Topping

Hundreds of large trees are topped each year for a variety of reasons. These include safety, aesthetics, reduced shading, and also to stimulate new growth. It has been shown through survey that the average person’s knowledge on tree care is limited. Many people are under the assumption that a topped tree will be safer, or less likely to hurt someone or damage property. A tree that has grown without major root zone disturbances is actually more sturdy than a newly planted tree. It is more important to look for problems such as inclusive bark or frost cracks when attempting to determine the relative safety of the tree or branch.

Aesthetics is another reason why people top their trees. A tree may be blocking the mountain view, shading the garden, or interfering with solar energy collection. However, topping a tree can leave the tree in an unflattering and unattractive state. As a result, the tree never fully returns to its initial natural form.