To top or not to top.

[Mesterh]

Personally I think it is better to fell and replant.If a customer asked my opinion and it couldnt be saved without a proper reduction or thin then I try to encourage them to fell and plant up.

I think its sad sometimes to see a big old tree robbed of its dignity better to put it out of its misery . Not to say I wouldnt top a tree but I do try not to.

 

At the end of the day trees die to make room for new ones.

[Dean Lofthouse]

Self employed domestic market.

 

I would fell simply because you cannot rely on the tree owner to keep their word and maintain the tree.

 

There are too many targets in back gardens to top or dratically reduce trees and create long term weak unions.

[Blakes 7]

I agree that "heavy reductions" are sometimes the right way to go to maintain habitat etc.

But lets be honest, and call a spade a spade, it is topping!

[MattyF]

Personally I think it is better to fell and replant.If a customer asked my opinion and it couldnt be saved without a proper reduction or thin then I try to encourage them to fell and plant up.

I think its sad sometimes to see a big old tree robbed of its dignity better to put it out of its misery . Not to say I wouldnt top a tree but I do try not to.

 

At the end of the day trees die to make room for new ones.

 

Personally i think there is nothing better than seeing a tree that should of died 200 years ago be a hollow 400 year old hulk than oposed to the same old boring standard straight 100 year old or what ever age tree..thats felled and replanted as soon as theres a defect......i would like to add what is a proper reduction,in my eyes it would be what ever is suitable for the given tree wich covers a very wide range of percentages and evan target to be pruned too... as arborists we should no the limitations of the trees we are pruning but evan then mother nature can suprise us... a trees responce to being pruned hard can give a totally regenerated crown in 15 years or less and make an amazing spectacle to be enjoyed by every one.

[Ross Winchester]

Nice job ,well done

[Old Monkey]

Leaning away from the target you say? If it is in a wild area leaning away from a trail, I think I'd just let it be. If it falls or breaks its still great habitat. The topping seems to be purely for the customers case of nerves. If it is in a garden, remove and replace as you guy's trees seem to grow at a good pace.

 

 

I top trees for "view restoration" if there is no good windowing option. I am going to tope two spruce trees on Friday. I told them topping was bad, that I did not like to do it and then asked how low they wanted it.

[Drella]

I see it like this; we can speculate all day long on what we think is --or isn't the right thing to do.

 

So what do you do in a situation like this? You turn to someone who is the authority in such matters.

 

If Dr.Alex Shigo says it's wrong, then don't touch it...

 

thread closed.

[Paul Barton]

Who put you in charge?

 

This is good discussion on a public forum.

[18 stoner]

Who put you in charge?

 

This is good discussion on a public forum.

 

Absolutely!!!

 

I feel its a good thing to see how passionate some people are about tree care......let it run:001_smile:

[MasterBlaster]

Who put you in charge?

 

This is good discussion on a public forum.

 

 

Dr. Alex Shigo.