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Wednesday, 20 November 2024

The Difference Between Tree Lopping and Pruning

Tree lopping is the act of cutting off entire branches or major limbs from trees. This can be done for a variety of reasons including reducing the risk of damage to buildings or cars, allowing more sunlight into gardens and driveways, or simply to improve the overall look and feel of your property. While a common practice, if carried out incorrectly, it can cause long term damage to the health and future growth of your tree or trees. Choosing the right Arborist to carry out this task is important to ensure your trees are well looked after, as they are an essential part of our landscape.

Unlike pruning, tree lopping is a more drastic and extensive approach to trimming branches and limbs that involves cutting large sections or even whole parts of the tree to significantly reduce its size. This makes it suitable for situations where there is a clear need for immediate hazard mitigation such as trees that are threatening nearby structures or overhanging power lines.

However, if you’re looking to have your trees trimmed, it is important that you understand the difference between tree lopping and pruning as the distinctions can have a significant impact on your tree’s well-being. Pruning is a more targeted and precise process that involves carefully removing dead or diseased branches, shaping the canopy for aesthetic purposes, improving sunlight penetration, and encouraging healthy tree growth. It is best performed by a certified professional using the proper tools to maintain the integrity of the tree’s structure and shape.

In contrast, a tree that is lopped leaves open wounds that are prone to infection by bacteria, pest infestations, or diseases that may want to invade the trees and affect its health. The open wounds that are created by lopping also prevent the tree from releasing the chemicals that protect it against pathogens and other threats.

A lopped tree is also starved of its energy reserves. It will try to create new shoots as quickly as possible in order to feed itself but this will be at the expense of its existing energy which will eventually lead to a decline in the health and appearance of the tree, or even death.

Lopping a tree also causes unnecessary stress on the remaining limbs and trunk. This can be particularly damaging to young or newly planted trees, and can result in the formation of epicormic growths (new branches or limbs that grow from the base of the original limb or branch).

If you are considering having your trees lopped, it’s best to consult a qualified professional Arborist to assess your needs and recommend the best course of action. As a general rule, it’s better to stick with the pruning technique for your trees as this will benefit their long-term health and longevity.



source https://treetechvictoria.wordpress.com/2024/11/21/the-difference-between-tree-lopping-and-pruning/

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