Can you trim conifer trees?
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Correspondingly, how do you prune a conifer tree?
Steps
- Prune conifers in late winter or early spring.
- Choose sharp, correctly-sized tools.
- Disinfect the pruning tools before using.
- Identify which branches can and should be cut.
- Cut the branches at a 45° to 60° angle, in the correct location.
- Make two cuts into each branch.
One may also ask, how do you reduce the height of a conifer tree? The goal of conifer pruning should be to reduce the tree's mass "windsail" without reducing its size. Proper thinning does that. In practice, most tree toppers don't stop at a 15-foot reduction and a 4-to-6-inch diameter cut. They prefer to reduce the height of a tree by one-third to one-half.
Similarly, it is asked, how often should you trim conifers?
Decorative Pruning Trimming conifers to shape them or maintain a smaller size is also safe any time, as long you're trimming no more than 10 percent of each tree. Heavier maintenance or decorative pruning is typically best performed during the dormant season -- winter through early spring.
Can you cut the top off an evergreen tree?
If you want to keep your evergreen tree a particular height, you need to prune it every year or two. When pruning includes the top, it can result in a weakened tree. When the top of an evergreen is cut, it grows multiple new shoots from the cut, causing a fork or prong look.