Do Your Trees Suffer From Indecent Exposure?
For Immediate Release
For Further Information Contact Sonia Garth:
(217) 355-9411 Ext 217
Do Your Trees Suffer From Indecent Exposure?
Champaign, IL - Most doctors advise
against overexposure to the sun. Likewise, trees are living organisms
that also can suffer from sun damage – especially when their tops
have been removed. Topping is the indiscriminate cutting back of tree
branches to stubs or lateral branches that are not large enough to
assume the terminal role. Other names for topping include "heading,"
"tipping," "hat racking" and "rounding over."
Nature’s Sun Screen
When tree tops are removed, the remaining branches and trunk are exposed to high
levels of light and heat. The result may be sunburn of the tissues beneath the bark,
which can lead to bark splitting and death of some branches.
The most common reason for topping trees is size reduction to avoid
hazards. However, topping is not a viable method of
height reduction and makes trees more susceptible to the elements over
the long run.
Avoid Crash Dieting
Topping often removes
50 to 100 percent of the leaf-bearing crown of a tree. Since leaves
serve as the "food factories" of a tree, a topping can
temporarily "starve a tree." Topping can also ruin a
tree’s aesthetic beauty. Without leaves
for extended periods, topped trees often appear disfigured and
mutilated. Moreover, they can never regain their natural form.
Alternatives
There are alternatives to
topping but you will need the services of a professional arborist
to determine what type of pruning is necessary to achieve your
objectives and to improve the health, appearance and safety of your
trees. Professional arborists employ well-trained crews, with all of
the required safety equipment and liability insurance.
Getting Help
Arborists who are members of
the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), or the American Society of Consulting Arborists
(ASCA) ensure the highest quality service for your trees. The ISA has
an international voluntary certification program that combines
experience with extensive examination covering all aspects of tree
care.
ISA advises against using the services of any tree company that
advertises topping as a service provided. Knowledgeable arborists know
that topping is harmful to trees and is not an accepted practice.
Also be cautious against companies whose crews use tree spikes for
climbing trees. Climbing spikes can damage trees, so their use should
be limited to trees that are being removed.
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is a nonprofit organization supporting
tree care research around the world. Headquartered in Champaign, Ill., ISA is dedicated to the care and
preservation of shade and ornamental trees. For more information, contact a local ISA Certified Arborist
or visit
www.isa-arbor.com.