Never cut the top portion off a pine. ... Removing the top of a pine tree significantly raises the chances of tree disease and death. Many pine trees that are topped sicken and die, necessitating tree removal. A pine that has had its top removed will not recover and produce a new top.

How do you stop a pine tree from growing taller?

Cut the crown down to a bud that is facing north. The remains should be about 8 inches long. If you're cutting deep, keep moving down the trunk to a spot that is just above a whorl. Don't cut between whorls, and don't cut more than 20 percent of the tree's overall height.

Can you shorten a pine tree?

The best time for pruning pine trees is in spring, but you can prune to correct damage any time of year. Although it's best to take care of broken and mangled branches right away, you should avoid pruning in late summer or fall whenever possible. ... Trimming pine trees to shorten the branches is usually a bad idea.