It happens every year. Some person decides one of the trees in the yard has overgrown its space and something has to be done. All too often what gets done is the tree is topped or has the majority of its canopy removed.
Topping removes the majority of the tree's canopy and affects the tree's food supply. Removing a large portion of the canopy removes most of the tree's leaves. These leaves are needed to manufacture enough food for branches, trunks, and roots. If you reduce the number of leaves, you reduce the amount of food the tree can generate to support itself.
Topping also removes existing buds that would ordinarily produce normal branches. Instead, topping stimulates the re-growth of dense, upright branches just below the pruning cut. These new shoots, sometimes called "suckers" or "water sprouts," are not as sound as the natural branches. They are succulent, and the high density of the branches traps moisture and makes conditions more favorable for diseases.
Large branch stubs left from topping never wall off decay or have new growth seal over the cavity. This leaves the stubs vulnerable to continuous insect invasion and decay. Once decay has begun in a branch stub, it may spread into the main trunk, killing the tree.
Topping disfigures the tree. Unsightly branch stubs, conspicuous pruning cuts and a witches-broom-like branch growth replace its natural beauty.
If you're concerned a tree in your yard is outgrowing its space, talk with us at the county Extension office. We have publications that you may find helpful.
Or talk with an arborist about your problem. If you are concerned with branches extending over your house, check the health of the branch. Is it dying back from the tips?
Are there many water sprouts or upward growing branches on the limb? If there are signs of problems, prune all the way back to the trunk, lighten the load on the branch by pruning off some limbs on the branch or look into cabling the branch to the main trunk to reduce the weight load. Topping or stubbing off the branches is never the answer.
