Most people see the final result from tree work, but there is a lot of planning and teamwork behind the scenes to ensure safety, efficiency and client satisfaction. Whether it is a small Japanese maple pruning or a large-scale crane removal, every job requires attention to detail, clear communication and a coordinated crew to get it done right. In this blog, I will walk through what a typical day looks like for our team – from arriving at the yard to our final cleanup.
7am – crew arrival
The team meets early—sometimes before the sun even rises—to get a head start on the day. Usually, the first thing is to start the trucks and perform a pre-trip inspection on all vehicles and their equipment payload, verifying all attachments are properly secured and road ready. Then we gather for a quick crew meeting and will begin to have an overview of the job task itself, any risk/hazards, as well as equipment placement.
8am – On site arrival and Setup
Once we arrive at the job, we proceed to set up any traffic gear such as cones and “tree work ahead” signs, to ensure safety of the crew as well as any traffic flow through the site. Following this, we will knock to let the homeowner know of our arrival and discuss our plan of action as well as answer any questions they may have. Next is placing priority equipment such as chipper trucks and/or cranes in closer proximity to trees being worked on and unpacking cranes/lowering outriggers and unloading needed gear. The last step to our set-up process will be to walk the site and have a visual assessment of the work taking place. It’s also important to point out any imminent hazards and course of action to safely and efficiently perform our work.
8:15am – Work begins
Once everything is set and everyone knows their roles, the work can begin. Depending on the type of work performed, pruning or removal, the climber or lift operator suits up and gets started. With constant Bluetooth helmet communication between climbers and groundsmen, pieces of debris are rigged with ropes to ensure that there is no damage to the worksite as well as safety to crew.
Closing out the site
After all work order items are completed, we will then start on the last part of our job: final cleanup; the goal is to make the site look like we were never there. All debris is raked/blown into piles and sledded to the chipper or dumpster. Once the drop zone and path to the chipper is cleared, we will then speak with our client and ensure they are satisfied with our work and if any additional addons are needed.
End of the day duties
Back at the yard, the work isn’t quite over. Any debris removed from the job is disposed of depending on its type. Chips are usually dropped off at a green waste facility or at client homes in need of mulch. Logs will be dropped near our wood splitters for firewood to ensure we recycle all material. Nothing goes to waste if we can help it. All equipment is prepped for the next day. This includes filling all saws, trucks and any equipment, loading and unloading machinery necessary for the next day, and cleaning/filling saws in need of service. This ensures we can start the next day on the right foot and not have any delay once we’re on site.
Final thoughts
Every day brings unique challenges—tight drop zones, tough setups, unpredictable weather—so it’s important to plan ahead for safety and efficiency to make sure the job gets done without any hiccups. At Barren Tree Solutions, we take pride in our work ethic and our ability to see the job through—from setup to cleanup—with attention to detail, care for the property, concern for safety, and a commitment to getting it done right the first time.