When a tree gets too big, the quick fix many people hear about is to cut it back hard. That is topping, and arborists almost universally say not to do it. Topping can look like a solution, and a crew may offer it cheaply, but it leaves a tree weaker, uglier and more dangerous, especially in a windy place like Salina. This guide explains why and what to do instead.
What topping is
Topping is the indiscriminate cutting of branches back to stubs, or to side branches that are too small to take over. It is sometimes called heading, hat-racking or rounding over. It is different from proper pruning, which removes branches back to their point of origin or to a lateral branch big enough to take over.
What the International Society of Arboriculture says
The ISA calls topping perhaps the most harmful tree pruning practice known, and says it is not an acceptable technique, despite more than 25 years of literature explaining its harm. Its brochure “Why Topping Hurts Trees” gives several reasons.
- It starves the tree. Topping often removes 50 to 100 percent of the leaf-bearing crown, and leaves are the tree’s food factories.
- It can cause sunburn. Suddenly exposed branches and trunk can be scalded by light and heat.
- It invites decay. Stubs leave an open pathway for insects and rot, and few trees can defend the many large wounds topping causes.
- It makes weak new growth. The shoots that sprout are weakly attached and prone to breaking, especially in wind.
- It does not reduce risk. Topping can make a tree more hazardous in the long term.
- It costs more later. A topped tree needs repeated corrective pruning, and if it dies it must be removed.
Topping and wind
The ISA notes that the shoots that sprout after topping are prone to breaking in windy conditions, which is ironic because the goal was to make the tree safer. On a windy prairie, where June 8, 2026 brought a 113 mph gust to Salina Airport, weakly attached regrowth is exactly what you do not want over a roof. Purdue Extension adds that topping leaves woody stubs that cause decay, weak attachments and an increased likelihood of failure.
Topping and liability
The ISA also warns that because topping is considered unacceptable practice, damage caused by branch failure in a topped tree may lead to a finding of negligence in court. It also lowers property value, since a topped tree is treated as an impending expense.
What to do instead
- Crown reduction. Shorten the height or spread by cutting branches back to a side branch at least one-third the diameter of the cut limb, which preserves the natural form.
- Selective thinning and deadwooding. Remove the weak, dead and crossing branches rather than whole tops. See tree trimming in Salina KS.
- Clearance pruning. Lift or shape branches near a roof or line using proper cuts. For lines, call Evergy. See trees near power lines in Salina KS.
- Replace the tree. If a tree needs constant cutting to stay small, it is likely the wrong species for the site, and replacing it may cost less in the long run.
- Remove it. Sometimes removal is the honest answer. See tree removal in Salina KS.
How to spot a topping offer
A company that offers to “take it down to size,” “round it over” or “top it for cheap” is describing topping. The ISA says to be wary of anyone who advertises topping as a service or who uses climbing spikes on trees that are staying, since spikes wound the tree. Ask exactly how the cuts will be made, and ask for ISA certified arborist guidance. See how to hire a tree service in Salina KS and tree service scams and storm chasers in Salina KS.
If your tree has already been topped
A topped tree can sometimes be rehabilitated over several years with careful corrective pruning by an arborist, choosing the best new shoots as leaders. Others are better replaced. Either way, ask a professional to assess it. See hazardous tree assessment in Salina KS.
Common questions about tree topping
Will topping make my tree safer?
No. The ISA says topping does not reduce risk and can make a tree more hazardous in the long term, because the weak regrowth breaks easily and the stubs decay.
Is topping ever acceptable?
Arborists do not accept it as a pruning method. If a tree is too big, reduce it properly, replace it or remove it.
What about trees under power lines?
Do not trim them yourself. Utilities use directional pruning, which removes branches back to a lateral instead of cutting to stubs, and Evergy handles trees touching its lines.
Need a tree looked at in Salina KS?
If you want a professional opinion, request a free tree service quote in Salina KS. Describe the tree, where it stands and what worries you, and send photos if you can. Print the tree check checklist for Salina KS homeowners to walk your property first, or read the tree service FAQ for Salina KS.
