On Nov 27, 3:38 am, billwilliams billwilliams.
wrote:
Hello. Four years ago I planted a christmas tree in the garden. At the
time it was 6ft tall, it has now reached around 12ft.

If I cut the top six feet off the tree, will it recover?

Many thanks

--
billwilliams

Andy comments:

I'm not sure what "Christmas tree" means since evergreens of all
types are used for this. Around here, in Nawth Taxes, we have a
LOT of red cedar, which grows wild in fields, that are used for Xmas
trees.
That being said, I have been growing and shaping red cedar for
two decades. It can be trimmed into all sorts of shapes, from
hedgerows to large, mound shaped decorations. I have to trim
them 3 or 4 times a year, and stay on top of it, but they are very
do-able if you want to use them as various ornaments.

Topping the tree doesn't hurt it a bit (red cedar) but seems to
force it to grow out horizontally. New shoots will try to come out
the top to continue, but they are easy to control with hedge
clippers.

If they grow tall, one can cut off the lower branches at the trunk
to about
8-10 feet above ground, and they make excellent trees that have a
trunk
that doesn't block the scenery.... They give good shade, and they
don't
shed leaves all over the place....

The only problem with red cedar is that it is a very slow growing
tree, and may take several years to get to the hedge, shape, or
height you want. On the other hand, once it is established, they
are very hardy thru drought etc.....

I dig them up in vacant fields and lots when they are about a foot
high, and have had the best luck transplanting them in January. Lots
of water for the first year, then they take care of themselves....

Just my experience. I don't know how well it applies to other types
of "Christmas trees"...

Andy in Eureka, Texas