Posted On June 6th, 2009
Bad Pruning Practices and How to Correct That Unsightly Tree
Posted In: Tree Pruning, Tree Health, Tree and Plant Health
Notice how the limbs abruptly end in a blunt cut: improper pruning.
While out and about making bids on tree service jobs, Martin and I often see evidence of poor pruning practices. These trees not only look bad, but the indiscriminate hacking done to them leaves them vulnerable to rot, fungi, and insects (see previous blog on "How to Prune a Tree Part I).
The only way to fix these limbs and preserve the health of the trees, is to remove the remaining stub entirely. To do this properly, you can see our instructions in blog "How to Prune a Tree Part I," or go to www.treesaregood.org, the educational website of the International Society of Arboriculture. There you will find all sorts of helpful tips and information for maintaining and improving your trees' health and safety.
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I'm so sorry to hear about your tree incident. Weird behavior!
What your neighbor did is called "topping," and every qualified tree expert agrees it's a very dangerous and irresponsible action to perform on a tree. If the tree survives, it reacts in ways that are both unsightly and unhealthy, including sending out lots of suckers. The cuts will not heal properly, leading to dead branches and limbs and allowing fungi and insects into the tree's interior.
When done properly, just 25% of a tree's limbs and branches can be removed healthily (even less for a very mature tree). For trees with a single trunk, such as a Douglas fir, topping is even more dangerous for many reasons.
You might be able to save your tree by having a professional make proper cuts to help the tree heal the wounds. However, if too much has been cut, you would do best to remove the tree and plant another.
Our best wishes to you and your tree!