How to Downsize a Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

Reducing the height of a Cedar (Thuja)
While ‘topping’ a tree is bad, (cutting a tree back to random points to reduce height, spread and maybe shade), ‘reduction pruning’ (cutting a tree back to a side branch) is often necessary to reduce size and/or prevent storm damage. Sometimes cedar trees such as Emerald Cedar can be bent badly, and pulled open by a weight of ice and snow. October shearing will help to keep the tree small and reduce ‘fluffy bits’ on which ice and snow can sit, pulling the specimen open. If more drastic action is needed, here’s how Sean makes tall cedars shorter!

[@seanjames7085]

Sorry I'm so late replying to this. It can be done at any time of year, but spring is best since the tree branches/twigs are more flexible at that time of year.

[@user-pl4eu5jc5w]

Great job. Your an artist

[@nexingtoncaldwell6381]

My partner thinks that everyone with a lawnmower is a landscaper, neighbor got these guys to cut her arborvitae in half she does nothing to them. I come home he got the same guys to do the same to ours, I get in my feelings every time I look at them, they were so beautiful and now they have this huge chopped up hole, looking awful.

[@seanjames7085]

Terrible! I HAVE remedied this somewhat in the past. If you get above it and prune out the dead growth in the centre, it will fill in. They seem to avoid touching the dead growth. Once it's cleared out, you could also use biodegradable twine to tie some bits together to guide it to fill in. I've even woven branches from either side to fill it in. I usually use an electric chainsaw for this, or I have a small chainsaw attachment that goes on a battery-powered line trimmer body. That gives me reach.

[@Tundra_Guy]

Not sure how you could braid the branches together. Do you have a vid on this showing it?

[@joelrunyan1608]

Good info... I just lopped 2 feet off mine flat top. Good thing is? It needs another foot cut off...

[@seanjames7085]

That IS good. :-) You get a chance to touch it up a bit! Enjoy!

[@carrieann5727]

Is it better to do this in spring or fall?

[@bibit3856]

Now the tree will grow wider with multiple weak branches trying to become the leader. And every time it snows or when there’s heavy rain the tree will look deformed.

[@seanjames7085]

Well, that's the problem really. We've created a cultivar that can't hold it's own over time and falls open in snow storms, this helps reduce/limit that challenge, in my experience anyway.

[@lovenottheworld5723]

Don't torment the poor thing.