Underlying Beliefs and Attitudes About Topping Trees

James R. Fazio; Edwin E. Krumpe

doi:10.48044/jauf.1999.028

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Table 1.

Sociodemographic profile of decision-makers responsible for topped trees on private property in the U.S. Inland Northwest. (All data in percentages; n = 83.)

Gender	Age	Highest level of education	Annual household income (US$)
Male (55%)	18–29 (1%)	Under 12 years (8.5%)	Less than $20,000 (11%)
Female (45%)	30–39 (23%)	High school degree (63.5%)	$20,000-$40,000 (46%)
	40–49 (18%)	College degree (19.5%)	$40,000-$60,000 (24%)
	50–59 (12%)	Advanced degree (8.5%)	Above $60,000 (18%)
	60+ (46%)		No response (1%)

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Table 2.

Reasons given for why residents top or allow their trees to be topped.^*

Reason	Number	Percentage	Reason	Number	Percentage
Reason conjectured by area arborists			Reason given by homeowners/tenants
Tree too big		47%	Tree too big		57%
Fear	8		Fear for house	20
Safety	4		Too “messy” (leaves)	7
Fewer leaves to rake	1		Reduce wind danger	6
Not specified	10		Too much shade	5
			Dangerous	2
			Keep it short	1
Ignorance/susceptible to solicitations	7	15%
Storm damage	4	9%	Storm damage (broken and/or dead limbs)	17	24%
Routine; “the thing to do”	4	9%	Routine; was done previously previously	4	6%
Other		20%	Other		13%
Utility lines	3		To prevent aphids	3
View enhancement	3		Likes appearance	2
Likes appearance	1		Miscellaneous	5
Miscellaneous	3
Totals	47	100%		72	100%

↵* Trees in this study were specified as those not under or near utility lines.

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Table 3.

Tree-care test scores from residents who topped or allowed their trees to be topped.

Question^*	Percentage responding correctly
1. Should trees be fertilized at least once a year?	48%
2. Will a (topped) tree be safer, i.e., less likely to become a hazard and hurt someone or damage property?	4%
3. If a tree is (topped), will it be invigorated because its roots then have to feed fewer limbs?	11%
4. If a tree is (topped), will there be a beneficial effect on the tree from more sunlight getting in?	5%
5. Is (topping) a good way to prevent insect or disease problems?	13%
6. Do (topped) branches close over and seal by the growth of new wood?	24%
7. Will (topping) result in better root growth?	7%
8. Proper pruning cut (selection of correct illustration)	30%

↵* Questions were actually worded as statements toward which an “opinion” could be expressed. Also, the words “topped” or “topping” were not used. Instead, questions 2–7 were asked in terms of the tree on the person’s property that had received “treatment.” In all cases, the answers to these questions should be “no.”

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Table 4.

Policy or guidelines for topping reported by 19 U.S. Inland Northwest tree care companies

Guideline	Number reporting
If tree is a hazard	6
Storm-damaged tree	4
If customer insists	3
Certain species only (e.g., poplars and fruit trees)	3
To open up views	2
Decision up to arborist	1
If tree has been topped in past	1
No policy	1