Caring For Your Trees


Plant a tree and nature will take care of the rest, right? Not necessarily. The trees in our yards, neighborhoods, and along our streets are a valuable asset, and require our help to keep them healthy. Proper tree care is based on science and research, not wives tales and myths. There is a “right way” and a “wrong way” to care for trees. Here are some tips you need to know to keep your trees healthy and working for you.
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Think Before You Top Your Tree - Get the Facts:


Topping is the senseless practice of indiscriminately removing a majority of a tree’s branches. Topping violates acceptable pruning practices, including National Tree Care Standards (ANSI A-300). Many people think that topping will help their tree or make them smaller and safer, but in reality it is one of the worst things you can do to your tree! Topping does not make your tree safer. Topping actually creates a more dangerous tree because it opens branches up to decay and rot fungi, slowly weakening the tree internally, shortening its life, and causes future branch breakage and storm damage. Before you prune your trees, get some advice from the local Shade Tree Commission or Penn State Cooperative Extension office about proper pruning and how to select a qualified arborist, such as an ISA Certified Arborist.



Topping Trees removes too many food making leaves and opens them up to disease, decay and a slow death Topping Doesn't Work - Two years after topping the tree has regained its height Topping Doesn't Work - Two years after topping the tree has regained its height Topping or Heading Cuts cause internal decay and rot making the branches prone to breakage Topping Doesn't Work - Two years after topping the tree has regained its height
Topping Trees removes too many food making leaves and opens them up to disease, decay and a slow death. Topping Doesn't Work - Two years after topping the tree has regained its height Topping or Heading Cuts cause internal decay and rot making the branches prone to breakage


The following site has a list of University and Industry websites that explain the problems that arise when you top your tree
http://www.steamboats.com/hobbies/treetoppinglinks.html

Tree Topping - Tree Care or Tree Abuse? Iowa State University Publication
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/SUL7.pdf
http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/spfiles/SP549.pdf

TLC for Trees Homepage - a partnership between University of Tennessee and USDA Forest Service - good video clips
http://www.tlcfortrees.info/home.htm

Why Tree Topping Hurts Trees
http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/topping.aspx

Plant Amnesty’s Bad Pruning Gallery - (very funny images)
http://www.plantamnesty.org/pruning_gallery/twirling%20we%20go.htm

5 Reasons Not to Top Your Tree

Urban Tree Foundation 's Tree Topping Website

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