Like a Tree of the Field… 10 Questions for Michael Sugarman

1. How did you get started?

I was a sniper and combat driver for the Israeli military for four years. After that I moved back to the States, got married, and moved to Florida where I did electrical work for a lighting company, operating a bucket truck to fix electric signs and lights. I also worked as a security tech installing CCT and security systems for a couple of years. When I moved back to Baltimore from Florida, I started a landscaping business. But over time I realized there’s a big need for tree removal, especially in the frum community. I decided to specialize, and instead of advertising landscaping, I started advertising that I do tree removal, and it took off. A master arborist I met taught me how to cut trees, and he actually still works for my company now, ten years later.

2. Who else is on staff?

We have a couple of climbers who climb the trees to cut them down. Some of the trees are very tall, so the climbers must be extremely skilled in what they do. You can’t just let a large branch fall from 60 feet in the air, especially if the tree is close to a house. The climbers have to rope them down. We have groundsmen who move the trees around and chip up the wood. They also help guide the climbers when they’re roping down the cut-up branches.

3. Have you ever been injured?

Yes, once, climbing a tree at a customer’s house. I cut myself badly with a chainsaw—I had to go to the ER for stitches. But in general I do well in trees—I’ve been climbing them since I was a kid. Anybody who knows me will tell you I love animals. As a kid, I’d go out and catch cats, dogs, and other small wild animals so I could study them. I remember climbing trees to get to birds and snakes and lizards. I’d even bring them to school with me and teach my class about them. Before I started the landscaping company, I actually had a mobile petting zoo with small animals — turtles, birds, lizards, snakes — and I’d go around to schools and do presentations, and the kids could pet them. I also rescue cats from trees.

4. What’s the most common question you get?

“Is my tree dead?”

5. Have you asked any interesting sheilahs related to tree care or removal?

Our sheilahs are mainly about fruit trees — we ask a local rav about what we can and cannot do to them. We don’t remove any living fruit trees, but we can prune them, because proper pruning can promote growth. A lot of our customers are frum — they come from all over the Baltimore and Pikesville area. But even our non-Jewish clientele is pretty understanding about our restrictions when it comes to fruit trees, it’s never been a problem. It’s mostly homeowners looking to care for trees in their yards — having them pruned or trimmed, and if they’re dead or they don’t want them, removing them. We work with property managers for all types of properties, multi- and single-tenant.