Many people mistakenly believe that crown reduction and tree topping are the same thing. But there are significant differences. Professional arborists generally dislike topping since it entails indiscriminately removing all of a tree’s top growth and can quickly weaken or kill a tree. Topping is a practice that is prohibited in many places.
Tree topping should be performed sparingly and is frequently prohibited for city-owned trees. Basically, in a misguided effort to limit tree size, the tree undergoes indiscriminate heading cuts that destroy the crown structure. Expert arborists agree that topping should never be used as the main pruning technique. It should only be applied if you intend to cut down an unwanted tree. Topping causes the tree a number of issues since it is left with lateral branches and stubs that are still too little to play the duty of producing and transporting food to the entire tree. In addition to decreasing the tree’s ability to produce energy, it also encourages the growth of undesirable vertical branches, which permanently disfigure the tree by producing unsightly water sprouts and branches.
Crown reduction is a method of precise, selective pruning used to reduce a tree’s size and enhance its health, shape, and attractiveness and is the main technique employed by arborists. The crown’s size is diminished without compromising the crown’s structural integrity. The height and spread of the crown are reduced, and the crown is opened up to improve airflow through the canopy. By carefully trimming your trees, you can increase the number of fruit-bearing trees you have and ensure higher-quality fruit. Reducing the tree’s crown also aids the tree’s air circulation and solar exposure.
If you really want to make sure that your trees are properly pruned, NTS is here to help. Contact us today to get started.
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