It’s easy to see and feel the benefits of adding trees to our landscapes. But sometimes these gentle giants can obstruct our views of the other beautiful features surrounding us. If a tree in your yard is a culprit, removing the tree completely may seem necessary but you may very soon regret that decision. Topping the tree, a process in which you remove the entire top of the canopy, also may be tempting. However, tree topping can be very dangerous for the health of the tree especially if too much of the tree is removed a clear leader is not established. This can cause decay and disease.
Luckily you can keep these trees by pruning them for the view you desire, through “vista pruning.” Below we discuss some of these options for how to prune.
Skirting
If your desired view is being blocked by the bottom half of the tree, skirting is recommended. An example of this might be when a tree is blocking your view of the street as you are backing out of the driveway. While this might be a case of obstructing real beauty, this is a very necessary view. Remove no more than one-third of the branches for the safety of the tree.
Thinning
Removing branches throughout the tree to maintain its shape while creating a filtered view is called thinning. To avoid basal shoots from appearing, prune no more than one-fourth of the total branches.
Windowing
If thick foliage is keeping you from your desired view, windowing might be the right option. This involves selectively removing branches so you can look through a tree. This may be the case if you have a window that looks out onto a scenic landscape.