Read some old pruning manuals from the 50s and realized how much we've changed

I was looking through some old books my mentor left me, and one from 1954 talked about topping trees like it was no big deal. Said it was standard practice for reducing wind damage. I mean, we know now that's basically tree murder. Kinda wild how much the science has shifted in just a few decades. Anyone else run across old tree care advice that makes you cringe?

2 comments

2 Comments

hayden_rivera22d ago

Wait, did they seriously just say "yeah go ahead and lop the top off that oak, it'll be fine"? I've definitely made my share of pruning mistakes (my first attempt at shaping a young maple looked like a toddler with a chainsaw did it) but at least I knew better than to go full 50s arborist on a tree. It's funny how we look back at stuff they thought was genius and just cringe, right? Makes you wonder what future tree nerds will shake their heads at us for doing today.

jessica_miller22d ago

@hayden_rivera what's the worst pruning advice you see people still follow today?