Topping, cutting large branches back to stubs to control a tree's height, is one of the most common DIY and even contractor mistakes we see around Bakersfield.
It looks like a quick fix, but the tree responds by pushing out a burst of weakly attached regrowth from those stub cuts. Those new limbs are far more likely to fail in wind than a properly structured canopy.
The stub cuts themselves are also an open door for decay to move into the trunk, shortening the tree's life even as it looks fuller again within a season or two. Proper crown reduction gets the same height result without either problem.
Has anyone ever suggested topping a tree on your property to deal with height or shade concerns?
#TreePruning #BakersfieldCA
Authentic photo comparing a properly pruned canopy versus an example of topping damage with stub regrowth, if available from past jobs.
Canva text suggestion: "Topping Isn't Pruning." or "Height Control, Done Right."