Huntington Beach resident Jeffery Carlton, a certified tree care safety professional for family-owned David’s Tree Service, has been trimming palms since 2009. He often works on 60-foot trees and climbs many of them with just a rope and harness. “If you’re afraid of heights, it ain’t gonna happen,” he says. “Even if you’re not, it’s kind of eerie when you’re up there. It takes a while to get used to it.” Even with the harness, it’s a dangerous job. Carlton once fell out of a 50-foot palm but “landed on my feet, like a cat.” Despite the risks, he loves his job. “I’m really happy in a bucket truck.”

2
Years to learn
the ins and outs
of tree trimming

90
Approximate height
in feet of the tallest
palm he has trimmed

20
Minutes it takes to
trim most palm trees

30
Number of palms
he can trim in a day,
using ropes to climb them

100
Number of palms
he can trim in a day,
using a bucket truck

75
Height in feet of
the company’s
bucket trucks