Whilst you did the best you could for drop crotching, that tree is a POS now ... you know that. As arbo's we see things in 5 to 10 years time and know what's likely
... please recommend to your friend it adjoins the London Plane log on that truck.
Now those small dia branches will try to assume apical dominance, they're going to do it so much better than the original piece that was cut off.
You could perhaps support him to prosecute the original lopper idiots that stuffed it. Some distinctive breaches of AS4373, I wonder, did they make your friend aware of the consequences of spur climbing and topping or just dive in for the cash? Obviously they didn't consider walking away if in fact your friend was adamant.
Funny how it happens all around us. Funny how often your advice comes after the bad work.
Maybe if people got off there "free advice" and "free quotes" bargains they might get some real healthy factual and scientifically bonfied advice ... not ole Joe spitting thru his missing teeth saying "yeah love, we'll cut'r in alf for ya, they'll bush up real good".
