Can I prune my tree to death?

Question: Can I prune my tree to death?

Answer: You bet you can! Especially if your tree is a beech, birch, walnut or any of the pines, spruces or firs. For maximum effect, prune these trees way back, leaving less than two-thirds of the live crown. They will hate you for it.
Heavy pruning of older trees of any species can aggravate existing health problems, encourage unwanted sprouting and certainly will add new stresses. Heading or dehorning (cutting the top out) a large tree is a favorite trick to undermine both the vigor and beauty of a tree.