Historical clue formulations

• Chops (off) — 2025-05-07
• Cuts (off) — 2023-09-28
• Cuts with shears, maybe — 2020-12-29
• Chops (off) — 2018-09-11
• Removes as superfluous — 2016-12-31
• Cuts (off) — 2016-03-25
• Truncates — 2015-03-14
• Takes the top (off) — 2010-12-08
• Cuts off, as branches — 2010-03-15
• Prunes — 2007-05-11
• Eliminates as unnecessary — 2004-08-06
• Trims a tree — 2002-09-12
• Works on a hedgerow — 2002-03-10
• Prunes — 2001-02-11
• Takes a bough? — 2001-02-02
• Cuts, as branches — 1999-10-12
• Cuts with garden shears — 1998-09-21
• Chops (off) — 1998-08-18
• Cuts off — 1998-08-05
• Trims, as a tree — 1996-07-28
• More than snips — 1994-01-27
• Trims the tree — 1993-12-31