Topping conifers

[Ferguson system]

44 minutes ago, Richard 1234 said:

I was told not long ago on here that trees shouldn’t be topped

 

 

 

The correct practice is called crown reduction or simply reduction.

[Marc]

You can top em, yes it’s generally harmful, unless trained as a hedge and maintained.

most don’t thought just top regrow repeat until the cycle becomes to difficult due to excessive sideways regrowth.

 

generally for me I give 2 options

 

option 1: Provide qualified team top reduce your conifers in height by 4-6m

cost £3,935.50

 

option 2: Fell to ground level

cost:£1,459.85

 

generally I end up felling a lot of conifers.

[Khriss]

Man after my own heart .... K

[Khriss]

Edward - it is a string question - how long is a piece of string ?? What variables are involved , what issues are at stake, what is tree health situation and it's future role ? K

[Mark Bolam]

You can top em, yes it’s generally harmful, unless trained as a hedge and maintained.
most don’t thought just top regrow repeat until the cycle becomes to difficult due to excessive sideways regrowth.
 
generally for me I give 2 options
 
option 1: Provide qualified team top reduce your conifers in height by 4-6m
cost £3,935.50
 
option 2: Fell to ground level
cost:£1,459.85
 
generally I end up felling a lot of conifers.

Spot on Marc.
I spent many years working for a man, mainly inside stinking conifers, who saw them as a cash cow.
People are sometimes amazed when they discover that a 100% reduction isn't double the cost of a 50% reduction.
They only get option 1 from me anyway these days.

[devon TWiG]

I have topped a few Yew hedges and Western Red Cedar over many years and they regrow from pruning points  .... Leylandii and Lawsons do not, however Leylandii is very resistant to decay and to maintain a hedge it is also wise to always trim BOTH sides as well or every time some one has to  top again it is  wider than before  which makes it harder work .... do a hedge well and you will probably get called back again ......it is bread and butter work for most arborists and I have done loads over the years , I would not say I enjoy it but there is plenty of work to be had doing it !!!

[Khriss]

Yew and cedar hedges are much better ( conservation wise too ) than bloody Leylandii , dunno why people even plant them , K

[Mick Dempsey]

Leylandii are great for nesting birds, provide safe space from corvids etc.

 

Theyre also fast growing hedging (obvs)  and pay a lot of mortgages.

[Marula]

I was told not long ago on here that trees shouldn’t be topped

Your basic back garden variety conifer is a pest, a dirty space consumer that is only good for hiding footballs and empty bottles.

As for the biology side of things, a conifer has a high concentration of turpins in its heartwood, for that reason it makes them susceptible to only a handful of fungi. Cell structure in conifers and hardwood is not the same.

[Mick Dempsey]

1 minute ago, Marula said:

 

Your basic back garden variety conifer is a pest, a dirty space consumer that is only good for hiding footballs and empty bottles.

As for the biology side of things, a conifer has a high concentration of turpins in its heartwood, for that reason it makes them susceptible to only a handful of fungi. Cell structure in conifers and hardwood is not the same.

 

Nonsense, it's a good screen in a world where we have to live closer and closer to each other. Good wildlife refuge (see earlier post) and a good earner for many tree surgeons.