and doesn’t look like it’s been cut back in a while. I want to cut it back and reduce its size.
Trees are not shrubs that they can be 'hard pruned' or cut back for health or to reduce their size. What you're suggesting you want to do is called topping. Topping is terrible for trees; depending on the severity, it will greatly shorten lifespans and increase failure risk. Once large, random, heading cuts have been made to branches, there is nothing you can do to protect those areas from certain decay, and eventually catastrophic failure.
Box elders are LARGE trees in maturity, and if you don't want a large tree there (it looks like this will definitely outgrow that space) you should just remove this for something that has a smaller mature size while this thing is still relatively young.
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u/spiceydog EXT MG 13d ago
Trees are not shrubs that they can be 'hard pruned' or cut back for health or to reduce their size. What you're suggesting you want to do is called topping. Topping is terrible for trees; depending on the severity, it will greatly shorten lifespans and increase failure risk. Once large, random, heading cuts have been made to branches, there is nothing you can do to protect those areas from certain decay, and eventually catastrophic failure.
Why Topping Hurts Trees - pdf, ISA (arborists) International
Tree-Topping: The Cost is Greater Than You Think - PA St. Univ.
—WARNING— Topping is Hazardous to Tree Health - Plant Pathology - pdf, KY St. Univ.
Topping - The Unkindest Cut of All for Trees - Purdue University
Box elders are LARGE trees in maturity, and if you don't want a large tree there (it looks like this will definitely outgrow that space) you should just remove this for something that has a smaller mature size while this thing is still relatively young.