Crown Reduction is the overall reduction in the height and spread of a tree’s crown by pruning back limbs to a growing point. It is usually carried out over the entire main branch system, with selected laterals forming the outline of the new reduced crown shape.

 

 

 

 

 

Crown reduction is a severe form of pruning; its main uses are to:

1. Decrease the weight of potentially dangerous limbs.
2. Rebalance the shape of a tree when the original shape has been deformed caused by storm damage, uneven growth due to another tree growing in close proximity or simply after a bad pruning.
3. Preventing branches interfering with overhead power lines or telephone lines.
4. Preventing damage to property.

Our Aberdeenshire based team of Tree Surgeons will cut back the outer branches so that a layer of foliage is left forming the new canopy (click picture above).  Crown Reduction reduces the sail area of the tree and consequently minimises its impact in strong winds. Limbs are shorter and less likely to fracture when moving in strong winds or when the weight of the foliage and limb can no longer be supported and the limb fails, as can often happen in summer months when trees are in full leaf.

Crown Reduction is usually measured as a percentage of the trees total crown area – thus a 20% reduction would be typical to maintain the shape of a mature Oak or Horse Chestnut, at approximately 40-50 years old. Reductions of over 30% are usually not recommended unless it is the correct course of action for a particular tree – more than 40% and the tree will soon become a pollard and should be managed as such in the future.   This is not the correct course of management for many species of tree that are unsuited to hard pruning.

Crown Reduction should be used with care however as the high number of cuts required can initiate decay.  Crown Reduction is often coupled with Crown Thinning as the desired outcome of reducing a tree’s ‘sail’ area can be achieved by thinning with a lighter reduction.  This combined system puts less stress on the tree.  We will be happy to advise you on the best method to achieve your desired result.

Any woodchip created from this process can either be retained for your own use or removed from site for recycling.

Much of Aberdeenshire is in a Conservation area – many of the trees we work on are covered by Tree Preservation Orders.  We can assist with applications to works on these trees through the e-planning.scot portal as part of our complete tree service provision.

We cover Aberdeenshire & Royal Deeside including Ballater, Aboyne, Tarland, Banchory and Braemar.

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