Will trimming a crab tree by half, kill it?

Hello, from what I have read, it will probably not kill it but could slow down the growth. Everything says to trim no more than 1/4.

It shouldn't. I'm not an expert, but my father and my husband have no restraint when it comes to "triming" and have yet killed anything. I would watch the new-growth in the spring and trim as needed to even out the shape......

I would think it would survive, I would be sure that it is given some tlc ie— watered if you have a drought situation -so that it doesn’t sustain further stress.

Best wishes in your trees recovery.

I would only trim it one third.

Thanks for your answers

I'm not an expert...but it should come in thicker. Did that to my mimosa tree...it was getting straggly looking so pruned it back and now it is so thick a yr later.

Should be OK , but pruning by 1/3 may be a bit safer . Good idea to prune suckers on annual basis , whether they grow at bottom or from other branches . Also remove any crossed branches that may cause wounds by rubbing on each other allow for insects or disease to enter stems .