Overheard a landscaper tell a homeowner to just 'top it' for a better view

I was at a park in Springfield last week and heard a guy giving tree advice. He pointed at a big oak and said topping it would open up the whole yard view. It took me back to my early days, over twenty years ago, when that was a common fix. Now we know it stresses the tree and leads to weak, dangerous growth. It made me think about how much the trade has changed for the better. Do you all find you have to correct this kind of advice more often now?

3 comments

3 Comments

campbell.robin1mo ago

Those new shoots actually grow back weaker and more prone to breaking, which is why storm damage is so common on topped trees lol. Topping also removes too many leaves that the tree needs for food, so it's not just about looks it stresses the whole thing out. A good arborist can thin the crown or remove specific branches to preserve the view without wrecking the tree's structure long term.

laura2112mo ago

Why are we acting like topping is some huge crime? Sometimes a homeowner just wants their view back and that tree is in the way. Those new shoots grow back fast and fill in, so it's not like the tree just dies. Maybe the old way worked fine for what people wanted. Isn't a happy customer with a clear yard better than a perfect tree that blocks everything?

hayes.tara2mo ago

Ugh, my neighbor topped a huge old oak last year for their lake view. Sure, it sprouted a bunch of weird fast-growing branches. Then a big storm hit last month. Those weak new branches just snapped off. One smashed their deck. The tree looks awful now, like a scared kid with bad haircut. Cost them way more to fix the damage than a proper trim would have.