Topping is an extreme form of pruning a tree that is usually required because tree maintenance and pruning didn’t happen when it was needed as a tree was growing.
Tree topping is precisely what it sounds like — when the top of a tree is cut off. This leaves the tree with a bare, unnatural appearance and unstable limbs.
Perhaps you’ve seen a topped tree before when:
- A tree’s height has interfered with overhead electrical wires.
- Trees were growing too tall near a home.
- Tall trees were topped to prevent them from falling during a storm.
Topping a residential tree is rarely a necessary course of action, and our Johnson City tree specialists do not usually recommend it unless it’s a last resort.
Tree topping can harm a tree in the following ways:
- Leaves are removed, harming the tree’s ability to photosynthesize and produce food.
- Wounds from shortened limbs that remain become breeding grounds for pests and pathogens.
- Trees respond to topping by sprouting new limbs that are weak and susceptible to damage in storms and other extreme conditions.
- New branches originally grow to the original height of the tree, simply starting the cycle all over again.
Misconceptions about topping
Some common misconceptions about topping trees lead some people to believe it’s a beneficial course of action:
Misconception 1: Topping reduces messy, fallen leaves.
No need to top a tree and risk its life for just one season of possible benefit. Besides, new shoots from the topped tree grow in faster and fuller than before, leaving you with even more leaves to deal with.
Misconception 2: Topping will reduce the risk of the tree falling over.
Not all trees that appear to be at risk for falling over are actually at risk. In fact, topping can actually result in an increased risk of a tree falling due to unbalanced weight caused by the topping.
Only certified arborists like ours near Kingsport can positively determine if a tree has undeniable signs of structural weakness that could lead to collapse.
Certified arborists in Kingsport, Johnson City, and Bristol, Tennessee
Topping is a dangerous last resort because it can result in severe stress damage to a tree and can ultimately cause its death. Always consult a certified arborist before topping a tree because topping is dangerous not only to a tree but to the person attempting to do it. Give our ISA-certified arborists at Promier Tree in the Tri-cities area a call at (423) 872-2988 or contact us online today to discuss all your tree needs.