I have cedars hedges that are way too high. How much can I take off the tops so I can better manage them? When is the best time off year to trim? I live in Oshawa On.
Stay out of the old bare or nearly bare branches inside the outer shell. These do not sprout new, replacement growth very well. So you won't be able to take several feet off without risking it having a bald, flat hollow top indefinitely afterward.
What Ron said. Plus, the rule of thumb is generally not to remove more than 20 to 25 percent from any tree each year. You can push this limit with a Cedar hedge and remove up to 50 percent off the top if you need to. It may look wonky for a few years until it evens out.
