GET QUOTESCrown Reduction Services Across the UK for Healthier, Beautiful Trees
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Edited by Ali Lijee Edited by Ali LijeeHave you been searching for “tree crown reduction” in the UK? If your tree’s gotten quite top-heavy, too dense, or looks misshapen, you may be considering our tree felling service. Generally, you should avoid doing so unless absolutely necessary.
Quite often, the best - albeit drastic - method of restoring the appearance and shape of your tree is to have a tree surgeon perform a crown reduction. This guide is intended to inform you about crown reduction services in the UK and how they can benefit your tree(s).
Table of contents
- What is tree crown reduction?
- Why is crown reduction needed?
- Types of tree crown reduction
- The tree crown reduction process
- The best season for tree crown reduction
- Professional tree crown reduction vs DIY: how to decide
- How to get tree crown reduction near you
- Tree crown reduction in the UK: frequently asked questions
- Get a tree crown reduction quote today
What is tree crown reduction?
Tree crown reduction is a service provided by most tree surgeons and arborists in the UK. Before describing the task itself, it’s important to understand what the tree crown is and why it’s necessary for the vitality of the tree.
What is a tree crown?
A tree crown is the above-ground parts of the tree canopy that include things like foliage, fruit, nuts, stems, and branches. It serves an essential part in the tree’s biology.
Through the process of photosynthesis, the tree’s crown area collects carbon and converts it into sugar. In turn, the sugar becomes cellulose and lignin which are essential for the tree’s growth and development. The sugars are also transported inside of the bark (the phloem) of the tree, going where needed and remaining stored when not needed.
From the roots, water and nutrients from the soil are collected and transported up the tree through vessels inside of the tree (the xylem). The tree uses both the sugars from the crown and nutrients and water from the roots to produce fruit and to reproduce.
What is tree crown reduction?
Tree crown reduction is a reduction of the crown area of the tree, either in height, width, and/or density. It is a form of selective pruning done for particular reasons, such as securing the tree’s structure and equilibrium, aesthetics, increasing light penetration, reducing wind resistance, increasing clearance under the tree’s canopy, to protect homes and people, or for the general health and well-being of the tree.
Crown reduction is often considered a drastic but sometimes necessary tree surgery service. Furthermore, most trees do not require crown reduction, but those that do can benefit greatly from tree crown reduction from qualified tree surgeons and arborists near you.
Why is crown reduction needed?
Tree crown reduction is sometimes necessary for reasons regarding the tree’s structure, overall health, and aesthetics. Here are some of the most common reasons to get crown reduction in the UK for your tree:
- Deadwood removal and disease control: pruning away dead, diseased, or decaying wood from a tree can make way for new and abundant growth.
- Reduce interference with property and utility lines: some trees may interfere with overhead telephone and power lines. Crown reduction can be used to prune these branches away from utility lines.
- Add clearance for people and/or vehicles: crown lifting (aka crown raising) is commonly used to create clearance for people and/or vehicles to pass underneath. This is particularly useful for overhanging branches above roads and walking paths.
- Removal of cracked or dangerous branches: damaged branches can pose a significant hazard to people and property. Pruning away cracked branches eliminates hazards whilst encouraging regrowth.
- Decrease shade and light penetration: homeowners may wish to increase sunlight with crown thinning or may be required to do so by a neighbour as a legal entitlement under the Rights of Light Act.
- Decrease wind resistance: excessive foliage can lead to excessive wind resistance, which can be hazardous in severe weather conditions and lead to the tree falling over. Crown thinning can allow better airflow and circulation, reducing hazards from high winds.
- Aesthetics: the tree’s crown is often a beautiful silhouette and homeowners may wish to selectively prune their tree crown to restore a better-looking, more balanced crown.
- Increase fruit yields and foliage: as with all pruning methods, the seasonal regrowth can be abundant and encourage your tree to produce more fruit or foliage.
Some specific tree crown reduction methods may also be necessary for veteran trees as an alternative to felling the tree. Whenever possible, consider crown reduction before tree felling.
Benefits of tree crown reduction
Why should you consider crown reduction for your tree? Here are some of the most common reasons:
- Better balance and structural integrity: crown reduction helps ensure that the tree is more naturally balanced and structurally sound. Sometimes, tree crowns grow larger than what the roots can support, so selective pruning is often ideal for balancing the crown’s weight and size.
- Increased safety for people and property: hazardous branches can be pruned away to ensure that they don’t fall onto the pavement, your roof, or on top of you or your neighbours.
- More sunlight penetration and better air circulation: thinning out the interior and/or pruning the outermost branches and stems can help more sunlight peep through the tree’s canopy and reduce wind resistance.
- Prettier trees: trees can be tranquil and relaxing to look at. Crown reduction can make trees look more uniform and visually appealing.
Crown reduction is necessary to increase the tree’s stability and or shape, for the tree’s health and vitality, or for aesthetic purposes
Types of tree crown reduction
Crown reduction is a specific service provided by tree surgeons and arborists. Other types of pruning affect the tree crown and may be preferred depending on the purpose, as listed below:
Crown reduction
One of the most common crown services, crown reduction entails pruning away branches to control the overall size and shape of the crown. Crown reduction is typically used to reduce mechanical stress, increase structural integrity, and to maintain around the same general size and shape of the tree’s crown whilst only removing what is necessary from the outermost branches and stems. The crown will be smaller, but it should not be noticeably smaller by too much.
Crown thinning
Similar to crown reduction, crown thinning involves the pruning of outer branches and stems but typically only small tertiary branches at the edges of the crown. By thinning out the overall density of the crown, airflow and sunlight penetration are increased whilst disease risks are better mitigated. The overall size and shape of the tree should be similar before and after thinning. Frequent thinning is often required to achieve the final desired result.
Crown lifting (raising)
Unlike crown reduction and crown thinning, crown lifting entails the removal of the lowest branches from the tree’s canopy in order to create clearance. Crown lifting makes it safer for people to walk or cars to drive underneath a tree with overhanging branches, thereby increasing accessibility. It also increases light transmission and airflow. Unless absolutely necessary, lifting should not be performed on a veteran tree’s primary branches.
Three of the most common tree pruning types are: crown reduction, crown thinning, and crown lifting
The tree crown reduction process
Every tree crown reduction job is unique. The tree’s age, condition, and species, as well as the season, accessibility to the tree (e.g. confined spaces), and the desired result from crown reduction all contribute to making the job complex but also necessary to resolve specific issues with your tree.
Before commencing any work, it is always important to ensure that the tree is not protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or is located within a Conservation Area whereby felling and pruning are prohibited.
A tree survey conducted by a qualified arborist can ensure the status of your tree, diagnose any health conditions with one or more trees, and assist in formulating the best type of crown reduction.
Crown reduction
Crown reduction for structural integrity purposes should always involve selective pruning of hazardous branches, deadwood removal, and any branches that may be contributing to the tree’s imbalance.
Generally, small branches less than 100mm in diameter should be removed along the outer edges of the crown. The tree’s crown will be smaller, but it should not be noticeably small, and the correct proportions of the tree’s crown to trunk should be respected.
This is highly dependent on the species, but most deciduous trees tend to have a crown making up 60% of the tree (trunk is 40%); coniferous species are often 50%/50%.
Crown thinning
While in many ways similar to crown reduction, crown thinning typically involves removing only small, tertiary branches along the outermost edges of the crown with the goal of reducing density. Many trees can develop excessive density in the canopy, which reduces sunlight penetration to the lowest foliage, creates excessive wind resistance in the event of a severe storm, and can make the crown appear irregular in shape or size.
Thinning will reduce the tree crown’s density but it should not affect its general size or shape. No more than 30% of the tree’s crown should ever be removed.
Crown lifting (raising)
Crown lifting is performed by removing the lowest branches of the tree. More specific dimensions and proportions that should be followed for tree crown lifting can be found in the below graphic:
Generally, the crown of most deciduous tree species should always be at least ⅔ of the total height of the tree (thus, the trunk area without crown should be at most ⅓). In terms of proportions, the area to be pruned during the crown lifting process should not be more than 15% of the total height of the crown.
Percentage of crown vs specific dimensions
Since 2010, it has no longer been industry practice in the UK to adhere to percentages of crown when referring to crown reduction quantities. Instead, it is advised to use specific dimensions in metres, e.g. “reduce height by 1m, lateral spread by 0.75m” or “lift crown to create 5.5m clearance.”
Nevertheless, it can be practical for tree surgeons and homeowners alike to know the approximate portions of a tree’s crown that should be left alone and how much can be reasonably pruned.
The best season for tree crown reduction
All forms of tree pruning cause wounds to the tree. While most wounds can and will heal and grow back abundantly with selective pruning, excessive wounds or large wounds may not heal or may introduce fungal diseases or even lead to the death of the tree.
This is why tree topping, i.e. the act of recklessly removing the crown from the top branches or even to the trunk, is no longer used by responsible tree surgeons in the UK. Crown reduction instead restores equilibrium and a more uniform crown by pruning away smaller branches and avoiding the main branches over 100mm in diameter and the trunk.
The best tree pruning season is highly dependent on the tree species. Generally, most deciduous trees should be pruned after autumn has set in and the fungal sporulation period has simmered down. As the foliage dies off and the tree prepares for winter, careful pruning can often be most beneficial in anticipation of spring, where new seasonal growth can come through abundantly. Avoid pruning in spring to avoid excessive bleeding of sap from the wounds.
Moreover, pruning during the colder months allows the tree surgeon to more clearly evaluate the structure of the crown since no foliage is present on many common species.
Please be advised that this only applies to some common deciduous trees in the UK. Specific tree species may be best pruned in other seasons and consequently it’s best to consult with a qualified tree surgeon or arborist near you for a more detailed answer.
Crown reduction is often best performed after autumn and before spring
Professional tree crown reduction vs DIY: how to decide
Tree pruning is something that homeowners can partake in and enjoy, particularly for small fruit trees where hazards are minimal and there is some room for error. Crown reduction is not something that homeowners should attempt themselves.
Firstly, DIY crown reduction performed in the wrong season and/or with the wrong technique can lead to multiple wounds that may not heal properly, thus harming or even killing the tree. Remedial tree surgery services could be much more complex after realising these mistakes.
Secondly, tree crown reduction often involves scaling large trees which can be quite hazardous. Without proper training and equipment for working at heights, you could be putting yourself and your neighbours at risk of injury.
It’s always best to leave crown reduction to a qualified tree surgeon or arborist near you
How to get tree crown reduction near you
While many gardeners and landscape contractors can help trim your hedgerows and maintain your lawn and garden, tree crown reduction is a far more specialised task requiring the right tools & equipment, expertise, and training to perform properly.
Don’t leave your tree leaning over precipitously or looking bent out of shape. Get no-obligation quotes for tree crown reduction today by using TreeMend.
Get no-obligation quotes for tree crown reduction near you by using TreeMend
Tree crown reduction in the UK: frequently asked questions
How do you reduce the crown of a tree?
The crown of a tree can be reduced in width, height, and/or density with crown reduction, lifting, and thinning services from tree surgeons and arborists in the UK. The method used to reduce a tree’s crown typically involves pruning branches and stems with loppers, secateurs, pruning saws, and/or chainsaws.
How much for tree crown reduction?
According to our tree surgeon price guide, the estimated cost of general tree crown reduction ranges from around £175 to £200 per tree. Note that since crown reduction can vary in complexity, the price could be significantly higher (up to around £1,500 or more). The best way to find out how much crown reduction costs for your tree is to use a platform such as TreeMend.
What is the maximum crown reduction?
Generally, the maximum amount of crown reduction volume permissible for a tree is 30% of the tree’s crown. Excessive pruning can cause too many wounds for the tree to heal sufficiently, so work requiring large amounts of crown removal should be split into multiple growth seasons according to the advice of a qualified tree surgery professional.
What are the benefits of crown reduction?
Crown reduction may improve the appearance, structural integrity, and/or safety of a tree. It can also improve air circulation and allow more sunlight to pass through. Pruning of cracked branches can remove hazards to people and property. Selective pruning can also allow for more abundant fruit yields and more vibrant foliage.
What is the difference between crown thinning and crown reduction?
Crown thinning is best for reducing the density of a tree’s canopy, thereby improving airflow and light penetration. Crown reduction can have these benefits, but it is primarily used for trees with structural stability issues, imbalance from storms or overgrowth of the canopy, or that pose a hazard to people or property.
Is tree topping the same as crown reduction?
No, tree topping is an antiquated method of recklessly removing the top portion of a tree crown, sometimes removing parts of the trunk. Crown reduction removes bulk from the tree crown but without affecting its overall shape or size. Crown reduction is the preferred method and responsible tree surgeons should recommend it over tree felling, whilst never resorting to tree topping or lopping.
What is the crown ratio of a tree?
The crown ratio of a tree is the proportion of a tree’s height that supports the crown to the total height, i.e. the bare trunk and the crown together. For most deciduous tree species in the UK, the crown makes up around 60% of the tree; for coniferous and evergreen trees, the ratio tends to be around 50%.
When to crown lift trees?
Crown lifting may be necessary if clearance is required underneath a tree’s canopy. This may be required for pedestrian or vehicular traffic in the case of trees with overhanging branches above rights-of-way, or simply for safety reasons for trees in private gardens.
How often is crown reduction needed?
Depending on your tree’s condition and the desired goal, crown reduction may require multiple sessions within a year or over several growth seasons. Crown thinning often requires multiple sessions. Crown lifting is rarely needed more than once.
Get a tree crown reduction quote today
If your tree’s gotten a little too large or seems out of shape, you may need to have its crown reduced. TreeMend is your number one platform for connecting with professional tree surgeons and arborists across the UK who offer tree crown reduction services.