Get more light and more space while retaining the full health of a tree
Are you suffering over a dense tree canopy? Maybe a large tree is obstructing a building or has branches that are becoming problematic?
Tree pruning is one of the easiest ways to manage a tree so that you’re happy and the tree is happy.
We offer many different types of pruning including crown reductions, crown raises, crown thinning, pollarding and deadwooding.
We will assess your tree/s and offer the best advice.
Tree Pruning and Pollarding
“I was very pleased with the professional and competent completion of all the work required after recent storm damage in the garden . Simon and Lewis were very courteous and helpful.”
February 2020 by a customer in Southampton
Get more light and more space while retaining the full health of a tree
Are you suffering over a dense tree canopy? Maybe a large tree is obstructing a building or has branches that are becoming problematic?
Tree pruning is one of the easiest ways to manage a tree so that you’re happy and the tree is happy.
What is Crown Reduction?
A method for thinning out and pruning the canopy of a tree, crown reduction involves removing an array of branches including dead or diseased branches, in order to create a thinner canopy with a reduced overall spread.
Crown Reduction Example


The benefits of crown reduction are many:
- Preserving the natural shape: There’s nothing quite like living with good green spaces and trees and so it can be difficult to know whether to fell an inconvenient tree or not. With Crown Reduction you simply don’t need to compromise the tree. Instead the canopy is thinned, providing considerably more light below and protecting surrounding buildings.
- Increases light: Dense canopy trees are vibrant and beautiful but very adept at blocking light. If you want more light coming through windows or into spaces like gardens and playgrounds then Crown Reduction is an ideal step to take.
- Reduces debris: Come autumn and winter, most trees drop their leaves as well as twigs and small branches. By thinning the canopy first, this seasonal debris will be much less. Crown reduction in this manner can save councils and companies a lot of money as they don’t need to pay for as much debris clearance. In car parks, mess and the risk of damage to cars is significantly lowered.
- Keeps tree healthy: Trees can grow branches that are even inconvenient to themselves, especially when branches are relying on each other for support. Crown reduction can improve the stability and health of a tree by reducing the size of these misaligned branches. Diseased and rotting branches can also be removed.
At Climbers Way Tree Care we’ll assess your tree/s and offer only the best advice. All our jobs are completed by trained professionals who work quickly, safely and tidy up after themselves.
Don’t just take our word for it. We have hundreds of reviews on Checkatrade.com!
Reduce and reshape the crown of an established oak tree.
“Very professional team tidied up the oak tree beautifully and cleared the site on completion.”
a customer in Southampton, Hampshire
20th October 2016 byTree reductions x2
“Excellent service, good price, friendly, did exactly what they said.”
a customer in Southampton, Hampshire
7th October 2016 byTree crown reduction
“Courteous, good quality, competitively priced.”
a customer in Southampton, Hampshire
20th July 2016 byReduced a very large willow tree.
“Climbersway Tree Care proved themselves to be a proficient team who carried out the work in a highly skilled and professional manner. They were courteous, safety conscious and very tidy throughout the whole procedure. I would highly recommend them.”
a customer in Southampton, Hampshire
20th September 2014 byContact us now to find out how we can achieve your needs.
What is Crown Raising?
Crown raising, also known as crown lifting, is the process of removing lower branches of trees so that the space underneath is of the desired amount. It’s a common method of keeping a good tree but making it fit in with the environment in a more practical way.
Crown Raising Example


Examples of crown raising situations:
- Making space in your garden. Crown raising clears away those messy lower branches so you can put down a picnic table, a swing or just make your garden look much bigger.
- Enabling clear sight along roads and streets. Tree-lined streets are beautiful and very popular in the UK but these trees must be managed responsibly. When trees have lower branches, drivers’ vision may be compromised and crown raising is an excellent way to retain clear vision while making the most of wonderful trees.
- Clearing paths, playgrounds and car parks. Overhanging branches can cause safety issues for pedestrians, playing children and to cars. Crown raising keeps the lowest branches well away from people and cars below while still retaining the tree’s health and canopy, itself providing shade and shelter.
- Protecting buildings. Trees often have thick and powerful branches which can brush against or damage buildings. The answer doesn’t necessarily have to be removal of the tree and in many cases a crown lift will do the job perfectly.
When to get a Crown Lift
Crown lifting can usually be performed at any stage in the tree’s life, however, the best tree management is to help the tree grow into a practical shape from its youth. Early crown lifting means little or no scars on the tree and may prevent the tree from needing further crown lifting in the future.
But don’t just take our word for it. We have hundreds of reviews on Checkatrade.com!
Crown lift on a big spruce and cut back on a Leylandii
“Fantastic job. Really delighted. Spotless garden on completion. Friendly, knowledgeable, professional team.”
a customer in Southampton, Hampshire
9th May 2016 byReduce and reshape overhanging branches on 3 Oak trees
“Very competitively priced, friendly service, left area clean and tidy, experienced tree surgeons. I would recommend and use again.”
a customer in Southampton, Hampshire
1st October 2015 byRaising crown of tree and thinning, Oak reduction.
“Excellent work by polite, cheerful people, tidied up very well. Would use again and heartily recommend them.”
a customer in Southampton, Hampshire
12th August 2014 byFelled one tree, reduced the head on another, topped some tall conifers, tidied hedge.
“Great price – far lower than 2 other tree surgeons I got quotes from (I did query their price before accepting it). Arrived when they said they would, made sure of what I wanted doing and got on with the work safely. Second team came later to clear up. Will be using again and would recommend without hesitation.”
a customer in Southampton, Hampshire
4th April 2014 byContact us now to find out how we can achieve your needs.
What is Pollarding?
Pollarding is a pruning system in which the upper branches of your tree are removed in order to promote a dense head of foliage and branches. It helps to maintain trees at a predetermined height.
What is Crown Thinning?
Crown thinning is the process of 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.
Advantages to Crown Thinning
- More light is allowed to pass through the tree brightening up your garden.
- The ability of the tree to stand against adverse weather conditions is increased.
- Crown can be selectively thinned for aesthetic reasons ensuring a well spaced and balanced branch structure.
Crown Thinning Example


What is Deadwooding?
Deadwooding is the removal of dead limbs and branches from a tree. Light deficiency, pests and disease damage to root damage are all part of a range of reasons why branches can die off. Deadwooding should be carried out for safety as dead branches will eventually decay and fall off. This process is normally slow, but can be shorted by high winds and extremities of temperature. This is particularly crucial for trees overhanging roads, houses, public areas and gardens.
Deadwooding can be undertaken for many reasons, a common reason being safety. When limbs die they become weak and at some point will fall of. Depending on where the tree is located this may cause a potential threat to pedestrians, traffic or children playing below, therefore the measure to be taken is a climbing inspection of the tree to remove any major deadwood causing threat.
Notice that when mentioning the dead material to be removed ‘major deadwood’ was stated. This reasoning is because there are plenty of dead branches which are too small to be a concern; therefore it would not be necessary to remove them. It is the decision of the climber to choose the diameter of dead wood according to the timber characteristics that should be removed from the canopy for each individual tree.
Advantages to Deadwooding
- Safety – remove those branches before they fall on your property, or passing pedestrians and vehicles.
- Remove unwanted weight, reducing the wind resistance of the tree and helping overall balance.
- Aesthetic reasons – a tree with the deadwood removed looks more aesthetically pleasing.
Deadwooding Example
