Can I cut a Weeping Yaupon Holly in half (and expect it to live)?

[CharlesLikesTrees]

I have four Weeping Yaupon Holly trees in front of my house with mature boxwoods between them. The Weeping Yaupons have historically been trimmed to mushroom shape; rounded off top and trimmed skirt. They're starting to look like something you'd see at Disney....giant green mushrooms.
Maintenance wasn't bad when they were 5 feet tall, but now they're 16-17 feet tall and maintenance is a significant chore. Can I cut the main trunks at 4 feet and expect them to live and flourish? Basically, start over.
If I can't, I'm going to remove them and put something less demanding in their place.

Thanks for your knowledge!
Charles

 

[Raintree]

It's best just to remove them and start over. If they are 16ft and you cut them to 4ft isn't that a little more than half?

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Thrive? Probably, we always say the only way to kill yaupon is with 5 gallons of diesel and a match... as far as looking good? If you don't like them now, you'll hate them after that, going to be shooter city.