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How to Shorten Evergreen Trees
How to Shorten Evergreen Trees. The practice of shortening or topping an evergreen tree should be done only in dire circumstances. Shortening any type of evergreen can result in the becoming unhealthy or dying from lack of foliage. Their foliage is where they photosynthesize. However, sometimes trees planted underneath utility lines or near other...
The practice of shortening or topping an evergreen tree should be done only in dire circumstances. Shortening any type of evergreen can result in the becoming unhealthy or dying from lack of foliage. Their foliage is where they photosynthesize. However, sometimes trees planted underneath utility lines or near other structures must be shortened. Pruning your evergreen when it is in dormancy during the winter can prevent the tree from experiencing pruning shock and also reduce the risk of the tree contracting a fungal disease.
Things You'll Need
Pruning saw
Denatured alcohol
Dip your pruning saw into a mixture of 70 percent denatured alcohol and 30 percent water to sterilize your pruning tool as recommended by the Northern Eastern State and Private Forestry offices. Sterilize your pruning saw in the mixture in between cuts to prevent spreading harmful pathogens.
Cut off competing leaders to reduce the height of the tree and maintain a healthy main leader. A main leader is a horizontally growing branch that has an even amount of side branches. Make a 45-degree angled cut near the branch collar or swelling near the trunk.
Prune the main leader to the height that you need to shorten your tree. Cut side branches, so that they are 4 to 6 inches shorter than the main leader of the tree. Continue cutting back the side branches to achieve a pyramid-shaped tree.
Remove any branches that are rubbing together or making the evergreen uneven. It is important especially after cutting down the main leader to keep the tree even to reduce the risk of it falling over.
Cut off any branches that look diseased or damaged. Discolored needles, spots on leaves or swelling in branches indicate the tree has contracted a fungal disease.
