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Topping is usually defined as the indiscriminate removal of branches in the top of a tree or shrub without taking into account the location of branch attachments. In other words topping results in stubs that die back and may be susceptible to disease and insect attack depending on the tree/shrub.
Jim Janks, a friend living in Gunnison, asked about a tree his neighbor had just pruned. He asked if decurrent trees can be topped.
“The reason I asked (is) my neighbor has a large decurrent tree that he (pruned) all the way around the tree and severely trimmed every branch, large and small.”
Trees (and shrubs) come in two forms, excurrent and decurrent. Excurrent trees are those which develop a central leader like a spruce or the maple shown in the photo. These trees have a conical shape. Decurrent trees are more wide spreading without the typical upright growth habit as shown in the photo of the honeylocust.
Peach and globe willows are decurrent trees. Sometimes, excurrent trees such as apple trees are pruned to be decurrent in order to keep the fruit close to the ground to make it easier to pick.
Regardless of what type of tree Jim's neighbor has, excurrent or decurrent, if the tree is topped it will most likely suffer from internal rot and other problems. This is in part due to the rotting stubs remaining after topping. If his client removed branches from the top of the tree taking into account the branch attachments as described by the natural target pruning technique this would be OK and not considered topping. The one-third rule where the remaining limb is one-third the diameter of the limb removed should always be followed. It sounds like Jim's neighbor used a technique commonly known as “butchering.”
As I was writing this column, John Anderson with Deep Creek Landscape and Maintenance called. During our discussion he mentioned he had refused to top a lady's tree a couple weeks back. Instead of following John's sage advice the tree owner hired someone else who butchered her tree. Some communities in western Colorado have ordinances that prohibit topping, but it still happens. Education helps reduce these practices but there are always tree owners and tree butchers who believe topping is good for trees.
I have yet to make it up to Patterson Road where Del Adolf told me someone has been pruning all the shrubs along that stretch into lollypops. “Is this lollypop city?”
While this may be cute, shearing shrubs results in the same problem as when trees are topped; dead stubs are very susceptible to attack by insects and diseases. These sheared shrubs may have been the result of the individual that passed me in Home Depot a couple weeks ago who was buying an electric hedge trimmer. He obviously did not consider that pruning shrubs at this time of year often results in severe winter injury. Fall and early winter pruning stimulates growth resulting in the tissue losing its winter hardiness. The only exception to pruning shrubs at this time of year is when dead wood is removed.
Proper pruning techniques are one of the topics we cover in the winter Master Gardener training program. The individuals involved in poor pruning practices would certainly benefit from the training we provide. If you are interested in learning more about trees, gardens, soil, irrigation, and other gardening topics you should consider joining this elite program. There is a cost of $125 for the 11-week program if you contribute time back to Colorado State University. Classes are held every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Jan. 18 and concluding on March 28. You should contact Susan Rose at 244-1841 for an application and more information.
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Dr. Curtis E. Swift is the area horticulture agent with the CSU Extension. Reach him at Curt.Swift@mesacounty.us, visit WesternSlopeGardening.org, or check out his blog at http://SwiftsGardeningBlog.blogspot.com.
Jim Janks, a friend living in Gunnison, asked about a tree his neighbor had just pruned. He asked if decurrent trees can be topped.
“The reason I asked (is) my neighbor has a large decurrent tree that he (pruned) all the way around the tree and severely trimmed every branch, large and small.”
Trees (and shrubs) come in two forms, excurrent and decurrent. Excurrent trees are those which develop a central leader like a spruce or the maple shown in the photo. These trees have a conical shape. Decurrent trees are more wide spreading without the typical upright growth habit as shown in the photo of the honeylocust.
Peach and globe willows are decurrent trees. Sometimes, excurrent trees such as apple trees are pruned to be decurrent in order to keep the fruit close to the ground to make it easier to pick.
Regardless of what type of tree Jim's neighbor has, excurrent or decurrent, if the tree is topped it will most likely suffer from internal rot and other problems. This is in part due to the rotting stubs remaining after topping. If his client removed branches from the top of the tree taking into account the branch attachments as described by the natural target pruning technique this would be OK and not considered topping. The one-third rule where the remaining limb is one-third the diameter of the limb removed should always be followed. It sounds like Jim's neighbor used a technique commonly known as “butchering.”
As I was writing this column, John Anderson with Deep Creek Landscape and Maintenance called. During our discussion he mentioned he had refused to top a lady's tree a couple weeks back. Instead of following John's sage advice the tree owner hired someone else who butchered her tree. Some communities in western Colorado have ordinances that prohibit topping, but it still happens. Education helps reduce these practices but there are always tree owners and tree butchers who believe topping is good for trees.
I have yet to make it up to Patterson Road where Del Adolf told me someone has been pruning all the shrubs along that stretch into lollypops. “Is this lollypop city?”
While this may be cute, shearing shrubs results in the same problem as when trees are topped; dead stubs are very susceptible to attack by insects and diseases. These sheared shrubs may have been the result of the individual that passed me in Home Depot a couple weeks ago who was buying an electric hedge trimmer. He obviously did not consider that pruning shrubs at this time of year often results in severe winter injury. Fall and early winter pruning stimulates growth resulting in the tissue losing its winter hardiness. The only exception to pruning shrubs at this time of year is when dead wood is removed.
Proper pruning techniques are one of the topics we cover in the winter Master Gardener training program. The individuals involved in poor pruning practices would certainly benefit from the training we provide. If you are interested in learning more about trees, gardens, soil, irrigation, and other gardening topics you should consider joining this elite program. There is a cost of $125 for the 11-week program if you contribute time back to Colorado State University. Classes are held every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Jan. 18 and concluding on March 28. You should contact Susan Rose at 244-1841 for an application and more information.
---------------------
Dr. Curtis E. Swift is the area horticulture agent with the CSU Extension. Reach him at Curt.Swift@mesacounty.us, visit WesternSlopeGardening.org, or check out his blog at http://SwiftsGardeningBlog.blogspot.com.
