In late winter and early spring, it is common to see crape myrtles in North Texas with all of their canopies and upper branches removed, leaving only standing trunks. Understandably called “topping,” as the top of the tree is removed, this practice leads to twiggy new growth from the ends of the trunks. A year later, the new growth is removed again, and the process repeats itself. While crape myrtles are the most common victims of topping, larger trees can be topped as well. Any trees that survive topping exhibit similar growth patterns of uneven, thin branches growing from larger trunks. The practice of topping trees often comes from an uninformed and misguided attempt to avoid limb breakage, stimulate new growth, and control the size and shape of trees, but topping trees is bad for the trees and causes more problems than it solves.

Why Do People Top Trees?

There are several reasons that people may want to top their crape myrtles or other trees:

• Aesthetics
  • Some people want to reduce the size of a tree for visibility
• Safety
  • It may be thought that removing all of a tree’s branches eliminates risk
• Simplicity
  • It can be much easier just to remove the top of a tree entirely, rather than use proper pruning techniques
• Habit
  • In communities where the practice is common, tree topping can become the accepted norm
• Convenience
  • Without large, spreading limbs, trees do not drop as many leaves, flowers, or seeds
• Turf grass
  • Removing a tree’s canopy greatly reduces the shadow of a tree that may affect turf growth
• Growth Stimulation
  • It is a common misconception that topping a flowering tree causes increased bloom production

Whatever the motivation, however, tree topping is never the best method to achieve the desired outcome, and is actually counterproductive in most cases.

What are Alternatives to Topping Trees?

Depending on your goal, there are different proper pruning techniques that can help shape your trees.

Reducing size

• Raising the canopy and removing upper or outer branches can go a long way toward reducing the overall size of a tree
  • While limb stubbing is not recommended, in certain cases, limbs can be trimmed back from the ends
• Consider replacing oversized trees with species that are better suited to the location and don’t require drastic reshaping

Reducing risk

• Removing all the branches of a tree is not the best way to reduce risk
  • Removing the canopy exposes the trunk to more light and heat, which can cause sunburn and sun scald, both of which can lead to decay and tree deathIn most cases, removing dead, dying, or broken limbs and thinning the canopy’s interior growth is sufficient to prepare the tree for high winds or severe storms
  • Consult an ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified Arborist for an evaluation of your trees’ specific needs

What is the Best Way to Trim a Crape Myrtle?

Whether you are looking for beautiful flowers, a particular canopy shape, or less maintenance effort, crape myrtles, just like all trees, can thrive with proper, natural pruning. While it may take some time to rehabilitate a crape myrtle or other tree that has been topped, even mature trees can be brought back to their natural beauty and health. Consult an ISA Certified Arborist for guidance on your trees’ specific needs.

At Texas Tree Surgeons, we love trees (even the topped ones!) and we love our community! While it may be common in North Texas to top crape myrtles each year, proper, natural trimming is the right choice in any situation. Contact us today to have one of our arborists take a look at your crape myrtles or other trees that may have been topped in the past so that we can help you bring them back to their natural beauty!