For Trees Company - Trees for Life, Landscapes for Living

Topping is the most harmful tree pruning practice known. It is the indiscriminate cutting of tree branches to stubs or lateral branches that are not large enough to assume the terminal role. The most common reason given for topping is to reduce the size of the tree because some people believe their trees have become too large and pose a hazard. However, topping is not a viable method of height reduction and certainly does not reduce the hazard. For Trees will never top trees; our expert arborists will assess the situation and make sure your tree is cared for properly.

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It can lead to sunburn
The trees' leaves are produced to absorb sunlight. When a tree is topped and branches and leaves are removed, the remaining branches and trunk are exposed to high levels of light and heat. The result may be sunburn of tissues beneath the bark. This leads to cankers, bark splitting and the death of some branches.

Topping is Expensive
Topping is high maintenance. When a tree is topped, its natural shape is permanently altered. Storm damage is inevitable when wind and snow easily break the flimsy new shoots from a topping cut after just a few years. Proper pruning or removals are the only possible outcomes from topping. The longer a larger topped tree remains standing, the more hazardous it becomes due to internal decay.

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From backyard bushes to rural farmscapes, from patios and decks to hedgerows, poplars to roses, ponds and waterfalls to tree and stump removal, For Trees does it all. Check the Photo Gallery of our work, then call 403-335-8965 for any of your yard needs.

Trees for Life ... Landscapes for Living

Why topping hurts trees
With Communities in Bloom being so successful in so many towns in Central Alberta ... towns like Olds, Sundre, and Bowden ... we would like to encourage people to keep their yards tidy and beautiful but more importantly, to look after their trees. Trees are the first things judges and visitors see. Trees are, by definition, high profile. So remember: Topless trees are indecent! If you do not know how to prune properly, ASK questions. Keep our trees looking beautiful in Mountain View County! Topping causes a great amount of stress to a live tree. Removing 50-100% of the crown starves the tree. When a tree is topped it will activate latent buds, forcing rapid growth of multiple shoots below each cut. It does this because when the top is cut off, the branches that would normally produce leaves (the food factory of the tree), are no longer there. Rapidly growing shoots are produced because new leaves need to form. If the tree does not have the stored up energy reserves to do this, it will kill the tree. When a tree is stressed it is more vulnerable to insects and diseases. Very similar to a person who is sick and their immune system is low. Most insects are actually attracted to stressed trees by chemical signals. Topping a tree causes decay. When a pruning cut is made correctly the tree is biologically able to close that wound. If the wound is too large or not made properly, it exposes an opening for decay, which will move down through the branches and rot out the rest of the tree. Alternatives A tree's height or spread may need to be reduced for clearances if utility lines are above. It is important when planting a tree that the correct space is given. Ask a Certified Arborist if your tree can be saved. If it has been topped in the past, talk to a Certified Arborist before someone else tops your tree.



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