Crown Reduction

Crown reduction is the reduction of  the overall bulk or  height of the tree crown. It is usually associated with a percentage figure, which tells you how much of the crown will disappear.

We will alter the overall height of the tree but retain the natural shape of the species, i.e. a large squat tree becomes a small squat tree.

Crown reduction may be used to activate mechanical stress on individual branches or the whole tree, make the tree more suited to its immediate environment or to reduce the effects of shading and light loss, etc. The final result should retain the main framework of the crown, and so a significant proportion of the leaf bearing structure, and leave a similar, although smaller outline, and not necessarily achieve symmetry for its own sake. The cuts should be as small as possible and in general not exceed 100mm diameter, unless there is an over-riding need to do so.

A crown reduction may be necessary in order to:

• decrease water demand of the tree,
• halt the root activity,
• reduce the risk of wind throw (storm damage) or branch failure,
• increase the amount of light,
• improve the shape of the tree,
• or re-balance the crown.