When trees grow too tall, they may threaten overhanging utility lines or other infrastructure. You might consider making a significant cut using a technique called tree topping that quickly reduces the canopy’s height. But just what is tree topping, and can it be done without harming the plant’s health? Experts offering tree services in West Bloomfield, MI, can explain the tree topping risks and why you should avoid using this technique.
How Topping Works on a Tall Tree
When a tree grows too tall, the upper branches in the canopy may interfere with nearby infrastructure. Tree topping involves cutting these upper branches in one step to reduce the plant’s height.
Utility companies might use this technique on trees in the right-of-way to protect their overhead lines. Even though topping is a fast option to shorten a tall tree, the long-term damage from topping cuts can be significant. It affects the health and aesthetics of the tree, meaning you should try to avoid using it on your trees at all costs.
Why Topping Could Kill Your Tree
So, what is tree topping, and why does it put your tree’s health at risk? Weak regrowth after topping is a common problem. As the tree tries to produce new sprouts and branches at the site of the primary cut, the regrowth will be weaker than the original growth. Windstorms could break these weak branches.
If the topping process removes too much of the tree’s canopy at once, the plant may go into shock. It might not have enough leaves to produce energy through photosynthesis. Eventually, the tree will die. One quick topping cut could give insects and diseases an avenue to infest the tree, which can be fatal.
Even if the original topping cut doesn’t kill the tree, it will almost certainly weaken it. Repeated topping cuts in future years will create additional weakness that eventually will kill the tree.
Tree Topping Alternatives That Keep Trees Safe
Rather than topping the tree, a safer alternative is using pruning techniques to progressively remove the unwanted height and growth. Tree care experts can recommend a schedule for thinning the canopy and reducing the height while allowing the tree to continue to thrive.
This process requires making the necessary cuts in small increments spread throughout the year. This technique gives the tree time to recover from each pruning session, helping it maintain its health throughout the process.
Skip Tree Topping and Let JCS Tree Care Professionals Safely Prune Your Trees
If you have a tree that has grown too tall, stop asking yourself, “What is tree topping, and should I use it?” Instead, contact JCS Tree Care Professionals for advice on how to safely manage the growth with alternatives to tree topping.
Our team can explain our tree trimming vs. pruning guide, which should prevent the harmful effects of topping. Our tree care experts will manage your tree’s growth to protect your property and utility lines without harming the tree. For a free cost estimate for any of our services, call us today at (248) 965-9035.
