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?

3 comments

3 Comments

rowant663d 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.

alice_anderson355d 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?

luna5195d 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.