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Showerthought: My neighbor said his 'tree guy' just topped his oak to 'let in more light'.
He was genuinely happy with the result, which made me wonder how we explain proper pruning to folks who think that's the answer. Do you have a go-to line for that conversation?
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ellis.hayden6mo ago
That "let in more light" logic is the same reason my barber gives me a buzz cut.
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mason336mo ago
That comparison from @ellis.hayden is funny, but a tree isn't hair that just grows back the same. Topping an oak is a real injury that forces out weak, poorly attached growth. It actually makes the tree less safe and shortens its life. The right way is selective cuts to keep its natural shape, which does let light through. Explaining that it's like major surgery versus careful trimming sometimes gets the point across.
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cameronmurray6mo ago
Yeah, the "major surgery" point is good. People forget that trees can't heal wounds like we do, they just seal them off. That big topping cut is an open door for decay that works its way down through the whole tree over years.
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