Ethical Dilemma

Haven't a clue where this would best be posted (so, Dave, please feel free to move it to a more appropriate forum). I am a landscape/garden designer and also an arborist. All too frequently clients ask for elements in the design of their landscapes which will, in my opinion, compromise the health of existing trees. When diplomatic suggestion as to the value of maintaining mature trees fails, I feel caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. Yes, home/landowners certainly have the "right" to landscape according to their desires. However, I have a very strong belief that we should do everything possible to maintain desirable trees; especially in areas where developers have clear-cut and concrete has replaced our grand old trees. (Just can't keep my biases out of this.) So, what's the dilemma? How crazy/absurd is it to simply refuse to meet client's wishes? The genesis of this post came today when a client requested a planting of azaelas directly under a 50+ year old oak. When told that the life of the tree would be comprimised by the change in grade, the response was "well..probably not in my lifetime". Well, maybe not, but, what about long term. Any comments appreciated.

How long would the tree survive with the roots smothered? It may not be all that long! Let your client know the facts first and then unfortunately the decision is theirs to make. You can refuse and lose the customers business to someone who doesn't care or you can satisfy the customer and hope to save the next one. Are there any compromises possible that would allow the plantings and not harm the tree? Sometimes a business person has to decide between ethics and paying the bills....if you can afford to turn down the job then do so and explain again why you chose to walk away. Good luck and I hope you can convince the client to save the tree.

Verdesign,

If your opinion is held that strongly, then you walk away from the job. Politely; explaining that in good conscience you cannot the job the way the client wishes. Maybe even recommend another designer.

Note, too, that I said "your opinion." What you presented is not an ethical problem. Ethics are not something that change with circumstances. If this was truly an ethical position on your part, there would be no question about how to proceed.

This message was edited Wednesday, Apr 11th 8:13 AM

Perhaps you could put something in your brochures about how you like to design in an ecofriendly way,preserving the local "green" heritage for future generations.Or along those lines,make it sound really fashionable.
With this client,could you perhaps emphasize the negative aspects of azaleas (I don't know enough about them to know what they are,perhaps they're buggy ?)
In effect he has hired you for your expertise,why buy a dog and bark yourself - perhaps you could remind him of this.Is there anywhere else in the garden the azaleas would be more apprpriate/look better ?
That way you would have a compromise,he gets the azaleas,you get the tree.Perhaps suggest another form of planting for under the tree.

Verdesign... I am a builder/renovator, and consider myself a 'green builder', and thus, I put out upfront my parameters, and eco-interests. I do find occasional conflicts, and sometimes have to walk away from a potential job, explaining as nicely as I can, that I CHOOSE, rather than HAVE TO, to do this work. It has allowed me a great personal freedom. Yes, sometimes the larder gets very lean, but my word-of-mouth referrals continue to increase, and I am far more contented with what I do. I also think I do better work when the client wants (or has) a sense that our plants and our buildings outlive us and are the heritage of future generations. Sometimes, I have to help educate them, not always an easy process, but by and large, I find most people willing to learn, and to look ahead. I don't envy your task, but Buck Up... It's Worth It!!

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Sometimes the "re-framing" of a suggestion will do the trick, like maybe emphasizing how well the tree will set off the azaleas, if they are planted just a bit further out; making it look like an established "estate" garden or "unique"-not just another ordinary plan. When visiting in NJ, it was so evident that the landscaper used the same pattern for everyone's house in my sister's neighborhood (probably told by the owner's to do it). I was happy that my sister did her own and made changes that saved the neighbor's tree on the lot line.

when we moved here 14 years ago my husband put some of the large stones here around the oak trees. not a sign of death yet, have grown to give us almost too much shade! i remember the neighbor then telling us it might kill the trees, but if you look at the old oaks around here (we have some with lateral branches running straight out 60-80 feet), they all ended up with dirt piled up around them, like nature did that to them (north florida, used to be a cow pasture many moons ago. can't plant a whole lot under them, too many roots, but have stuff here and there, pots of blooming plants and stuff i am trying to root. anyway, i think it depends on the kind of trees. just my thoughts.

Verdesign, I think you can only gently suggest. Maybe show another area they can do what they want. It IS a free country. People are allowed to make their own mistakes. They can choose to listen the expert they just hired, or choose not to listen. I would explain , how old you beleive the tree is. I would say that you wouldnt do it if you were in their position.
To walk away , could ruin your reputation, as a bussiness.
It is ethical, that you spoke up. Unfortunately, they have the right to refuse. Maybe stall and give them a little time to think it over. The hundreds of year old Joshua trees here are destroyed , all the time, it breaks my heart. And is illegal by the way. But one, can only do so much.

Thanks for all of your comments. I think the immediate problem has been solved. The day after posting I contacted the client and explained the reasoning behind my reluctance to change the grade around a mature oak. Included in my explanation were both scientific data and my strong belief that we have a responsibility to save trees for future generations. It probably didn't hurt to share the information that we have just spent $500+ to try to save a very old oak on our property and that this was necessary because of previous neglect. The client re-thought the placement of azaelas and accepted my suggestion for a different use of the area around the tree.

Arlene, the amount of abuse a tree will withstand does depend of the species. However, feeder roots for most trees are found in the upper 12 inches of soil. If too many of those roots are destroyed the life of the tree is compromised. Like you, I can look all over town and find mass plantings under trees. The problem is that by the time there are obvious signs of decline it is often too late to save the tree...or, very expensive to do so. It is also true that some trees manage to survive when extensive decay is present if there is sufficent vascular cambium activity.

At any rate, I do thank you for your comments and will avoid this situation in the future by including a statement in my marketing materials regarding my ecological interests as Darius suggested. I have been told that I must have been a tree in a previous life! Perhaps so.

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GREAT to see you solved this immediate problem! Good for you! -darius