How to Trim the Top Off an Evergreen

Evergreen trees like full sun and lots of space.

Most evergreen trees grow with a central branch called a leader. In order for a tree to retain its natural shape, it is important that the leader remain. If you must reduce the size of your evergreen by cutting the top off or if the leader has been damaged, you must re-train a new leader to take its place. This is not necessary for evergreens that do not have a central leader, such as yew, Thuja or juniper.

Things You'll Need

• Hand Pruners
• Loppers
• 2-foot stake
• Twine or soft plant ties

Instructions

Evergreens with a Central Leader

1. Make a sharp, clean cut at the point along the main stem that you need to make shorter. Use hand pruners if the thickness of the branch is ½ inch or less. Use loppers for thicker branches.

2. Attach a stake to the remaining main stem and make sure it extends 1-foot taller than the cut point. Tie it with plant ties in at least two places so it is secure.

3. Bend one of the lateral branches at the new top so that it extends upward to meet the stake. Attach it to the stake with plant ties. The branches are most flexible in spring and this would be the ideal time for this task. However, in case of damage, you may need to do this step other times of the year.

4. Remove the stake and the ties in a year. If the plant ties are too stiff and are left in place too long, they will cut into the bark and girdle the growth, which can eventually kill the tree.

Evergreens Without a Central Leader

1. Remove the top branches as needed, keeping the natural shape of the plant, whether it is rounded, oval or pyramidal. Use hand pruners or loppers depending on the branch thickness. Try to make each cut at a point lower than an adjacent branch so that the adjacent branch's foliage will obscure the cut mark. However, if that is not possible, new growth will fill out and cover the cut mark in a month or two.

2. Prune the remainder of the tree or shrub to balance it with the reduced top so that it has a symmetrical, natural appearance. Do not prune into inner dead wood on arborvitaes (Thuja) or Junipers as new growth will not regenerate from those points.

Tips & Warnings

• Spring is the best time for evergreen pruning.

• If you cannot safely reach the top of the tree, consider calling in an arborist to do the job.

References

• Virginia Cooperative Extension; A Guide to Successful Pruning, Pruning Evergreens
• Washington State University; Pruning Evergreens
• The Morton Arboretum; Pruning Evergreens