Tree Form - Large Trees and Limited Space - Advantages to Maintaining a Central Leader
Trees come in Two general shapes. Excurrent ( conical shape) and Decurrent (Canopy or Spreading trees) . Homeowners who have limited yard space may want to avoid larger trees and especially large trees with spreading canopies. Spreading trees have the following disadvantages
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They extend over neighbour's properties.
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They often produce too much shade.
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they tend to be more prone to storm damage .
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They extend over houses , sheds and garages and become a hazard .
There are several trees that can be maintained
Several trees species are naturally conical in shape such as Katsura, little leaf linden, Tulip and the conifers (spruce , pine , cedar).
Some large trees are just meant to be Canopy trees such as Honey Locust or Beech trees or Norway Maple (as they get older) so have adequate space for these trees trees if you go this route.
This oak has a defined main central Leader. If possible, maintaining this shape is desired in limited space as compared to the tree below
This Silver Maple is a disaster waiting to happen. It has multiple primary stems (trunks) with no central leader. The spreading trunk limbs will need to be severely cut back before physics takes over (torque) and a large limb comes crashing down on the house. Not to mention there will be a large wound at the base of the tree meaning rot will set in.