4. IT’S DANGEROUS
Topping is the most serious injury you can inflict upon your tree. Severe topping and repeat topping can set up internal columns of rotten wood, the ill effect of which may show up years later in conjunction with a drought or other stress. Ironically, many people top their trees because they think it will make them safer. Topping creates hazardous trees. In many places, topping is banned because of the public safety factor and the potential for lawsuits.
Topping creates a hazardous tree in four ways
5. MAKES YOU LOOK BAD
Topping makes you appear to be a cruel or foolish person. Your friends know you better. But the more your neighbours come to understand topping for what it is, the lower you will fall in their esteem. You may top a tree to create a water view, but you should know that you have some friends and neighbours-who probably won’t say so because they are being tactful-who see a view of a butchered tree with water in the background. However, the true costs of topping are hidden. These include: reduced property value, the expense of removal and replacement if the tree dies, the loss of other trees and shrubs if they succumb to changed light conditions, the risk of liability from weakened branches, and increased future maintenance
Tree Surgeons who suggest trees be topped should be avoided
Topping a tree causes internal rot and will eventually result in a hazardous tree. Topping is the indiscriminate removal of branches and stems that leaves stubs.Often this type of pruning is done at the height of the reach of the tree butcher’s bucket truck.
The alternative is to hire arborists willing to climb.