Envirothon

Why NOT to top:
starvation
topping removes so much of the tree’s leafy crown that it dangerously reduces the tree’s ability to make food
Why NOT to top:
shock
by removing the protective cover of the tree’s canopy, bark tissue is exposed to direct rays of the sun; this scalding can cause a tree to die
Why NOT to top:
insects and disease
exposed ends of topped limbs are vulnerable to insect invasion or decay fungi species
Why NOT to top:
weak limbs
new branches that form from a stubbed limb are weakly attached and more likely to break from the weight of snow and ice
Why NOT to top:
rapid new growth
instead of controlling height and spread, topping does the opposite; new branches are more numerous and grow higher
Why NOT to top:
tree death
some trees can’t tolerate major limb loss and survive; some grow weak and are prone to disease
Why NOT to top:
ugliness
topped trees are disfigured
Why NOT to top:
cost
hidden costs: lower property value, expense of removal of tree if it dies
Proper Pruning
crown reduction
controls height while keeping form and beauty
Proper Pruning
growth
pruned trees grow slowly and distributes growth more naturally than topped trees
Proper Pruning
is done by
an arborist

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