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Thursday, 31 July 2025

What Is Tree Lopping?

Tree Lopping involves cutting off a large section of a tree – this can be anything from the entire top to just the side branches. The primary reason for this is to minimize the size of the tree and its height, which reduces the risk of damage to buildings or other objects in the event of a storm or natural disaster.

However, it’s important to know that the practice of tree lopping should only be carried out by trained and professional arborists who can accurately assess the structure and health of the plant. This is because it can be detrimental to the tree itself, and may lead to further issues like structural problems or insect infestations. The open wounds that are left behind by the process can also allow disease and pathogens to enter the tree, further damaging it and compromising its overall health and safety.

There are many reasons why you may need to hire a tree service, whether it’s because trees are growing too quickly and becoming a safety risk or simply because they are unattractive. Most tree services offer trimming, pruning and shearing as part of their standard service, with the aim to keep your property looking tidy and safe. In addition, they will provide stump grinding services, which removes the remaining stump of a dead tree and prevents it from sprouting new roots and taking up valuable space.

But what’s the difference between these types of tree services and a simple tree lopper? While a tree lopper is untrained, unskilled and usually works for a nominal fee, an arborist is a certified professional who has extensive training and knowledge in the field of arboriculture. They understand the short and long-term effects of their work, and their objectives are based on the best interests of the plants they are working with.

The primary difference between the two processes is that a tree lopper will aim to cut down a large chunk of a tree, whereas an arborist will only remove the branches that are unhealthy or damaged. A good tree lopper will use a technique called ‘hedging’, which is the art of shaping a tree by removing branches at a certain length and angle to encourage healthy growth in a desired direction.

In the case of a tree that is too tall, this can be achieved through shearing. This is the careful removal of a small number of branches, often from the inside of a crown, to make it less bulky and more appealing. The art of pruning, on the other hand, is the art of reducing the number of branches and leaves of a tree without significantly affecting its overall shape or structure.

The vast majority of tree lopping is not done in this way, and instead is aimed at cutting away any dead or overgrown branches that may pose a threat to people or property. It’s easy to see why this is a more appropriate and sustainable approach than just cutting down the whole tree, which can cause major damage and expense if it falls on your home or someone else’s property.



source https://treetechvictoria.wordpress.com/2025/08/01/what-is-tree-lopping/

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