While you love the trees that surround your home, you also wish you could have a clearer view of the mountains off in the distance. But to get the view you desire, you may think your only option is to get rid of the trees that are in your way. While that may be a possibility, there are also other alternatives you can look at to get an unobstructed view of the mountains. To solve your problem, you can try these possible solutions.
Don't Rely on Topping
When a tree is blocking your view, you may think topping it will be the answer to your problem. However, you'll just be creating new problems for yourself later on. While the immediate result will be a clear view, that won't last long. When trees are topped, they often have rapid regrowth to replace what they lost. Ultimately, the regrowth is denser than what was there originally, and the tree may actually grow back taller as well, putting you back at square one.
Remove the Trees
If you have older trees that appear to be partially or completely dead, tree removal will be the safest and most reasonable option, especially if they are located close to your home. Depending on the size of the tree, its condition, and your skills operating a chain saw while climbing around in a tree, it is usually best if you leave the removing of trees to professionals.
Thinning
If your older trees are still healthy and you just want to do enough to get an unobstructed view of the mountains, a pruning technique known as “thinning” may do the trick. When used, the tree's natural form is retained, since foliage is removed evenly throughout its canopy. If you choose to try this on your own, never remove more than 25% of the tree's total foliage. Otherwise, you'll risk harming the tree and opening it up to various diseases.
Skirting
If when looking at a tree you know that it is the lower branches that are obstructing your view, you can do what is known as skirting. With this pruning method, the tree's lower branches are removed, letting you look under the foliage. A relatively easy pruning technique, it can also retain the tree's natural shape. Should you opt for this, don't remove more than one-third of the tree's total height, or it may die.
Whether you need to remove a tree or simply cut away some branches, you'll soon be able to view the distant mountains and admire their beauty.
