if you can figure out how to harm it.. let us know..

i presume you are simply lifting the canopy ????

no topping .. no haircut ... do it right...

do you know about branch collars and how to properly prune ...

ask the manager.. whats the worse that can happen.. it dies??? ... his dream anyway .. lol

ken

Tree is too far along in chronological (as opposed to seasonal) development to cut half of it away. If you aren't sure how to handle it and somebody else wants to cut it down anyway the most respectful thing might be to take it out.

Death Before Torture! (PlantAmnesty)

I'm not familiar with pruning terminology... by "lifting the canopy" and "no haircut" I'm assuming you mean cutting lower branches close to the trunk and generally leaving smaller twigs alone. That's the plan, anyway.

I am certainly no expert in pruning, but I know a few basics... 45 degree angles are ideal, all dead wood goes, crossed branches should be eliminated especially if there is rubbing. There's so little about this thing's growth habit that is healthy, I can only aim toward good health; there's no way I can hit the target!

I'm not familiar with branch collars, however a quick search looks like it's the wrinkle where the branch and trunk meet and preserving it limits potential infection/infestation into the trunk.
I normally just think of it as exposing as little "flesh" as possible by making cuts 90 degrees to the branch. I suppose it's possible to cut into the collar that way, but it doesn't look likely.

bboy-I have no specific intention to torture any living thing! I can assure you that at 7 months pregnant, I can do nowhere near the damage a man with a bobcat and chain would do!

I did decide to give pruning a try. Removing a quarter to third of the visual mass has given about three feet of clearance above the soil. Hopefully drivers in that area will be able to see each other well enough that I do not need to take more out this year.

bboy was pulling your leg ..

just do it..

as i said.. if you fail .. the manager gets what he wants ...

do follow up.. and rub off any sprouts that pop up on the cuts for the rest of the year..

ken

It's done, for now. The baby said she had had enough!

I did have the thought that if I tortured it before we pulled it out, it would sap the energy from the roots and would be less likely to re-sprout. Would be an unfortunate benefit, not intentionally inflicted though. I'd rather mow over the suckers for a few years. (My membership in the bleeding hearts club is what earned me the responsibility for dealing with the tree to begin with)

Ever look at a bush or tree after trimming and think "it just LOOKS happier"?... this thing may as well get up and dance now that it's had the weight lifted from underneath.