Pruning is the most common tree maintenance procedure. This is usually carried out to maintain their safety, health and aesthetics.

The County Tree Care team has a in-depth knowledge of pruning techniques with an understanding of how the tree responds to each cut. All cuts do damage to the tree, but improper pruning can cause serious damage and even shorten the tree’s life.

Formative pruning

Formative pruning is required in the early stages of a trees life to provide healthy shape and structure. Quality formative pruning should help avoid dangerous growth and expensive corrective work when the tree matures.

Crown thinning

Tree thinning is ideal for trees that are very dense with foliage and prevent light from passing through, consequently creating a darkened or dominated area. The tree thinning method requires the even removal of branches from within the trees crown all the way through. This in turn will allow better air circulation (helps against disease) and more light to pass through the trees canopy without affecting its natural shape or structural integrity.

Crown reduction and re-shaping

A Crown reduction also known shaping is different from crown thinning in the respect that it is a reduction of the size of the canopy not its density. A professional tree surgeon should be able to should keep the natural shape of the whilst reducing its overall size by the specified amount. You should not remove the canopy too much as this may lead to a variety of future problems. One of our expert team will be happy to advise you on suitable options dependent on the species and health of the tree.

This process may be carried out for a number of reasons:

  1. The tree maybe too large for its permitted space.
  2. The overall size of the tree maybe too heavy for its species ie; Ash trees are very susceptible to strong winds or snow so crown reduction and re-shaping could help prevent the overloading or breaking of limbs and branches.
  3. If a tree is not structurally sound due to being unbalanced or too heavy in any given direction then crown reduction or re-shaping will accommodate its longevity.
  4. The tree may simply be out of shape.

Crown cleansing (Deadwood Removal)

Crown cleansing is the pruning out of dead, diseased or dying wood, split and broken branches, crossing or rubbing branches and unsightly epicormic growth (otherwise known as sucker shoots or water sprouts). This method of tree pruning comes as standard when we are employed for crown thinning and crown reductions/shaping.

Crown lifting

Crown lifting is the removal of lower limbs from the lower part of the tree’s crown, lifting the crowns overall height from the ground. The process is generally performed to ensure vehicles and people can pass safely without causing accidents. It may also used to clear branches from buildings and other structures.

Based in Fleet, Hampshire we regularly operate in Hook, Farnham, Camberley, Farnborough, Frimley and Woking but we are happy to provide our expert Tree Pruning Services across the south east.