Why is topping bad?
A. The practice of “topping” (the indiscriminate cutting of tree branches to stubs or lateral branches that are not large enough to assume the terminal role) is not a proper pruning technique. Topping stresses the tree by reducing leaf surface area, and thus the tree’s ability to produce food. The tree responds by vigorously re-sprouting with weakly attached branches. These branches later become hazards and increase future maintenance costs. Ultimately, topping causes the tree to decline or even die, creates the need for more pruning, and is very unsightly. Professional arborists do not recommend topping because: it is not effective as a crown height reduction method; it is expensive because it must be redone frequently; it is dangerous; and it makes the neighborhood look bad. It only takes a minute to improperly prune or remove a tree and a lifetime to grow one. This is why it is imperative to preserve and properly care for mature trees. Please do not allow your trees to be topped. Fo
