[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

tree topping



TREE TOPPING 1

Topping is the removal of vertical leader stems on large trees and 
usually made between nodes or at internodes.  Tipping is the internodal 
cut on large lateral branches.
No matter how we make the cuts tipping and topping cause serious injury 
to the tree.  A very big misconception is that if we top the tree it will 
be safer.  Topping greatly increases the tree of being a risk of a 
hazard. Topping is the biggest money wasting practice in the world.  It 
also is illegal in some counties in some states.  It is a crime against 
nature.  Topping is a worldwide tree mutilation practice. The main reason 
is that people do not understand how trees function.

Some effected parts of the system are the non-woody roots, the woody 
roots, and many microorganisms within the soil.  The food for the woody 
and non-woody roots come from the top.  Many microorganisms also get 
their food from the tree.  So when the roots begin to starve the demons 
of D enter and cause problems such as wilts, plane tree canker ( 
Ceratocystis fimbriata) and root rots.  Some demons of D, which begin 
with the letter D, are depletion, dysfunction, disruption, decomposition, 
die and death.   Also topping affects the stem because this often leads 
to top rot and long cracks.  Often lightening gets blamed.  What we have 
seen is wounds from topping weaken tissues from the trunk to the roots.  
Then pathogens infect the weakened wood.  In these cases the primary 
pathogen is the person that removed the tree top.  Excessive sprouting is 
a sign of low energy reserves.  When a tree is topped, it stimulates 
excessive sprouting.  Very unsightly, i.e., the sprouts I mean.  Topping 
trees under utility lines causes more sprouts to grow faster.  DO NOT 
PLANT TREES NEAR UTILITY LINES.    

. When a tree needs to be topped, it is time for a new tree.


Call us for other ORGANIC FACT SHEETS on pruning and other tree care 
information.  
-- 
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
John A. Keslick Jr.              If you are not OUTRAGED you're not 
Professional Modern Arborist     paying attention.
& Tree Biologist                  
Phone: 610-696-5353              Support ORGANIC FARMERS.
organic tree treatment web site: 
http://www.ccil.org/~treeman/    
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\