Hi Laryssa.

A. Topping is the practice of radically cutting back large branches on mature trees to short stubs. In trees that grow with a single main trunk, it is literally cutting the top off the tree. Topping is generally employed when a tree has outgrown its space and is interfering with utility lines, hanging over rooftops, or making the neighbors shrubmulching.barted Reading Time: 5 mins.

A reduction cut (also called drop-crotching or thinning to a lateral) is a method of pruning used to reduce the height of a tree. When done properly, branches are cut back to a lateral branch at least one-third the diameter of the limb being removed and large enough to outgrow lateral branches directly below.

Jan 29, Smaller branches should be pruned back to three or four buds. If you see any suckers, shoots growing from the base of the tree, remove them. It’s important that you don’t remove all of the temporary branches from the tree. Doing so will make the young tree too top heavy and produce an unattractive “lollipop” shape. Tree topping is exactly what it sounds like. It’s when you cut the top of a tree off, which reduces the tree’s remaining top branches to stumps.

As a result, your tree is left with weak, unstable limbs and a bare, unnatural appearance. Also, your tree is much more prone best way to trim cottonwood tree breaking and may be a risk hazard. Why do people top trees? Here are the biggest reasons people choose to top trees. They want to. Mar 01, Topping a tree is the removal of the top of the central stem of a tree, called the leader, as well as the upper main branches.

They are usually sheared off at a uniform height. The result is an unsightly tree with thin, upright branches called water sprouts at the top.

Topping a tree seriously affects its health and value in the landscape.