Tree Huggers LLC

A friendly reminder from PlantAmnesty. There are plenty of ways to improve your view without topping your trees.

We received this photo from a concerned citizen and wanted to remind you why topping trees is not the way to go.

1. It doesn't work - trees have a genetically pre-determined size, they will continue to grow until they hit it. Topping will not make your trees smaller.

2. It's expensive - once you top a tree, you will have to keep topping it to "keep it in its place". Topping creates a "hydra effect" cut of one head, get several more (rinse and repeat).

3. It's ugly.

4. It's dangerous - the new growth that comes from topping is not strong, opens the tree up to decay, removes vital leaves that the tree uses to photosynthsize, makes the tree top heavy and more likely to blow over in a storm.

5. It makes you look bad - You may top a tree to create a water view, but you should know that you have some friends and neighbors-who probably won't say so because they are being tactful-who see a view of a butchered tree with water in the background.

TREES ARE THE VIEW.