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Over the years we have created various different ways across various different platforms to help spread knowledge and educate our tree community on new gear, climbing techniques, business advice, tree info, good causes to support, and really anything tree related in between. We thought it would be a good idea to list them all in 1 place in case you weren’t aware of how and where we’ve grown over the years! Everything on this list is 100% free and we hope you take advantage of every single one! Be sure to click every follow, subscribe, and join button you can to be in the loop! Bartlett Facebook Page

Link: https://www.facebook.com/BartlettArboristSupply

The real OG star is our Facebook page! This has been a place that we have constantly connected with you on a personal level for YEARS. What are the perks of being our Facebook friend? Every single day we share educational and entertaining posts related to not just tree gear but tree work and trees in general. This is also a place where we get to hear from YOU. We want to see the jobs you’re slaying, the trees you’re dropping, the projects you’re making, and the systems you are climbing on. We often feature your photos and stories on our feed because we truly believe we are a community, growing together! Every year we also look forward to when we release a new catalog and ask you to share your best images for possible features in the comments- what a bad ass thread! This is a great place to stay updated on current sales, new gear, and easily follow our links to the latest blogs and videos we release. Bartlett's Mailing List

Link: https://www.bartlettman.com/

Our Mailing List is a direct link from us to you, making sure you never miss out on discounts, events, and new educational content ever again. Simply visit our Homepage on our website and scroll to the very bottom where you’ll be asked to drop in your email. Done. You’re in. Once you’re in we promise we won’t bombard you with spam to buy from us. We only send out emails when there’s a killer discount you won’t want to miss, new content you can learn tips and tricks from, and the latest gear you will want to hear about before it’s old news. There’s nothing worse than placing an order and paying full price 2 days after our latest sale because you missed our post on Facebook. Stay in the loop. Save money. Learn while you do it. Text Club

Ok, so you’re thinking- email is such old news. Well. We have made sure to cover all our bases and make it even easier for you by creating our Text Club. Simply text: TIMBER To: 81680 And you’ll be notified of our current sales every time a new one drops right on your phone. If your main interest is the bottom dollar, sign up! Bartlett's YouTube Channel

Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3PQ3k0sBvsQ4d7fAUjBwcQ

Over the last year we’ve EXPLODED our YouTube channel with countless new videos reviewing new gear, explaining various climbing systems, quick tips and tricks to make your job easier, rigging advice, and the list just keeps growing! Be sure to Subscribe so you never stop. learning! Hit the bell to be notified every time we post new content, which is on a minimum weekly! If you’re not into reading, and don’t have time to cross reference different techniques you’ve read about on random google searches, this is the place for you. Every video is created for you by a professional in the industry doing tree work every single day. With visuals and demonstrations to better help you understand- it’s like attending a free short workshop every single week! Our Blog

Link: https://www.bartlettman.com/blog.asp

With entries dating back to 2014 we’ve built up a library of free education on every single tree subject imaginable, just waiting for you to dive in. And when we say every single subject, we mean it. Seriously- you write blog posts bimonthly for 6 years and tell us a subject you missed! And we’re not stopping any time soon. Gear, climbing, safety, overlooked simple tricks, job site tips, reviews, interviews, good causes, business advice, marketing strategies, fun stories, events… Do we need to keep going!? Bartlett Annual Open House

Link: https://www.bartlettman.com/open-house

Although this is only once a year we saved the best for last (if you’re local or willing to make the drive.) At our warehouse every year in late Winter / early Spring we host a FREE 2 day event jam packed with demos, classes, community, and special discounts. Where else can you go and try out new gear, have a 1 on 1 convo with top professionals in your field from all over the country, while also having live rigging and climbing demos in a tree, connect with people in the tree world and your local area, and not spend a dime- unless of course you take advantage of the shop and discounts we offer! We love to do ALL of this because we love to give back. We are a small business, just like you, who started with nothing more than a chainsaw and a pickup truck. We understand what it’s like to try to build a business, learn new skills safely, and not break the bank while you acquire new gear and new equipment. We’re excited to be in a position where we can give back, thanks to you and the support you have given us throughout the years! So we hope you check out every link above and it helps you grow and build your life further within the tree community and your career!

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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We release a lot of information on this blog about how you can self improve, what gear will make your job easier, and different techniques for your company to grow and make money. With the holidays around, we'd like to use this season to talk about ways that you can give back to your local community, without resorting to the typical donations to charity, which can be hard to track their impact. When we support our local communities, we can be sure where our time, money, and love is going, and directly see the differences we are making. Here's some ways you can give back:

You choose the topic you want to cover, we’ll explain why this is a powerful and free way of giving back. They always say knowledge is power, and really- it’s so true! When we learn new facts or skills that we can take with us we now have a newfound ability to evolve, create, better ourselves, and be more aware. Whether you hold a free class on “Beginners guide to safely pruning small fruit trees in your yard from the ground” or “A homeowners guide to safely and efficiently using a chainsaw while cutting firewood” you’re giving your local community the ability to SAFELY and FREELY take care of small projects in their own yard. You may be confident enough to take it one step further by talking to a group of young adults on the possibilities and opportunities that working with trees could bring them. This would hugely impact the kids who can’t afford or feel out of place at college, letting them know there are fun and lucrative career paths out there that no one is talking about in their schools. See what impact you can make just with your voice. This idea could easily tie into the event above, or be a stand alone offer. Again- you choose the item you want to gift and the audience you are trying to target, and get creative. A pair of chaps, a pruner, a book on trees, safety glasses, or a hammock. These are ALL things homeowners could benefit from and enjoy! If you’re hoping to impact your tree community offer up the latest climbing gear, a new rope, a better harness to an up and coming climber you have been watching hustle online, or, brace yourself, even to your local, start up competition- because we all remember what it was like starting with the bottom of the line gear that just got the job done.

Every neighborhood has that old vet, widowed elderly woman, struggling young couple, or exhausted single mom with a dead tree in their yard that they are just waiting for gravity to take because they are spending their money on groceries and the heating bill instead. Set aside 1 day and offer the service for free. Can’t spare a full day? Imagine what a two-man crew could prune, remove, or just clean up even in four hours. Work with what you have to help those who have even less. If you love the above idea but just can not financially swing paying your crew and running your equipment with no payment to cover the costs for the day, volunteer your time. Perhaps it’s just a tree they need down that you know you can drop from the ground, or a big log they want flush cut. Maybe it’s hanging a bat house up in a tree or raking for Fall cleanup. Whatever the job, one day of hard work and extremely minimal expense for you could mean a week, month, or year difference to someone else! The things that tree services bring in and often look at as never ending trash could be dollar signs to someone else! Does someone need wood chips for their huge garden? Dump them a free load instead of just adding more to your ever growing pile. Someone can’t afford their propane bill but they have a wood stove? Dump them a free load of wood that would otherwise just take up MORE room in your ever shrinking yard. Local crafters make a living off of handmade wood furniture? Have them stop by your yard and load them up some logs! We hope this got your brain turning and your heart growing this holiday season! Get creative, work with what you have, and see the difference you can make just by being yoursel

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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After we released our blog post explaining what all of these crazy abbreviations in the tree climbing industry mean, we realized that it would be a bit easier to explain all of them with some pictures with graphics. This blog should help illustrate what we were talking about and the 2 blog posts can be used in conjunction with each other to give you a better understanding of the different abbreviations as well as some of the climbing systems that would be used with them. Let’s take a look! First up is DdRT or MRS which stand for Doubled Rope Technique and Moving Rope System. They are both the same thing but MRS really helps illustrate what the heck is going on when you are using an MRS climbing system… The rope is moving!

Next up is SRT or SRS and this follows right along the same lines as the DdRT and MRS mix up. SRT stands for Single Rope Technique or Static Rope Technique while SRS stands for Stationary Rope Technique. Stationary Rope Technique is a far better explanation as to what is happening because the rope doesn’t move at all but the climber does move along the rope as they ascend and descend the rope. Pretty simple! DRT is one that has been confused with DdRT for far too long. Then climbers started adding 2 SRS systems to one rope that was double! It was even more confusing!! DRT stands for Double Rope Technique and it is usually referring to foot locking while DSRT or DSRS stand for Double Stationary Rope System whereas 2 SRS systems are attached to the same rope that is split in half, just like a Triple Threat or something along those lines.

Hopefully these images with graphics will help all of these abbreviations make sense to you

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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Years and years ago, in a small thicket just over the next hill and through the woods beyond the horizon, there happened to be the site of a horrid and horrible incident. There have always been talks of what happened that day, some have heard the story whispered to them while walking alone in the woods, others have heard the story quietly hissed on the wind. There are some that remember that day, others that just remember hearing the screams, and still to this day, some that are here to tell the story of what happened in that small thicket hidden in the woods. I am one of those that still tells the story to those who want to know the truth of what really happened that day. For those who can really hear. Do you want to know the truth? The sun was just beginning to warm the dirt as it rose in the eastern sky on that cool autumn day. The sun’s rays reached out to the tips of the small grasses that littered the forest floor and stood guard over the roots of all the trees in the thicket. I remember the feeling of the sun warming me as I stood proud in the forest I had grown up in. My family had lived in these parts for centuries and it was the only home we’d ever known. My grandfather still lived across the thicket and he was sure to look after his family that never moved far from his wisdom and protection. My grandfather was strict. “Stand tall!” he’d say. “Don’t slouch!” he’d remind us. My grandfather always stood tall and proud to set a good example for all of us. He had been alive for far longer than any of us and he had developed a connection with nature that allowed him to speak to the forest, the bugs, and the earth. His wisdom was far greater than anything else in the forest and he talked with the trees daily. The sun’s rays were still low in the sky and they created long shadows that crept across the thicket and into the clearing. For those that can sense these special things, someone like my Grandfather let’s say, there are signs in nature that warn us or lead us in certain directions. That morning was one of those days that the signs were everywhere. A cold wind blew from the north, turning the leaves of the trees down instead of up. The dew that dripped from the leaves and fell to the water’s surface below made small bubbles that sat on the surface. More than these signs though, was the bluish gray haze that rose in the air just on the outset of the thicket. The haze and the deafening roar that echoed off the tree trunks brought all of us to attention. My Grandfather stood his ground in expectation of what all of these signs could mean. The next thing we heard still makes my body go stiff and rigid. It was a shrill and horrid scream from one of our neighbors to the north. The screams echoed through our bodies and hit us like a whirlwind! First it was one scream, then many screams, all breaking the peacefulness of that autumn morning. The next thing we witnessed was the inhabitants of the nearest village running in our direction with fear in their wide eyes. Their heads swung back and forth wildly looking for a place to hide from the coming evil that slowly made its way toward our village. A high pitched squeal, silence, then an enormous crash made the liquid in my body stop and run cold. There was something headed our way! Slowly emerging from the woods was a small red vehicle that bounced across the tree roots and rocks that littered the ground between us and it. A head came out of the driver’s side window and let out a loud “Yeeehaw!” that made everything in its path cower. That was, everything but my Grandfather, who stood proud and strong in between this red rolling beast and all of us. My Grandfather had sensed them coming hours earlier and had been preparing to protect his family. The red car slowly rumbled to a stop and both the driver’s and passenger’s door swung open. A clumsy foot covered in a mid calf sock and oversized frumpy shoe stepped out onto the warm dirt ground. As the rest of the leg made it’s way out of the vehicle, the whole person came into view. Their frumpy shoes were connected to hairy legs that were covered by a pair of red and blue shorts that were a bit too short and white tank top that fit just a touch too tight around their chubby stomach. The passenger was dressed the same except for the greasy hand prints that covered their shorts and mid torso. The strangest thing about their appearance was their overly long arms that made their knuckles appear to almost drag on the ground. “Whoooeeee, you’re ours now! Don’t try getting away now, ya hear!” they hollered in our direction.

My Grandfather silently whispered that we were in trouble. These two neanderthals had bad intentions and we were what their bloodshot eyes were set on. They wanted our thicket but it wasn’t going down without a fight! My Grandfather had been preparing for a battle ages ago and had collected weapons to defend our thicket from outsiders. The outer area of the thicket was surrounded by Hawthorns that were sure to tear some flesh from the pea brains that were eyeing us up. Under the Hawthorns was a thick row of Multi-floral roses that would snag clothes and skin where the Hawthorns had missed. Multiple holes among the roots were ready for an unsuspecting ankle or leg to slip inside ending in the sickening snap of broken bone. Grandfather had been prepared for this! The hairy knuckle draggers stumbled to the back of the vehicle where they proceeded to ingest 2 cans of a golden liquid that stunk of bitter hops and barley. Next they grabbed 2 chainsaws out of the hatch near the back of their vehicle. Each grabbed the saws, picking them up and then dropping them down while pulling a cord attached to the side. After many ups and downs, many swear words yelled, finally the saws roared to life with the chains spinning at a tremendous rate right near their hair and short covered legs. What was their plan with these roaring weapons of spinning steel and plastic? “Let’s get 'em!” hollered Doofus 1 to Doofus 2. The words, “Stand proud, don’t slouch” echoed inside of me as I stood my ground and waited for these 2 nature haters to get into the first step of our trap. Sure enough, Doofus 1 started cutting into the nearest Hawthorn that blocked the way between our village and their rumbling red bucket of rust. The Hawthorn teetered one way then another before finally succumbing to gravity and falling in the complete opposite direction than what the “tree cutter” had expected. To the horrible surprise of Doofus 2, the Hawthorn fell onto his back with it’s long thorns piercing his skin. The howl that echoed through the forest rivaled that of the roar of Doofus 1’s chainsaw! Doofus 2 rolled out from under the thorny tree, looking like a bloody pincushion that had been drenched in white trash and lagers. The yelling match and line of profanities that ensued between Doofus 1 and Doofus 2 was one I’d rather forget than have to recite.

After the bickering ended, the Doofus Twins started stomping through the hole they’d made by killing the Hawthorn. Just as they made it over the trunk, they were caught up in the Rose bushes that tore at the exposed hairy skin of their legs. Howls and hollers echoed through the thicket as they fought their way to the other side of the hedge. The next step was a doozy as their glassy alcohol fueled eyes tried to navigate a path through the potholes and leg breakers made up of all the twisted roots leading up to where I stood. After multiple tumbles, curse words and bruised shins, they slowly raised their heads in my direction. “You’re all ours now sucker!!!” they screamed in a fury as they started to ascend the mass of roots, rock and dirt that I stood atop. As the “tree cutter cousins” came within feet of me, I could feel the hot air of their lungs pumping out from the steep climb to where I held my ground. They revved the engines of their saws in hopes of intimidating me with the high pitched scream of the 2 stroke motor and the acrid taste of the smoke in the air. “Stand proud!” my Grandfather’s voice screamed inside of me! Slowly Doofus 1 brought the tip of his revving chainsaw within millimeters of me. I could feel the hot bar oil spraying on me as the spinning teeth crept ever closer. I could only stand my ground hoping to protect all of those that stood behind me. Just as the screaming chain started to peel into me, I heard a creaking sound that could mean only one thing. My Grandfather was making the legend come true! The legend of “Sudden Limb Drop!” Just as the chain broke through my bark and started its way into my phloem, a massive limb fell from my Grandfather’s side, crushing both of the knuckle draggers into the now warmed dirt of the earth.

Slowly the echo of the chainsaw’s roar quieted and the leaves finally settled after the huge crash of the limb. The knuckle draggers were goners at this point and the forest floor slowly sucked their bodies into the ground to be eaten by microorganisms and other creatures of the forest. My Grandfather shot up suckers from his roots that quickly grew around the rust bucket that the “tree cutters” would no longer need. The car was trapped between all of the suckers as a warning sign to the next nature haters that would try to come to cut down our family of Oaks that had stood in this grove since before they were born. This was our thicket and no one was going to come in and take us down.

This story has long been passed through our forest as a warning to other thickets to stay vigilant to those who step foot into our sacred stretches of earth. My Grandfather’s ever stretching mycorrhizal network stretches further than any other tree in our forest and his ability to warn others is paramount with that of a god. Maybe if this story makes its way into the hands of the humans who threaten our way of life, they will learn it’s a much smarter idea to walk through the woods and be one with nature instead of trying to overtake it!

Hopefully you got some enjoyment out of this story at the expense of Doofus 1 and 2. If you are interested in the actual ability of trees being able to communicate with each other, be sure to read Peter Wohlleben’s national bestseller The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate - Discoveries from a Secret World.

Happy Halloween!

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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From our previous blog post about basic throw line techniques, we covered 3 different ways of throwing your throw line into the tree. (Just to clarify, when the term throw line is used, I am referring to a throw bag attached to the throw line as one system.) We covered the basket throw, the single hand throw and the trigger shot. Each of these techniques should be practiced and with that practice, you should become proficient with one or more of these techniques. The goal with this blog post is to explain and show case some of the more advanced techniques that the throw line can be used for to increase efficiency as well as decrease the effort that goes into an already hard job. In one of our previous videos, we demonstrated how to isolated a single tie in point with the double bagging technique. This technique is great for thick canopies that have hard to hit TIPs. One great trick for getting your throw line into that ideal TIP when the canopy is thick is to throw your throw line over the entire tree. From this point you can use the double bagging technique to easily swing your line into the TIP that you are looking for. This technique does take a bit of patience and even more organization to keep lines from twisting and getting confused when pulling the non usable throw line. Another technique that is highly beneficial but quite risky is the whipping technique. This is used when your throw was lower than you wanted or when the ideal TIP was missed and the throw line is in a part of the canopy that is behind the TIP. When this happens the throw bag can be lifted within a couple feet of the limb that the throw line is over. The bag can then be lifted and lowered quickly with small flicks of your wrist. This will get the bag swinging slightly. As the bag swings out and away from the TIP, a solid jerk can cause the bag to shoot upwards and backwards towards the tip in point. This jerk of the line should be pulled as the bag swings up and as it starts to make it over the top of the limb. If you are looking for your throw bag to shoot up higher into the canopy, the throw line should be swung as stated earlier but as the throw bag makes it’s arc and begins to move upward the line should be jerked quickly. As you quickly jerk the line, immediately let it pass through your hands. This will shoot the bag straight up into the air allowing your to get to a higher portion of the tree. The previously stated technique should be used with caution because it is a great way to get a throw line wrapped up in the canopy or wrapped around that one limb that just won’t let it got. I would highly recommend practicing this technique and getting a feel for the nuances of how the bag moves once you whip it or flick it up through the canopy. Unfortunately when anyone sees you use this technique, they probably won’t believe that you did it on purpose! When you do it a second time, they will still think it is an anomaly. By the third time they will know that you are a throw line god! Another technique that is super helpful for another climber is to remotely tie limbs off that need to be rigged down. We have used this technique multiple times, mostly on storm damaged trees or extremely large removals. If you have a good thrower on the ground, they can get the rigging line tied off, mostly in a tip tie scenario, so that the climber can move to where they are going to be making the cut or tie the butt off while the ground team is getting the tip tied. This really does make the job work WAY more efficiently but that only works if the thrower is efficient and on point with their technique as well. Many times we can get that difficult limb tied off as the climber is getting the rigging set. Once we have the limb tied off, we send the end of the rigging line up to them and they can pass it through the block or ring at the primary rigging point. This works best when that difficult limb is going to be the first to rig out or when there is a ton of movement for the climber to get between cuts. I’m sure we have all managed to get a throw line stuck in a crotch or up in the canopy. Sometimes the throw line wraps around a limb and that becomes a lost cause, ending in another line needing to be set and then having the climber rescue the stuck line. Sometimes the throw bag will just get stuck in a crotch. This can be rescued much easier with another throw line but it takes patience and practice. Let’s say that your throw bag gets stuck in a crotch of a Locust tree midway up in the canopy. You can take another throw line and throw it above the stuck bag, high in the canopy. Try not to throw it into the same crotch unless you want to be the laughing stock of the company for a couple weeks! Let’s get back on track! Once you have your second throw line set above the stuck bag, you will need to pull the far end of your second throw line so you are now about to lift the isolating end of your throw line off the ground. At this point you will have the bag of your second throw line about to be lifted off the ground as well as the stuck throw line in front of you. Next you will attach a carabiner to the bag on the second throw line and then attach that to the line of the stuck throw bag. Now, pull the second throw line up into the canopy until is is sitting above the stuck bag. Usually you can put tension on the line of the stuck bag and then lift the second line. This will crane the stuck bag up and out of the crotch that is is stuck in. Again, this is a pretty advanced technique that I would recommend practicing at lower heights and in your spare time before employing it in front of an audience! When it does work though, it is a major time saver and WAY WAY WAY easier than having to climb up to get that bag unstuck!

I think this is a good place to end this for now seeing as there are still a couple tricks that can be touched on in another blog post. I would love to hear some of the tricks and tips that you have for those just now learning to throw their throw line as well as some tips you have for veteran throwers! Throw line is a great tool that really can save you from extra hard work and can make you look like a true pro to homeowners as well as other climbers

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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We've asked around to see if people know why leaves change colors in the fall. Some of the answers we have received were:

"Because it rains less."

"Because it's getting colder."

"Because there's less sun."

"Because the trees die over the winter and come back to life in the spring." It's time we figure this out once and for all, and to see if any of the above assumptions hold any value to what's actually happening. The biggest thing we need to understand is there are a chemical process happening inside of the tree and that changes as the seasons shift from Summer to Winter. The first thing we need to look at is that during the Spring and Summer there's a lot happening in the leaves that impacts the entire tree- they are making food.

To understand exactly how that is happening we need to first understand chlorophyll- where it is, what it is, and what it does. Chlorophyll is found inside the cells of leaves which gives them their green color. This chemical absorbs energy from the sun, which plays a part in the process of turning carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates such as sugars and starches that the tree will then feed off of. This is the process of photosynthesis. But, even more is happening behind the scenes. The tree is also taking that energy from the sun and turning it into oxygen at the same time. As much as humans assume the world revolves around them, oxygen is actually just an additional perk for us as this is just a byproduct of the tree making its own food.

So back to the colors of the leaves. What we don't notice or are aware of is that the leaves have additional chemicals in them that create the yellow, orange, red pigments all year long, but they are masked by the green chlorophyll pigment. When Fall approaches our days get shorter, the days get cooler, and the trees stop their food making process. This causes the chlorophyll to break down, and based on what we've now learned, you can probably begin to assume what happens. As the chlorophyll breaks down, so does the green pigment it causes in the leaves, allowing us to better see the additional chemicals and pigments that have been hiding in the leaves all long, like carotenes and xanthophyll. At this time other chemical changes may occur creating new pigments. Pigments also begin to mix and we find ourselves in a beautiful sea of yellow, red, orange, red, purple, and brown leaves! Because the process of photosynthesis is dependent upon sun, water, etc. it also makes sense that temperature, light, and rain will all influence the Fall colors that we see. So now when someone asks you, why do the leaves change, you will no longer have to guess or make assumptions! You can explain to them in detail how this beautiful occurrence all revolves around chlorophyll!

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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As I’ve stated many times over, the throw line is one of those tools that is often overlooked but can make your day far easier than without. As with everything, practice really does make perfect when it comes to this mega useful tool. Let’s discuss what throw line is, how to throw it and what some of the best uses for throw line are! So right off the bat, throw line is a small diameter line most often produced of HMPE (high-modulus polyethylene) or Dyneema. Both of these fibers have a waxy feel that allows them to easily slide over limbs once in the canopy. Because of the amazing synthetic fibers they are made of they also retain enormous amounts of strength in relation to their size. A very common length of throw line is 180’ and the most common diameter sizes are 1.8mm -2.2mm. This small diameter line is attached to a throw weight or throw bag bag with a slippery eight hitch, clove hitch, or even a spliced eye. Most times the throw line is stored in a throw line cube which is a wonderful piece of origami art work that forms a standing cube when unfolded and folds down into a small triangular storage unit when collapsed. The throw line is flaked into the throw line cube. Flaking is the process of feeding throw line or rope into a bag or cube on top of itself. As each layer of line lays on top of the former, it allows the line to be pulled from the cube without tangling because of the layering system. This is far easier and far more efficient than some of the older more archaic ways of throw line storage such as wrapping the 180’ of line around a stick or putting it in a 2 liter bottle! The point of the throw line is to allow the climber to remotely set their climb line or rigging line into the tree in an ideal tie in point (TIP) or rigging point. The throw line is attached to the throw bag which is then thrown into the tree, through a suitable crotch or union and lowered down to the ground. Once the throw line is back on the ground, your climb line is then attached to the throw line and pulled back up into the tree, through the crotch and back down to the climber. The throw line can also be used to set rigging lines, floating rigging points, friction savers or more advanced options like the ART Twin Line. Being able to set your climbing line in the tree reduces a ton of extra climbing as well as effort and time. This is a major game changer when it comes to being able to work a tree from the ground up because it allows you to have a great rope angle from the ground up instead of having to rely on a TIP that is only a couple feet above you as it would be if you were climbing the tree ground up with an alternating lanyard technique or something along those lines. There are 3 common ways to throw a throw line into the tree. The first and probably most common is the Granny Throw or the basket throw. This throw is performed by putting a bight of throw line through the ring on the throw bag and hooking it around your index finger on one hand. The other end of the throw line that exits the ring opposite the bight you just grabbed is then held with the opposite hand. This allows the throw bag to be held by a basket of throw line. The bag is then swung back and forth in a pendulum between your legs. The swing of the throw bag should line up with the target you are aiming for, When you are ready to shoot for your target, the grip is released around both lines and the bag will shoot through the air and “hopefully” go through your ideal TIP! The next technique for throwing is set up exactly the same way as the basket throw except the throw line is all held in your dominant hand instead of separating it between both of your hands. This is called a single hand throw. The bight of throw line as well as the working portion of the throw line are all hooked over your index finger. The bag is then swung in a pendulum but on the outside of your dominant leg. This is my preferred method of throwing because it allows me the maximum height as well as the accuracy that I am looking for. The third technique is called the trigger shot. The process of throwing is very similar to the single hand throw but the set up is a bit different. The throw bag is laid on the ground and the throw line is grasped just above your knee. At this point a slip knot is tied in the throw line to create a small bump or trigger to grasp. The throw line is then swung in a pendulum fashion again and as the throw line is released, the slip knot pops out and the bag again, hopefully, goes right through the ideal tie in point!

One of the biggest tips I have for climbers learning about throw line is to never let the throw line go once you’ve thrown it. After you release the throw line on your throw, let the line pass through your dominant hand. Too many times climbers will throw the line and just drop it to the ground as it zings it’s way through the canopy. There are way too many times that the throw bag passes through the TIP and it can easily be stopped which reduces the chance of it getting tangled in the many sticky limbs that it would have passed over if you didn’t stop it in time. This is also a great thing to keep in mind when throwing in tight quarters to reduce the chance of a strange bounce that could end in a dented car hood, broken lawn ornament or broken window. Don’t let go of the throw line! All of these techniques work great and some work better than others in certain situations. Personally I feel very comfortable throwing single handed up to heights of about 80’. This is my go to technique for big throws as well as straight up throws. When it comes to smaller trees with tight canopies, I might use the basket throw because I can throw it short distances with pretty good accuracy. I used to throw with the trigger shot for quite a few years but found I couldn’t get the throw as high as I was hoping for. After switching to the single hand throw there was a noticeable change in the height and accuracy of my throws.

Abdon at Bartlett has put together a great video illustrating these techniques if you are looking for a bit more clarity outside of this written word. We will have a second blog post explaining some of the more advanced techniques that throw line can be used for outside of just setting climbing and rigging lines. There are some techniques that we have covered in the past that will be revisited to keep all the throw line resources in one general area. Again, I can’t stress enough how useful a throw line can be to your work process and flow once you’ve become fluent with the techniques, nuances and sometimes, the struggle of throw line!

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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Back in the day a business card got you on the map. A business phone number made you a professional. An email meant you were up with the times. And a good website made you the CEO of marketing. Then social media entered the picture and changed the game, the first big player for businesses being Facebook. All of a sudden a free Facebook page you could create in less than an hour and reach thousands, tens of thousands, was your business card, white pages, email, and website. Here's what you're missing out on if you still haven't made a Facebook business profile page for your tree service company. First off, all of the things listed above cost money. Cards, business line, website. Facebook is FREE, to everyone, everywhere, and you need zero dollars and zero experience in marketing or coding to get set up. If you're looking for an online presence THIS is where you need to start.

A great thing about Facebook is that just like websites and Google business pages, Facebook pages also show up in Google searches. You will set your page up with your local city and info, Google will see and use that info when someone searches for a tree service in their / your area, you will (hopefully) make an appearance. We say hopefully because Google can be a brutal game and there are companies investing thousands of dollars and hours to get their website to show up as the top result. But again, organic search marketing is free to do, so it's a win / win when you even show up half way down the page. Your page likes will start with friends and family and some customers. As you continue to share tips, interesting jobs, and eye catching images, your following will grow past just those you know and into your local community. This is a great way to spread the name of your company to those not even looking for tree work yet. Why is this helpful? Because everyone with a tree is a potential client, at any time. Just because they aren't currently looking to hire you does not mean they won't be some time soon, and when they are ready, they will already have you in mind to call instead of asking around, doing a google search, or relying on old names they've heard with no idea of their work practices or professionalism. Make yourself a household name before they even hire you.

Facebook also offers a lot of great features many people overlook. Your feed is obviously a place to continuously update those following you on what you're up to, any specials you're offering, or seasonal info they would want to know about their trees. Facebook is also a great option to replace or add onto the perks of email, to keep all your inquiries in a single place, and have a 1-on-1 conversations with customers. Encourage people to reach out to you through the messenger tool to discuss a quote or setting up a meeting. Facebook stories is an easy way to share content that's not important enough to stay on your feed but is still relatable, fun, and interesting enough to share. Lastly, Facebook has a new calendar feature you could easily utilize to schedule quoting jobs--just be careful that it aligns with your tree work and personal schedule, as clients schedule themselves in without needing your approval based on the availability you set up. In the bio you can specify services you offer, tell your story, add in all contact info, and post longer notes in case you wish to share expanded ideas, much like this blog. Facebook does give you the option to pay for ads. The perk of paying is that you can reach people way outside of your followers, and you can pinpoint who you want to target. Specify by location, friends of those already following your page, their interests, age group, and more. Facebook makes it easy to reach thousands, where word of mouth can travel slowly, and in-person events take up time. $50 could easily get you new followers, inquiries, and even if you only land 1 job- in tree work we all know the job will be well over $50--so you're still profiting. As you continue to use the platform we're sure you will come across other awesome, free options, like the free ads with buttons directing your followers to your website if you have one, polls, live videos, the options to direct people to your inbox, invitations to events, private groups for your VIP clients, and more!! We hope you use this info to expand your Facebook page, client base, and grow your business! Facebook has worked for us!

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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Many times, as a climber, I would find myself looking at weird holes in the bark that I found way off the ground in the canopy of large tree. At the time I had no idea what I was looking at but I always wondered what they were. Years and years later, I did some research and found that they were borer holes which meant the tree was infested with a pest that was ruining the nutrient transport system. Thinking back now, I was doing some Plant Health Care (PHC) without even knowing it by finding a pest problem and at least letting the client know. So this got me to thinking about how many other ways are we doing PHC without doing what everyone always thinks of when it comes to PHC. For years I always thought of a PHC technician as a person in a full body suit with goggles and respirator spraying super harmful chemicals all over the landscape trying to kill EVERY bug in site. Unfortunately this is the same idea that a lot of tree climbers have about PHC techs because we have watched the big lawn care treatment companies come out and do just that. Today, PHC has become much more of a natural approach to taking care of trees by focusing on the urban soil and feeding the microorganisms instead of blasting it full of fertilizer for a quick fix. Also by finding ways to de-compact hardened soils that don’t let air or water reach the roots of a declining tree. All of this can be done without the respirator, goggles or nasty chemicals! One of the first ways that we are doing PHC as climbers is with our tree risk assessment before entering the tree. We should be walking around every tree before we enter it to make sure there are no large defects, co-dominant stems, dead sections, heaving root plate, large cracks in the ground, cavities with critters inside or that the tree isn’t in a major decline. We are doing all of these things to make sure that the tree is safe for us to climb or rig out of. We are also identifying defects in the tree that could possibly be causing issues with the overall health of the tree. If we are identifying issues that could affect the overall health of the tree, are we also identifying things that could be treated through a PHC program that includes cabling or bracing, soil de-compaction, or adding compost to help boost soil nutrients which in hand helps the overall health of the tree? Yes we are! Many times walking into a client’s yard, a keen eye can easily point out multiple defects of issues with a tree or the landscapes overall health. Here is a photo of a client’s tree that we had to work on. As soon as I walked onto the property I knew that the grade had been changed and that the tree needed a cable installed to mitigate the risk of the large section falling onto their house in the midst of a wind storm or an ice storm. I knew that the grade had been changed because trees should never look like telephone poles. Trees have buttress roots that should taper out and away from the main line of the trunk. This tree stuck straight out like a utility pole. In turn, we came out with an Airspade and excavated all the dirt away from the trunk to help bring water and air to the roots that had been covered the previous year when the grade had been changed. Also, knowing that other trees had been removed from around this tree, we decided that a cable was even more needed because the wind break that the other trees created were now gone so the wind load would be higher on the co-dominant stem that we identified when we walked on the property. All of this is PHC even if we aren’t applying chemicals up in the air or in the soil! Speaking of using an Airspade, many times when dealing with Norway Maples (Acer platanoides), you can almost guarantee you will find a girdling root just above or just below the soil’s surface. Girdling roots are roots that grow around the trunk of the tree in a circular pattern instead of out and away like other roots. These roots can grow so tightly around the trunk of the tree that they restrict the flow of nutrients and water from the roots to the leaves. This can cause an obvious decline in the trees health and in severe cases cause the tree to die. Many times a girdling root can be identified by an indentation in the trunk of the tree in on area or by a lack of diameter change where the tree enters the soil. By excavating the soil by hand, the climber can easily see the roots wrapping around the base of the tree. The next step is to either excavate the rest of the soil by hand or with an air powered excavation tool such as an Airspade or a homemade version. This tool blows air out of an industrial air compressor at the roots and soil which in turn blows off without damaging the roots. This is more expensive than excavating by hand but far more efficient and far less invasive for the delicate roots. Once the girdling root has been identified, it can be cut with a handsaw or hammer and chisel. When talking to a client about their trees, it’ s always good to check how hard the soil is around the base of the tree and throughout the drip line. Most trees in new neighborhoods in our area have been back filled with horrendous clay soils that turn to rock in the summertime. In other areas like Los Angeles, it seems the soil is always compacted and hard making the growing conditions for most trees very difficult. By using the air excavation tool, you can de-compact the soil and then blend in manure and compost to help boost the soils microbial content. Adding a layer of mulch will also help the soil retain more water, help with compaction and help with feeding the microbes in the soil as well. Adding cables to help with supplemental support for weak limbs is another way to do PHC without even knowing it. If a tree were to lose a large section of it’s canopy, it could be very detrimental to the client’s health or property but it is also quite detrimental to that tree’s health as well! By mitigating the risk of the tree losing a large limb or lead, you are mitigating the potential risk to the tree’s health. Cables are installed, in general terms, about 2/3rds of the way between the defect in the tree and the tips of the tree. Cables are made of various materials such as rope and steel which are installed to help add supplemental support to the tree in the event of a wind, ice or even heavy rain storm. Again, this is something that you as a climber are already doing to help with Plant Health Care. Hopefully some of these ideas can give you a different perspective of what Plant Health Care is and how you can get involved with it without needing to get additional certifications or applying chemicals into your client’s yards. Many of these things you are probably already doing without even knowing you were taking part in a PHC program. Now start implementing it into every yard and making each yard a healthier place for the tree to live! via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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When anyone new starts at my company, one of the first things I say to them and I try to be sure to repeat throughout the weeks and months to come is: “Our #1 goal is customer service, anyone can do tree work. Our priorities are: great customer service and no property damage." By getting this into their head right off the bat, they understand that the happiness of our clients is our biggest goal when it comes to customer service. Obviously this discussion is about customer service, our biggest goal is being safe and coming home every night but that talk is for another discussion altogether. Now that I have that out of the way, let’s talk about some simple ways to help boost your customer service while on the job. These are things that I have been thanked for in the past by my own clients as well.

1: Show up with clean equipment that doesn’t leak fluids on their property

This is pretty self explanatory but I think it needs to be discussed. Many times were are burning “the midnight oil” being company owners just trying to get everything done in a 16 hour day but it is well worth it to take the time to keep your equipment clean as well as keeping the fluids they may leak off your client’s property. I have an F-550 that notoriously leaks oil. We have tried and tried to get it to stop but it’s an older vehicle that just won’t stop. Now we know to bring cardboard or the Jet Sled to set under the truck when we pull onto someone’s driveway. There have been other times when we stayed in the street to reduce the chance of it leaking on a really nice driveway, i.e. brick-pavers or stamped and stained concrete. This little bit of extra care can go a long ways when working for very particular clients. Also, I have had clients tell me that they would not hire someone that had old rusty beat up equipment. From that point on we have made an effort to make sure our trucks look good when we arrive at a client’s house! 2: Take your safety glasses off when you are going to talk to your client.

Many times in the middle of summer when the sun is bright we are almost guaranteed to be wearing shaded safety glasses. This is great to keep the sun out of our eyes and make it easier to see what is going on up in the tree without blinking non stop to keep the sun from burning our retinas out! But, as soon as I need to talk to the client, the first thing I do is remove my safety glasses so that they can see my eyes. This is just a small piece of human psychology that we’ve all heard before. People can tell if you are lying by looking at your eyes. Well, what if they can’t see your eyes at all?!?! I want my clients to know that I am sincere when I am talking to them about recommendations in their yard or for their trees. I want them to fully trust me as well as be comfortable with me. Those shaded safety glasses are creating a barrier between you and you client as well as a barrier between you and a potential up-sale, additional work or Google review. 3: Always knock on the client’s door when you first arrive to start work.

Even if you have already called, text, emailed, or sent smoke signals to your client telling them when you would be on their property, be sure to still knock on the door and tell them that you are there. This makes them more comfortable but also allows you to take control of the situation and make sure they understand that they might not be able to move freely about their property for their own safety while you are working in certain areas. It also allows them to move any vehicles that would otherwise be blocked in by you. This reduces downtime on your end but also reduces frustration on your client’s end by accidentally running late because your spider lift, chip truck, chipper and log truck needed to get moved before they could get their car out! Always try to think ahead for yourself, your crew and your client! 4: Be sure to rake up everything and blow off EVERYTHING!

How many times have you walked into your own house, taken off your chainsaw pants and watched 4 pounds of sawdust fall out of god only knows where all over the freshly vacuumed floor?!?! Yeah, I know the feeling too… Now think about your client just paying you thousands of dollars to remove a tree or prune trees and they let their dog out after you leave and that dog rolls around in all the sawdust you left on their patio and runs into their million dollar home! You might say to blame it on that dog but the problem is, they love that dog, they don’t love you! Be sure to rake up every little bit of debris that you made as well as any extra so their yard looks immaculate when you leave. Then be sure to blow off every surface that could possibly hold sawdust. This is a small thing that will go far further than you ever thought! I had a mason come to my house to install stone on our front porch. When the job was done, he told me that I had to get rid of the extra mortar and stone that they didn’t use. They left stone and dried up mortar in 4 foot by 4 foot boxes in my front yard. Even though they did a great job putting the stone on my house, I was furious that I had to dispose of their trash. This is the last thing I want my clients to have to do when I leave their property. 5: ALWAYS dispose of cigarette butts properly.

I don’t smoke. I never have but I do have a couple workers that do and they are great at putting their cigarettes out and then putting the butts in their pockets. We try to run a company that prides itself on tree preservation So I can only imagine when we puff our chest out about saving a historic tree but leave 10-20 little pieces of litter all over our client’s yard! If you are going to smoke, be responsible and pick up after yourself and surely don’t leave those things in a client’s yard for them to have to deal with after we are gone. Though this is just a small list, I would love to hear some other ways that you are keeping your client’s happy with over the top customer service! Let’s hear some other ideas in the comments and hear what is working for you. Again, these are things I have learned and implemented at my own company to ensure that our clients stay happy and keep calling us back year after year.

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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Throughout our day as an arborist, depending on the exact work order, we could be tying a knot hundreds of times. When it comes to a large removal or even speed lining the limbs of a large conifer, the amount of knots tied throughout the day can be daunting! Obviously every knot that is tied should be TDS, Tied, Dressed, the Set. This is one of the most basic rules when tying knots used for life support or rigging! We want to make sure that the knot is first tied correctly, next we want to make sure each strand of rope is laying correctly next to the other strands and that we don’t have any unnecessary twists in the strands, and lastly we want to set the knot by loading it in our hands or within our climbing system to make sure that it is being tight and compact as a knot should be. With all of these little things covered, we know that our knot should be performing for us at the top of it’s game, right?

Well, some knots are created differently than others and can be stronger or weaker than their counterparts. Essentially every knot that you tie in a rope will make the rope weaker than it is by itself. This is because knots cause tight bends in the rope whose outer circumference is greater than the inner part. This causes the rope to load unevenly, technically loading the rope across it’s width when under tension, instead of it’s length which completely undermines it’s strength. This uneven loading is what makes all the knots that we use in tree care operations decrease the overall strength of the rope at the knot. Let’s take a look at some common knots and how their strength is affected by tying and then loading them. The King of Knots! The bowline is use to attach the rope to the tree for base anchors in SRS climbing systems or for attaching the rigging line to limbs or logs being lowered from the tree. It’s overall statistics are: Percentage of retained strength of the rope with Bowline: 70-75% Percentage of strength loss of rope with Bowline: 25-30% Also known as the clove hitch, this is a great hitch for attaching the rigging line to a limb or log being removed from the canopy or for quickly attaching a rope to a redirect while climbing SRS. The Clove Hitch is also used in closed climbing systems to attach the rope to the climber’s harness before tying their friction hitch. Another great use for the clove hitch is for sending water bottles up into the tree for the climber! Percentage of retained strength of the rope with Clove Hitch: 60-65% Percentage of strength loss of rope with Clove Hitch: 35-40% The Double Fisherman is a great cinching knot for attaching the working end of your climbing line to a carabiner in place of a splice. This knot is relatively compact and is easily identifiable. It does cinch down quite hard after use and is hard to undo. Percentage of retained strength of the rope with Double Fisherman: 65-70% Percentage of strength loss of rope with Double Fisherman: 30-35% The Anchor Bend is another great way to attach a carabiner to the working end of a climbing line. The Anchor Bend is more bulky than the Double Fisherman but is still very identifiable and easy to tie. The Anchor Bend does not cinch down as hard as the Double Fisherman so it is easier to untie after use. Percentage of retained strength of the rope with Anchor Bend: 80-85% Percentage of strength loss of rope with Anchor Bend:15-20% This blog is meant to be a primer for what we need to be looking at when building rigging systems and the forces as well as the restrictions to those systems. We can go further in depth in a later blog post about Safe Working Load and the likes. All knots and hitches pictured were done so to illustrate the said hitch or knot, not to illustrate their exact uses. Some hitches like the Clove Hitch should have a backup tied with the tail around the standing part of rope. Any Bowline used for life support should be backed up with a Yosemite Tie Off or a stopper knot. Stay safe!

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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What do all those letters mean when it comes to climbing? So, for anyone that's been in the tree industry for at least the last couple years, you’ve probably noticed that there are a lot of letters that are being thrown around when talking about different types of climbing systems as well as different climbing techniques. If you have been in the tree industry for 10-15 years, you’ve probably seen even more letters that get thrown before, after, in parentheses, or one’s that just stand alone signifying their own style of climbing! Now if you’ve been in the industry for 20 years, you’re probably wondering how many more times climbing styles are going to change or how many times they can change and what in the hell all these letters stand for! So, let’s take a look at these letters and acronyms so that we can all get on the same page for a solid understanding of what letters stand for what style of climbing and where some misunderstandings are. DdRT - Doubled Rope Technique To start this out, let’s go back a ways to the traditional tree climbing system, the Tautline and Blake’s Hitch climbing system. Technically this is a climbing system that has a rope that is attached to the climber, goes up and over a limb, comes back down to the climber and the climber is attached to the falling piece of the rope with a Tautline hitch or a Blake’s hitch. The rope going from the climber and then up and over the limb then back down to the climber creates a loop that is made larger or smaller by adjusting the friction hitch (Tautline or Blake’s hitch). Since both sections of rope move while ascending and descending in the tree this is considered a Doubled Rope Technique or DdRT not to be confused with Double Rope Technique or DRT which is a rock climbing term but also a tree climbing technique! Let’s not get too confused yet! DRT - Double Rope Technique Speaking of DRT, rock climbers use this term to differentiate between using 2 independent lines while climbing opposed to 1 rope. Now to bring this into the tree climbing world, DRT was used to identify a climbing system that was using a single rope that was used in double setting. This term was mostly used while foot locking because the rope was put over a limb and the climber ascended up the rope without the rope moving. This was later brought into the tree industry for a little while to identify 2 Single Rope Technique systems. This is better thought of as a climber using a triple threat where 2 ropes were attached to a central hub in the tree with 2 independent Single Rope systems running on the 2 ropes, or Double Ropes! This term has been placed on the back burner and is not used very often any more. Let’s keep moving forward into less confusing topics! SRT - Single Rope Technique The next acronym to look at is SRT which stands for static rope technique or was it single rope technique? Well, sometimes it meant one or the other, and other times it just depended on who you were talking to. So, technically SRT is describing a system in which you have a single rope that is used in a static scenario, or in other terms, the rope doesn’t move but the climber moves along the rope with use of a Rope Wrench, Rope Runner, Akimbo, Zig Zag with Chicane or other more archaic methods like the F8 Revolver System. Regardless, this system allowed the climber to move along the rope without the rope creating a loop and moving over a friction point in the tree like in a Ddrt system. Are you still following? So, with all this terminology going on, the industry came together as a whole and decided that all the acronyms were getting pretty confusing. The great minds came together and made up 2 very simple acronyms for us to use. MRS and SRS. These 2 acronyms separated the climbing systems by exactly what they were doing, 1 was moving when the climber was ascending or descending and the other was stationary or not moving when the climber was ascending or descending. Let’s discuss those next. MRS - Moving Rope System A moving rope system or MRS is exactly what we discussed in the DdRT segment of this article. When the climber ascends or descends on the rope, it moves because one end of the rope is attached to the climber while the rest of the rope goes up and over a limb and the falling end of the rope is attached to the climber via some sort of friction hitch or mechanical friction device. Regardless this acronym is used when your rope is moving over a friction point in the tree. SRS - Stationary Rope Technique A Stationary Rope Technique is exactly as it’s stated, STATIONARY! In other terms, the rope doesn’t move over a friction point in the tree like an MRS system does. This acronym takes over where SRT once did. Using a Stationary Rope Technique is great for long ascents as well as being able to redirect your rope throughout the canopy of the tree without adding in any additional friction as stated in our SRT blogs. Though this blog post can lead to some confusion at the beginning, I feel it was a great way to show how our industry has responded to the confusion that was already floating around with all the different acronyms and terminology. By streamlining the systems into 2 different categories and then naming them in a way that is intuitive and easily explainable they took a huge step in the right direction! Let us know what you think of this new terminology and the new acronyms in the comments! via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdowns that many of us are in at the moment, we figured it was a good time to talk about some technology apps and websites that might make your life easier for the time being. While we are social distancing from everyone, including our co-workers, maybe it’s a good time to see what types of things we can still get done while keeping the distance. This is a great time for owner operators to get their equipment in top shape and for others to tighten up on some of the reading or education they’ve been meaning to do for a while. But what else is there for us to look into to help our companies become more efficient throughout this process? Well, let’s take a look! Zoom Meet - https://zoom.us

First things first, everyone seems to be using Zoom at the moment for video conferencing. This is a great way to offer training for some of your employees while they are at home. Maybe you could do a quick refresher training on knots or go through some different climbing techniques. Maybe even a quick touch up on cabling basics. These are all things that can allow your employees to still get some training and keep them in the game while off work for the foreseeable future. Zoom makes it great because everyone can see what the main speaker is talking about while also being able to ask questions. Since it is a video conference, the main speaker can watch exactly what the others are doing to make sure they are tying the knots correctly or doing what they are asked throughout the training. There have already been emails sent out from various training facilities offering EHAP and other training courses. Pretty cool! Jobber - https://www.getjobber.com

Another cool tech thing to look into is Jobber. Jobber is a platform that streamlines your quoting, tracking and invoicing to clients. This system makes it super easy to get quotes sent out even before leaving the property as well as getting paid without having to physically speak to the client. This is huge right now in the midst of our social distancing while in a pandemic! If you have to go out for a hazard job, you want to get paid right? Well Jobber makes that as easy as a simple click of a button on their website. They also offer job mapping which allows you to find the fastest and most efficient way to multiple addresses throughout your day so you aren’t wasting time driving around aimlessly while doing PHC or sales! Nice! Animated Knots - https://www.animatedknots.com

How many of you are good at tying knots? How many of you want to know how to tie a couple more? Well, Animated Knots has a super cool app that shows you how to tie ALL kinds of different knots, hitches, and bends! This app has actually animated the tying process so that you can easily see and understand how the knot is tied. The animation is the best part because it allows you to fully grasp the movements beyond what a typical video can show you. This is a great way to pass the time while still learning some new stuff while hanging out around the house. This is also something you could do with your kids while waiting out the virus. Google Maps - https://www.google.com/maps

Lastly, did you know that Google Maps has a section of their software that allows you to track way points on a map? It also allows you to label all of these points so that you know exactly was at that tiny dot on the map. Now you might be asking me why any of this matters? Right?!? Well for any of you that have been involved with tree inventories, this is a great way to track hundreds upon hundreds of trees on a map while also being able to export the info into a file for your client to use in the future. The best part about this is the fact that it’s free to use! Many other inventory software cost upwards of $2000! Just Google search "Google My Maps" and start working away from there. This may not be something you use all the time, or even every month, but for those of you that are getting into doing tree inventories for municipalities or large properties, this is a great way to get in the door without a huge overhead. I have personally used this for doing inventories of over 500 trees and it worked flawlessly! Bartlett Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3PQ3k0sBvsQ4d7fAUjBwcQ/videos

Check out our Youtube Channel as well as our other blog talking about some of the other cool tech things that are out there for arborist!

So this is just a quick list of some things to start looking into while you are at home hanging out for the next couple weeks. Be sure to keep in shape while being off work as well. Stay safe and stay healthy!

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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Being a tree climber is very relatable to a runner, gym rat, swimmer, even a musician, dancer, or painter. It’s relatable to the first group we mentioned because it’s a matter of endurance, physical strength, and overall health and fitness. It’s relatable to the second group mentioned in that the more you practice your skills the better you will become. In our busy seasons we are honing our craft 5, if not 7 days a week. We’re pushing our bodies for 8-10 hours a day. Hopefully, if we’re going about it in a healthy way we are at the top of our game, our bodies are working at their highest level and our minds are firing quickly. ?? Then the off season hits. Obviously skills and physical abilities don’t vanish over night, but you will start to see changes in your body and work flow if you just come to a total standstill. Many of us want to think there’s just nothing comparable to tree climbing, and as a career, you may be right, but as a physical activity or skill we’re looking to perfect there are actually a lot of things outside of the tree world that will help keep us in tip top condition for when we enter back into the trees, hopefully as soon as possible! Some of the things that we’re going to cover would be great to incorporate into your day to day or weekly schedule even when work is busy as a way to switch things up for your body and mind. Let’s see what some of our options are. There are various different types and levels of practices out there. Get signed up for a class at your local studio, find an instructive app or tune into YouTube. Yoga is a great exercise but more than anything it enhances your range of motion and flexibility, which is a perk when you find yourself in an awkward position on a limb, trying to make a cut. When your muscles are tight you are far more limited in your body. Yoga is also great for strengthening your balance, a huge advantage while out on limb walks. A consistent practice will also get your blood flowing, circulating it better through out your body, which is a huge plus for health overall. Rock climbing may be the closest thing you will find to tree climbing. It shares a lot of the same gear and techniques: rope, harness, carabiners, knots. If you live near mountains or cliffs than your options are endless, but if you find yourself on flat land in less than ideal temps search for an indoor rock gym. Here you will be able to take a class that will teach you the basics and then allow you to climb their walls, which can sometimes be as high as 55 feet! Quickly you will notice the different muscles you are using and that hand eye coordination along with problem solving plays a huge part. To build strength and enhance your core try out bouldering, which are short routes climbed with no rope that rely less on endurance and more on powerhouse moves and technique.

To keep your general strength up and push your cardio, hit the gym or use what you have at home. The options of equipment may feel overwhelming but most have good instructions on the machines or there are staff to help. If at home, again, the options online and social media are endless, just be sure to listen to your body. Don’t try to fit it all in in 1 day. Mix up your routine, which keeps your body guessing and doesn’t strain or put all the focus on one part of your body. As much as you think you want huge biceps, throw a washing machine over your head, and be able to dead lift 500 pounds, when is this going to come into play in the trees? Think about a typical work day, what you would be doing and working in your body, and build that into a gym routine. Yep, in a long list of things to do to make you mind and body stronger we suggest you take a full day to do nothing. What will this do? Give your body and mind time to recover, relax, fully understand and process what’s happened the previous 6 days, and be refreshed to do it all over again. Burn out is real. And when that happens injuries happen. Your goal every day should be to be as alert as possible. Your goal should be to feel as good as possible. You can’t do that if you’re beat down. Strengthening your career isn’t always about the body. Your mind is a great tool to help you work smarter, not harder. Hire a business coach, someone who understands numbers, marketing, taxes, goal setting, and more. Do they need to know about your industry? It would be helpful, but a good business coach knows how to read your numbers and walk you through what’s working and what’s not in your business. Imagine figuring out how to save 10% more every week in your savings account or how to cut yearly costs by 15%. Imagine finding a solution to better time management or how to lock in more sales. Perhaps you need help with advertising suggestions or where to find clients. A good business coach can help you get closer to your goals in various different ways. What you don’t know you can learn, especially in this day and age when information is not at a shortage. Read a book, read a blog, watch a YouTube video, tune into a podcast, or attend a class. (We would like to mention, please make sure you are learning from a professional, someone who is qualified to be talking about the practices they are. There are many self proclaimed "know it alls" in the tree industry. Fact check EVERYTHING before you put it into practice. The safety and life of you, your crew, and clients are at risk if you do not take the time to be a true professional and learn correctly.) What do you want to learn more about? Climbing systems, Tree ID, Plant Health Care, safety practices, proper pruning practices, how to run your own business, equipment, knots, gear?

We have YEARS worth of free information right on our blog and YEARS worth of free videos on our YouTube. Feel free to start there! Keep your mind growing. Hopefully after this you are inspired to take 1-2 of these ideas and give them a try. Always be looking to progress. Don’t get so stuck in your own box that you forget to look outside of it for ways to grow! If you have any activities that you find helpful to keep your body and mind engaged during an off season drop them in the comments below!

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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Many climbers that have gone over to the “dark side” (aka SRT, SRS) of climbing have probably been chomping at the bit for the uber-responsive Petzl Zig Zag to have an SRT-compatible companion!

The Zig Zag hit the market and made a huge name for itself in the world of DdRT or MRS climbing. It was super responsive compared to the archaic Blake’s Hitch or even most modern hitch cords. The aspect of a mechanical friction hitch was wild to some but many others quickly found that the Zig Zag could easily replace whatever climbing system they were used to using with it’s super intuitive design that felt so much like a friction hitch in your hand. Petzl heard the overwhelming outcry from climbers that were begging for an SRT compatible Zig Zag and in response came out with the Chicane. Though the name is a bit different, but once we look up the definition, it makes perfect sense! Chicane - A chicane is a serpentine curve in a road, added by design rather than dictated by geography. Chicanes add extra turns and are used both in motor racing and on roads and streets to slow traffic for safety. For example, one form of chicane is a short, shallow S-shaped turn that requires the driver to turn slightly left and then slightly right to continue on the road, requiring the driver to reduce speed. Now when we look at the initial and totally ingenious design of the Rope Wrench, we can easily spot the chicane or serpentine curve that it creates and adds friction by creating those serpentine curves. Looking at the Petzl Chicane we can see that it adds those same curves or bends to the rope that help add friction above the Zig Zag which allows it to move almost flawlessly on a single rope. The Chicane is compatible with the Petzl AM’d and the OK carabiners with H Beam construction. The H Beam helps keep the Chicane in it’s proper orientation while working aloft. The center groove in the carabiner drops into a key slot that Petzl has very smartly designed into their device. This small feature keeps the Zig Zag, carabiner, and the Chicane all aligned perfectly on the rope to reduce any chance of side loading and maximizing safety! The Chicane also features a side plate that flips open to allow for easy loading of the rope so that a climber could switch quickly and efficiently from SRS to MRS or vise versa. This swing gate style side plate is reminiscent of the GriGri or Rig style openings that allow the rope to easily be loaded. It’s push button style locking mechanism is a quite a bit like the locking mechanism on a Rock Exotica Omni Block with its push and turn the cheek plate style operation. The Chicane can be used with the Zig Zag or the Zig Zag Plus. The difference between these two devices is quite simple, the Zig Zag features a fixed connection point on the bottom of the device while the Zig Zag Plus features a swivel for the connection point between the device and the harness. Some climbers may feel that a swivel is superfluous and not needed but it can be a highly beneficial piece of gear when you start spinning this way and that way for better positioning when on long limb walks.

All in all the Chicane is an amazing device that allows the Zig Zag to have even more versatility while aloft. For those of you that have been hoping for an SRS option for the Zig Zag, it’s here!

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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What is the best carabiner for a speed line set up? How about for a quick redirect for your rigging line while doing some light rigging? What about when you need a quick and easy mechanical advantage? Well for a long time, our only option was the DMM Revolver carabiner which worked well enough for most of the things above. But, it was lacking in a couple areas and because of that DMM and Petzl have both decided to upgrade with 2 of their pulley carabiners. The DMM Revolver was used for a long time as a speed line carabiner because it was the only carabiner to feature a pulley sheave. For anyone that was around before the Rope Wrench, the Revolver was an integral part to the F-8 Revolver system that allowed us to work position on a single line! Those days are long gone now…. but it was still a revolutionary design at the time. So, the DMM Revolver featured a pulley sheave that was built into it to help reduce the friction that is usually created when a rope moves over the metal edge of a carabiner. This nice little sheave made it so speed lines flowed smoother and mechanical advantages were far more efficient than in times past. One of the downfalls of the Revolver was it’s pulley sheave. I know, I know, I just mentioned how awesome and revolutionary it was but it was also really small. For a pulley to be highly efficient, i.e. reduce as much friction as possible, the pulley sheave needs to be large. According to most rope manufacturers, it is recommended that a pulley sheave should have an 8:1 bend ratio to be used with their ropes. That means a 1” line would have to be ran over an 8” pulley sheave! Obviously this is not practical for tree care operations so general guidelines point us towards a 4:1 ratio. Now for anyone that has looked at a Revolver sheave, they can see where the efficiency problem arises with such a small pulley sheave! So, years after the initial release of the DMM Revolver, DMM has graciously released the super stylized Revolver Rig and Revolver Rig Twin carabiners.

DMM Revolver Series

https://www.bartlettman.com/search.asp?keyword=DMM+REVOLVER+RIG&search=

These new carabiners feature a far larger pulley sheave which makes them far more efficient than their predecessor. The new pulley sheave is 26mm in diameter which allows for a 2:1 bend ratio on a 12.7mm or 1/2” line. That is a great number to see for efficiency! The Revolver Rig Twin features 2 pulley sheaves that are also 26mm in diameter allowing ropes between 5-8mm to be used for hauling task or a very efficient mechanical advantage setup. Both the Revolver Rig and the Revolver Rig Twin feature textile friendly beckets on the bottom of the carabiner, under the pulley sheave. The design of the becket allows a carabiner or other textile to be used without interfering with the moving rope inside the pulley sheave. Again, this smart feature helps boost the efficiency by reducing any friction that could be created by small parts rubbing together. Both carabiners also feature a threaded captive bar that captures whatever cordage you have running through the pulley sheave and keeps it from riding up on the spine of the carabiner or cross loading the carabiner.

Petzl stepped into the pulley carabiner game as well with their RollClip carabiners.

Petzl RollClip Series

https://www.bartlettman.com/PETZL-ROLL-CLIP-TRIACT-LOCK-CARABINER_p_1563.html

The neat thing about the RollClip is the fact that Petzl decided to manufacture them with 2 different gate orientations. The RollClip A features a gate that opens directly into the pulley sheave allowing the gate to be opened and a rope dropped directly onto the sheave while the RollClip Z features a gate that opens towards the top axis of the carabiner allowing the carabiner to be easily clipped to another piece of hardware or cordage. This allows for different types of configurations with each carabiner or even more configurations when you combine the two! The pulley sheave on the Petzl RollClip is 18mm in diameter so not quite as efficient as the DMM Revolver Rig. The 18mm sheave gives us about 1.4:1 bend ratio compared to the 2:1 of the Revolver Rig. The Revolver Rig does pack a bit higher price tag compared to the RollClip but they each have their own place in your kit! All three of the carabiners discussed above can be used as a great addition to a speed line kit, a redirect, or for a quick mechanical advantage setup. Obviously if you are looking for a speed line carabiner or carabiners, which is obviously the case, then the most economical option is going to be higher on the list. But if you are looking to make a highly efficient mechanical advantage setup, in the smallest package possible, then a high dollar carabiner makes more sense. Regardless of what type of kit you are putting together, any one of these carabiners can help push your game to the next level with all the features they have packed into them! via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts

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Bartlett: Thanks for taking the time out for this interview! Why don’t you start by letting everyone know who you are, your age, and where you’re from! Give us some background on you!

Josh: Hi, thank you so much for having me! My name is Joshua Burr, I’m 22, from Oxford, Michigan. I’ve been climbing everything since I could walk. First time at the rock climbing gym was for my 10th birthday, started with a tree service when I was 15, started industrial rigging for concerts when I was a Senior at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and when I was 19 I got rope access/SPRAT certified.

Bartlett: That's so much, so quickly, all before you were even 20!! WOW! So where are you living now and what are you doing?

Josh: Towards the end of 2019 I moved out to Maryland. I’ve been so busy with climbing trips and competitions that the rope access work has slowly taken a back seat but I still practice the skills regularly.

Bartlett: We’re super impressed with how young you are and everything you’ve already accomplished and experienced. Let’s talk about what started it all. What did you do before you were a full time arborist? Can you tell us a little more about your concert and rope access gigs.

Josh: I have actually set up for the Presidential Inauguration along with a few other presidential/political events. I’ve set up the rigging for different music festivals and flown out to different venues like the Twins Stadiums and US Bank Stadium for Taylor Swift and KISS!!

Bartlett: Right on! That's super cool!! And you're known for rock climbing and ice climbing as well?

Josh: Oh yes!! Started with rock climbing when I was 10 at the rock climbing gym and really took off with it when I met my rock climbing mentor Matt Foss on a rock climbing trip to Kentucky that he was guiding was I was around 16 ish. Now I see the climbing gym as an awesome way to exercise and work my brain by getting through the climbing problems. I regularly go on climbing trips to the red river gorge in Kentucky and have recently found some cool rock climbing spots in Maryland.

Bartlett: With all of these options what made you fall in love with working primarily with trees?

Josh: The freedom, along with the ability to move in 3D. Trees to me are almost an awesome blend of rock climbing and industrial.

Bartlett: Interesting!! So what or who do you feel as though got your “feet off the ground” / “foot in the door” in the tree industry? How did you start this journey?

Josh: I started with an unprofessional tree service for the first 3 years. No safety culture and of course spike pruning, and I was none the wiser, that’s how everyone does tree work, right? When I was 17 Joey Drinkhorn invited me to Tree Jam Camp and that was the total game changer. That’s actually where I met my now boss. Since then I’ve done Tree Jam Camp a second time, Michigan state 3 times, Ohio, Hawaii, Taiwan, ARC, and NAOM twice!

Bartlett: We love that you've just ran with this, all around the world! You’re a climber that is quickly gaining a name for yourself in this industry. What’s your latest accomplishment professionally?

Josh: The opportunity to Co-teach a class with my boss Chris Coates at Legends(Legends Tree Climbing Championship)! It’s about staying on rope while passing redirects and high lines and hammocking!

Bartlett: Any epic adventures you’ve done personally lately? We at Bartlett may have heard something about a cave.

Josh: The cave was Ellison cave in Georgia! The biggest drop we did was called the fantastic pit, 586 feet, with a 500ft waterfall, that we had to rappel through 150ft of, and ascend back up. There was another one called the warm up pit around 130ft.

Bartlett: That is just so epic!! Hearing all these experiences, we have to ask, what do you think the biggest key is to your progression?

Josh: Setting the bar very high, just out of reach. Along with always searching for an opportunity to learn something.

Bartlett: Before you settled down in Maryland you did a lot of traveling being a self employed contract climber. What kind of experience was that for you?

Josh: Greatly beneficial!! Even with the company I’m with now, we will drive around 2 hrs to go work with other friend's companies sometimes. Seeing how others get jobs done, while working to mitigate hazards and stay safe can be a major learning tool.

Bartlett: So true, and we love this community over competition attitude you have. What would you say was the coolest experience to come from that?

Josh: Getting to work out in Hawaii is always a pleasure, but the greatest joys are the people you get to meet, along with some amazing views.

Bartlett: So, so true! What would be your biggest piece of advice to someone wanting to become a contract climber?

Josh: Networking is key, and tree climbing competitions can be a huge tool for just that! Networking, connecting with and meeting new people.

Bartlett: We totally agree! Do you have any big goals for 2020?

Josh: I am very much looking forward to getting back to Asia for their tree climbing competition! Made some cool friends out there!

Bartlett: Awesome dude. We love this. Thank you so much for sharing your past, present, and future story with us all!! Any closing statements before we sign off?

Josh: Looking forward to hanging out with you guys on Belle isle this year!!! There are certainly some good trees to choose from!! Thank you for this opportunity to share! You guys are the best!

via Bartlett Arborist Supply: Blog Posts