Should I top off my tree?

What's tree topping?

You need your tree to become shorter. Is the topping the way to go?
Topping is shortening the tree by cutting off the top of the central stem of the tree. There's no "head" to the tree, per se, but I like to think of it as "de-heading" the tree.

---

Can I top my tree?

Sure, you can! But you should not.
Tree topping ruins the figure of a tree forever, damages it, and sometimes even kills it.

​It also removes 50-100% of the tree's leaf-bearing branches. Leaves produce food for the tree and stores it. By removing the leaves, the tree will be starved and forced to exhibit survival coping methods like growing dormant buds. 

The tree becomes vulnerable to decay, wood-destroying insects, and disease.  And because of the lack of food and energy, it makes it more difficult for the tree to fight disease. 

​Ultimately, if the tree doesn't have enough stored energy, it may die. 

What should I do instead of topping?

We won't go into much detail here, but alternatives to topping to shorten a tree include canopy reduction, interlimbing or thinning, windowing, or skirting/limbing up.
Another alternative is to remove the tree and re-plant a tree more appropriate for its location. Be sure to check the average height of that species before planting.

Call a tree arborist today.

For San Jose tree service , call us today at 408-676-2253.