Topping
Tree Removal Stump Grinding Pruning Land Clearing
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.
Another popular misconception is that a topped tree will benefit from increased light penetration. The removal of a large portion of a trees canopy can have detrimental effects. When a tree is topped, newly formed bark may be susceptible to sun scald. Prolonged exposure can severely damage the bark, thus creating an attractive home for decay causing organisms. Evidence of decay may be the presence of conks (fungal fruiting structures) on the outer tree bark. The loss of leavesreduces a tree’s ability to photosynthesize and produce food. If a large tree is unable to produce enough sugars to feed the roots, it will slowly die from starvation.
Some people have been known to top trees in order to stimulate new growth. When a tree is topped, many adventitious shoots, known as suckers begin to grow from the wound. This is the trees response to the sudden loss of leaves. Although the tree is able to produce an abundance of suckers, they are susceptible to numerous problems. Firstly, this adventitious growth is succulent and susceptible to attacks by insects such as aphids and caterpillars, and pathogens like fire blight (Rosaceae). Secondly, the branch-stubs that the suckers emerge from are rarely able to form a complete callus. This means that any pathogen that attacks a sucker may enter the tree directly though the open wound. If wood begins to rot it could create a weak branch connection between the developing suckers and the main tree leading to a possible branch failure. If a tree is unable to compartmentalize the fungi, it may reach the trunk and ultimately kill the tree.
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.