Sometimes trees grow too large. Over the course of decades and centuries, a tree can grow too close to the edge of a building or the edge of the property. They can also start to grow in the path of power lines or block street signs. Tree pruning is the best option for the safety of the tree, the surrounding property, and people. But pruning them the wrong way can endanger the tree.

How Does Topping Hurt Trees?

Tree topping was initially popularized as an easy, inexpensive way to trim trees back to size. It involves cutting off the top of the tree to make it shorter or cutting branches down to the main trunk on larger branches. But the procedure hurts the tree in the long-run and can even make the tree dangerous over time.

Topped trees grow new shoots to try and repair the damage.

Trees will try to recoup the growth they lost by forming new buds near the cut edge of branches. Not only do these new growths stress the tree’s system by diverting resources, they are also brittle and vulnerable to easy damage. If a tree was topped because it was too close to power lines or a structure, these new growths can be snapped off during a storm and cause damage.

Topped trees are more likely to decay.

Any bare wood on a tree is vulnerable to rot, disease, or insects that want to burrow in. Topping leaves behind a lot of stumps and damaged wood that can’t protect itself. If a tree company removes just one or two smaller branches, the tree can isolate the damage and continue to thrive. But topping usually targets too many branches or leaves too much area uncovered. There are numerous tree pruning alternatives available that can keep your trees healthy and leave them looking beautiful. Contact our tree service professionals at Schneider Tree Care if you have trees that need to be trimmed back.