Topped trees produce numerous suckers which are attached weakly to the tree.
Suckers growth is fast, resulting in weak wood. A topped or pollarded tree usually will suffer increased disease and weather related problems. Avoid any tree professional who claims topping will reduce the height of the tree. If the height of the tree needs to be drastically reduced, the homeowner would be millions ahead by removing the tree completely and planting a small tree, such as redbud, crabapple, dogwood, amelanchier or amur maple. Copyright 1995 by the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.