"Is it okay if I top my large canopy trees? My tree is too large! Can't I cut it way back like I do my shrubs?"
A tree-topping or cutting back a large tree is not a good idea. Don't make the mistake of thinking that your tall tree is like a large shrub and you can cut it way back. This may actually kill the tree. Trees need their leaves to produce food. The best rule of thumb is to never remove more than 25% of the tree's canopy at any given time. I like to have tree climbers, without spikes on their shoes, go inside a tree canopy and work their way up, and out by lightly thinning cross branches and "sucking" branches. "Sucking" branches are branches that are not a true branch but one that may sprout up from off the main trunk or a primary limb. Having the limbs removed from the inside of the tree's canopy allows heavy winds to blow through the tree and helps prevent the canopy from acting like a "sail" that catches the wind. I also make sure that I don't reduce too much on the inside of a tree and create "lion tails". This can look very bad. Look for and remove any hazard limbs that are weak or touching structures. I also like to be able to see and appreciate the stately beauty of the trunk which might call for some removal of low lying limbs.
If a tree company tells you they can top the tree for you, I would run away from them...fast.
I have seen several tree companies (ones that should know better) kill some really nice, large, canopy trees over time due to improper pruning. Make sure your contractor gives you a few previous references of where he has worked in the past and go look at the work for yourself. Poor pruning on a large asset like a White Oak may take decades to recover or worst, may lead to a slow death of the tree.
"Is it okay if I top my large canopy trees? My tree is too large! Can't I cut it way back like I do my shrubs?"
A tree-topping or cutting back a large tree is not a good idea. Don't make the mistake of thinking that your tall tree is like a large shrub and you can cut it way back. This may actually kill the tree. Trees need their leaves to produce food. The best rule of thumb is to never remove more than 25% of the tree's canopy at any given time. I like to have tree climbers, without spikes on their shoes, go inside a tree canopy and work their way up, and out by lightly thinning cross branches and "sucking" branches. "Sucking" branches are branches that are not a true branch but one that may sprout up from off the main trunk or a primary limb. Having the limbs removed from the inside of the tree's canopy allows heavy winds to blow through the tree and helps prevent the canopy from acting like a "sail" that catches the wind. I also make sure that I don't reduce too much on the inside of a tree and create "lion tails". This can look very bad. Look for and remove any hazard limbs that are weak or touching structures. I also like to be able to see and appreciate the stately beauty of the trunk which might call for some removal of low lying limbs.
If a tree company tells you they can top the tree for you, I would run away from them...fast.
I have seen several tree companies (ones that should know better) kill some really nice, large, canopy trees over time due to improper pruning. Make sure your contractor gives you a few previous references of where he has worked in the past and go look at the work for yourself. Poor pruning on a large asset like a White Oak may take decades to recover or worst, may lead to a slow death of the tree.