October 21, 2025
The inaugural Vermont Arborist Day of Service was a huge success; 21 Vermont arborists and tree care professionals arrived to volunteer their expertise, their love of trees, and their plain hard work to prune 18 trees in the popular Little River State Park in Waterbury.
With a focus on professionalism and peer to peer learning, the group discussed the best management practices for structural pruning – a technique that is aimed at strengthening the structure of trees so that they withstand the forces of gravity and weather as they develop throughout the years to come. Structural pruning is regarded as the most beneficial style of pruning for shade trees because it is highly effective, inexpensive, and it proactively reduces future tree defects and tree related nuisances or risks. After the brief workshop, climbers, bucket truck operators, and ground workers got to work.
Emphasizing small diameter pruning cuts, arborists began throwing the cuttings safely to the lawn that quickly became spotless
again as the debris was rapidly cleaned up and chipped. The trees also received oft neglected preventive care for the roots and were protected from lawn mowers by adding a ring of mulch around the trunk flare. Lastly, the maples received a crown clean, that prunes away dead, broken, and diseased branches that are likely to fall in the popular camping area if left alone.
The gathering became celebratory as tree workers sat down in the sun for a home packed lunch, sharing stories of trees and remarking on the ideal fall weather and bright foliage. A second work area involved pruning 9 white pine trees whose lower dead branches were encroaching on the sandy volleyball area near the ranger station. In the State Parks system, whole tree removal is typically the only tree care option available due to the large acreage and limited resources of the parks. This volunteer effort of over 60 labor hours made possible a whole new degree of stewardship for the trees that make our parks so special.
The professionalism and enjoyment during this day of service was in no way an exception. Every day Vermont’s arborists educate
their clients and peers, while pushing the discipline of tree care forward through hard work and practice. And yes, working on trees is as fun as it looks! A special thank you must be given to:
