Reason #4

Weak Limbs

At best, the wood of a new limb that sprouts after a larger limbs is truncated is more weakly attached than a limb that develops more normally. If rot exists or develops at the severed end of the limb, the weight of the sprout makes a bad situation even worse.

(Courtesy of the Arbor Day Foundation)

Reason # 3

Insects and Disease

The large stubs of a topped tree have a difficult time forming callus. The terminal location of these cuts, as well as their large diameter, prevent the tree's  chemically based natural defense system from doing its job. The stubs are highly vulnerable to insect invasion and the spores of decay fungi. If decay is already present in the limb, the opening will speed the spread of the disease.

Reason #2

Shock:

A tree's crown is like an umbrella that shields much of the tree from the direct rays of the sun. By suddenly removing this protection, the remaining bark tissue is so exposed that scalding may result. There may also be a dramatic effect on neighboring trees and shrubs. If the tree thrives in shade and the shade is removed, poor health or death may result.

(Courtesy of the Arbor Day Foundation)

Why should you NOT top a tree?? 

Reason #1

STARVATION: Good pruning practices rarely remove more than one-fourth of the crown, which in turn does not seriously interfere with the ability of a tree's leafy crown to manufacture food.

Topping removes so much of the crown that it upsets an older tree's well-developed crown-to-root ration and temporarily cuts off its food making ability.

(Courtesy of the Arbor Day Foundation)

In Virginia and West Virginia the Bradford Pear is already in bloom...In Michigan, the  Bradford Pear will soon be in bloom with gorgeous white flowers...and while the Bradford Pear has beautiful aesthetics, the beauty does not come without some of the negative growth characteristics of a Bradford Pear...which are: weak unions and included bark; leaving them prone to split, leaving the average life to 30 years or less. However, a skilled arborist can mitigate the risk of losing a Bradford Pear by cabling and adding structural support to the tree. So, please call the experts at Get-R-Cut for all your tree care needs.