When I lived in Fairfax, I had a lot full of sizable trees...Poplars, Chestnuts, Oaks, Maples. I felt that it was very important that I made sure they were properly cared for. During my 12 years there, I had those trees professionally serviced 3 or 4 times. The object was to do some trimming and to clear the trees of deadwood (widowmakers), and keep the trees healthy (thin the canopy for sunlight, etc.). Each time, the tree service crew showed up with a bucket truck, chipper, and a climbing crew. The bucket truck guy would tend to everything where he could get the rig close enough, everything else was up to the climbers. No spikes were ever used. These wiry guys threw their shot lines up over a limb, and went from there. They wore harnesses, but never used anything other than their own muscles to get up into the trees and then
from tree to tree in the canopy. It was amazing to watch. They were like monkeys, and they had their own language & whistle signals. They had small chain saws they'd hoist up there from time to time, but they mostly used very simple manual limb trimming saws on poles just about 8' long or so. Wish I could remember the name of the outfit I really liked, but it was in the phone book and the owner was a certified arborist. Wasn't cheap, but I was always quite pleased with the work and how they left my property. Rick
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