[8note]

The way people do it is to hammer in a nail that poisons the tree.

The tree dies, and needs to be cut down because it's dangerous to leave standing

[MerelyMortal]

A copper nail, specifically (drill a hole first).

[ska]

Some jurisdiction will make you replace the tree in that case, just to avoid this sort of mechanism.

[userinanother]

Yeah but the tree only has to be that diameter at final size. You can plant a dozen tiny trees too close then let them stunt or choke each other out

[ska]

Some jurisdictions seem to be attempting to counter this sort of thing, and an aspect is: if you can't do it properly, we will, and send you the bill at our chosen rates. And we are going to check.