TIL most people think topping a tree is a good way to control its size

I just did a job in Springfield where the homeowner was mad because his topped maple grew back even thicker. He said the last guy told him it was the only way to keep it from hitting the roof. I had to explain that topping is just bad tree care. It creates a ton of weak, fast-growing shoots that are more likely to break. It also stresses the tree and opens it up to disease. A proper crown reduction or thinning would have cost about the same and kept the tree healthy. I see this at least once a month. How do we get people to stop asking for this?

2 comments

2 Comments

brian8659d ago

Springfield is a classic example. Do you find it's mostly older homeowners who get this bad advice, or is it pretty even across all age groups? I'm trying to figure out where the wrong idea keeps coming from in the first place.

jamie_taylor9d ago

Yeah that's a tough one. I show them pictures of topped trees a few years later, all spindly and messed up. Usually gets the point across better than just telling them.