This is a common practice with crepe Myrtles called “topping”. Those who do it think it will control the size and promote blooms but it’s actually quite bad for the trees
HighonDoughnuts
Those look to be crepe Myrtle’s. It is done every year to promote the trees to grow heavily on top instead of making new branches towards the bottom of the trunk.
leros
Some people think it’s a proper way to prune those trees. It’s pretty common.
This is called “topping”. I’ve heard some people are under the illusion it induces more flowering. It’s incredibly harmful and should only be done as a last resort for heavily storm-damaged trees.
GstarDaflyesttt
Ignorance. I strongly despise this practice.
ohgirlyoucraycray
I miss John Aielli’s rants about “crape murder” every spring. He really was not a big fan of this practice.
LindeeHilltop
Uneducated. No research.
Pruner does *not* know what they’re doing.
X_Ego_Is_The_Enemy_X
They will be fine.
Pyratess
Crepe murder! I do this to a small one I have growing in my front yard, but that’s because I actually AM trying to kill it… Totally unsuccessful at removing it time after time so now I just resentfully make it into a bush.
sircrispin2nd
This seems to be outside a school and i’ve seen other schools like this. What is it about the landscape crew for districts that do this? Like why plant them in the first place?
dabocx
I hate this practice so much.
I was upset when I went to Washington DC and all the Smithsonian museums had done it as well. You’d think they’d know better
SmugUrbanist
Someone convinced boomers this was what you do with Crepe Myrtles. Same people that probably sold them Saint Augustine grass and ligustrum, too.
When my buddy first bought a house with the trees, his dad told him to do that and he didn’t know any better. He was on tree number 3 by the time I found out and got him to stop.
Competitive-Ship-554
These trees are only good in a wood chipper, replace crepe Myrtles with natives. Also yes cutting trees like that is stupid.
pk-curio
Fake work.
kmardil
Horrible
They-Call-Me-Taylor
My neighbor did this to his mature crepe myrtles a few years ago and they still look terrible. Barely any new growth sprung out from the nubs.
18 Comments
Ghost town!!
This is a common practice with crepe Myrtles called “topping”. Those who do it think it will control the size and promote blooms but it’s actually quite bad for the trees
Those look to be crepe Myrtle’s. It is done every year to promote the trees to grow heavily on top instead of making new branches towards the bottom of the trunk.
Some people think it’s a proper way to prune those trees. It’s pretty common.
https://preview.redd.it/jdcmn1kjjgng1.jpeg?width=1500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=942f763ee3f52b8f69d6ebecfcfc73a1262cff35
Crepe Murder, many such cases.
This is called “topping”. I’ve heard some people are under the illusion it induces more flowering. It’s incredibly harmful and should only be done as a last resort for heavily storm-damaged trees.
Ignorance. I strongly despise this practice.
I miss John Aielli’s rants about “crape murder” every spring. He really was not a big fan of this practice.
Uneducated. No research.
Pruner does *not* know what they’re doing.
They will be fine.
Crepe murder! I do this to a small one I have growing in my front yard, but that’s because I actually AM trying to kill it… Totally unsuccessful at removing it time after time so now I just resentfully make it into a bush.
This seems to be outside a school and i’ve seen other schools like this. What is it about the landscape crew for districts that do this? Like why plant them in the first place?
I hate this practice so much.
I was upset when I went to Washington DC and all the Smithsonian museums had done it as well. You’d think they’d know better
Someone convinced boomers this was what you do with Crepe Myrtles. Same people that probably sold them Saint Augustine grass and ligustrum, too.
When my buddy first bought a house with the trees, his dad told him to do that and he didn’t know any better. He was on tree number 3 by the time I found out and got him to stop.
These trees are only good in a wood chipper, replace crepe Myrtles with natives. Also yes cutting trees like that is stupid.
Fake work.
Horrible
My neighbor did this to his mature crepe myrtles a few years ago and they still look terrible. Barely any new growth sprung out from the nubs.