a Sword of Damocles style brittle, crappy willow wood branch.

[@dannatusch5268]

This isn’t pollarding. This topping or heading. Pollarding they would cut back to a common “knuckle”. This is just indiscriminately cutting back limbs.

[@1stGruhn]

@@Guysm1l3y Yeah well... he also mentioned it was fairly close to the septic. Weeping willows love water and will completely mess up a septic tank with its roots. My botany professor many moons ago said that the only thing a topped tree is good for is firewood.

[@FishFind3000]

@@Guysm1l3y this is a jack job. NEVER prune any tree like this. Topping is terrible for them.

[@bradgotschall3259]

Pollarding is not preferred but for some trees which grow quickly, or much too tall for their surroundings it may be the only option. As mentioned early in video if a large breed tree is planted too close to a house there’s not much option otherwise. Same with shrubs. All species, even dwarf, when healthy will continue to increase in size for their entire life. Early and constant pruning is key but if started too late is hard to make up for. Good arborists are hard to find.

[@gramursowanfaborden5820]

it's always better to chop back as close to the middle of winter as possible, then you can shove the branches in the ground, and they have a good chance of turning into new trees! pollarding is ugly at first, but it extends it's life almost indefinitely.

[@majorphoto]

it's sort of like a chicken needing to molt - you probably extended the life of the old willow considerably. nice work.