You can help it recover from a hack job
Tree topping can harm the health of a tree.
Conifers like pines and spruces may not survive topping.
Proper watering is key to a topped tree’s survival.
The practice of “topping” a tree was once common in neighborhoods across the country, used as a way to shape the growth of broadleaf trees near streets, buildings, and power lines. Small problem: Topping doesn’t really work, and the latest expert opinions suggest avoiding it altogether because it can harm the health of trees. However, some local governments and well-intentioned property owners still top trees. That raises the question: Will a topped tree grow back, and what kind of growth can you expect? Topping can be very dangerous for some trees, and even if they recover, they can grow in weird, unsightly ways. Here’s exactly what to expect and how to help a topped tree thrive in the coming years.
Topping a tree refers to cutting off major branches, especially at the top or “crown” of the tree. When the work is done, the tree will typically look bare, with all its main branches chopped to about the same height.
In the past, topping trees was used as a method of shaping them, keeping branches from growing too tall or getting in the way of power lines or other structures. The practice has largely fallen out of favor as experts have found it ineffective and potentially dangerous for the tree—but it does still happen, often with the best intentions.
Don’t confuse topping with traditional pruning methods like crown reduction. Pruning a tree cuts off wayward branches, removes dead growth, and helps a tree thrive without removing major branches at the top of the tree.
Topping trees creates several big problems for the tree and isn’t very good at accomplishing its purpose, which is why topping is generally discouraged these days. A topped tree faces major challenges, notably:
Topping a tree creates large wounds in the trunk and branches which take a long time to heal compared to normal pruning. These provide easy access for fungal diseases and insects, which can quickly sicken and eventually kill a tree.
Topping during rainy or snowy weather can cause rotting that can quickly spread down the trunk.
Topping a tree typically removes extraneous branches, which makes it difficult for the tree to grow back leaves. Trees need leaves to produce enough energy to survive. Until a topped tree can recover, it faces a starvation phase that weakens it and also makes it more susceptible to disease.
In hot areas, a topped tree has lost all protection against the sunlight. More delicate trees can scorch or wither as a result.
Topped trees trying to recover will send out small shoots and young stems. These stems are more vulnerable to breaking during storms, and if they’re low enough, they can be tasty snacks for nearby wildlife. This can make it difficult for trees to grow back.
Topped trees become more top-heavy as they regrow. This makes it more likely that the tree will fall when faced with strong winds or heavy snow.
An arborist or other local tree maintenance expert can help you determine if a topped tree can be saved. But not all trees will survive topping. Signs the tree is dying include shoots that grow back weak, new leaves that quickly yellow or wilt, or new growth on only one portion of the tree. This may indicate the tree is being overtaken by rot, disease, or pests, in which case you may need to remove it to prevent a falling hazard. Tree removal costs an average of $750, although companies often charge by the foot.
If a topped tree has access to enough water and nutrients and is relatively healthy, it will often grow back. In fact, topped trees can grow back very fast as a response to the damage they faced.
Trees accomplish this with specialized buds called epicormic buds, which lie in wait under the bark in case the tree experiences a traumatic event (like wildfires—or in this case, topping) and needs to grow back quickly. The new shoots the tree creates are epicormic shoots, more commonly known as “water sprouts” or sometimes “suckers.”
This growth can be erratic and unpredictable at first, causing the tree to grow in strange new ways. It can lead to a deformed look—another reason to avoid topping—and could cause the tree to start growing toward rooftops or power lines, requiring additional pruning.
Some tree species don’t have epicormic buds, notably conifers. Therefore, pines, spruces, firs, and similar species may not be able to recover from topping.
If you have a tree that’s already been topped, there are several important steps you can take to help the tree survive and recover.
Keep the tree well-watered. It needs plenty of water to start regrowing. Clear away any weeds from the base of the tree, and do what you can to ensure it has access to plentiful sunlight. You can also provide the tree with fertilizer, although it’s not always necessary. This is an excellent time to call in a professional arborist for advice.
Avoid any pruning for about a year. You want to give the tree’s water sprouts plenty of time to grow and develop. The tree is going to look pretty weird during this period, but resist the urge to prune. You’ll want a full cycle of growth before moving on to the next step. For trees low to the ground, you may want to consider fencing around the tree to protect the new shoots from deer and other hungry critters.
Check for leaders. After enough time, the water sprouts will grow to about the previous height of the tree. Certain sprouts will then start to strengthen and expand. These are called “leaders,” and they’ll be the new primary branches of the tree. Leaders will be significantly taller than other sprouts, and they should be free of damage and disease. Once leaders start to develop, you can begin pruning the smallest, weakest water sprouts in order to begin shaping the tree.
Be patient. You’ll need to carefully guide the tree’s growth until it’s firmly re-established. Expect it to take several years before the tree has many healthy new branches and enough leaves that the previous topping damage becomes difficult to notice.
Your local government is usually in charge of pruning trees on public property, and the power company is responsible for trees near power lines (even if they’re on your property). Whether or not they top these trees depends on their approach to pruning. You won’t be able to do much to control this, but you can contact them to find out more about their pruning process.
You can find pruning paints and sealants for trees, but you shouldn’t use them on a topped tree. Coatings like these often inhibit the tree’s healing process. An important exception is if there are dangerous fungi nearby that the tree is particularly vulnerable to, like oaks and oak wilt. Sealing cuts can help prevent fungi from taking root.
The best way is to start controlling tree height long before it grows too large, via careful pruning through the years. But that’s not always possible. If a tree has become too high or too large, use selective pruning to remove the most troublesome branches, one by one, without topping the tree. Gently shaping a tree like this can, over time, correct problems. You can also find growth inhibitors to spray on a tree to stop it from growing too rapidly, but use these sparingly if at all.
A light layer of mulch can help protect a tree, retain moisture, and keep the soil healthy. However, it’s important to avoid over-mulching or piling the mulch up around the trunk of a tree, a practice notoriously called “volcano mulching.” That piled mulch can increase the chances of rot and disease on the tree trunk as well as overwhelming the soil, which needs access to a certain amount of air. Topped trees have it hard enough: mulch sparingly while they heal.
