Crown thinning is a pruning technique that involves selectively removing branches throughout the canopy of the tree. This common practice increases the amount of light that passes through the tree.
A crown thin removes selected limbs from within the canopy amounting to around 15% of the canopy. The pruning cuts will be small enough to prevent harming the tree and prevent encouraging regrowth.
A completed crown thin will reduce the wind resistance of the tree which improves its strength against storms and strong winds.