What is Tree Lopping Cropping and Topping?
It is the shortening of trunks, branches, limbs or stems, often to places of convenience. It can be
described as the indiscriminate and mismanaged removal and destruction of a trees natural crown and structure. In it's severe form, lopping involves the total removal of the tree's canopy, leaving
nothing except stubs.
The Misguided Beliefs & Reasons Why People Do it
The primary reasons given for lopping are based largely on the fear that during storms trees will fall on houses and that lopping has been done so often that it appears the correct thing to do. Lets face it, as you drive around, you see it in abundance.Some reasons are...
1. To allow views
2. To prevent excessive leaf drop
3. To prevent branch breakage
4. To allow sunlight through to the pool, clothes line etc
5. To prevent interference with TV reception
6. To stop neighbours complaints against overhanging branches
7. To make the tree shorter and safer
In the majority of instances, the work is performed by contractors who either "Don't know any better" or who find lopping most profitable for themselves regardless of the consequences to customers and trees.
Consequences and Problems
Some trees when lopped severley, or at the wrong time of year, may never recover and die. The remaining end of the stub will not callus over and the exposed tissue will be vulnerable to decay and
rotting caused by fungi, bacteria, insects, water and sunscald. The stubs become pathways for pathogens to enter and spread into the part of the tree to where they're attached.
Lopped trees try to replace their lost foliage by growing "Epicormic shoots" from various parts of their remaining structure - especially the stub ends. The Epicormic shoots only grow from the outer most living tissue layer of that year's growth, they are weakly attached and prone to falling out or breaking off, especially when they arise from the stub ends.
Epicormic shoots are extremely vigorous and quick growing. They may even out grow the origional height and spread of the tree.
Our experience also reveals that after a few years many trees develop a cavity in the base which progresses up the trunk, usually followed by termites. The reason for this is that trees have foliage/root ratio and when the canopy is removed (lopped), the tree responds by losing some of the roots through decay and it is usually the roots closest to the trunk. Also the trees foliage is it's food factory, without leaves the tree cannot photosynthesize and make food to feed the root system or defeat insect and pests.
Lopping a tree can destroy its natural form and stability. Lopping a tree creates an ongoing problem and expense because the weaker new growth often needs repeated pruning to keep from growing out of control. Restoring its structural integrity and beauty is extremely difficult, or impossible. Standard Pruning and care of your trees keeps them safer, and saves you money.
In Summary...
Tree lopping is a short-term attempt to reduce the height and spread of a tree. Lopped trees are easier prey for pests, more likely to break apart, more expensive to maintain and more likely to die. Standard Pruning or sometimes removal and replacement will leave you with less problems and a more valuable and sustainable landscape.
Lopping may also create liability issues in the event of failures damaging property or even worse ... injuring people.
Lopping violates Australian Standard (AS4373) on Pruning of Amenity Trees.
Here's a link to another interesting site on topping