Why do some tree services still top trees?

It's fast, requires less skill, and looks "finished" to untrained eyes. Disreputable companies use it as a sales tactic because homeowners don't realize the damage until years later.

Can a topped tree recover?

Not fully. Topped trees produce weak, fast-growing sprouts at the cut sites. These new branches have poor attachment and break easily. The tree becomes more dangerous, not less.

Tree Topping vs. Proper Pruning: Why One Harms Trees

Name: Tulsa Tree Removal
Address: Tulsa, OK, US
Telephone: (918) 359-5928
Price range: $$

Tree topping is one of the most harmful things you can do to a tree. It's not pruning. It's not maintenance. It's permanent structural damage disguised as a service. Here's why no certified arborist will ever top a tree, what proper pruning actually looks like, and how to spot a company that doesn't know what they're doing.

What is Tree Topping?

Tree topping (also called "heading," "hat-racking," or "rounding over") is the practice of cutting off the top of a tree or removing large sections of the crown, leaving stubs or lateral branches too small to assume the terminal role. The cuts are often made without regard to branch structure, leaving wounds 3+ inches in diameter.

Why people request it:

Tree is "too tall" and they want to reduce height
Fear of storm damage
Blocking a view or power lines
Previous tree service recommended it (bad sign)

Why it's destructive: Every single claimed benefit of topping is a lie, and the actual outcomes are worse than doing nothing.

Why Tree Topping Harms Trees

1. Starvation

Leaves produce the food a tree needs to survive. Removing 50-100% of the leaf-bearing crown in one cut starves the tree. It responds by rapidly pushing out new shoots from dormant buds near the cuts, burning through stored energy reserves. If the tree can't produce enough new foliage fast enough, it dies.

2. Weak New Growth

The shoots that emerge after topping are called "epicormic" or "water" sprouts. They grow fast (2-4 feet per year), are weakly attached, and break easily under load. Within 5-10 years, the tree is more dangerous than before it was topped, not less.

3. Decay and Disease

Large topping cuts expose heartwood and don't seal properly. Decay fungi, insects, and disease enter through the wounds. The tree can't compartmentalize (seal off) damage effectively when cuts are that large, especially across main scaffold branches.

4. Sunburn and Shock

Removing the canopy suddenly exposes previously shaded bark to full sun. The bark can literally burn, crack, and die (called "sunscald"). This creates more entry points for pests and disease.

5. Ugly and Permanent

A topped tree never regains its natural form. Even after new growth fills in, the structure is compromised, the branch attachments are weak, and the silhouette is distorted. Topped trees also require aggressive re-pruning every 1-3 years to manage the weak sprout growth, turning a one-time "solution" into a recurring expensive problem.

What Proper Pruning Looks Like

Legitimate pruning (also called "crown reduction" or "selective pruning") follows the tree's natural structure and biology.

Crown reduction (the right way to reduce height):

Remove individual branches back to a lateral branch large enough to become the new leader (at least ⅓ the diameter of the cut branch)
Never remove more than 25% of the canopy in a single year
Make cuts just outside the branch collar (the swollen area where the branch meets the trunk), not in the middle of a branch
Follow natural branch taper — the new leader should look like it was always there

The result: The tree retains its natural shape, the canopy is reduced gradually over multiple pruning cycles if needed, and structural integrity is maintained.

How to Spot a Bad Tree Service

If a tree company says any of the following, hang up:

"We'll top it to make it safer in storms." (Topping makes trees more dangerous.)
"It'll grow back stronger." (It won't. It'll grow back weaker and faster.)
"We do it all the time, everyone asks for it." (Bad practice doesn't become good practice through repetition.)
"Topping is cheaper than removal." (True, but the tree will need removal sooner, plus you'll spend years maintaining weak regrowth.)

Red flags:

No ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certification
Won't provide proof of insurance
Uses spikes/gaffs to climb trees that aren't being removed (damages bark)
Quotes a price without inspecting the tree

When Removal is Better Than Topping

If a tree is genuinely too tall for its location, you have three real options:

Proper crown reduction over multiple seasons (expensive, only works for modest height reduction, 20-30%)
Remove and replant with a species that fits the space
Remove and don't replant if the location doesn't support a tree long-term (under power lines, too close to structures, etc.)

Option 2 is almost always the right answer. Topping is never on the list.

What About Power Lines?

If a tree is growing into power lines, call the utility company first (PSO in Tulsa: 888-216-3523). They trim for free around primary lines. For service drops to your house, hire an ISA-certified arborist who knows clearance standards and proper pruning techniques. Topping near power lines is especially dangerous because the weak regrowth grows back into the lines faster and breaks more easily.

Hire a Certified Arborist

Call (918) 359-5928 for proper tree pruning in Tulsa. ISA-certified arborists, licensed and insured, who follow ANSI A300 pruning standards. We'll never top your tree, and we'll tell you honestly if removal is the better option.