Tree Topping

Tree topping is the process of removing the whole tops of trees or large branches and trunks from trees leaving lateral branches that are too small to assume the role of terminal leader. Other common names for the same practice include hat racking, heading, rounding over and tipping. Some species of trees are more likely to recover from the effects of topping than others which might need extra care later. It is a scientific process that requires proper knowledge and techniques for care. Hundreds of trees are topped every year in Houston which causes significant stress and handles future safety issues. It has been proven that and average person’s knowledge is limited on tree care. There are some misconceptions related to this procedure as well. The most common one is, people think that a topped tree will have better sunlight penetration for proper growth. However the fact is, removal of large portions of a trees canopy might have detrimental effects as the newly formed bark is quite susceptible to sun scalding. Prolonged exposure can severely damage the bark thus creating an infestation zone for decay causing organisms. Also the sudden loss of leaves substantially reduces the trees ability to photo-synthesize and produce food for its growth. If a large tree is unable to produce enough sugars to feed the roots/stem, the tree will slowly die of starvation.

Hence tree topping is a scientific procedure best left to professionals who know the pros and cons of the process and are tree handling experts. Call ‘Houston Tree Team’ for a free consultation and expert advice about tree topping. Call us @ 832-372-0101 for details.