ray356•27d ago

That time I saw a crew topping a 60 foot oak tree in a neighborhood near Austin

I was driving through a neighborhood near Austin last Wednesday and saw a crew topping a big 60 foot oak tree. They cut all the top branches off flat, like a haircut gone wrong. That tree is going to be a hazard in a few years with all those weak sprouts coming back. I know some homeowners ask for this because they are scared of limbs falling, but it really hurts the tree long term. It stresses the tree out and makes it grow back in a way that breaks easier in storms. I have seen so many trees die or split after being topped like that. Has anyone else had luck convincing a homeowner to just do a proper crown reduction instead?

3 comments

3 Comments

kimmurphy27d ago

Wait, is that what kids are calling 'extreme landscaping' these days? Sounds like they gave that oak a flat top and called it a day.

charles_mitchell27d ago

Nah, I think we're overthinking this one lol. It's just a tree that got a haircut, not the end of the world. People act like every single landscaping choice is some huge statement or trend now. I've seen way worse hack jobs in my neighborhood that actually killed the trees. At least this one is still standing and probably fine.

hannah40027d ago

Charles, did they use a Weedwacker from the 80s on that thing or what? Looks like the tree version of a bad mullet.