Topping Trees is not the Smart Choice

Topping may kill your tree as some species can’t survive the trauma of the cut. Also topping promotes unsightly “hat racking,” a dense growth of vertical shoots. Topping makes the tree grow tall which will require more pruning in the future. The new branches are weaker and as they grow over time, they will break off. To put it simply topping is unsafe, ugly, and unnatural.
Reducing Tree Size with Drop-Crotching
The best method to reduce the size of a tree is called “drop-crotching.” The cuts are strategic so growth occurs in the desired direction. Vertical branches are cut, but horizontal shoots are left intact. This technique trains the tree to grow in the right direction. We also remove all dead and hanging wood from the tree. The result is a beautifully well-balanced tree that won’t need pruning again for years.