This isn't a tree, is it? What example of tree abuse can this possibly represent?

Well, this is what happens to oak seedlings along the sides of Highway 113 between Woodland and Davis (in this case on the southbound side, between Willow Slough and County Road 29) when the Caltrans mowers come along.

That's the remains of the flagged stake they mowed down. Thanks for your diligence and care, Caltrans!

Things you can do to a pear with a chainsaw

Nice work on Via Colonna Terrace in Davis, huh? Question: is it a short tree or a really tall stump?

Another South Davis hack job.

You've gotta appreciate the man with the chainsaw who knows nothing about pruning trees--except that those big ol' stubs might come in handy someday to hang something on.

Creative pruning in South Davis

This appears to be a recent pollarding because there's still one lonesome branch on the ground. Misguided, ugly, pointless, disfiguring--is there anything more to say?

Interesting topping

This tree in West Davis has been nipped and snipped and pretty much ruined, for no good reason--unless the homeowner was worried about shading that array of solar panels . . . .

This row of oddly hacked trees is on the east side of a house on Cowell Boulevard in Davis.

My best guess is that there's a chainsaw in the garage and a man that doesn't know how to use a chainsaw in the house.

File this one under either hideous or disfigured.

Here's another 52nd Street tree. After the failure of a single branch, the owner called in someone recommended by a neighbor. The tree was topped by the boob with the chainsaw and now the leaders terminate in hideous tangles of witch's brooms. It's an ugly sight in the summer, but positively grotesque after leaf fall.

Here's a textbook example of unnecessary tree-topping from 52nd Street in Sacramento. Prior to this pointless exercise in maiming, the tree was an attractive specimen--one of the best on a block not well treed.