Don’t be fooled by a good deal. Never pay in advance. Also, be wary of anyone who seems eager to remove a living tree, unless it poses a hazard. You may be able to get a better price if you schedule in advance. You can also get together with neighbors to offer a larger job to bidding tree services.

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NEWS RELEASE

GREENSBURG TREE COMMISSION—Date

CONTACT: JOHN MAPLE, TREE COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, 000-6216

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAKING SOME OFF THE TOP IS GREAT FOR HAIRCUTS, BUT BAD FOR TREES

Getting a bad haircut is just a temporary condition—the hair grows back none the worse for wear. But removing the entire canopy of a tree, a practice called “topping,” has much more lasting and sometime fatal consequences.

“Topping trees is not pruning,” explains (name of person with title or name of commission). “It is indiscriminate, drastic cut-ting and a reduction in the tree’s energy-producing factory, the canopy.”

Cutting the central trunk and tops of main branches severely weakens a tree by removing both leaves and stored carbohydrates. Topping also reduces a tree’s ability to generate food and energy by photosynthesis. “Topping is really the ultimate in tree abuse. It’s usually done by unqualified and unknowledgeable tree cutters,” says (name of person).

Several conditions can be caused by topping trees.

Unsafe Structure. Topping trees leaves large wounds that are open to decay and insects, ultimately weakening the tree’s structure.

Decline in Health. In addition to losing the leaves’ ability to produce food, topping causes the tree to use valuable food stored in the trunk and limbs.

Decline in Value. Topping destroys the tree’s form and symmetry. Altering the shape, structure and health of the tree by top-ping means a large ornamental tree can lose thousands of dollars in value.

“Most homeowners top trees because they see other trees that have been topped, or they fear a large tree may blow over onto a house or garage,” says (name of person). “A topped tree with damaged and weakened structure is much more likely to blow over than a healthy tree.” (Name of person or name of commission) offers a few tips on avoiding the decision to top trees: