Why does topping hurt trees!
Tree topping is poor arboricultural practice.
Tree topping is when indiscriminate branches are removed from the top section of a tree.
Some of the reasons people request tree topping may include a tree that is too big and is creating too much shade, a tree blocking a view, or perhaps a tree that is in the power lines.
There are many potential risks and ongoing costs from this practice.
When a tree has become too big for the space in the garden, removing branches to a specific height without considering the growth points or the behaviour of that tree is unlikely to provide relief for any reasonable length of time. The natural survival response of the tree is to rapidly produce plenty of new shoots. This new growth does not develop in the socket of overlapping wood as it normally does, but attaches to the outermost layers. These shoots can grow rapidly and will be comparatively weak. All the extra growth will then need maintenance in the subsequent years.
Because the flush of new growth initiated by topping is weak, it is prone to breaking, especially in strong winds and heavy rain, and may present a significant safety risk to people and property.
Topping trees is very stressful for the tree. When more than 50% of the leaf-bearing crown is removed, a tree can be temporarily starved, compromising the tree’s ability to recover, causing decline and eventual death. A good understanding of the tree species and their particular growth habit is essential for making decisions regarding how much canopy can be removed.
Topping can lead to decay if multiple cuts are made along lateral branches, leaving large stubs. The tree may struggle to “wall off” the wound site, restricting the healing process. If the tree is unable to heal or “wall off” the wound site, then it’s open for insects and pathogens to access the living tree and cause potentially fatal damage.
Topping a tree’s upper canopy suddenly exposes remaining foliage to high levels of sunlight previously shielded, leaving the foliage scorched and the tissue below the bark sunburnt.
Talk to us about an alternative solution that uses good arboricultural practices and keeps the health of the tree in mind, while achieving the desired result.
Other options may include:
#Crown thinning, where strategic branches are removed to reduce the canopy cover and allow light through, while maintaining the general shape.
#Crown lifting, where the lower canopy is removed. Often used to gain clearance over paths or provide a clear view.
#Reduction, where strategic and directional pruning is used to reduce the size of the canopy. For very large trees, these reductions can be done over several seasons to allow the tree time to recover.
Some types of topping are acceptable practice eg, pollarding, but knowledge of which trees can cope with this type of pruning is critical.