The Dangers of Tree Lopping

Tree Lopping is often seen as a quick way to get a lush looking garden and can be used for a number of reasons from aesthetics to health. However, what many people don’t realise is that tree lopping can cause significant and long-lasting damage to your trees.

Tree Lopping is a pruning technique that involves cutting back large branches or entire sections of a tree, usually for the purpose of reshaping, reducing height or to correct an unsafe structure. It is a very intensive method that can leave the tree exposed to various issues like rot, pests and disease. It is generally performed with very large tools such as saws, unlike tree pruning which requires smaller tools like secateurs or shears to cut only specific branches and twigs.

While the aim of reshaping is generally a good one, the techniques used in lopping are often harsh and can actually do more harm than good. This is due to the fact that when a whole section of a tree is removed it can cause stress and imbalance in your tree, leaving you with a damaged, unhealthy and dangerous tree.

In addition to this, removing too much of the canopy can also deprive your tree of essential energy reserves by denying it sunlight, causing the tree to burn through its stored resources trying to create new growth in an attempt to balance itself. This can also lead to irreversible damage, including structural problems and sun scald.

The open wounds left behind by lopping also leave the tree vulnerable to pest infestation and infection. This is because they reduce the ability of a tree to chemically defend itself against pathogens.

The most important difference between pruning and lopping is intention. Pruning is usually done on a regular basis to help maintain the shape and health of your tree, while lopping tends to be a more drastic approach to an unsafe or overgrown tree and is usually only done in emergency situations to prevent damage. Therefore, if you’re considering either of these services, we suggest consulting with your local arborist to ensure the right decision is made for your garden.

source https://realtreesolutions.wordpress.com/2025/04/04/the-dangers-of-tree-lopping-2/