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Just realized I've been pruning my maples all wrong after talking to a city forester
He told me 'You're cutting for shape, not for the tree's health' when he saw my work on a big silver maple in Springfield. I always thought a clean look was the goal, but now I'm rethinking every cut I make. How do you guys balance looks with what's best for the tree long term?
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knight.drew6mo ago
Oh man, that "cutting for shape" line is brutal. It's like the tree version of someone telling you you've been folding your laundry wrong for twenty years. Sure, the shirt ends up in the drawer, but you've been making it weirdly pointy this whole time. Looks fine until you realize you've been stressing the seams.
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dakota_gibson7mo ago
That forester's comment about cutting for shape really hits home. I spent years trimming my old oak like a big green sculpture before a neighbor pointed out the weak spots I was creating. It's easy to get focused on the look over the long term structure, especially with a big tree like a silver maple. Finding that balance is tough, but starting with removing dead or crossing branches first helps me stay on track.
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