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Trimming a pine tree

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From: Darain Schug City: El Paso, IL
Would it be okay to trim off about 3'-5' (feet) from the end of a pine tree branch? I have a pine tree that's grown in the last 3 years. I've read that they won't grow back. This would let me mow up to the tree, without getting too close The tree branches are about 15 feet in length. The type is a white pine tree. Would that be advisable? Thanks.
	Extension Message From: Richard Hentschel Extension Educator, Horticulture DuPage/Kane/Kendall Unit hentsche@illinois.edu
Unless there are secondary branches with needles present, you are correct. Cutting off a branch between whorls will cause the remaining branch to die back to the nearest whorl. Be sure you want to remove branch because there is no going back. If you want to send me a picture of the tree and branch in question, I would be happy to take a look. hentsche@illinois.edu
From: Richard Hentschel City: st. charles, IL
From your off line pictures it looks like you could reduce the length of the lowest pine branches, being sure that enough green is left so there is a future growling point and the branches do not look "stubbed off" Cutting back into the bare branches will leave that look permanently.
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