Tree Lopping vs Pruning: What's the Difference?
"Lopping" and "pruning" get used as if they mean the same thing in Perth. They don't - and picking the wrong one can leave you with a sicker, more dangerous tree and a bigger bill down the track.
What pruning actually is
Pruning is selective. An arborist removes specific branches - dead, diseased, crossing or badly placed - cutting back to a natural growth point or the branch collar. Done properly it improves the tree's health, structure and safety, and the tree heals over the cut cleanly.
Common, sensible pruning jobs include:
- Deadwooding - taking out dead or dying limbs before they fall.
- Crown thinning - removing some inner growth so light and wind pass through.
- Crown lifting - removing low branches over a path, driveway or fence line.
- Crown reduction - shortening the canopy back to suitable side branches to reduce height and spread.
What lopping is - and why it's a problem
Lopping (sometimes called topping) means cutting large branches back to stubs, with no regard for growth points. It's quick and it looks dramatic, but it causes real damage:
- The tree responds with a burst of weak, densely packed regrowth.
- Those new shoots are poorly attached and more likely to fail later.
- Big open stubs can't seal over, so decay and disease move in.
- Within a few years the tree is often taller, bushier and more hazardous than before.
| Pruning | Lopping | |
|---|---|---|
| Cut location | Natural growth point / collar | Random stub |
| Effect on health | Maintains or improves | Damages, invites decay |
| Regrowth | Controlled | Weak, fast, dense |
| Long-term safety | Better | Often worse |
"But I just want it smaller"
Fair enough - mature trees can outgrow a suburban block, shade the pool or drop into the gutters. The right tool is a crown reduction, not a lopping. It brings the height and spread down while keeping the tree's shape and health. For the wrong tree in the wrong spot, full tree removal is sometimes the more honest answer.
Get advice that protects your tree
Not sure what your tree needs? San's Tree Service will look at it and tell you straight - prune, reduce, or remove - with a free, no-obligation quote. Call (08) 9560 6103 or see the suburbs we cover.
Frequently asked questions
Is tree lopping bad for trees?
Heavy lopping - cutting branches back to stubs - is generally bad. It forces weak, fast regrowth, opens the tree to decay and disease, and often makes it more dangerous within a few years. Proper pruning to the right points keeps the tree healthy.
What's the difference between lopping and pruning?
Pruning removes branches selectively at natural growth points to improve health, shape or safety. Lopping is the indiscriminate cutting of large branches back to stubs, usually to reduce size quickly. Pruning is the arboriculturally correct approach.
Can you reduce the size of a tree without lopping it?
Yes. A crown reduction shortens branches back to suitable side growth, lowering the height and spread while keeping the tree's natural form and health. It's the right way to make a big tree smaller.