Page 12
The INDEPENDENT, December 1, 2005
Tree topping is common but not wise
Master Gardener classes start soon
Winter is a good time to
prune trees, but tree topping is
a detrimental practice that
damages both the health and
value of landscape trees. Tree
topping – the indiscriminate
cutting back of tree branches to
stubs – weakens trees, leaves
trees vulnerable to insects and
disease and shortens the life
span of trees.
Although tree topping is an
unwise practice, many people
mistakenly “top” trees because
they grow into utility wires, in-
terfere with views or sunlight, or
simply grow so large that they
worry the landowner.
The Oregon Department of
Forestry’s urban forestry staff
offers the following information
on why topping hurts trees, and
where to get information on
proper pruning techniques:
•Topping starves and shocks
trees. It removes much of the
tree’s protective “crown” of
leaves and branches. Without
its “crown,” a tree cannot feed
itself or protect its sensitive
bark from damaging sun and
heat. The result is the splitting
of the bark and the death of
branches.
•Topping is expensive. Each
time a branch is cut, numerous
long, skinny young shoots
(called suckers or water-
sprouts) grow rapidly back to
replace it. A topped tree must
be done and re-done every few
years and, eventually, must be
removed when it dies or the
owner gives up. A properly
pruned tree stays “done”
longer, since the work does not
Home gardeners in Colum-
bia County with a thirst for
more gardening knowledge,
and a willingness to pass that
knowledge on to others, can
still join the Oregon State Uni-
versity Extension Service Mas-
ter Gardener program.
The Master Gardener pro-
gram is designed to teach vol-
unteers how to make better use
of their gardening resources
and abilities. They, in turn,
teach others. Volunteers are
given training in soil manage-
ment, vegetable gardening
techniques, landscape mainte-
nance, pest control, and man
other aspects of gardening.
Then during the gardening sea-
son, these new Master Gar-
deners help to teach others to
do a better job of growing and
caring for plants, fighting off
pests, and making our commu-
stimulate an upsurge of re-
growth. Proper pruning actually
improves the health and beauty
of a tree, costing you less in the
long run.
• Topping reduces the ap-
praised value of your tree. A
tree, like any landscape ameni-
ty, adds to the value of your
property. Appraisers subtract
hundreds of dollars from the
value of a tree when it’s been
topped (using the International
Society of Arboriculture’s
guidelines for evaluation).
And, not only do topped
trees reduce property values;
they also eventually increase li-
ability because of safety is-
sues. In many cities, topping is
banned because of the public
safety factor and the potential
for lawsuits. You can even sue
a tree company for wrongfully
topping a tree.
• Topping is ugly. A tree’s
natural form is the source of its
beauty, a function of uninter-
rupted taper. Topped trees ap-
pear disfigured and mutilated.
Arborists consider the topping
of some trees a criminal act,
since a tree’s 90-year achieve-
ment of natural beauty can be
destroyed in a couple of hours.
And, the freshly sawed look is
just the beginning of the eye-
sore. The worst is yet to come,
as the tree re-grows a witch’s
broom of ugly, straight suckers
and sprouts. Sadly, once
topped, a tree will never return
to its natural shape.
Paul Ries, urban forester for
the Oregon Department of
Forestry, hopes people can
Excellence in
Customer
Service
learn to recognize and appreci-
ate the advantages of proper
tree pruning and give up the
practice of tree topping.
“Proper pruning can remove
excessive growth without the
problems topping creates,” said
Ries. “Topping creates hazard
trees, but proper tree pruning
creates healthy trees.” If the
trees on your property are in
need of pruning but you’re un-
sure just how to go about it,
contact a certified arborist in
your area for assistance.
For more information on
proper tree care, the popular
publication An Oregon Home-
owner’s Guide to Tree Care
may be downloaded from the
Oregon Department of Fores-
try’s website: <www.oregon.
gov/ODF/URBAN_FORESTS/
ucf_publications.shtml>.
Things to think about when choosing trees
Trees improve any land-
scape. They can make an aes-
thetic statement, provide wild-
life benefits and buffer the
house from environmental ex-
tremes of heat and wind.
What should be considered
when choosing a tree?
Will the tree fit the lot? Think
here about mature height and
width of the tree. Western Ore-
gon is a temperate rain forest.
Trees grow well here. In fact,
when you look at descriptions
in books or catalogs about ulti-
mate tree height and width, you
are safe taking the highest
number in the range for plan-
ning purposes. Many home-
owners purchase trees only to
remove them in 15-20 years,
when they outgrow their space.
Don’t crowd trees or try to man-
age them by constrictive prun-
ing.
Will the tree perform well on
your site? There are a lot of el-
ements in play here. Is the site
in full sun, partial sun or fairly
deep shade? Each tree species
has an environmental niche
where it will grow best. What
about soil conditions: A lot of
new construction sites have
poorly drained clay soils on
which the house is built. The list
of trees that do well in those
soils is quite limited. Some-
times the drainage in clay can
be improved to allow a slightly
wider choice of plant material.
Topsoil may need to be brought
in to create planting “pockets.”
Know the soils where you live
and choose trees adapted to
Computer Counselors
Doug Tesdal and Glenda Delemos
Fresh Cut & Live Christmas Trees
Haven’t Been To The Nursery Yet?
Check Us Out, You’ll Love It!
2121 N. MIST DR. VERNONIA
PH 503-429-8200 • Open Every Day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
nities a better place to live.
Classes will be held once a
week, on Mondays from 9:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m., for ten con-
secutive weeks in St. Helens.
The first class will be on, Janu-
ary 9. There is a fee of $50 for
reference materials.
For more information about
the program and how to enroll,
call the Columbia County Ex-
tension office, located at 505 N.
Columbia River Hwy. in St. He-
lens or call 503-397-3462.
•
•
•
•
•
New Systems, Upgrades and Desktop Support
Virus Prevention & Protection
Digital Camera Support and Operation
Applications for both Home and Business
DSL and Wireless Network Set Up
503-429-4074 503-522-9663
E-mail: dougtez@comcast.net
E-mail: glendade@peoplepc.com
those soils.
Is the tree cold-hardy? This
is what the hardiness zones are
all about. In general, most trees
sold here are more than hardy
enough for our winters. We get
into trouble sometimes trying to
stretch the limits and put zone
9 plants into our landscapes.
Our rare severe cold events
usually thin those plants out. If
you live in a “cold pocket,” err
on the side of more hardiness.
Is the tree disease or insect
prone? Blue spruce gets sever-
al insects and diseases that
disfigure the tree. Some flower-
ing cherries are hard hit by dis-
eases. Junipers on clay die af-
ter 15-20 years (if not sooner).
Some, not all, crab apples and
dogwoods are disease prone.
All this is to say that there are
choices to be made and the
wise consumer will do some re-
search on species and varieties
that are more care-free.
Some trees may have poi-
sonous fruit or foliage. Is that a
concern for children or live-
stock where you live? Fence
line plantings need to be re-
searched for livestock safety.
Finally, is the tree invasive?
Is it likely to throw root sprouts
all over the lawn or spread
seeds that will take root and
grow?
For more information, check
the OSU Horticulture Depart-
ment Ornamental tree and
shrub web site <http://oregon-
state.edu/dept/ldplants>.