In addition, it reduces property values by 10 to 20 percent. Although topping trees is a common practice in many communities, it is not a professional method for pruning trees. Tree topping is the clumsy cutting back of the top of a tree to stubs, leaving lateral branches that are not large enough to assume the role of treetop or terminus of the tree s growth. Topped trees create a hazard in the landscape because the branch stubs decay and break. It is done to improve views, avoid power lines, keep a large growing tree contained within a small space, and other reasons. Removing the primary terminal bud is never a good idea in any fir, pine, cypress or. This article explains why topping is not an acceptable pruning technique. Tree topping is usually done to improve a view or to stop trees growing into power lines. Yet, despite more than 25 years of literature and seminars explaining its harmful effects, topping remains a. Topping removes the leafbearing crown of a tree triggering a survival mechanism in most trees forcing the rapid growth a new crop of leaves that have to be pruned more often.
Why topping hurts trees topping is perhaps the most harmful tree pruning practice known. Ironically, many people top their trees because they think it will make them safer. Dont top trees the washington state department of natural resources dnr is happy to provide you with information and resources to. Although forest trees grow quite well with only natures pruning, landscape trees require a higher level of care to maintain their structural integrity and aesthetics.
Yet, despite more than 25 years of literature and seminars explaining its harmful effects, topping remains a common practice. Climbing spikes can damage trees, and their use should be limited to trees that are being removed. No properly trained arborist will tree top, and no arborist will recommend it. Why topping hurts trees learn why topping is not an acceptable pruning technique and discover recommended alternatives. If seeing is believing, then many people must believe that topping trees is an acceptable pruning practice. Topping, heading, tipping or roundingover all refer to the practice of cutting off branches or trunks without consideration, leaving stubs where branches once grew. Dont turn your tree into a legal, aesthetic and financial liability. Research has shown that topping or heading back trees creates more problems than it solves. Topping trees is harmful horticulture and home pest news. Often times in such scenarios, tree topping may be your only alternative for repairing the tree. And with topped tree s there is potential liability. Jan 10, 2018 tree topping 4 reasons why you should not top trees topping trees is an overused, crude pruning strategy where the arborist cuts all the major branches such that blunt ends are left without any secondary branches left to assume the dominance. Other names for this malpractice include stubbing, heading, heading back, stubbingoff, tipping hatracking, topping off, dehorning, lopping, or roundover.
The difference between topping and crown reduction pruning. Tree topping basically is an activity, where a top of the tree is cut. Topping opens the tree up to an invasion of rotting organisms. Topping is not an acceptable pruning method and should rarely or never be used. It is the unacceptable pruning practice of reducing the height or spread of a. This brochure explains why topping is not an acceptable pruning technique and offers better alternatives. Why tree topping can hurt your trees tree care tips. According to the tree care industry association tcia, some homeowners and even some arborists believe this practice can stimulate tree growth, manage the size of a tree and minimize pruning costs. Most people like to have trees trimmed in the summer which can heard the tree. In short, topping by any name is the worst thing to do to the health of a tree. Topping stresses trees topping often removes 50 to 100 percent of the leafbearing crown of. Pruning mature trees understand the pruning needs of mature trees and the proper pruning techniques for their care. Topping is also known as stubbing, dehorning, heading back, and lopping. A practice to avoid washington state university extension fact sheet fs061e tree topping is the practice of cutting off the entire top of a tree.
Tree topping can be detrimental to the health and aesthetic of the tree, and harder on your wallet. The difference between topping and crown reduction pruning john eisenhower, isa certified arborist we52a integrity tree service, inc. Yet, despite more than 25 years of literature and seminars explaining its harmful effects, topping. Dont top trees, washington state department of natural resources. Topping is cutting branches back to stubs or lateral branches not large enough to sustain the remaining branch. Tree topping is the practice of removing whole tops of trees or large branches andor trunks from the tops of trees, leaving stubs or lateral branches that are too small to assume the role of a terminal leader. But the main concerns with tree topping are not aesthetics, but tree health, public safety, and costs to the homeowner. Topping techniques can be bad for trees, homeowners angies. Trees require a large leaf surface area to provide food for maintenance and growth. You could say this is one of the most harmful, yet common practices known. Forest releaf of missouri administers the campaign, providing expertise in media relations, fundraising, grants. Some trees are planted in areas with no room to grow or have become much larger than expected. Topping is perhaps the most harmful tree pruning practice known. Urban forestry topping guidlines city of spokane, washington.
Topping, also known as heading, tipping or rounding over, is the indiscriminate cutting of tree branches to stubs. Normally, a tree will wall off, or compartmentalize, the decaying tissues, but few trees can defend the multiple severe wounds caused by topping. Jan 08, 2012 the exposed wood tissues begin to decay. The national arbor day foundation arborcare library eight good reasons why not to top trees. Healthy, wellmaintained trees can add 10 to 20 percent to the value of a property. Gardenality is a gardeningcentric site made by gardeners for gardeners with tools that enhance any gardening for the expert to the weekend gardener. The decay organisms are given a free path to move down through the branches.
Disfigured, topped trees are considered an impending expense. Our expert amy dismukes says topping trees is not a good idea. Pruning is the most common tree maintenance procedure. It has been accepted for inclusion in forestry, trees, and timber by an authorized administrator of trace. Tree topping is a harmful practice tree topping is the practice of severely cutting back branches in order to reduce a trees height, as seen in figure 1. In many cities, topping is banned because of the public safety factor and the potential for lawsuits. Recommended citation sp549 tree topping hurts trees, the university of tennessee agricultural extension service, sp 54915m1199.
We all know the importance of trees and the benefits that they can bring to the earth. A topped tree will sprout back higher and bushier than the original size. When i was in hawaii working for companies that topped trees i remember customers asking me if it was necessary to be so drastic with the trees. What is less obvious is the small things we are doing to harm trees.
Primary reasons for tree topping appear when the tree grows too large posing a risk to life or property. Center for urban horticulture, university of washington. Topping is a high maintenance pruning practice, and there are some hidden costs of topping. Topping a tree seriously affects its health and value in the landscape. Yet, despite more than 25 years of literature and seminars. Sep 14, 2017 tree topping basically is an activity, where a top of the tree is cut. Topping is also referred to as heading, stubbing, or dehorning. Tree topping is the clumsy cutting back of the top of a tree to stubs, leaving lateral branches that are not large enough to assume the role of treetop or terminus of the tree s. Tree topping may seem like a good idea to control the height of your trees. Tree topping hurts trees tree topping is bad for your trees gardening information from oregon state university extension the anti treetopping page dont let this happen to your trees. Branches within a trees crown produce thousands of leaves to absorb sunlight. I never felt comfortable topping all of those beautiful trees. Healthy, wellmaintained trees can add 1020% to the value of the property.
Another potential cost of topped trees is the potential liability. Many of which you might think are actually beneficial. Not only is this practice unsightly, but it seriously stresses the tree, putting it at risk for disease and pests shortening its life. There is about 25 to 30 years of literature written on this common mistake explaining the harm effects that could envelop the tree, yet many continue to top trees, or request us to top trees. The tree is sheared like a hedge and the main branches are cut to stubs. Why topping hurts trees tree climbers tree services. Heres what topping a tree means and why you shouldnt do it. Tree topping 4 reasons why you should not top trees topping trees is an overused, crude pruning strategy where the arborist cuts all the major branches such that blunt ends are left without any secondary branches left to assume the dominance.
We hope our efforts in the long run will help to change peoples perceptions and behavior regarding tree care. Topping trees comes in handy in situations in which a tree has undergone severe damage from a natural disaster. Once a tree is topped, it is highly susceptible to disease, decay and insects. Village of pinecrest why topping hurts trees informing the homeowner learn and get informedcindy lerner, you are always home in pinecrest. In other cases, however, it is important to note that the costs that come with tree topping exceed the benefits. Tree topping hurts trees, shortens their lives and creates dangerous trees. Despite the clear guidelines set out in australian standards as4373. Disfigured topped trees are considered an impending expense. Even though most tree care professionals disapprove of topping, it seems to be increasing at an alarming rate. Topping causes immediate injury to the tree and ultimately results in early failure or death of the tree. Topping is an outdated technique for attempting to reduce the size of trees. Tree topping what you need to know before you consider topping a tree tree topping is a common practice, but very injurious to trees. The misguided practice of tree topping also referred to as stubbing, dehorning, pollarding, heading, tipping, hatracking, and rounding over has risen to crisis proportions in recent decades.
Oct 28, 2017 dismantling of some large cedar trees in carmarthen, south west wales. Just like most scientific based practical applications there have been many changes over the past few decades in arboriculture. Topping is a highmaintenance pruning practice, with some hidden costs. It is the unacceptable pruning practice of reducing the height or spread of a tree using heading cuts. Views and power lines are saved at the expense of stubby, unattractive trees. I have read all the comments about topping trees and as a arborist i go to classes and learn about trees and topping is very bad for them, topping opens up the top a aloudes ddecay and mits or bacteria into the vascular or blood stream and can kill the tree. Another possible cost of topped trees is the potential liability.
In some cases all of the leaves and branches are removed, leaving large stubs where branches were cut. Once commonly used in the usa, australia and europe, it is no longer considered an acceptable practice in the industry. Since i no longer work for those companies i can be less evasive and say, no. Topping is the indiscriminate cutting of tree branches to stubs or lateral branches that are not large enough to assume the terminal role. It is a tree trimming technique in which the trimmer cuts off the ends of branches, leaving stubs that look like. May 01, 2009 topping occurs when the vertical stem leader and upper primary limbs scaffold branches on mature trees are cut back to stubs at uniform height. This misguided practice is a threat to the urban forest because it dramatically shortens the lifespan of trees and creates hazardous trees. Tree topping is the practice of removing whole tops of trees or large branches andor trunks. Topping and shaping evergreen trees promotes disastrous growth patterns and is to be avoided. The misguided practice of tree topping also referred to as stubbing, dehorning, pollarding, heading, tipping, hatracking, and rounding over. Leaving a stub maintains an open pathway a free path to move down through the branches.
Topping removes the ends of the branches, often leaving ugly stubs. Jan 17, 2012 topping is perhaps the most harmful tree pruning practice known. I have read all the comments about topping trees and as a arborist i go to classes and learn about trees and topping is very bad for them,topping opens up the top a aloudes ddecay and mits or bacteria into the vascular or blood stream and can kill the tree. Healthy, well maintained trees can add 1020% to the value of a property. Its like having a pituitary tumor, growth hormones are stimulated and bad things happen.
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