Raising the Skirt of a Tree - Trimming lower branches to expose trunk of evergreen cedar

Watch Andy trim the lower limbs off his cedar tree to expose the trunk and raise the crown, the skirt or the bottom branches on his evergreen tree. Crown-raising is a technique of pruning that brings space, security, clearance, airflow, beauty through cutting all or part of the lowest limbs on a tree. Most mature trees can handle a light pruning any time during the year, but with smaller, younger trees, or in certain climates, or with specific types of trees, one should research the best time to trim branches. However, this video may help one thinking about shaping one's tree.
Backyard Adventures with Andy Wright is a channel devoted to all-thing gardening and yard care, along with random "adventures" that include statue making, building a pizza oven (coming soon), home entertainment tips, and more. Tune-in for some inspiration and instruction on all things home and yard!
Focus Question: What happens when one raises the crown of a evergreen cedar tree?

[@chariddawn6663]

It looks great and that gave you a lot of extra usable space.

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Yes, it has been nice with both the space and the visual look that raising the crown did.

[@rhinnbuck7766]

You made it look so easy 😅 Great job!! I wouldn’t worry about the bricks. 😂

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Yes, it is now over a year later and no regrets. Thanks for watching!

[@SharonSummerford]

looks great.

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thank you!

[@slmages]

Great job!

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thanks!

[@YAYANDMUSIC]

Looks great !

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thanks!

[@marcelinopacheco6002]

Wow beautiful

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thank you so much

[@MattDelovino]

That looks great! I need to do this to mine this summer!

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

After many months, I have zero regrets and it has added a lot to my yard and that tree's appearance. Go for it!

[@gk9417]

Good job 👍

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thanks 👍

[@jimmyboi4507]

Very nice improvement.

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thanks!

[@flowforever9084]

Great video I have a side row of cedar trees stunting my grass. Need to trim. I thought about cutting a few down. Then something promoted me to come to KZbin to see if it's okay to trim underneath first. Thanks 😊 Yours look magnificent. I ❤️ love it

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

After a year, my tree is thriving and the clearance under the tree is amazing. I really enjoy the look of the bark and trunks that are now exposed.

[@AverageYTer]

Very nice.

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@CBBC435]

It looks nice

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thanks...

[@laffilmfest3759]

I think that is a good idea!...thanks!

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thanks...I have no regrets now after many months. Glad you enjoyed it...

[@laffilmfest3759]

U lost a little privacy but gained a lot of usable space...out trimming my ordimantal grasses today...

[@marcelinopacheco6002]

Greetings from Az

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Hello and thanks for checking out the channel. I hope you find some things useful and enjoyable!

[@MidniteSon]

@@backyardadventureswithandy Looks good, and I like the swing branch! What region is this, the Pacific North West or New England?

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

@@MidniteSon I am in the Seattle-Pacific NW. It's a couple months later now and the tree is doing fabulous.

[@TeAmoCristoJesus]

I was thinking about cutting two I have on each side of my house. I’m a bit concern that it could damage the house structure, they are as close as yours to the front of the house. I really, really love them and watching this video makes me feel like giving them a chance. They aren’t as big as yours, maybe 4-5 feet less and we keep them trim. Any advice, should I worry about them damaging the hose with the roots (can the roots only be cut) or maybe enjoy them a few more years and shaping like you did?… Thank you so much for the video, I hope you could help. Blessings!

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

I've seen a lot of trees trimmed up and survive, so I would try a few feet at a time and see how it responds.

[@patusoro4781]

Magnificent old tree, I can see why you enjoy it so much. Aren't you concerned about having a tree of that size, so close to the house?

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Yes, the tree is wonderful! I am a little concerned, but the nice thing is that the part closest to the tree is near a covered area for my tools, so it is far from the main structures. The problem with trees is that they keep growing...it used to be far away from stuff!

[@patusoro4781]

@@backyardadventureswithandy lol, I hear 'ya on that. I've got 2 big pines that are ... IMO too close to the house. If they ever fell over it would be a mess. A decision 30 years ago by the original owner is now my decision to keep them. 😞 PS Tks for the reply

[@thefishingbarrel6419]

Great video. You mentioned that if you cut the limbs off, you don't get them back. I have a conifer tree that I just want to cut back a little bit because the branches are poking out a little too far. How far will I be able to cut back so that the limb will still survive? Thank you.

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

You ask a good question, and while I am not a tree expert, Whenever I cut a conifer- type tree along with others, I find that spot sprouts and launches new growth in sometimes odd ways and usually up. I have a couple of trees like you mentioned, and I regret where I cut some of these because the tips after a few years have not grown in an eye appealing way. Some of these I wish I would have cut all the way back, and I will probably do that soon, Others, I have to keep pruning and see if I can limit the odd growth.

[@shabbirw]

Hi, what are the tools you used to prune the tree?

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

I have a mini-chain saw, a one-handed saws-all, and pruners. The saws-all does most things!

[@rattratt12]

Did you add the swing?

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Not yet, but the branch blends in well enough that it can wait. It's still just an idea.

[@Ahriman_II]

Thanks for sharing

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thanks for watching!

[@lalalarose1371]

I’ve been doing this but taking me a few days

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

I was just thinking a year later that this trimming was great in a variety of ways...no regrets! Good luck

[@albertdejesus7611]

👍❤

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Thamks

[@stantc77]

I have 2 arborvitae emerald green blocking view in the yard and don’t know what to do ? You have any idea of pruning those ?

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

I have a few thoughts... First, these are challenging to prune on the sides, because if you trim too much to make them narrower, it will turn them into ugly brown views from the trees insides, and they do not fill in very well. You need to trim a little back each year. And, you can top them, but that will mean the tops will launch multiple shoots over time which is OK, but has a different shape and strength to the trees for the rest of their lives. One idea I have not tried, but would consider is sort of a bonsai-look, where you intentionally expose the trunk and leave some branches. It could look really nice and give you better visibility.

[@ravenbishop5232]

Cedar trees near apple trees equal Apple cedar rust.

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

Yes, true!

[@ravenbishop5232]

@@backyardadventureswithandy I planted 4 apple trees two years ago and every cedar tree "every" is infected with the orange globs. Didn't miss a single cedar for several acres.

[@troymitchell1747]

The reason I’m watching your video is it kind of seems like a fire hazard underneath the tree. The house I’m in now the trees are probably close to 50 to 100 years old.

[@backyardadventureswithandy]

That sounds like a beautiful tree(s). I hope this was useful, and I think there are a few strong reasons to consider raising the crown of a tree, and I didn't think of fire-danger when I made this. Anyway, thanks for watching!