BYE BYE PICKERING !!!

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

Having decided a week ago to downsize my " Mango Plantation " from 5 trees to 4, I have been trying to work up the energy to cut down my Pickering & pile it at the curb for the garbage collector. At almost eight ( 8 ) foot tall and ten ( 10 ) foot wide, no easy task for a senior citizen, something I was not looking forward to. Then it dawned on me, " Hey Doofus, why not the old Craigslist routine like you've done before ? "
So I gave it a try yesterday, - put an ad in, " Free mango tree, just bring your shovel ! "
Ad was posted at 3 PM yesterday, had a customer lined up by 4:30 PM. He showed up here today at 12 noon, a jovial fellow, much younger, 6 ft tall and built like a Gators linebacker. He worked like a man possessed but had to take more than a few water breaks with the 85 deg heat & humidity, - dug up the Pickering BY HIMSELF,..root ball was HUGE,..wrapped it in a big blue plastic sheet, tied a rope around it, then he & I lifted the ungodly heavy tree into the bed of his small pickup truck !!! He thanked me profusely, and I THANKED HIM, & he drove out my driveway at 1:00 on the dot !!!
All that after he insisted on filling in the huge hole, even raking the dirt ! I was immensely impressed, wished him luck and gave him the last three mango's picked from that tree 2 days ago !! He was happy, - I was happy,...two vey happy people saying goodbye in the sweltering Englewood sun !
Just had to share the story,..more than one way to skin a cat ! ( smile )

Featured Answer

User

10 years ago

I hope it lives. This is not a good time to be transplanting trees. I hope he cuts it back and removes all the fruit before he plants it. Seriously, I don't see that tree making it unless it is cut back drastically.

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Comments (10)

jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a )
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Taken one week ago !
Taken just before filling the hole in & raking. Bye bye Pickering,...a nice tree, you'll be missed !
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writersblock (9b/10a)
10 years ago
I'm really impressed he even filled the hole in. Good thinking, jofus.
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a ) thanked writersblock (9b/10a)
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a )
Original Author
10 years ago
The guy is a tree guy, has spent many years ( he's now 54 yo ) growing & transplanting trees. He called back 2 hours after he left, ( lives only half hr away ) said tree has been re-planted, watered thoroughly and is already perking up & showing signs of life !
puglvr1
10 years ago
Sorry to hear you didn't like the Pickering enough to keep it...But SO happy for you that the tree is gone and you didn't have to do the work :o)...always a great thing!

What a nice guy to clean up too...I hope the tree makes it and does well for him, thanks for sharing your story!!
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a ) thanked puglvr1
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a )
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Writer & Nancy, thanks ! Was originally just thinking how amazing it was that only 22 hrs after the ad was posted, the tree WAS GONE ! And there was no fruit left on the tree, last were all picked a couple of days ago. Also, no gaping hole, a smooth lawn, just some raked up soil, ( using his own rake !!! ) ..nothing for me to do,..nada !

What pleased me most however, was the new owners enthusiasm when he called back, relating how well the tree has responded. He obviously knows his trees but here I was trying to thank him, but could hardly get a word in over the phone as he was so happy ! I also, of course, hope the tree survives, but am now feeling confident it will ! A knowledgeable and energetic new owner. He even asked if I decided to get rid of another mango tree ( he had numerous fruit trees growing, but no mango's till today ) - to please call him first. That won't happen tho,..I hope ! ( smile )
whgille
10 years ago
Jofus, you are a lucky man! and I am glad that you found a nice guy to do the work and even better that he is happy and thankful, what a nice story!

Silvia
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a ) thanked whgille
wanna_run_faster
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Good thinking, Jofus! I have transplanted lots of trees and shrubs at this time of year. As long as there's no major damage to the root ball with the digging and then keep it babied for a while, I actually think they "take" quicker in the spring and summer! He sounds like he knew what he was doing, protecting the rootball and all. I've done similiar...I had a bunch of big old furniture I wanted to get rid of and carried it to the curb with the intention of posting a curb alert but by the time I turned around...the stuff was gone. People do love free! And as long as they have a use for it, more power to them!

Haha, I have some bamboo I might give this a try with!
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a ) thanked wanna_run_faster
jofus, ( Englewood, Fl zone 10a )
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks guys for the positive comments. Yeah Wanna, the 'ol Craigslist thing has always worked for me,,..today made two people happy ! lol
annafl
10 years ago
Good for both of you!!! Such a great story with a happy ending. You both knew what you wanted and went after it with zeal! Both of you finished feeling like you got the best of the deal, and good for what you'd done! Congrats.