We carry out crown reductions where mechanical stress on individual branches is too great, making it lighter and easier to bear its own weight. Where necessary, we also employ this method to reduce the effects of shading and light loss.
What is crown reduction
Let’s start with the term crown. This is the overall shape of the tree which describes the outer tips of the branches and leaves. Sometimes a tree will outgrow its position. This can be in instances where the tree is growing into power lines or overhanging a house or is significantly taller than a house and so has the to deal with the full force of the wind. Crown reduction can reduce the sail effect of the wind as can crown thinning, more on that later.
How much is taken off in a crown reduction?
This where opinion will vary depending who you talk to. A crown reduction is a light prune removing peripheral branches. The main structure of the tree and all the major branches should remain untouched unless there are good grounds to do that e.g., storm damage. In essence you should have a similar but smaller outline. Normally I would recommend 15% as a good guide this will obviously vary according to species of tree. Some trees can cope with hard pruning such as willow other trees can only deal with a light superficial prune such as silver birch.
The Benefits:
Crown reduction procedures will make the tree more suited to its immediate environment.
By removing outer foliage, there will be less mechanical stress acting on both individual branches and the tree as a whole, so the tree will be stronger and better adapted to the space. When combined with crown lifting and crown thinning, the end result will be a lighter, more open space in and around the tree.
Reasons for a crown reduction
As trees mature, they naturally produce deadwood which can snap off at any time, if the tree is competing for light the shape of the crown can be compromised. The direct benefit of crown reduction services is in storm conditions the tree is made safer and less prone to branches falling off and damaging either person or property. The best approach I say to my customers in Manchester is to think of formulating a five-year plan, for employing crown reduction services. So, on a five year cycle the tree gets crown reduced and the potential risk gets significantly lowered.
When is a good time to get a tree crown reduction?
Most people would say late autumn and winter, and that would be true of many trees but not all. Lime trees for example are prone to the frost on new cuts so late summer after any blooms is a safer time for a tree reduction of this type of tree.
Is a crown reduction beneficial for the tree?
New growth is encouraged through phototropism. So short answer yes. When a tree is producing juvenile growth, the tree will naturally have a lot more vigour. When there is a lot more vigour in the tree the tree is naturally more pest and disease free.
How does crown reduction help with fighting disease?
If the tips of the branches have a disease attacking them then removing that from the rest of the tree prevents further spread of the disease. This also helps stop the spread to neighbouring trees in the area.
Read more about Tree Crown Reduction.
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