Why Tree Lopping is a Bad Idea

Lopping is the cutting off of branches, limbs or sections of trees with the intention to reduce the height and spread of a tree, address safety concerns or achieve aesthetic goals. While there are several reasons why Tree Lopping is a bad idea, the main ones include:

1. Leaving Open Wounds

The open pruning wounds that are left behind by lopping can provide the perfect breeding ground for disease, infection and pest infestation. This is because lopping removes the tree’s ability to chemically defend its wounds against pathogens, which are prone to entering through open wounds and causing disease and decay.

2. Starving the Tree

By removing a significant percentage of a tree’s crown, lopping causes the tree to go into shock and attempt to reproduce what it has lost. This stress can rob the tree of its energy reserves, which may ultimately lead to its death.

3. Damage to the Roots

When large portions of a tree are lopped off, the remaining roots are exposed to high levels of UV radiation and heat. This can lead to root rot and even the death of the remaining parts of the tree. This is especially true for roots located near the ground.

4. Unstable Branches

The new growths that emerge from a lopped tree are poorly attached, which makes them unstable and more likely to break and cause injury or damage to people, property and cars. This also puts the tree at risk of falling and can be a fire hazard to your home or surrounding properties.

5. Devaluing Your Property

Overgrown trees can be a tripping and climbing hazard, obstructing driveways and roads and can damage property or structures. However, instead of opting for tree lopping, an arborist can professionally prune and trim a tree to promote healthy, safe and stable growth.

6. Stressing Your Trees

Tree lopping can have long-lasting and damaging effects on a tree’s health, including promoting disease, reducing its ability to feed itself, making it vulnerable to pests, insects and other diseases and obstructing the flow of sunlight and air around the tree. Professional tree loppers use a detailed process to carefully cut off sick, dead and dying branches while maintaining the shape and size of the overall tree.

By contrast, tree pruning is a careful and thorough process that only removes branches that are dead or unhealthy in accordance with Australian Arboriculture standards. This prevents disease, insect infestation and other problems from spreading to the rest of the tree. This also allows the tree to absorb nutrients and sunlight in a more efficient way.

source https://treeaestheticswa.wordpress.com/2025/06/17/why-tree-lopping-is-a-bad-idea/