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Here are some items that should be discussed with the general contractor prior to the start of any new construction:

• Discuss what landscaped areas will need to be protected prior to the start so that everyone is aware
• Locate any underground utilities such as irrigation lines and wiring that should be protected
• Locate other important items such as the backflow prevention device and the irrigation controller
• Discuss whether the water will be kept on to protect any existing landscape
• If the water will be off, discuss what options are available to continue irrigating
• Verify that the power will be kept on to the irrigation controller throughout construction
• Address whether sleeves will be installed under any new concrete or asphalt areas for future use
• Ask the general to note the location of any damaged sprinklers, lines, valves and/or wires

Discussing these items with the general contractor prior to the start will definitely save you some money. I don’t know how many times I’ve come on to a site where I have no idea what has been done. As I begin to test some stations I find broken lines and heads everywhere. The controller has been disconnected and there’s no power to it. There’s a new concrete handicap ramp with no sleeves installed underneath, etc., etc. etc.

So to keep it short and simple. Please give us a call before you start! Include your landscape contractor in your meetings. I guarantee you it will save you some money and headaches in the long run.

Topping or hat-racking as it’s also known, is much too common. Even professional landscape contractors have been guilty of this atrocious act. So why would anyone, professional or not, want to top a tree anyway? The main reason is to limit the size of the tree, and there are many legitimate reasons to want to do so. Safety, security, view restoration, and utility line clearance are just a few. However, in most instances topping is not necessary. It’s common because it’s the fastest and easiest way to quickly reduce height, especially for an untrained or inexperienced tree worker. There is one pruning method that can be used to reduce the size of a tree and I’ll discuss that more in detail later. First, let’s cover some of the consequences of topping.

• Damage to Aesthetics: Topped trees are unsightly because the trees are completely defoliated, and only the bare trunk and branches are left. Topping destroys the natural look of the tree, permanently in most instances.The rapidly growing shoots that grow in reaction to the severity of the cuts can also be unsightly.
• Death: Many times severe topping can ultimately result in the death of the tree. Topping leaves large wounds that are susceptible to disease, decay, or insects. You’ve also removed most or all of the foliage, the energy producing portion of the tree, effectively causing starvation. With no canopy the tree is now completely exposed to sun, which can cause shock and potentially lead to death as well.
• Rapid Growth: Occasionally property managers will top a tree heavily thinking they won’t have to prune it again for a few years in an attempt to save money. That actually has the opposite effect. The problem is that because the topping cuts leave large wounds, the tree’s response is to rapidly push new growth known as watersprouts. These sprouts are more numerous, weaker, and tend to grow straight up. In the end you will have to prune sooner rather than later.
• Weak Limbs: Improper pruning cuts can lead to decay. Sometimes that decay can work it’s way into a point on the tree that can cause severe weakening of a large limb. I’ve seen some cases where the decay wasn’t visible until the limb had split off. Watersprouts are also weakly attached and can more easily break than normal growth. Both of these are a serious hazard situation that could potentially injure or even kill someone.
• Monetary Loss: Topping a tree can save money in the short run, but in the long run it can cost much more. If the tree dies there is the cost of removing and replacing the tree. There could be a loss in property value. There is the potential cost of liability if a weak limb were to break and cause loss of property, or worst yet, life. If the property owner were to choose to perform a crown restoration there is great expense in that as well. Crown restoration can take years to accomplish.

Now there is a way to reduce the height of a tree without topping, it’s known as drop crotching. This pruning method involves removing longer branches down to a smaller lateral branch that can replace it. With this method we can reduce the overall height of the tree while still maintaining it’s natural shape. There are other benefits including less injury and stress. Certain trees with strong central leaders, such as pine trees may not be conducive to drop crotching because of their growth pattern and shape. In these cases it’s probably best to remove the tree and replace it with something that will stay below the required height.

As usual, prevention is the best medicine and planting the appropriate tree for that location to begin with would solve most problems. For example, never plant a tree that will grow 60+ feet tall under power lines! Keep trees with large destructive roots, such as a Ficus, away from buildings, walls, and sidewalks. Don’t plant any type of tree or shrub right up against a fence where security might be an issue. I think you get the point. Most people just don’t take the time to stop and look up before they plant. Always take into consideration the mature size of the tree and how that will impact it’s location before planting.

With worsening economic times, I predict that I’ll be seeing more and more hat-racking. As companies look to save some money, they’ll either be hiring contractors that are less than qualified, or prune more heavily to feel that they got their money’s worth. I hope that I am wrong. In the meantime I am doing my part to educate my customers and those around me. As property managers, you can help by ensuring that you’re hiring licensed, professional contractors that understand the ramifications of topping.