Update: I used to top trees for clearance, then I watched a job in Boise go wrong in 2 seasons
I always figured topping was fine if the customer just wanted the height down, but a guy I work with showed me a maple he topped 3 seasons ago and the regrowth was a mess of weak shoots that split in a windstorm last spring. Now I just tell folks the tree will look worse in 2 years and cost more to fix. Anyone got a good way to explain this to old-timers who still swear by it?