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Overgrown Trees Blocking Light and Views
in Springfield, IL
Many homes in older Springfield areas like Laurel Hill and Grandview Drive have large shade trees that made sense when they were young. Decades later those trees have grown into dense canopies that block sunlight from reaching lawns, gardens, and in some cases solar panels. Grass thins out, gardens stop producing, and the shaded side of the house stays damp.
Quick Answer
Large trees in established Springfield neighborhoods often grow dense enough to shade out grass and gardens underneath them. Thinning the canopy lets more light through without removing the tree. A trimmer removes specific interior branches to open up the canopy. This is not the same as topping and it does not harm the tree when done correctly.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Grass under the tree is thin, patchy, or completely bare
- Garden beds near the tree are producing less than they used to
- The shaded side of the house or fence has persistent moss or mildew
- A solar panel array is shaded for several hours a day by the canopy
- Neighbors have raised concerns about loss of light to their yard
Root Causes
What Causes Overgrown Trees Blocking Light and Views?
Natural Canopy Density With Age
Trees in Springfield's fertile soils thicken their canopies significantly once they pass 30 years old. Interior branches fill in and the canopy becomes dense enough to block 80 to 90 percent of direct sunlight from reaching the ground below.
The Fix
Crown Thinning
A trimmer selectively removes interior and crossing branches to open up the canopy without changing the tree's overall size or shape. Light levels under the tree can improve significantly with a single proper thinning.
Lateral Spread Into Neighboring Space
Without trimming, outer branches extend outward at roughly 1 to 2 feet per year. Trees on property lines in dense Springfield neighborhoods can have half their canopy extending over a neighbor's yard within 10 to 15 years of planting.
The Fix
Crown Raising and Lateral Pruning
Lower limbs are raised to allow light under the canopy and outer branches are pulled back to the property line. This needs to be done carefully to avoid leaving large wounds that invite decay.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Natural Canopy Density With Age | Lateral Spread Into Neighboring Space |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn under the tree has gone from healthy to bare over several years | ||
| Canopy extends well past the property line into the neighbor's yard | ||
| The interior of the canopy looks solid and dense with very little sky visible through it | ||
| Outer branch tips are overhanging a fence, driveway, or neighboring structure |
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