You may be aware that the Shade Tree Commission is concerned about the loss of the tree canopy in Mountain Lakes over the last number of years. Our oldest trees are being cut down to remove diseased trees, to provide more sun for lawns and gardens, to improve visibility to the lakes, or to make room for construction. Rarely are these trees replaced by saplings, which will beneficially later grow into canopy-sized trees.
But the destruction of old trees often does not solve the problems homeowners are trying to resolve. The remaining trees expand reducing the newly acquired sun and visibility. Sometimes suckers develop on trunks blocking lower, previously open areas. Furthermore the property is left with fewer, larger aging trees which, when removed, later generate large gaps in the canopy.
Occasionally, a resident will cut off the last ten or twenty feet of each limb, not realizing that within a few years the trees will bush out to their original sizes or larger.
An alternative solution is to remove a few large limbs from ancient trees. The benefits include fewer cuts inviting disease and rot, fewer suckers for greater visibility, and more sun. This technique is particularly effective for lakeside trees. The trunk of a tree blocks very little view, and a tree offers shade to the house and improves general appearance of the property. Instead of cutting down the tree, the lower large limbs can be removed, providing the same amount of visibility.
With a little understanding and forethought, you can achieve a more naturally and beautifully landscaped property.
From the Home and School Bulletin, Oct 2006
