The one piece of feedback that made me stop topping trees

About 10 years ago, a homeowner in Springfield watched me top a silver maple and just said 'you know that kills the tree slowly, right?' I brushed it off at first, but something stuck with me. I started reading about proper pruning cuts and reduction vs. topping, and now I refuse to top anything over 3 inches diameter. Has anyone else had a client or mentor call them out on something and completely change their methods?

2 comments

2 Comments

ruby_lane29d ago

Oh man, I gotta disagree hard here. Topping is sometimes the only option when you've got a tree jammed up against power lines or a house and you need it gone yesterday.

mason_ward28d ago

Ugh, I get what you're saying but that's not really topping in the right sense. Topping is when you hack the main trunk and leave stubs that rot. What you're describing is more like a hazard removal or crown reduction. Two very different things.