Branch Manager
Boston’s effort to plant more than 100,000 trees kicks into high gear this summer. That means a lot of work for chief city arborist Greg Mosman, who keeps things green around here.
- LEAF PEEPER: Greg Mosman, suited up for climb time. Photo by Joshua Dalsimer.
1. Budding Interest: Mosman started his career trimming trees in Newton, but that early experience only began to prepare him for his current job. Arborists often have a bachelor’s degree in environmental science (or something closely related), and certification from the Massachusetts Arborists Association. The state exam requires hopefuls to know trees’ Latin names and recognize the various insects and diseases that threaten them.
2. Giving Trees: Got an empty patch of land? You can call the city’s parks department (617-635-4505) and ask for a free tree; if there’s enough space, Mosman’s crew will plant one. Most residents put in for a flowering species, and he tries to accommodate them. Some requests, though, are a little too specific. “Last week a lady asked for an Asian pear tree,” says Mosman, who had to turn her down. “Yeah, that’s not in our repertoire.”
3. Proper Roots: “The buzz phrase in the industry right now is ‘The right species for the right space,’” says Mosman. In Boston, that means planting trees that complement each neighborhood: the Back Bay gets elms, the South End has white-flowering pear trees, and East Boston is lined with lindens. “We’re not going to put a 100-foot-tall sycamore tree on Beacon Hill—not without some complaints,” he says.
4. Less Is More: For a tree guy like Mosman, a big city may seem an odd place to work. But he points out that with fewer trees to tend, each becomes more important. “Out in the Berkshires, it’s not that big a deal to cut down a tree, because there are so many around,” he says. In town the stakes are higher, and each tree requires careful thought. “Around the big brownstones, one tree removal can cost eight G’s.”
5. Once Bitten: Every now and then an arborist has to climb a tree to get a closer look at it. Unfortunately, branch dwellers like squirrels get agitated by visitors and are prone to attack. To avoid confrontation, Mosman starts up a chain saw and holds its body against the tree trunk. The vibrations scare off the critters, clearing the way for him.
6. Bad Seed: Mosman wants to be a lover of all trees, but he admits a dislike for one: the ailanthus, a fast grower that, like a weed, can thrive in unkempt urban areas. They’re omnipresent along fences and in vacant city lots, and are a constant hassle for Mosman’s team. “They’re also known as ‘tree of heaven,’” he says, “but they really suck.”
2. Giving Trees: Got an empty patch of land? You can call the city’s parks department (617-635-4505) and ask for a free tree; if there’s enough space, Mosman’s crew will plant one. Most residents put in for a flowering species, and he tries to accommodate them. Some requests, though, are a little too specific. “Last week a lady asked for an Asian pear tree,” says Mosman, who had to turn her down. “Yeah, that’s not in our repertoire.”
3. Proper Roots: “The buzz phrase in the industry right now is ‘The right species for the right space,’” says Mosman. In Boston, that means planting trees that complement each neighborhood: the Back Bay gets elms, the South End has white-flowering pear trees, and East Boston is lined with lindens. “We’re not going to put a 100-foot-tall sycamore tree on Beacon Hill—not without some complaints,” he says.
4. Less Is More: For a tree guy like Mosman, a big city may seem an odd place to work. But he points out that with fewer trees to tend, each becomes more important. “Out in the Berkshires, it’s not that big a deal to cut down a tree, because there are so many around,” he says. In town the stakes are higher, and each tree requires careful thought. “Around the big brownstones, one tree removal can cost eight G’s.”
5. Once Bitten: Every now and then an arborist has to climb a tree to get a closer look at it. Unfortunately, branch dwellers like squirrels get agitated by visitors and are prone to attack. To avoid confrontation, Mosman starts up a chain saw and holds its body against the tree trunk. The vibrations scare off the critters, clearing the way for him.
6. Bad Seed: Mosman wants to be a lover of all trees, but he admits a dislike for one: the ailanthus, a fast grower that, like a weed, can thrive in unkempt urban areas. They’re omnipresent along fences and in vacant city lots, and are a constant hassle for Mosman’s team. “They’re also known as ‘tree of heaven,’” he says, “but they really suck.”
Originally published in Boston magazine, July 2007
