MID & EAST DEVON
Crown Lifting & Crown Thinning
More room underneath and more light through — the two jobs that let a big tree live comfortably with a garden, a drive or a road.
Room to pass under, light to come through
Crown lifting clears the branches off the lower trunk up to a stated height, so vehicles, walkers and sight lines have the room they need while the tree keeps a full crown above. Crown thinning takes out a share of the smaller growth through the crown so light and air pass through it, without changing the outline of the tree.
Both are done to a proper standard and both should look reversible: a properly lifted tree doesn't read as a pollard, and a properly thinned one doesn't look sparse. We can do either on its own, or both in one visit where the tree needs it.
Is the tree protected, or does it stand in a conservation area? Read our guide to protected trees.
What we do
- Lower branches removed to a set clearance height
- Lifts over drives, paths, gates and parking
- Sight lines at exits and junctions opened up
- Branches cleared off roofs, extensions and lighting
- Crown thinning to let light through to lawns and beds
- Heavy, wind-catching crowns lightened
- Deadwood and crossing branches removed while we're up there
- All arisings chipped and removed
Crown lifting and thinning questions
How high can a crown be lifted?
Up to a third of the tree's overall height at the very most, and usually much less on a mature tree. Lifting higher than that exposes the inner wood to decay and upsets the tree's balance. We'll tell you the sensible limit when we quote.
Will thinning make my tree look bare?
Not if it's done properly. Thinning takes a share of the finest growth from across the whole crown, so the tree still reads as a full tree — it simply lets more light and air through. It's taking too much at once that makes a tree look sparse.
Will a lift or a thin need repeating?
To a degree, yes. Trees keep putting on new growth above, and some species push new shoots from the trunk once the lower branches are out. Most lifts and thins need revisiting every few years rather than every year.
Do you need permission for this work?
Only if the tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order or stands in a conservation area — and even then, routine lifts and thins are usually notifiable rather than refused. We check before we start, and our guide to protected trees explains the process.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the tree, the clearance height you need and the access. Quotes are free and given after we've seen the tree or a photo of it — no obligation.
Where we work
We cover Mid & East Devon, including these towns and the villages around them.
Free quote for a lift or thin
Tell us the clearance you need and send a photo, or call Tom — quotes are free and without obligation.