Late winter is a great time of year to prune most plants but, allow me to discuss a common tree pruning practice called "topping". I don't know why topping is so pervasive and the landscape industry but, any arborist worth her salt will tell you that it is just about the worst thing that you can do to a tree. Not only does it weaken the trees defenses and inhibit it's natural ability to seal of disease but it also looks awful. The main reason I hear in support of topping trees is "It helps control the size of the tree" but, in reality, a tree topped one year will return to its' original size my the next year. Unfortunately, it does this in an entirely unnatural way by exploding with fast growing, twiggy branches called "watersprouts" (see below). Once a tree is topped it may never regain it's original, natural form. Visit Plant Amnesty to learn about proper pruning techniques, or better yet contact us and we'll take good care of your plants.
