We have a 70ft willow tree that we are looking to take aprox 14 feet off the top. Will this cause the tree to die? I have also been advised that there is a special sealant that can be put onto the chopped trunk to prevent decay from setting in - does anyone know if this is the case and if so what I need to buy?
It won't kill it, but it will allow decay into the trunk, which will eventually make the tree dangerous, liable to collapse. No, 'sealants' don't work.
Replacement tops sprouting after topping liable to snap off later. Topping of any kinds of mature trees is never a good idea, and this is in addition a willow - liable to deteriorate and break up or topple at a comparatively early age even when not topped. Links to related discussion found here. http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda Chalker-Scott/Horticultural Myths_files/index.html
Depends on the tree. If it can be reduced to another main limb and the cut is not very big, like 4" cut, that's far different from cross-cutting a main stem with a 10" cut. Doubt you would kill it either way. Too bad those trees couldn't freeze growth in time at maturity.
Thank you all for coming back to me. I found your advice realy usefull as you can probably tell I do not know anything about this and want to check things out before we actually do anything! Thanks again
' I agree that it is a shame the growth cannot be frozen as the tree is really nice and I don't want to loose it - just the top part that is causing the problems' thanks
