Travis Paulson
Title: Garden and Tree Services Operations Manager
Years with Sargent’s: 2000-2017 & 2024-present
Education: B.A. in Landscape Design – South Dakota State University
ISA Certified Arborist
MNLA Certified Landscape Professional
MN Commercial Pesticide Applicator
What is your role at Sargent's?
“I am responsible for the overall operations of our Garden and Tree Services Department.”
What sparked your interest in working with trees and landscaping?
“In high school, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do for a career. I did know that I wanted to work outside. I assume this was due to my farming background.
During a career day event, a local landscape designer gave a presentation and that’s when I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in landscaping. I chose to major in Landscape Design which led me to work for Sargent’s during the summer months while I was in college. I eventually earned a Landscape Crew Leader position which I kept for many years before I was offered an opportunity to help build the Garden Services Department at Sargent’s. I began to work closely with property owners to help grow and maintain their landscapes. This was a very rewarding experience for me because it allowed me to see how plants grow and adapt in different site conditions. I also learned how to properly care for many different plants, especially trees. I’ve slowly realized how crucial trees are to our environment and to our overall mental and physical health.”
What do you enjoy most about your job?
“I enjoy the challenge of working outside, even during poor weather. I also like that my responsibilities change with the seasons and that there is rarely a dull moment for me at Sargent’s.”
What’s one of the most rewarding projects or moments you’ve experienced in your role?
“After graduating from college, I slowly realized that I enjoyed working outside with plants more than designing landscape plans on paper. I guess you could say that I still liked to get my hands dirty once in a while.
I would say one of the most rewarding moments that I have experienced at Sargent’s has been helping to grow our Garden Services Department. Many years ago, I was offered an opportunity to help Sargent’s build up this new service. At that time, there was only one part-time employee working in Garden Services at Sargent’s. When that employee left the company, I was offered a full-time position to do what I thought was needed for Sargent’s to offer a professional service that helped our customers care for their properties after the initial installation of their landscape project.
Over a ten-year period, we were able to grow the Garden Services Department to include multiple crews. It was at that time that I chose to leave Sargent’s to work for a company that focused more on tree care. I was gone for eight years until I returned to Sargent’s in 2024 to work in my current role. Our Tree Services Department is still young and was not yet started when I left to work for another company.
It’s been very rewarding for me to return and see both our Garden and Tree Services departments continue to grow, and I’m happy to be a part of their success.”
What trends or changes are you seeing in tree and plant health care right now?
“Large cities are focusing on planting diverse tree species to help prevent the devastating effects of insect and disease issues that has lead to the loss of so many trees. This approach is aimed at limiting the damage that can be caused by any one type of insect or disease.
I am also seeing a rise in proactive plant health care (PHC) programs where customers are investing in the annual health of their plants. This helps prevent health issues instead of treating the plant after it is already declining. I’ve seen a noticeable focus from customers to not use as many broad-spectrum applications of pesticides. Treatments are becoming more targeted to help eliminate unnecessary pesticide runoff from the original application site.
It is also common to see deer grazing almost anywhere within the city limits of Rochester which has made plant selection and protection a very high priority for many customers.”
As a professional, do you have any tips to share about tree or garden care?
- “It is very important to keep your pruning tools sharp and clean. I recommend keeping a can of Lysol spray nearby to disinfect your pruning tools.
- Be extremely cautious when using a chainsaw. I highly recommend hiring a professional tree care company if you think a chainsaw may be needed for a project.
- There is quite a bit of online information about plant and tree care that isn’t reliable. Try using websites that are tied to trusted horticultural institutions such as UMN Extension.
- Weeding your planting beds weekly or at least twice a month will noticeably help alleviate a major surge in weed growth during the growing season. This approach will help eradicate or at least control almost any weed.
- Finally, the most important tip I have is to make sure that trees are planted at the correct depth. Unfortunately, many trees are planted too deep in their pots or are root-bound with circling roots which means that some soil and roots need to be removed from the root ball before being planted. You can look up the “box cutting” method online to help successfully guide your next tree planting project. The goal is to find the main root flare of the tree. Planting the root flare at ground level will help ensure a long and happy life for your tree by preventing girdling roots.”
Outside of work at Sargent’s, what are your hobbies or pastimes?
“I try to spend as much time as possible with my wife and four young children. We go on many outdoor excursions, which usually lead us to a forest or a river. I also enjoy yard work, yard games, and golfing. Many years ago, I told my wife Rachel, “All I want to do is fly kites and launch model rockets.” I still stand by that statement.”
What’s something unique about you that few people know?
“The intramural broomball team that I played on in college won back-to-back championships. I still have the worn-out championship t-shirts to prove it!”
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