Davey Tree Flipbooks

6 | March/April 2014 T he centerpiece of Wooster, Ohio's holiday season is in Davey's hands. Davey's Canton R/C office has been respon- sible for the city's tree maintenance for several years. Ever since Davey opened its doors to the Canton R/C office in 2007, Davey has decked downtown Wooster in Christmas cheer. And for 10 years prior, crewmembers from the Davey Nursery did the same. STEP ONE: HARVEST. City of Wooster Arborist Dan Yarnell selected the city's real Christmas tree. It's always either a blue or Norway spruce located on a city residential lot. "This year, the tree was located on land pur- chased for a new fire station," Wernet explains. STEP TWO: REMOVE. This year, it was easy to remove the tree because it stood in a wide open lot where a home was knocked down. "Trees have varied in size year-to-year and also in degree of difficulty to remove," says Assistant District Manager Jeff Wernet. "The approximate height they want when installment is complete is 25 feet." STEP THREE: SETUP. The tree's final loca- tion exists within a 5-foot-deep, 18-inch-wide hole on Wooster's downtown square. The hole is full of sand all year until the new tree arrives. Although Senior Foreman Frank Gibson is most familiar with the project, Trimmer Chris Gill, among other crewmembers, has provided assistance as well. Upon installation, volunteers from organiza- tions arrive to decorate the tree according to the theme they've chosen for the year. But the real Christmas cheer arrives during the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in early December. As Wernet says, "Setting up Wooster's Christmas tree is always a fun thing for us to do." Deal on Christmas Cheer S couting for a Christmas tree takes on a whole new dimension when the size specs are 50 to 70 feet. For the past six years, Davey's Portland, Maine, R/C office has "hung" the majestic L.L. Bean Northern Lights Christmas Tree. That includes sourcing the specimen, tying it up for transport and ushering it to the company headquarters, where the evergreen is center stage for a season of free community events, from horse-drawn wagon rides to live music. Finding the tree is often the most challeng- ing part of the job; Davey personnel keep an eye out year-round for potential candidates. Some of these trees are on farms, others on personal property. "If we happen to see a tree somewhere, we'll approach a homeowner or business, or leave them a letter explaining the project," says Sales Arborist Tom Ford. "Every year, we advertise for a tree donation and we look at about five to 10 different trees," explains Kevin Bosworth, district manager. This past Christmas tree came from a farm about 25 miles from L.L. Bean. "This year was our longest trip," adds Ford, who works directly with L.L. Bean on the Northern Lights tree project. Meanwhile, the logistics involved in packing and trailering a 62-foot Norway spruce to the permanent tree base at L.L. Bean requires six to eight professionals, along with a police escort to ensure safety of the "wide load." One week prior to transport, every limb of the tree is tied up with scrap rope. Depending on the size of the tree and the complexity of its canopy, tying up can take three to five days. Davey coordinates with subcontractors and L.L. Bean's safety department to make arrangements for "D" (Delivery) Day. Then, the tree is hoisted on to the trailer and trans- ported to headquarters."We put the tree in a large, concrete base receptacle and secure it with cables to keep it upright," Ford describes. The crew feels a sense of accomplishment once the tree is stable and ready for lighting. "The project is fun; it's Christmas," Bosworth adds. "And instead of trimming or removing snow, we are putting up a tree that has some real significance for the people who see it." Raising L.L. Bean's Northern Lights Tree The L.L. Bean Northern Lights Christmas Tree illuminates during a community lighting ceremony. The Real A blue spruce tree stands in down- town Wooster, Ohio, during the Christmas season. The city always chooses a Norway or blue spruce to decorate for the holidays.

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