It's "No Big Deal"

​At Classic City Arborists, we strongly believe in that good old saying “Leave it better than you found it.” That’s our goal at every job site we visit. We want to leave things so you can’t even tell we were there at all – other than the trees we removed, or the pruning we did, of course!

​But something we often hear from our customers is reassurances about where we drop trees or limbs in their yard. Things like “that fence is really old, and we’re going to replace it soon. If it’s easier to just drop the tree on it, that’s fine!” Or “that shed is rotting anyway, so if the limb hits it on the way down, it’s no big deal!”

​We absolutely appreciate the thought behind these reassurances. And sometimes, it may in fact be easier to drop a tree and let it hit a fence or a shed. But it’s also dangerous, and goes against our core principles. 

​At Classic City Arborists, we’re dedicated to the protection of not only our customers, our employees, and the property we work on, but also the environment itself. Planning the removal of a tree is a meticulous process. We use our education as Certified Arborists and our expertise gained from over 10 years in the business to evaluate the surrounding area and determine the best location for dropping a tree or limb. The goal is to have the least amount of impact to the existing property and wildlife, and to keep everyone and everything involved safe.

​While our training and experience means we know what to expect when a tree hits the ground, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to predict exactly how a fence in the way might alter that expectation. Will the fence just buckle, or will it divert enough momentum to knock the tree to the side, where it could hit something (or someone) else? Will the shed break down the middle as the limb falls, or will the limb bounce off the roof and fall somewhere else entirely? 

​This kind of unpredictability can cause serious harm to people and property, which is why our goal is always to drop trees and limbs nowhere but the ground, and nowhere but exactly where we planned ahead of time. 

​As a small, local, family-owned business, we also have to keep in mind our image. Our business survives because we provide a service our customers are satisfied with, and they tell their friends and family. Their neighbors see what good work we’ve done, and they give us a call when they need a tree pruned, and maybe also tell their friends and family. 

​But what if a neighbor, interested in watching how we work, sees us drop a limb on a shed? They’ll wonder what kind of tree company we really are. And suddenly, that word of mouth that our small business relies on is full of people wondering whether or not we’re actually professionals. 

At the end of the day, we have to do what’s best and safest for everyone involved: our customers, our employees, the property we work on, and the environment as a whole. We’ve taken the classes, passed the tests, earned the certifications, and collected the continuing education credits every year to keep our knowledge and skills up to date. So while we appreciate the offer, remember that our goal is to leave it better than we found it! 

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Author

Emily Casuccio is sister and sister-in-law to Rebekah and Scott Rushing, and has worked with Classic City Arborists for the last 5 years. In addition to handling administrative tasks and customer communication (she’s the voice you’ll hear on the phone!), Emily is an experienced copywriter, editor, and storyboard consultant. To learn more about her, read samples of her work, or contact her, visit her online portfolio.