Jump to content

Member Blogs

A group blog by Arbtalk Members

  • entries
    10
  • comments
    16
  • views
    1,763

Contributors to this blog

About this blog

Entries in this blog

Member Blogs
 

Active crews in central Portugal June 2018

Hi all.
I'm looking to join up with any active crews in central Portugal. My local town is Soure  (Coimbra district)
More than 20 years experience, climbing & groundwork.
I have a car & basic one-man kit.
I also work in the UK but always looking to get more work & contacts in Portugal as I have a house there.
To avoid time waste I'm 50 years young.
AdzLee

AdzLee

0
Member Blogs
 

Most lame claim by staff

Can't go into detail but just heard in work of a claim one of the groundies has put in whilst carrying out his work. It annoyed me so much I was wondering what's the worst excuse to claim against a business you've had/heard of?
GazN

GazN

2
Member Blogs
 

Hand Pruning Saws

Hand Pruning Saws   Sheathed Saw vs Pole Saw vs Pocket Saw   Hand pruning saws are essential tools for arborist, landscapers and forestry workers when pruning shrubs and trees, and woodworking. These sharp cutting saws are a common alternative to using a chainsaw for light work, and can also be used in combination with the chainsaw to complete heavy-duty tasks. Robust, handheld Silky Saw's are designed in a variety of sizes with a range of razor-sharp teeth configurations, and have long been the choice of professionals. Today, we are reviewing the most popular Sheathed, Pole and Pocket Saws from our list of the top 10 pruning saws. Please feel free to comment and share your reviews.   1. Silky Zübat Sheathed Saw
  The Silky Zübat Saw is a heavy duty sheathed saw featuring 7.5 teeth per 30mm. This razor sharp saw has been manufactured with a low curved blade and is ideal for delimbing large branches, including those above shoulder height. Comfort is assured with this saw by means of its moulded rubber handle. The saw comes with a scabbard with a constructed handle to creating a firm lock. Available in sizes 24cm-39cm.   7.5 teeth per 30mm Ideal for delimbing large branches Moulded rubber handle Available in sizes 24cm-39cm   Reviews:   2. Silky Zübat 2700 Pole Saw   The Silky Zübat Pole Saw 2700 is telescopic saw extending up to 8.85ft with a blade length of 15". This is the perfect saw for pruning branches at height without the need to climb. Its oval-shaped pole assures firmness and strength while sawing, in addition to allowing the user full control over the direction of the cut. The saws unique four cutting angles allow a fast and smooth cut, while shock absorber via the pole end ensures great comfort.   Extends up to 8.85ft Remains firm when extended Blade length: 15" Four cutting angles
  Review:   3. Silky Gomboy 210-10 Pocket Saw
  The Silky Gomboy 210-10 Pocket Saw contains 10 teeth per 30mm which are impulse hardened to ensure strength and durability are maintained. The blade itself is extremely thin and tough meaning that the saw will not bend as it cuts on the pull. Its handle has been designed using a rubber, insert processed steel for comfort and toughness. All folding Silky Saws utilise a safety lock system to ensure the blade remains still when folded.   10 teeth per 30mm Thin and tough blade Comfortable firm handle Safety lock system   Review:
Member Blogs
 

Metrics to Help Your Tree Care Company

Even when it comes to the tree care industry, numbers are important. 


If you don’t see the numbers, or the impact they have on your tree care business, you could be missing growth opportunities. 


Return on Marketing

Stop and ask how new clients are finding out about you.  Did they come from past clients, new referrals, radio ads, yard signage, billboard adds, or social media for example? 


It’s simple; whenever you get a new call always ask, “Well, how did you hear about us?”  This helps you gauge your marketing efforts.  You can now start to make your marketing strategies as precise as your felling cuts. 

  A common metric is that every ₤1 you invest in marketing should create at least ₤5 in revenue. 


For example, if you invested ₤500 into marketing, your target revenue should be ₤2,500. 


If this is not the case, take a look at your past client demographics.  Did you receive business mainly from residents, businesses, realtors, landscape referrals, municipalities, etc.?  Once you know this, you can think about how you got them and use the marketing medium that caters best to that specific group.              
 
Sales Conversion

Next, we have to go out and close the prospective clients.  This is about your closing percentage. 

Take the number of jobs that you got, divided by the total number of jobs that you assessed. 


For example, if you looked at 25 jobs and closed 12, then you have a 48% closing rate.  This allows you to see how successful you are at selling your services.  Your sales conversion ratio can tell you a lot about your sales process. 


Once you know and understand this number, you can ask better questions, especially if your results are not favorable, for instance, “Did we over-bid on these jobs”, “Did we not present our unique value proposition well enough to prospective clients.”     
 

Gross Margin

Understanding margin help you control profitability better.  This formula is simple and all about efficiency…

  Sales minus Direct Cost = Gross Profit


Your direct cost is essentially the money you have to spend to get the job done, for example, the cost of haulers, climbers, and ground personnel (the individuals who are directly providing the service). 

First, set a gross profit % target.  This depends on several factors: how you operate, your personnel, the amount of equipment used, and your profitability target.  If you desire a 50% margin, your total direct labor costs should not exceed 50%.  So, if you bid on a job for ₤2,000, then your costs should not be over ₤1,000.  Your desired gross margin depends on the amount of sales and the return that the company needs, to not just stay in business, but to thrive. 


Typically, gross margin should be at least 30% to ensure that the company has enough sales to cover the remaining fixed and variable costs of the business.  
Second, use a simple spreadsheet to track your gross profit per job.  Start with the price of the job minus the direct hauling, climbing, and ground costs.  Knowing the power of margin helps you make course corrections quicker along the way. 


Keep these 3 metrics in mind as you manage your tree service.     Edward Morrow, Accountant, Author, Arborist


Ed Morrow

Ed Morrow

0
Member Blogs
 

MultiOne5.3 Model with the Kelfri Log Grab

The Kelfri Log Grapple, on a MultiOne 5.3 Model. Large capacity grapple on one of our most popular loader models.    The MultiOne 5 Series Telescopic Boom Mini Articulated Loader is a compact articulated mini loader offer a winning combination of performance and low operating costs. No compromise between performance, power, economy, innovation, technology and design. It stands to reason that this model is the most popular offer- available in the market to date. The telescopic boom combined with the compact size makes the 5 Series the right choice for anyone who needs boom outreach coupled with great agility in narrow spaces: from the DIY to the demanding professional.   Check The MultiOne UK Channel For More MultiOne Videos. https://www.youtube.com/MultiOneUK
     
MultiOne_UK

MultiOne_UK

0
Member Blogs
 

MultiOne UK Announces New Dealer - HQ Forklifts Ltd

Leading British importer of multifunction loaders MultiOne UK, announces a new dealership in the Cambridgeshire Fens region. With immediate effect, HQ Forklifts Ltd will offer special sales, support and service for MultiOne users. Based in Doddington, Cambridgeshire, HQ Forklifts Ltd are well positioned and equipped to support the Cambridgeshire region.     Designed and manufactured in Italy, the MultiOne mini loaders have been sold globally for 18 years by MultiOne SRL who have pioneered a complete range of multifunction loaders with advanced hydraulics, innovative design and Kubota & Yanmar engines.   ABOUT HQ FORKLIFTS LTD   HQ Forklifts Ltd is a family run materials handling business based in the heart of the Fens in East Anglia. The company prides itself on establishing and maintaining excellent customer relations, giving support 24 hours day, 365 days a year. With 5 mobile workshop vans, HQ Forklifts Ltd is able to service most types of material handling equipment including the MultiOne, and can already maintain machines within a 50-mile radius of the HQ Forklifts Ltd base.  As members of the CFTS (Consolidated Fork Truck Services), HQ are fully qualified to carry out thorough inspections (LOLER) on the full range of  MultiOne Mini Loaders, attachments and other material handling equipment. The HQ Forklifts Ltd sales team are geared to offer on-site non-obligation demonstrations of the MultiOne product and the numerous attachments MultiOne offer to all types of businesses including builders, farmers, nurseries, event companies, landscape gardeners and to any other business that needs to use a small pivot machine in confined spaces           This partnership strengthens the MultiOne representation which already includes East Midlands, Yorkshire & The Humber, North West England, South East and Northern Ireland.           The demand for MultiOne mini loaders has increased over the last 12 months mainly due to the MultiOne unique benefits such as the 170 attachments available, it’s impressive power, performance and the ability to manoeuvre in hard to get places.     Over 170 Attachments Available The MultiOne range extends over 25 different models offering a wide range of working weights from the 12hp (tipping load of 250kg) of the MultiOne Baby 1 Series to the 78hp (with a max lifting capacity of 2700kg) of the Powerful MultiOne 10 Series. As with the competition in this sector, the MultiOne offers innovative solutions for those looking to maximize productivity in every industry from agriculture, construction, forestry, maintenance and greencare. With over 170 attachments available that can be changed within a matter of seconds, it ensures a solution is at hand for every task at a drop of a hat. Dig, Mow, Lift, Mix, Scrape, Carry, Trench, Plough, Grab, Sweep, Wash, Rake, Spray and much much more. Expensive labour costs are also reduced by mechanising a vast array of jobs. Hydraulic quick coupling systems are standard on all loaders providing effortless change over of attachments. This certainly provides One Total Solution.     MultiOne was recently voted “Best in Class” by Farmers Guardian magazine             To request a MultiOne demonstration from HQ Forklift Ltd, please contact them directly on 01354 740100, or visit their offices and showroom at Unit 6, Wheelhead Farm, Turf Fen Lane, Doddington. Cambridgeshire. PE15 0TB  
MultiOne_UK

MultiOne_UK

0
Member Blogs
 

Is the horbeam a suitable street tree for Catalonia (Spain)?

The hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) in Catalonia This year we have planted 11 European hornbeams in the streets of Olot, Catalonia.   planting of hornbeam as street tree in Olot, Catalonia   After an initially good start, we saw the newly planted trees suffer during the extremely hot and dry summer. The trees showed different signs of stress in midsummer (wilting of leafs and leaf loss), which are of course not uncommon for freshly planted trees.   leafs are wilting and turning brown in june   The young trees haven’t had time to develop a proper root system after they have been taken out of the field in the nursery. Which makes it difficult for them to absorb enough water to sustain the leafs in the tree crown.   primary roots have been cut in nursery to create rootball   But it was not until we had seen the hornbeam in its natural habitat in Eastern Europe forests before we started to ask ourselves the question: Is the hornbeam a suitable tree for the landscape in Catalonia?   hornbeam in Poland   In order to answer this question we made a small study of its natural habitat and its preferences and compared this parameters to the situation in Catalonia. Distribution The hornbeam is native to central, eastern, and southern Europe, including southern England. It can also be found in Western Asia (source Wikipedia).   map of the distribution in Europe (wikipedia)   The map shows us that the hornbeam is not native in Spain, although it is in some countries nearby such as France and Italy. However the (small orange triangle)    in Catalonia means that the tree has been introduced and naturalized in this area. Natural habit The hornbeam prefers growing in a shade place with a moderate soil fertility and also moderate moisture. It likes growing in forests of oak and beech trees and is often found near the borders of the forests. It is also common in wet areas near rivers (source wikepedia, árboles de Europa, Margot y Roland Spohn) Most street trees have a lot of sun hours in Catalonia, due to the high sun elevation angle. During summer days there isn’t much shade for normal street trees. The soil fertility strongly varies in the different areas of Catalonia, however the fertility of the soil within a city is normally poor. Not only do the trees in cities have little soil available, but there also hardly isn’t any organic layer in the soil. The moisture level of the soil is low during summer. During hot periods in Catalonia the soil can even completely dry out. Conclusion All together the conditions in Catalonia don’t seem to be favourable for the hornbeam. Some parameters can be improved, such as the soil fertility and the humidity by adding fertilizers or installing a water system. It also possible to plant the hornbeam in the shade of a high building, bridge or other high trees. Before planting the hornbeam it is recommendable to improve the soil condition by adding organic material. After the planting it is important to provide enough water until the roots are developed. We are going to continue monitoring the development of the planted Hornbeams in Olot and next year we can hopefully dedicate an new post to them. What is your experience with the hornbeam? Please let us know by writing a comment.   leafs of the hornbeam   this blog is an adaption from: http://www.podagirona.com/en/the-hornbeam-carpinus-betulus-in-catalonia/
Poda Girona

Poda Girona

5
Member Blogs
 

Coriolopsis gallica

Seems to be the season for Coriolopsis gallica. This is a tier of brackets on a living Prunus padus street tree in Hackney. It took me a while to get to the ID since I associate Coriolopsis gallica with deadwood and ash. It is also fruiting in nearby Clissold park on a huge ash log. @treeruss
Russell Miller

Russell Miller

5
Member Blogs
 

Compact Bulldog Bone

It is an exciting time for tree climbers.  Equipment and techniques are developing to not only promote safe working practices but to allow you to work smarter and not harder.  The working life expectancy of a climber can be prolonged with hopefully less wear and tear being picked up on the way.   One such development in Arb climbing is the use of SRT climbing systems.  SRT has been used for a number of years for canopy access, borrowing ideas and kit from rock climbing, caving etc. Traditional ascenders have always been great a capturing progress but have lacked the ability to descend should the need arise.   In the last few years people have gone out on a limb like Morgan Thompson with his Unicender, Kevin Bingham with the Rope Wrench and then the Rope Runner, to develop tools that capture ascent but can be used to descend aswell.     Another such pioneer in SRT Work positioning is Gordon Svedberg AKA Surveyor on forums such as The Buzz, Treehouse and Arbtalk.  After producing hybrid devices such as the OAR, Gordon came up with the idea of the Compact Bulldog Bone.   Having had the idea and developed prototypes, Gordon put out his design to a number of local arbs for testing and feedback via the Treebuzz internet forum in August 2014.  This not only proved to be a great method of getting the Bone out there, but provided a valuable source of information and feedback from the users to the developer.  Gordon took on board the feedback and over the next few months tried to incorporate the likes and dislikes he had received by tweaking the design of the Bone to allow for different users desires and rope types.  The main aims being to develop one device to allow the climber to seemlessly ascend and descend and be mid-line attachable with no droppable parts.  The Bone goes on the rope in seconds and can be removed in the same time frame.     The Bone is made of simple parts that are easy to replace.   The result of this is a Mechanical Ascender/descender, that is easy to modify and tune to your exact requirements.  Although being mechanical, it operates with a very hitch like feel.   For more information on the development process and the history of the device, pull up a chair, grab and drink and a 'sammich' and log onto   Gordon ships the BDB after having received a signed disclaimer and payment for the product and postage.  The BDB ships with instructions and 3 different sized bollards to be used on the top arm to control friction for ropes of different diameter.   I received my BDB in January after reading the hype on various internet forums.  I was not disappointed.  First impression were of a solid, robust (read bombproof) piece of kit that I couldn't wait to use.  After reading about the various modifications and development I already felt like I knew exactly how it would respond.  After a couple of goes low and slow, I tried the BDB on my favourite rope, Cougar Blue with the 5/8th bollard.  It responded very much like a hitch but I felt it needed a bit of time to bed in, or I needed to get used to it at least.  The first 4 or 5 climbs I had on the BDB were in the rain, I was crying for a dry day.  Even in the rain, once the ascent was dialled in with a HAAS and pantin, the BDB ate the rope for lunch.  Desending was a bit of an on off affair till you get used to it.     After a particular wet day, working over a goose enclosure my rope needed a wash...  WOW!  What a difference that made.  The BDB literally tends slack so easily you can clip into a neck tether or chest harness and freeclimb the tree and it takes it all in with minimum sitback.  My BDB self tends with approx 20 foot of line below me.  Same deal with spikes, either spike the tree and it will tend depending on the rope angle or clip into a pantin or spikecender and up you go.   The more I have used this device the more I am growing to love it.  There has been some initial wear on the spine as the ropes and device get to know each other, but nothing to worry about at this stage.  One of the main selling points of this device is how easy it is to set it on the rope.  Everything is connected so there is no worry of dropping any parts.  It is a case of threading the rope into the arms, bending the rope and sliding a link over the rope and locking clasp.  This is just as easy to remove, just in reverse, making change overs or redirects less of a challenge and reducing the risk of getting your climbing device jammed in a fork.  As mentioned, there are various modifications  you can do to personalise your Bone.  The only thing I have done is adjust the tending point from the spine to the top arm.  In doing so, the top arm releases allowing the rope to flow even smoother through it without compromising safety.   There are a few vids and reviews of the BDB on youtube.    For more information on the Compact Bulldog Bone, please read the Arbtalk thread posted above.  If you want to contact Gordon directly to order or simply query his design then his email is gordonandkathy@aol.com     Richard Rule Freelance Climber
Rich Rule

Rich Rule

2
Member Blogs
 

carving (for) fun

I don't have a garden, or not much of one, and anyway, what there is has no road frontage whatsoever.   However, some friends run a tearooms and keep chickens at a place not too far away that is situated on a country lane that is often used as a 'rat run' to get to a nearby city rather than use the often clogged main route. Over the winter they noticed that a large Leylandii between their car park and the road was showing signs of lifting the car park in strong winds, so it had to come down as sooner or later it was going to fall on a nearby building!   I carve normally in the yard of a tree surgeon who has a house in our village that has a tall carving in the garden and many customers come into the yard and mention that they have seen it and all comments are complimentary, but of course, I have to admit that it is not my carving and the credit must go to the tree surgeon. ( although I have done some maintenance on it)     Long story short, I got my tree surgeon pal to cut the tree down to a height that I marked on it and volunteered to carve the trunk(s). My friends at the tea room had only one request, that whatever I carved had to be 'Fun'.  I've done a number of 'on site' carvings, but always to a brief set by the clients. This one is so much different, as I have a complete free rein to do whatever I like, as long as it is fun.   I am carving this in what I loosely refer to as my 'free time' which basically means the occasional weekend/Sunday, and that is also weather dependant. I therefore anticipate that it will take most of the summer months.   These images are the tree after crown removal, followed by a couple taken after a couple of sessions at the top of a scaffold tower which needs removing at the end of each session. I'll keep you updated as I progress with it.      
Ukulian

Ukulian

2

About

Arbtalk.co.uk is a hub for the arboriculture industry in the UK.  
If you're just starting out and you need business, equipment, tech or training support you're in the right place.  If you've done it, made it, got a van load of oily t-shirts and have decided to give something back by sharing your knowledge or wisdom,  then you're welcome too.
If you would like to contribute to making this industry more effective and safe then welcome.
Just like a living tree, it'll always be a work in progress.
Please have a look around, sign up, share and contribute the best you have.

See you inside.

The Arbtalk Team

Follow us

Articles

×

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

  I accept