Why You Should Never “Top” Your Trees in Eastern Missouri

Tree topping, the harmful and outdated practice of cutting large branches or the tops of trees, is still a concern in parts of Eastern Missouri, including St. Louis and St. Charles counties. Although it might seem like an easy way to control tree growth, this method weakens trees and makes them more prone to stress and damage.

In neighborhoods like O’Fallon and Wildwood, where mature trees are valued for their beauty and shade, topping not only destroys their natural shape but also leads to long-term health issues that are difficult to reverse. Moreover, these disfigured trees can negatively impact curb appeal and even lower property values.

Continue reading to learn why ISA-Certified Arborists and professional tree care experts advise against topping trees, and discover better alternatives for managing tree height and shape.

Key Takeaways:

• Tree Topping is Harmful: Topping trees weakens them, making them more vulnerable to pests, diseases, and structural issues.
• Common Misconceptions: People often top trees to control height or reduce shade, but this creates more problems than it solves.
• Legal Restrictions: Many places have banned tree topping due to its negative effects on tree health and safety.
• Better Alternatives Exist: Techniques like crown reduction pruning and tree growth regulators are healthier options for managing tree size.
• Impact on Property Values: Topped trees can lower property values and lead to increased maintenance costs for homeowners.

What Is Tree Topping?

Tree topping is the practice of removing the upper portion of a tree’s main branches (or sometimes all of a tree’s branches), often in an attempt to reduce its height or size. This method involves cutting off large sections of the tree’s crown, leaving behind stubs or lateral branches that are too small to assume the role of a terminal leader. Typically, anywhere from 50% to 100% of the leafy canopy is removed during the topping process.

While some may view this as a quick fix for managing tree growth, it actually causes significant harm. Topping disrupts the tree’s natural growth pattern, leading to weak, unstable limbs and increasing the tree’s susceptibility to diseases, pests, and structural failure.

Although more common before the 1990s, the arboricultural industry has since recognized this practice as outdated, harmful, and dangerous. Today, it’s more frequently performed by well-intentioned homeowners, landscapers who lack specialized tree knowledge, or unqualified individuals offering quick, low-cost tree work at the expense of the tree’s health and longevity.

Why Do People Top Trees?

There are several reasons why people consider tree topping, often based on misconceptions rather than a deep understanding of tree biology. Here are some common motivations:

• Control Tree Height: Homeowners may top trees to prevent them from growing too tall, especially near power lines, buildings, or other structures. This is especially common on busy urban or suburban streets where space may be limited.
• Reduce Shade: Some believe topping will decrease the amount of shade cast by a tree, allowing more sunlight to reach lawns or gardens.
• Prevent Storm Damage: There’s a misconception that topping makes trees less likely to fall or lose branches during storms.
• Preserve Views: Property owners, particularly those with scenic vistas, may top trees to maintain unobstructed views.
• Cost Savings: Some may view topping as a less expensive alternative to professional tree removal, despite the long-term costs and risks.
• Encourage New Growth: There’s a belief that topping will stimulate the growth of new branches and foliage, leading to a fuller tree.
• Slow Growth: Some believe that topping a tree will slow down growth, preventing a tree from getting too tall and unmanageable in the near future.
• Aesthetic Preferences: Some individuals mistakenly believe that topping will help shape a tree or make it look more uniform.

While these reasons may seem logical at first glance, topping actually creates more problems than it solves, leading to weak, unsightly, and unhealthy trees.

The Dangers of Tree Topping

Tree topping poses significant risks to both the tree and the surrounding environment:

1. Weakens Tree Structure: Topping removes a large portion of the tree’s crown, leaving behind stubs that produce weak, poorly attached new growth more likely to break during storms.
2. Increases Vulnerability to Pests and Disease: The large wounds created by topping expose the tree to insects, fungi, and bacteria, compromising its natural defenses.
3. Causes Unnatural Growth: Topped trees produce multiple shoots from each cut, leading to a dense, bushy crown that lacks structural integrity.
4. Reduces Lifespan: Topping stresses a tree by forcing it to expend significant energy to regrow lost foliage, potentially exhausting the tree and leading to early decline.
5. Increases Maintenance Costs: Topped trees require more frequent pruning to manage weak, fast-growing shoots and address safety concerns.
6. Decreases Property Value: Topped trees are often unsightly and unhealthy, potentially lowering a property’s curb appeal and market value.
7. Creates Liability Risks: The weak branches resulting from topping are more prone to breakage, posing risks to people, property, and power lines.
8. Promotes Decay: Stubbed branches left from topping cannot properly close their wounds, leading to decay that spreads through the tree, weakening its structure over time.
9. Causes Sunburn: Newly exposed bark from topping can suffer sunburn, leading to bark cracking and cambium damage, further stressing the tree and compromising its health.

So Bad, It’s Banned in Many Places

The negative impacts of tree topping are so well-recognized that many municipalities and even entire countries have banned the practice. San Francisco was one of the first American cities to prohibit tree topping in 1977, with property owners facing potential fines for violations.

Numerous cities in the US, Canada, and Australia have restrictions in place as well, primarily due to safety concerns associated with the structural weakness of topped trees.

Proper Alternatives to Topping

Instead of topping, there are more effective methods, such as professional pruning, to help manage tree size, health, and appearance:

• Crown Reduction Pruning: This technique carefully removes select branches from the outer edges of the tree’s crown, reducing its size while maintaining its natural shape.
• Selective Pruning: Removing specific branches that are dead, diseased, or posing a risk can improve the tree’s safety and appearance without compromising its health.
• Tree Growth Regulators: These are commonly used by municipalities to slow the growth of street trees, reducing the need for maintenance and pruning.
• Routine Maintenance: Regular inspections and pruning by a certified arborist can help manage tree growth and health over time.

Ultimately, the best way to prevent tree topping is through public education. By spreading awareness that topping is an outdated and harmful practice, we can help reduce its use in communities, ensuring trees are cared for in a healthier, more sustainable way.

The Impact on Eastern Missouri’s Urban Canopy

The ongoing practice of tree topping in Eastern Missouri has detrimental effects on our urban landscape. In areas like Wildwood and St. Charles, topping disfigures trees, turning them into unsightly specimens that can lower property values.

Topped trees become weak and more prone to disease, often dying prematurely. They’re also less effective at managing stormwater runoff and providing shade, leading to potential environmental issues. The increased maintenance and eventual removal of topped trees result in higher costs for homeowners and communities.

Mathias Precision Tree Service’s Commitment to Proper Tree Care

At Mathias Precision Tree Service, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality tree care for our community in St. Louis and St. Charles counties. With two ISA-Certified Arborists on staff, we adhere to best practices in arboriculture, never engaging in harmful methods like tree topping.

Our approach focuses on maintaining the health, safety, and natural beauty of your trees, ensuring they thrive for years to come. If you have any concerns about your trees, we can always find a solution that prioritizes the health and safety of both people and landscapes.

Don’t Risk Tree Topping—Choose the Right Care

Tree topping may seem like a quick fix, but it ultimately causes long-term damage to your trees and property. Protect your investment with proper tree care from passionate, certified arborists.

Call Mathias Precision Tree Service today at 314-322-7690 to schedule an inspection and discover the best options for maintaining the health and beauty of your trees without resorting to harmful topping practices.