Professional pruning of trees compromises tree health reducing photosynthetic capability and inflicting wounds but it has been shown that removing 10% of the capacity has no significant effect and up to 25% reduction will result in reduction in growth and vitality, but the tree will regain vigour in time
Tree topping is not professional tree pruning!
The topping of trees to an arbitrary height without having regard to branch habit, form or aesthetics can cause:
- Decay – dieback of stubs, branches.
- Weakly attached sprouts
- Dense shading of understory plants
- Tree stress – due to decay and stability problems
- Tree starvation
- Branch failure – all growth can be channeled into remaining branches – structural stress
- Wind damage – sprouts breaking of in high winds
- Tree failure – this means it dies – some trees don’t survive topping
Topping is an unacceptable practice and can lead to the future failure of the tree – this applies to small trees as well as large ones. Arborists play a role in making compromises between tree health and societal functions and it is our job to ensure that we speak for the health of the tree by providing the best research based information available.
That is why we don’t top trees!
And neither should you but let us come and give you advice on what to do to achieve the same outcome for you.