My willow trim job ended up lopsided, now I'm torn

I was working on a willow tree last week and took off too much from one side. It looks off now, and I'm worried about its growth. Some arborists say willows grow so quick it'll fix itself in a season. Others argue that bad cuts can cause weak spots later on. What do you all think is the right move after a slip-up like this?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_michael3d ago

Honestly, that "it'll grow back" advice is how people end up with a split trunk during the next big storm. Fast growth often just means weak, poorly attached new branches. Seen it happen where a lopsided trim leads to a huge, heavy limb developing on the thin side, which then just snaps off under its own weight. That uneven structure becomes a permanent weak point. Better to even it out now while you can still guide the shape, instead of hoping for the best.

phoenix783d ago

Yeah, my neighbor's pine did that and took out a fence.

taylorrivera2d ago

Remember when everyone was cutting their maple trees flat on top? My uncle did that, said it looked tidy. Whole thing grew back weird dense twigs that iced over and smashed his shed roof. @the_michael is right about guiding the shape early.