Topping wounds expose a tree to decay and invasion from insects and disease. Also, the loss of foliage starves the tree, which weakens the roots, reducing the tree’s structural strength. While a tree may survive topping, its life span will be significantly reduced.

What happens if you top a tree?

Topping can remove half or more of a tree’s leaves. … The many large, open wounds that topping creates on a tree’s main stem and branches also invite diseases, insect infestations and decay. The remaining branches may rot and become unstable. Eventually, the tree may die.

What is the purpose of topping a tree?

What is topping? This pruning practice is the reduction of tree size by heading back many or most large, live branches without regard for tree health or structural integrity. Topping manages height and spread but leaves behind woody stubs that cause decay, weak branch attachments, and increased likelihood of failure.