Silent killers: Midwest tree disease and pest trends
No matter the issue, sometimes trees and shrubs get sick and once a pest or disease hits one tree, it tends to spread like wildfire.
Michael and Dave Joseph are veteran firefighters and know very well that having the right machinery and equipment can be a matter of life and death. They put the same emphasis on equipment performance in their work with Joseph Tree Service.
Knowing where your tree care business stands today and where it can go in the future often depends on having a good business plan that accounts for expenses, revenue and the things it takes to help generate that revenue, such as personnel and machinery.
There are only so many tree care jobs available – and possible – during the frigid winter months, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. It’s an important time to plan ahead, prepare for the coming “busy season” and take steps to improve and advance your business, be it through management, personnel or machinery and equipment.
It’s true — the tree care industry has historically employed more men than women, but those statistics haven’t stopped Arbor Tech, LLC employee Jennifer Chambless from anything. In fact, Chambless, who recently passed her ISA Certified Arborist® exam, is encouraging men and women alike to ignore gender stereotypes to achieve their goals.
Hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, flooding — the list goes on. Depending on your location and climate, a disaster recovery plan is something that you may need to consider for your tree care business and for your customers. After all, being prepared will help keep your business operational so you can in turn help those who need it.
One of the most frequent questions we hear from individuals looking to break into the tree care market is, “What equipment do I absolutely need to get me started?” Tree Views talked with Matt Hutchinson, Vermeer Product Manager, to discuss what equipment purchases you may want to make before starting your own tree service company.
Arborists have an established culture in today’s society, but it didn’t happen overnight — it took over 100 years to get where we are today. We’re continuing our look back on the pivotal moments of arborist growth throughout the decades. Be sure to check out the historical highlights we already covered in part 1 of this series.
American settlers discovered a land with forest wealth beyond description. From the white pines in Maine to the giant redwoods in California, by the end of the 19th century, America had tamed enough wilderness, built enough city and made enough money to be ready to assume a stewardship role in caring for urban trees. Thus, began the growth of the tree care industry, profession, art and science that we recognize as arboriculture today.
Passion, drive, tenacity — it takes a combination of the three to start a business, but if you ask Jeremy Tibbets, founder of A Plus Tree Service based in Concord, California, it takes an extra element of “ridiculousness” to be a successful CEO.