Why do good people do bad things to trees?

   This is not a story about the benefits of trees. That has already been done. I won’t even mention why trees are  important.

We all know that story.

   We all know that trees clean the air by filtering the pollution that spews out of tailpipes and factories. Rain falls from the clouds and filters down through the canopy, dripping, channelling and flowing through the roots, rocks and soils of the forest floors into streams, rivers and oceans.

Soils are held by roots that form symbiotic relationships between fungi, micro organisms and decaying products of photosynthesis.

I'm not writing this to talk about the carbon cycle.

   I think we all know that trees remove and store carbon from the atmosphere. The larger the tree the more carbon stored. Nor will I mention anything about wildlife, or environment, sense of place, property values or pretty pink flowers in the spring.

What I am talking about is people.

   People sure do funny things don't they?

Whatever is on their mind is what they see.

   For example, when my wife was pregnant we suddenly began to notice all the fancy new baby strollers on the streets.  We took a keen interest in the debate between disposable or cloth nappies. Now our kids are bigger, all that baby stuff has disappeared from my mind.

   I was speaking to a single friend the other day. All he complained about was the hordes of happy couples frolicking joyously all over the place. I hadn't noticed until he mentioned it.

   I thought back to what it was like as a teenage boy.Back then there was one thing dominating my thoughts. Pretty girls. Girls in the mall, girls at the beach, on television and movies. I got past that stage. Mostly.

    I grew up and now have daughters. I'll be keeping a close eye on the young men in their midst as they get older. I know what those minds will be seeing.

Now all I think about is trees.

   What I see most is ruined trees. Wrongfully ruined trees that have been neglected and abused.

I'm talking about trees that have been topped, lopped, hacked, whacked, torn, strangled, mangled, smothered, dissected and infected until they die.

They all die prematurely. 20% to 90% sooner than they should and provide very few of the benefits that I didn't mention above.

   Who are the good people doing these bad things?

   It can be anyone. Your neighbour, brother, mother or son, a teacher, a coach, doctor, dentist, librarian. Even the guy that carries the pizza sign down on the corner is doing it.

It frustrates me to no end.

   It actually takes less effort to not damage a tree that it does to cause damage. To not cause damage would be to do nothing. Usually doing nothing is the better option. Yet people feel compelled to get out there and hack away.

   The solution is so simple. Hire a professional. Hire an arborist.

Think of it this way.

• If your pipes are faulty you hire a plumber.
• If your wiring is screwy you hire an electrician.
• If you're sick you go to the doctor.
• If your teeth hurt you aren't going to call up your cousin who owns a pick-up truck and a tall ladder.
• You can pay someone to do just about anything these days.
• Hire a guy to walk your dog.
• Go to the mall for a manicure, get your toes done while your at it.

   Yet so many people think they are qualified to maintain their trees.

They are not. 

   Here's the thing. Trees are precious, fussy and temperamental. They don't respond well to stressful situations.

   If I can get one thing across it's this. Stop looking at stuffed animals in the department store, stop daydreaming about your relationship status, stop staring at girls.

Go outside and see how badly the trees are ruined.

   Just see how bad it is. And if you feel so inclined. Do something about it.