Can You Top Off An Arborvitae

You can technically top off an arborvitae, but it’s almost always a bad idea for the tree’s long-term health and appearance.
 
Many homeowners wonder can you top off an arborvitae when it gets too tall or out of shape.
 
The truth is that topping an arborvitae usually leaves you with a permanently disfigured plant that never recovers its natural beauty.
 
If you’ve been asking yourself can you top off an arborvitae without killing it, the answer is yes, but the results are rarely what you hope for.
 
In this post, we’ll look at what really happens when you top off an arborvitae and what you should do instead.
 
Let’s dig into why topping an arborvitae is risky and how to handle an overgrown arborvitae the right way.
 

Can You Top Off An Arborvitae Without Ruining It

You can top off an arborvitae, but doing so almost always ruins its natural shape and structure.
 
Here’s what you need to understand before you cut the top off an arborvitae.
 

1. Arborvitaes Don’t Regrow From Old Wood

The biggest reason you should not top off an arborvitae is that these trees do not produce new growth from bare, old wood.
 
When you cut the top off an arborvitae, you remove all the green, living foliage at the top.
 
The brown inner branches beneath that cut will never sprout new leaves or needles.
 
So that bare, stubby top you create when you top off an arborvitae stays bare forever.
 
That’s why topping an arborvitae leads to a permanent, ugly look that only gets worse as years go by.
 

2. Topping an Arborvitae Destroys Its Natural Form

Arborvitaes have a naturally graceful, pyramidal shape that makes them so popular as privacy screens and accent plants.
 
When you top off an arborvitae, you chop away that central leader and leave a flat, unnatural top.
 
The remaining branches often try to grow upward, creating multiple weak leaders that split or bend under snow and wind.
 
So if you’ve been wondering can you top off an arborvitae and still keep it looking nice, the answer is usually no.
 
The natural form is lost the moment you cut the top off an arborvitae.
 

3. Topping Creates Long-Term Health Problems

When you top off an arborvitae, you open large wounds that invite disease and pests.
 
Decay can easily enter through the cut top of an arborvitae, especially if the cut is large or done in wet weather.
 
Topping an arborvitae also stresses the tree significantly, forcing it to use stored energy to try and recover.
 
This stress weakens the tree’s overall health, making it more vulnerable to infestations and environmental stress.
 
So while you can top off an arborvitae, you’re trading a temporary size fix for lasting damage.
 

What Really Happens When You Top Off An Arborvitae

If you go ahead and top off an arborvitae anyway, here is what you can expect to see in the months and years that follow.
 

1. Brown, Dead Tips at the Cut Point

The exposed cut when you top off an arborvitae will turn brown and remain visible forever.
 
Since arborvitaes don’t cover wounds with new bark like some trees do, that brown cut stays right there.
 
Every time you look at that tree, you’ll see the reminder that you decided to top off an arborvitae.
 

2. Weak, Unstable New Growth

After you top off an arborvitae, the side branches below the cut may try to grow upward.
 
These new shoots are not attached as strongly as the original central leader would have been.
 
Heavy snow, ice, or strong winds can easily snap these weak branches off.
 
So topping an arborvitae can actually make the tree less safe and more prone to breakage over time.
 

3. An Overall Decline in Vigor

Trees need their foliage to produce energy through photosynthesis.
 
When you top off an arborvitae, you remove a large portion of that foliage.
 
This reduces the tree’s ability to feed itself, which can lead to slower growth, yellowing needles, and a general decline in health.
 
So can you top off an arborvitae and expect it to stay healthy?
 
Not really, especially if you have to keep topping off an arborvitae year after year.
 

Better Alternatives To Topping An Arborvitae

Instead of wondering can you top off an arborvitae, focus on smarter ways to manage its size and shape.
 
These methods keep your arborvitae healthy and looking great without the ugly results of topping.
 

1. Trim the Sides Instead of the Top

If your arborvitae is too wide or is touching a structure, trim the side branches back to a natural fork.
 
This keeps the top intact while reducing the overall footprint of the plant.
 
You can safely remove up to one-third of the side growth each year without harming the tree.
 
This is far better than deciding to top off an arborvitae because the top stays green and healthy.
 

2. Use the Central Leader Method for Height Control

If you need to reduce height, avoid cutting the main top off an arborvitae all at once.
 
Instead, cut back the central leader to a strong, healthy side branch that can take over as the new top.
 
This is called drop-crotching and it preserves a natural look while lowering the tree’s height gradually.
 
It’s much gentler on the tree than topping an arborvitae with a single flat cut across the top.
 

3. Plant the Right Size Arborvitae From the Start

The best way to avoid the question can you top off an arborvitae is to choose a variety that matures at the right height for your space.
 
Dwarf and compact arborvitae varieties stay small naturally and never need topping.
 
If you already have a large arborvitae that’s too tall, consider transplanting it or replacing it with a better-sized option.
 
That way you never have to worry about whether to top off an arborvitae again.
 

So, Can You Top Off An Arborvitae

You can top off an arborvitae, but the results are almost always disappointing for both appearance and plant health.
 
Topping an arborvitae leaves permanent brown stubs at the cut point and creates weak, unstable new growth.
 
The tree’s natural shape is destroyed and its long-term vigor declines significantly after you top off an arborvitae.
 
If you need to control the height of an arborvitae, try side trimming, drop-crotching, or choosing a smaller variety instead.
 
These alternatives give you a healthy, attractive tree that never requires drastic topping.
 
So next time you ask yourself can you top off an arborvitae, remember that just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
 
Your arborvitae will thank you for leaving the top where it belongs.