“I want you to Top My Tree”

[Nish]

Among the various responsible alternatives you might offer are paclobutrazol soil applications. 40%-70% shoot growth reduction for 3 years with one application, requiring no special equipment. A gallon of the brand name stuff may seem pricey, but the materials cost for treating one 18" dbh willow oak is less than $30.

 

[Flex Abednego]

I likewise explain all the reasons not to top, and consequences of topping. ive removed and re topped several previously topped reds and occasionally topped forest trees for view shed where there are no targets in proximity and the owner wants the lower section to block a neighbor, road etc.
ill probably get thrashed for it here but I just re topped a couple tan oaks 2 days ago to reduce them about 30' for a guys garden space who understood all the consequences but didn't want the people on the road to have a view of his back porch.
im open to criticism

 

[Flex Abednego]

I likewise explain all the reasons not to top, and consequences of topping. ive removed and re topped several previously topped reds and occasionally topped forest trees for view shed where there are no targets in proximity and the owner wants the lower section to block a neighbor, road etc.
ill probably get thrashed for it here but I just re topped a couple tan oaks 2 days ago to reduce them about 30' for a guys garden space who understood all the consequences but didn't want the people on the road to have a view of his back porch.
im open to criticism

 

[Chaplain242]

I likewise explain all the reasons not to top, and consequences of topping. ive removed and re topped several previously topped reds and occasionally topped forest trees for view shed where there are no targets in proximity and the owner wants the lower section to block a neighbor, road etc.
ill probably get thrashed for it here but I just re topped a couple tan oaks 2 days ago to reduce them about 30' for a guys garden space who understood all the consequences but didn't want the people on the road to have a view of his back porch.
im open to criticism

Topping trees isn’t the best option, but the question is also the maintenance program to manage the tree into the future. Something that can be engaged into by the owner, or given lip service to by the owner, or one that can be discontinued at a whim, or the property sold etc.

Pollarding trees, once pollarded, need maintaining regularly.

I am sure that if there was a local ordinance of requiring topped trees to be put on a register and that register having a maximum maintenance interval that needed to be signed off as part of the management program, the number of topped trees would likely decrease.

I see even commercial settings around here drop the ball on trees that were topped because they weren’t allowed to be removed (the height was causing an issue) so they were topped, and now have long Epicormic growth over carparks. When spoken to theres usually a common response “yes we will need to get round to it” but there is no real understanding in their eyes as they say it, and the trees stay continually growing as they are for extended periods.

If they were managed appropriately there would be less of an issue

 

[evo]

A client asking you to top their tree is akin to asking a mechanic to take the wheel bearings out of your daily driver

 

[Chaplain242]

A client asking you to top their tree is akin to asking a mechanic to take the wheel bearings out of your daily driver

Long time ago I used to operate an off highway truck (very old) that had test equipment mounted on it. But it didn’t have a carby and was too much work to spend time on it, so used to have an operator drive it, whilst another operator sat on the engine with a trigger spray full of gasoline. Calls to go faster would inevitably leave the trigger sprayers hand numb with the effort... but it did operate and serve its purpose, albeit laboriously...

 

[evo]

Long time ago I used to operate an off highway truck (very old) that had test equipment mounted on it. But it didn’t have a carby and was too much work to spend time on it, so used to have an operator drive it, whilst another operator sat on the engine with a trigger spray full of gasoline. Calls to go faster would inevitably leave the trigger sprayers hand numb with the effort... but it did operate and serve its purpose, albeit laboriously...

Ever watch “outback mechanics” amazing series

 

[Chaplain242]

Ever watch “outback mechanics” amazing series

Is that the ‘bush mechanics’ with the Australian aboriginals?

 

[evo]

Is that the ‘bush mechanics’ with the Australian aboriginals?

Damn I must be getting old, yes your correct.

 

[Chaplain242]

Damn I must be getting old, yes your correct.

Yes but been years, need to watch again - good reminder!

Another good for a chuckle is Russell Coights Aussie Adventures...

 

[Basswood]

How about topping in the event the top dies and client wishes to keep the tree? Curious to see the consensus to this.

 

[evo]

How about topping in the event the top dies and client wishes to keep the tree? Curious to see the consensus to this.

Depends... it’s all about the site. Around here we are loosing western red cedar tops to drought (beetle infestation in smallish diameter wood). The lower crown seems to make it alright.
Western red is extremely rot resistant, and it’s not uncommon for them to have a dead top for decades. I know of a example of one that has had a mostly intact dead top 3/4 to 2/3,s for approximately 40-45 years. Most the dead limb have fallen, as well as the tippy top has shrank (kinda crumbles a little every few years). This tree is sitting in the middle of a farm field, so no real targets accept for dog walkers. The lower crown is reiterating and is a beautiful tree.
So yes a dying or dead top can be taken or reduced to lower the risk in certain cases. I use this tree described above as a example sometimes shortening dead tops.

 

[Reach]

How about topping in the event the top dies and client wishes to keep the tree? Curious to see the consensus to this.

Depends on the tree. If the top is dead, and there is a reasonable expectation that the rest of the tree will survive a few more years, sure we will cut out the dead top. However, this tree is going to come with a disclaimer written on the contract, that states our recommendation to monitor and expect to remove the tree in the near future. There are certain trees we will not do this with however, trees such as ash trees which are almost certainly already dying anyway.

 

[southsoundtree]

I'll Deadwood a tree, not make arbitrary internodal cuts without regard to the health or growth of the tree.
Apples and zebras.

 

[BossTreeCare]

Instead of topping sell crown reduction. It looks better and you won't be associated with a service that tops trees.

 

[evo]

Instead of topping sell crown reduction. It looks better and you won't be associated with a service that tops trees.

Around here in conifer land, it’s close enough to one in the same. Reducing the top makes multiple leaders, which will fail. Besides that reducing the profile of a 150’ Doug fir is out of most people’s budget

 

[Amber Jones]

I neglected to mention that, I always note that someone will do it, but they should not hire them precisely for that reason.

Hey, another Cholula fan!

Cholula!