MID & EAST DEVON
Crown Reduction in Devon
Bring a big, heavy tree back to a sensible size without losing its shape — reduced evenly, cut back to proper growing points, never chopped flat across the top.
Reduced, not topped
A crown reduction takes the height and spread back by cutting each branch down to a side growth that can carry on from there. The tree keeps its natural shape and every cut is small enough to close over properly. Topping — sawing the tops off at random — does the opposite: it leaves big wounds, a dense flush of weak shoots, and a tree that needs cutting again sooner.
Reduction is the right job for a tree shading out a garden, rubbing against a roof, blocking a view, or simply getting too heavy for the space it's in. We tell you honestly how much your tree can take and what it will look like afterwards, before you commit to anything.
Is the tree protected, or does it stand in a conservation area? Read our guide to protected trees.
What we reduce
- Height and spread reduced back to natural growing points
- Overgrown garden trees brought back into proportion
- Trees rubbing roofs, walls, windows and guttering cut back
- Conifers and Leylandii reduced to a manageable height
- Trees near overhead lines reduced to a safe clearance
- Heavy limbs lightened to cut wind and storm risk
- Uneven and lopsided crowns rebalanced
- All arisings chipped and removed
Crown reduction questions
What's the difference between crown reduction and topping?
Crown reduction cuts each branch back to a side shoot that can take over the growth, so the tree keeps its shape and the wound stays small. Topping removes growing tips at random, leaving large wounds and a mass of weak shoots that come back faster than the crown that was there before.
How much can be taken off my tree?
As a rule, no more than a third of the live crown in one season, and often less on an older or stressed tree. Taking more than that can starve the tree and trigger heavy watersprouting. We'll tell you what yours can safely take before quoting.
Will it stop the tree growing back?
No — a reduced tree does regrow, and some species come away quickly. Reduction is a job done on a cycle, so we can tell you roughly how many years it will be before it needs doing again.
When is the best time to reduce a crown?
Most deciduous trees are best reduced in late winter while dormant, when the structure is easy to see and wounds begin closing as spring growth starts. Conifers are usually cut in late spring, which limits resin bleed and reduces the chance of spreading honey fungus.
How much does crown reduction cost?
It depends on the size and species of the tree and how much needs taking off, and whether a lift or thin is worth doing at the same time. 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 crown reduction quote
Send a few details and a photo of the tree, or give Tom a call, and we'll tell you what can be done and what it will cost — quotes are free and without obligation.