View Messages

Return to Pruning

Cut Down or Prune (CA)

[Post a Follow Up] [Post to this category]
From: Jim Hook City: GRASS VALLEY, CA
PG&E has crews going all over Northern California removing or trimming trees that could fall onto power lines and start a wildfire. I have a healthy, beautiful 3-trunk black oak that they want to cut down. A potential alternative to make it not a hazard to the power lines would be to cut the top 15 ft off of all three trunks, about 1/3rd of their height. Is that better for the tree than cutting it down completely or will that eventually kill it anyway?
	Extension Message From: Jay Hayek Extension Specialist, Forestry Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences jhayek@illinois.edu
Hi Jim: Topping is not a practice endorsed by the International Society of Arboriculture. https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Why%20Topping%20Hurts_0321.pdf With that said, I would strongly encourage you to contact a local and respected certified arborist in your area who is willing to provide you with an independent, third-party opinion regarding your options with this black oak! Best of luck!
[Post a Follow Up] [Post to this category]