Stumped on how to kill a tree stump? Clear your yard (and ward off pests in the process) with help from our handy guide ...

Incorrect pruning, particularly “topping,” is the surest way to ruin a tree. If it doesn’t kill the tree outright, it will result in extremely dense growth at the ends of the chopped-off branches.

Unfortunately, there are many ways to kill a tree, so I will try to cover the most common ones here. Incorrect pruning, particularly “topping,” is the surest way to ruin a tree.

Q: Could you provide some basic guidance on how not to kill a tree? I see conflicting information everywhere! Unfortunately, there are many ways to kill a tree, so I will try to cover the most common ...