Understanding Bark Tracing: Why It Matters for Wounded Trees
July 23, 2025
Do Trees Grow From The Top or The Bottom?
This is a question you may have asked before. The answer is interesting and it is important for how you have your trees maintained.
How Grass Grows
You may have heard the expression, “like watching grass grow”. Although it might sound boring, if you’ve ever watched grass grow, one thing you’ll notice is that it grows from the bottom.
When you cut grass, the top part you cut doesn’t sprout new growth. Instead, the grass grows from the base. If you look at grass that you cut, a few weeks after you cut it, one thing you’ll notice is that the cut edge is the same. This is important, because if grass didn’t grow this way, but instead grew from the top, when you cut it, its growth would be disturbed, and it wouldn’t live very well.
How Trees Grow
Trees grow in the opposite way to grass. Trees grow from the end of stems and from the top. If you’ve ever had a bird feeder hanging from a branch outside of a window, one thing that you might have noticed is that while the tree may have grown taller, the bird feeder stayed at the same height.
Why Is This Important?
The fact that trees grow from the top and the tips of stems is important for many reasons.
First, if you have anything on a tree, like a bird feeder, you should keep in mind that its height will not change as the tree grows. It won’t ever move up to a higher point, even if that is what you would like.
Second, if a tree has a branch at a certain level, that branch will stay at that level. This is important when it comes to structurally pruning a small tree. If you have a small live oak in your front yard for example, and there is a small branch growing toward the window of your house, that branch is going to stay at that level. This can cause an issue as the tree grows, because that small branch could one day cause an issue for your structure.
Third, if you’ve ever seen a tree topped, you know it disrupts the growth severely. This is because trees have compounds in them that regulate their growth and that promote upright growth. When the top is removed, these compounds are not released, and the growth is affected.
Fourth, although a branch on a tree might not get to a new height, it will get thicker. Trees do expand in girth, both of their trunks and their branches. This is important to keep in mind because of how it impacts the structure of a tree and how it can impact surrounding structures. It is also important to keep in mind if you were ever to tie something around the trunk or a branch.
Because trees grow in a certain way, it is important to have them pruned properly. Having good structure to a tree can help with its strength and can affect how it impacts structures nearby. This is one reason we recommend having professionals like those at ArborTrue prune your trees.
Watching trees grow can be more interesting than watching grass grow and understanding how they grow can help you understand more about how they should be cared for. Hopefully this post has given you a little information as you care for your trees.
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ArborTrue is a science-based tree service company in the greater Houston area. We also serve Austin and other parts of Central Texas. We provide a range of services including tree trimming, tree pruning, tree removal, tree planting, arborist consultations, and more. Call us today at 832-980-8733 (Houston) or at 512-546-3833 (Austin) or reach out to us online to schedule an appointment.
ArborTrue has a dedicated landscaping division, now serving select areas in the greater Houston region—with more locations coming soon. We specialize in organic practices, soil biology, and ecological health to help your entire landscape truly thrive. To learn more or schedule a consultation, contact us at landscape@arbortrue.com.
