Crown Thinning

Tree Crown Thinning Service

Crown thinning is achieved by selectively removing secondary and/or tertiary branches within the canopy, this can reduce the sail area, while not necessarily having much effect on the overall shape and size of the crown. Crown thinning is a pruning technique used primarily on broadleaf trees. The most common reason for why this practice is carried out, is for increased light penetration and air.

A thirty percent crown reduction retains enough photosynthetic area for healthy growth and the maintenance of defences against dysfunction and decay in the wood. This limit is however, a very arbitrary value, due to the great variability amongst tree species in their capacity to tolerate various cutting treatments.

Crown Thinning Before

Crown Thinning After

If Crown Thinning is undertaken by a competent Arborist (Tree Operative) the exercise is fairly time consuming because the climber will not confine himself / herself to the inner part of the crown because you should go out to the extremity of branches in order to proportionally thin the tree.

Crown thinning, can have undesirable effects if carried out badly or to excess. Excessive opening up of the crown structure may expose individual branches to increased wind penetration and turbulence, increasing the chances of branch failure. This is a particular problem when the inner and lower parts of the crown are heavily thinned, while the outer and higher parts are left densely foliated (lions tailing).

Certain species naturally develop dense inner crowns which can look undesirable aesthetically.

Crown Thinning Testimonial

Thinning 20 year-old bird cherry

“Very pleased I chose Maplebeck Tree Care to carry out thinning of tree. Followed their recommendation for the work, which was carried out professionally, efficiently and neatly by Tom and Ollie. Tree now back to its natural healthy state.”

10/10

October 2021

Crown thinning of a white birch and height reduction on Sequoia

“From: John Tebbs I would like to commend the work carried out by Chris and Ollie of Maplebeck Tree Care. They worked with great skill and professionalism to treat two trees in my garden. They thinned out a white birch and took the top off a sequoia and left both much the better for their new shape, which still looked natural They even came back at no extra charge when they found a birds nest and could not do one of the trees first time. Everything was left tidy and I can be sure that the waste was disposed of legally and in an environmentally friendly way.”

10/10

September 2021

Thinning of canopy and removal of dead wood to weeping ash tree.

“Very efficient and appeared knowledgeable. Pleased with the overall result and would be more than happy to use in the future.”

9.75/10

22nd March 2018