UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Getting a bad haircut is just a temporary condition in which the hair grows back none the worse for wear. But, removing the entire canopy of a tree -- a practice called "topping" -- has much more lasting and sometimes fatal consequences, warns an arborist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.

"Topping trees is not pruning," explains Bill Elmendorf, assistant professor of urban and community forestry in the School of Forest Resources. "It is indiscriminate, drastic cutting and a reduction in the tree's energy-producing factory -- the canopy."

Elmendorf says cutting the central trunk and tops of main branches severely weakens a tree by removing both leaves and stored carbohydrates. Topping reduces a tree's ability to generate food and energy by photosynthesis.

"Topping is really the ultimate in tree abuse," Elmendorf says. "It's usually done by unqualified and unknowledgeable tree cutters. In some cases, qualified arborists top trees at the insistence of homeowners who don't understand the damage they are paying to have done to their tree."

Elmendorf lists several conditions caused by topping trees.

--Unsafe Structure. Elmendorf says topping trees leaves large wounds that are open to decay and insects, ultimately weakening the tree's structure. "The tree also will develop 'water sprouts,' which are weakly attached branches," he says.

--Decline in Health. In addition to losing the leaves' ability to produce food, topping causes the tree to use valuable food stored in the trunk to regrow limbs. Limb removal causes sunscald of the remaining limbs as well.

--Ugliness. "Topping destroys the tree's form and symmetry," Elmendorf says.

--Decline in Value. Altering the shape, structure and health of the tree by topping means a large ornamental tree can lose thousands of dollars in value.

--More Frequent Utility Pruning. "Water sprouts grow faster and more thickly," Elmendorf explains. "That makes utility line clearance more difficult, more frequent and more expensive."

According to Elmendorf, most homeowners top trees because they see other trees that have been topped, or they fear a large tree may blow over onto a house or garage. "A topped tree with damaged and weakened structure is much more likely to blow over than a healthy tree," he explains.

Elmendorf offers a few tips on avoiding the decision to top trees.

--Plant the right tree in the right place. "Don't plant large trees like oaks, tulip poplars and sycamores under power lines or near buildings and signs," Elmendorf says. "Choose smaller tree species for small areas or sidewalk planting areas."

--Buy quality nursery stock. Choose a tree that is healthy and has good structure.

--Prune trees when they are young. "Trees should be pruned when they are three to five years old," Elmendorf recommends. "It promotes good structure, saves money and causes smaller pruning wounds."

--Prune correctly. Elmendorf says all tree pruning should be in accordance with the maintenance guidelines of the International Society of Arboriculture. For more information about the society and its recommendations, call (217) 355-9411.

--Hire a qualified arborist. Elmendorf suggests getting three bids from local tree services. Be sure to contact references from the arborist's past work. Ask to see proof of liability insurance and worker's compensation insurance.

"Why pay for an inferior service that destroys your tree?" Elmendorf says. "Find a qualified arborist who knows proper and safe tree care techniques. In tree work, taking the lowest price isn't necessarily good. In some cases, you get what you pay for -- destroyed trees."

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EDITORS: Contact Bill Elmendorf at 814-863-7941 or e-mail at wfe1@psu.edu.

Contact:

Jeff Mulhollem jjm29@psu.edu 814-863-2719 814-863-9877 fax #237