Why Tree Topping is Dangerous & What to Do Instead
July 17, 2025
Trees have more benefits than you can think of. Aside from enhancing the curb appeal of your yard, it can significantly improve the resale value of your home. Anyone will be drawn to a house with a well-kept tree. But, you have to understand that beautiful trees don’t just happen; they have to be well-maintained. Proper tree care is essential for beauty as well as the overall health of your tree.
You may have heard about the benefits of pruning, but crown reduction may be new to your ear. Not everyone knows this process and its importance. In this blog post, we will give you a guide to help you better understand what crown reduction is and how important it is for the benefit of your trees.
Definition of Crown Reduction
Crown reduction is the process of reducing the size of the tree’s crown. However, there is more to it than what its name suggests. Crown reduction, or also called drop-crotching aims to rid parts of the tree’s crown of reducing its height. The process should be done with utmost care to ensure the tree will not undergo stress that will eventually lead to its death. It has to be made sure that only a small amount of the canopy is eliminated.
Don’t confuse crown reduction from tree topping because the latter is a dangerous method to use. With tree topping, a large portion of the tree’s canopy is eliminated which can have a negative impact on the health of the tree.
Benefits of Crown Reduction
A lot of tree owners are guilty of only trimming their trees when the situation dictates so. One example is if there is a broken limb that can be a threat to their safety. However, trimming, especially crown reduction can be advantageous in other ways. Crown reduction enhances the appearance of your tree. Once taller limbs from the crown have been eliminated, your tree will have a more polished look that any homeowner would love.
Crown reduction will also be beneficial if your tree is infested with fungal growth or pests. You can easily see discoloration and death among branches and the foliage of the tree when it is diseased. You can get rid of these affected branches and instantly improve the health and bring back the appeal of your tree. Through crown reduction, your tree can heal much faster.
Fungus growth can also be prevented through crown reduction. This is because when the interior limbs and the crown are trimmed, the circulation of air significantly improves which leads to less moisture build-up that can affect your tree. Moisture and fungal growths usually lead to crown rot and root rot; that is why crown reduction will be an excellent preventive method.
Further, crown reduction makes your tree less susceptible to high winds because of less resistance. Because of this, you don’t have to worry about your tree toppling over your roof and damaging your property and injuring your loved ones.
Tree care is not really difficult if you only understand the right method to utilize. With a little research and help from a professional tree service company, your tree can be healthy and beautiful for a long time.
