What is tree topping? Tree topping is removing the tops of trees completely/and or only removing the topmost branches from the main stem of the tree. It is usually done for safety measures, but rarely for aesthetic appeal – sometimes people prefer a yard with less shade or a particular shape of a shade. Unless you absolutely need to top a tree for safety measures, it’s generally not recommended, as it is not healthy for the tree.

How Is Tree Topping Harmful for the Tree?

Remember that when you cut the tree’s tops, you are not just cutting off the branches – you are cutting off what is on those branches as well, including, but not limited to: leaves, fruit, and any shelter for the wildlife (birds’ nests, etc). Cutting the branches leads to less leaves on a tree, leading to a depletion in the tree’s ability to photosynthesize.

Without being able to convert the sun’s energy into its own, the tree is less likely to survive – even if it does, it will bear less fruit or smaller fruits due to its lacks of energy. Trees do die out because of lack of leaves, and they also decay, becoming mores susceptible to breakage as they die – this defeats the whole purpose of tree topping, in the first place – a rotten tree is more likely to fall, potentially causing damage to your home.

The other downside to topping trees is that cutting trees leaves open wounds for the tree, making the tree more susceptible to invasions by pests or fungi. These invasions lead to infections for the tree, accelerating the process by which it rots away and dies. Again, a weak tree is more likely to fall down – maybe on your house or other valuables.

Although topping the tree may make for a more visually appealing style for a while, the tree will grow back if it survives – and the tree will grow new branches like a broom in order to compensate for the fact that it lost some of them before, making the tree ugly in the longer term. Unless you plan to top the same trees over and over again, it’s really not worth the effort.

Remember: if a rotten tree falls on your neighbors’ properties, they can sue you for the damage, and most likely will win the claim – because your tree was rotten and you failed to take proper precautions to protect the property around it. So be careful to monitor the health of the trees when you decide to top them.

Additional Help

If you feel like you need professional advice on topping trees, TalkLocal can connect you with up to three tree service professionals in your area. Let us save you the hassle of searching for the right professional.

This entry was originally posted on Friday, March 22nd, 2013 at 10:00 pm and is filed under Tree Removal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.