A place to rant mark ii

There is usually a thin slither of bark between the stake and the base of the trunk keeping the tree alive.
Once the stake is removed they usually get strimmered all round and die or snap off at ground level due to the fact that the wood has not developed at ground level.
They do sometimes put those pipes in when planting these days strongy, but I dont think anyone ever actually puts any water down them.

The attitude from the council is that any trees proved to be killed by the strimmer men have to be replaced at their cost, so we're all happy.
Cant help thinking its all a pointless exercise though.

 

Pete, when it comes down to it, any replacement trees are paid for by the council tax payer, namely, you.

 

A typical example.

 

The strimmer men are contractors, employed by the council David.

 

And paid by you. 50�£`s worth of damage for the sake of 50p.

 

Thats bad Pete.

I cant understand why they dont feather the revs when strimming up to the trees anyway. Actually i do (they couldnt give a toss)

In the time Ive worked as a contractor and mainly charging by the job so incentiveised to work quick, Ive only ever hit a couple of trees and these were in long grass (xmas tree plantaion).

 

Most young trees planted by the council around here are in a similar state, even in the main cemetary.
But they just dont seem to care, Maidstone Borough Council Parks Dept. are a complete waste of space.
They now have a policy of leaving long grass on playing fields in small patches, its supposed to attract insectes and wildlife.
The ares are so small its a joke, usually directly next to a road, it just looks untidy and achieves absolutely nothing.
But I bet some fancy "wildlife expert" has advised them on the subject and gone away with a �£50,000 cheque for his/her expertise.

 

Well, Pete, at the next local election you know what to do.

 

David you can just see what remains of the strimmer guard above the wound that has tried, for a few years to repair itself.
The machinery is too agressive for the job, I've been out front in the summer when they go by cutting the verges, you get showered in grit and stones.
You daren't leave your car parked in the road when they are about, it cost pounds to get the paintwork sotred afterwards.

 

Whats that then David?

 

'The machinery is too agressive for the job'

Pete, its the way its used not the machine.

I use a big husqy 345rx clearing saw for all my strimming work from 2 acre sites to very small gardens with ornamental trees and lawn edges.

 

As you say pro it's the machine operators that's the problem the cowboys that do the gardening across the road employed by the council are completely useless, haven't a clue about gardening and are lazy b*****s to boot.

 

Yeah OK your right pro, what I meant was the machine is too aggesive for the morons operating it.
Why, (and I'm probably out of line here) do they tend to assume that any old prat can be employed to do this kind of work.

 

Many councils and national contracting firms pay close on minimal wage so therfore they do get any old prat. Horticulture in general seems an underpaid profeshion.

Many contracts like supermarket car parks are handled on a national level then sub contracted multiple times or individual sites maintained at a loss in order to keep a monopoly.

Sadly the only way IMO to make money from horticulture is to go down the self employed route like myself Offering a diverse range of services and chargeing a premium or to go for contracts and take on multiple staff paying them a low wadge or finally to work for a council or national firm at a managment/ surveying level.

 

Yes Pro, but its a bad situation, isn't it.