“Topping a tree can send it into shock and shocking a tree can be lethal.”

Many community associations have guidelines for tree height. As time progresses and your trees continue to grow, tree trimmers are hired to “top” or “pollard” trees. This is the act of reducing the height of a tree to a predetermined height. This practice is not recommended by the International Society of Arboriculture and it is detrimental to most species. Topping a tree can send it into shock and shocking a tree can be lethal. An adolescent tree may be able to rebound from these harsh cuts, but over time when the tree ages and loses   recover diminishes. An alternative to topping is treating your trees with a systemic growth regulator. This is a treatment that targets the hormone responsible for stem and shoot elongation. Species that respond to this treatment display about 1/3 the rate of growth they otherwise would without it. This also allows the tree to focus its energy and nutrients on root growth, instead of constantly trying to push up and out.

Many of these landscape-altering pests and diseases can be avoided by providing the appropriate environment    rather make a few cultural adjustments to your site instead of removing and replanting? Remember, trees are living organisms too. Our urban trees depend on us to provide them with the nutrients, food and the  in order to be thrive.

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