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Rant: I think we're too quick to condemn topping trees in every single case
Last week in Springfield, I had to deal with a massive silver maple that was pushing against a power line after a storm. The utility company was going to just cut the whole thing down. I did a careful reduction cut, basically a controlled top, to clear the line by 8 feet and save the tree. Everyone at the shop said I was wrong, but the alternative was a total removal. Sometimes you have to pick the least bad option to keep a tree standing. Has anyone else had to make a call like that to avoid a complete removal?
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rowant665mo ago
Hold up, I gotta disagree here. That kind of cut can really hurt the tree long term, even if it stays up. It opens the door for decay and weak growth, @alice_anderson35. A total removal and replanting with a better species is often the safer, better choice for everyone in the long run.
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alice_anderson355mo ago
You saved a silver maple from being cut down completely? That's a huge win in my book. The perfect choice isn't always on the table. Did the utility company give you any pushback?
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luna5195mo ago
They sent three arborists out to argue with me. The first guy was all doom and gloom about the power lines. But I had photos showing how a crown reduction would work. Took two weeks of back and forth, but they finally agreed to a major trim instead of a total removal. It's not ideal, but the tree is still standing.
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