top of page

ABOUT

BIG TREES

A Family Tradition

Since 1979

I guess you could say the idea of spading large trees fell into the lap of my Grandparent's.  Being a 4th generation tree man, I'm always amazed at what started out as an idea has become such a well respected and established business, not just in the Kansas City area but the entire Midwest.

 

A gentleman walked into the office one day in the fall of 1979 and had mentioned he went to Milburn Golf Club to see if they would be interested in going in on a tree spading business.  Dan Cook, the Superintendent of Milburn's Golf Course at the time was not interested but mention that Shawnee Mission Tree Service might be considering they were already established in that industry.  Shawnee Mission Tree Service at the time was the name of my Grandpa's Company which would then become what is now two companies, Instant Shade and Arbormasters.  So, after looking over a few brochures (Keep in mind there was no YouTube or Google back then) my grandparent's crunched some numbers and entered into a partnership with another gentlemen who would eventually be bought out.  In the fall of 1980 my Great Grandpa Joe literally saw the first tree moved into my grandparents yard with The Big John Tree Spade and then passed away later that night.  The next major project was relocating trees to Milburn Golf Club of whom we still do business with to this very day.  

 

 

You see, what I've realized over the years is that I'm not so passionate about just planting a tree.  I'm more passionate about planting a memory.  I always drive around town and point out the trees my Grandpa, Father, Uncle and I have transplanted to my wife and children.  I've come to understand that I'm in the memory making business and man is that fulfilling!  So now I'm proud to announce the rebirth of our Hand-planting services as well as our large tree spading operation.  We are truly going to get back to what we are best at and that's specializing in tree transplanting from 1 to 10 inches in diameter.  We are getting back to our passion and looking forward to planting more memories all over Kansas City and beyond.

 

TreeHaw!

 

Dustin Keith

bottom of page