[Jmattioli]

A guy known as the Tree Barber drives around neighborhoods passing out cards and talking to owners about trimming their trees. My Palms needed trimming and he said since he was already in the neighborhood , he would do them cheap for me. He trimmed my 2 queen palms and 3 other trees for $80. Quite a bargain i thought. He never stopped bragging about how great a job he would do.

To make a long story short, he should be named the " tree butcher " . He quickly does a hurricane cut taking not only the discolored branches of the palm tree but also many of the perfectly good ones leaving them looking like a carrot . He says this is the right way to do them and will not hurt the palm. Experts on the internet (University of Florida IFAS Extension) say differently. Also he is so fast and messy that he cuts into the palm branches he leaves. One has fallen after he left and another is part way cut through that i doubt will make it. I would highly recommend homeowners in the Villages avoid this fella no matter what the price.

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by Jmattioli

A guy known as the Tree Barber drives around neighborhoods passing out cards and talking to owners about trimming their trees. My Palms needed trimming and he said since he was already in the neighborhood , he would do them cheap for me. He trimmed my 2 queen palms and 3 other trees for $80. Quite a bargain i thought. He never stopped bragging about how great a job he would do.

To make a long story short, he should be named the " tree butcher " . He quickly does a hurricane cut taking not only the discolored branches of the palm tree but also many of the perfectly good ones leaving them looking like a carrot . He says this is the right way to do them and will not hurt the palm. Experts on the internet (University of Florida IFAS Extension) say differently. Also he is so fast and messy that he cuts into the palm branches he leaves. One has fallen after he left and another is part way cut through that i doubt will make it. I would highly recommend homeowners in the Villages avoid this fella no matter what the price.

Unfortunately there are those types butchering palm trees with the so called hurricane trim and they look horrible afterwards if the tree survives.

[Jima64]

I learned to be very careful with anyone "just happened to be driving" around the neighborhood. The other one is I am up the street paving and have some leftover, can give you a deal.

[billethkid]

Palm fronds do not have to be removed until AFTER they start to droop/hang down and start turning brown. Any that are green are still supplying nutrients to the tree.

Actually when left to nature they will drop when the tree finishes using them.

The transit pruners will say anything to get your $$$.

[redwitch]

Hurricane cuts are okay to do in the spring but really unnecessary in TV. The big problem with doing a hurricane cut now is you risk the tree dying if we get a deep freeze. Palms need all the warmth they can muster when winter arrives.

[mhorsman]

Originally Posted by Jmattioli

A guy known as the Tree Barber drives around neighborhoods passing out cards and talking to owners about trimming their trees. My Palms needed trimming and he said since he was already in the neighborhood , he would do them cheap for me. He trimmed my 2 queen palms and 3 other trees for $80. Quite a bargain i thought. He never stopped bragging about how great a job he would do.

To make a long story short, he should be named the " tree butcher " . He quickly does a hurricane cut taking not only the discolored branches of the palm tree but also many of the perfectly good ones leaving them looking like a carrot . He says this is the right way to do them and will not hurt the palm. Experts on the internet (University of Florida IFAS Extension) say differently. Also he is so fast and messy that he cuts into the palm branches he leaves. One has fallen after he left and another is part way cut through that i doubt will make it. I would highly recommend homeowners in the Villages avoid this fella no matter what the price.

The Tree Barber "Butcher" is a total idiot. Anyone that uses him needs to have their head examined!!! He is very high pressure a very fast talker and when you ask him to write a contract up he WILL NOT DO THAT!! Any honorable contractor will write up a contract, he is not honorable! His card and his magnet on the side of his truck state he is Lic and Bonded but when you look it up you can't find it, so if you allow this goof to do work and he is injured on your property he can sue you so beware. Ask him to see his paperwork for his license and bond proof. He is a scammer and would Love cash or a check written out to his wife. When you tell him you do not want his services that is where he really goes off. He started with name calling and insulting me. PLEASE if you see him tell him to get off of your property and never come back!!! If he will not leave call 911.

[Bryan]

Solicitation in The Villages is not allowed BUT enforcement is up to each homeowner. No one can keep these "people" off the public roads but homeowners can keep them off their property. To cut to the chase, if Villagers WOULD NOT BUY goods or services from door-to-door solicitors like this 'butcher', they would quit coming to The Villages. As long as you continue to buy, they will continue to come and cause problems as described in previous posts.

[Jmattioli]

Update - The Tree Barber came around doing my neighbors tree and i went over to warn her. One of the branches he did on my palm was still hanging half cut from last visit . I told him and he said he would make it good. ha. He took care of it and wanted to cut some pods for more money he missed the last time. I said no. Just take away the branch you half cut last time. He rings the door bell and said he did the pods for nothing and a few other branches that needed doing to make things right but wanted money to carry it off. I refused because i specifically told him not to. Later i notice he cut another branch in half while doing the pods without my permission. You can't even trust this guy to make things right without doing more damage. Double beware.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by mhorsman

The Tree Barber "Butcher" is a total idiot. Anyone that uses him needs to have their head examined!!! He is very high pressure a very fast talker and when you ask him to write a contract up he WILL NOT DO THAT!! Any honorable contractor will write up a contract, he is not honorable! His card and his magnet on the side of his truck state he is Lic and Bonded but when you look it up you can't find it, so if you allow this goof to do work and he is injured on your property he can sue you so beware. Ask him to see his paperwork for his license and bond proof. He is a scammer and would Love cash or a check written out to his wife. When you tell him you do not want his services that is where he really goes off. He started with name calling and insulting me. PLEASE if you see him tell him to get off of your property and never come back!!! If he will not leave call 911.

Just don't answer the door or say no thank you. Why all this interchange?


Just hire those who have been properly vetted and who you invite to come and see you.

[virgind]

Well a hurricane cut is leaving 5 palm fronds at the top so if that is what you asked him to do he did it right. I use to live in the Keys and that is a hurricane cut. Be careful what you ask for.

[Jima64]

Some homeowners are looking for the deals and low prices and are the cause of their problems.

[Taltarzac725]

Palm trees: The myths about hurricane haircuts

This guy sounds familiar and he is a fast talker.

[VillagerNut]

The Villages has a no solicitation role. Even when I call community standards who is supposed to be taking care of these problems they will not come over and tell the tree Barber or anybody else like that to stop soliciting. It is a shame that we even have community standards because they do not do anything to maintain the standards here. But once again if you did not call the people to your house I don't care what they tell you do not buy or use their services!

[jazzy48]

Thank you so much for this information on The Tree Barber! I had kept his card in case I needed a new trimmer, which is currently the case, but it's now going in the trash!

[perkfarm]

I was wondering if others had had problems with the Tree Barber. He was deceptive in his pricing with me. He gave me a price to trim some palms, but after he was done, he wanted more to carry the branches away. I was angry with myself for not clarifying that before he did the job. About 20 minutes after he left, he came back and said he lost my check. He wanted a 2nd check, but I refused until I could go to the bank and get a stop payment on the first check. I would avoid him if you are approached for some tree work.