Tree Pruning and Reduction Service
A grand and leafy tree is an asset to any property. Still, it’s important to regularly maintain your tree’s health to ensure it continues to thrive for years to come. Edinburgh Tree Surgeons offer a wide range of tree maintenance services, including tree pruning and reduction, to keep your garden looking and feeling its best, so you can enjoy it to its fullest.
Trimming or reducing tree branches, also known as tree pruning, can help shape your tree, reduce its height and thin the canopy, allowing more sunlight to filter through and enabling the rest of the tree to flourish and grow. The most common tree maintenance procedure available, tree pruning can help maintain the aesthetic and structural health of your trees and must be carried out by skilled arborists to avoid inflicting lasting damage to your plants.
Why Prune Trees?
Tree pruning is a sensitive operation that requires professional knowledge and care.As pruning can potentially alter the growth, lifespan and health of the tree,pruning should only be carried out for one of these common reasons:
• To remove dead and dying branches
• To improve the form of the tree
• To reduce risks to human life
• To decrease density and allow light and air to filter to the ground below
• As corrective measures for mature trees
What is Tree Pruning and Reduction
At Edinburgh Tree Surgeons, we carry out all our tree pruning to the British Standard BS3998:2010 Tree Work Recommendations and also use the European Tree Pruning Guide published by the Arboricultural Association.
Trees frequently outgrow their surroundings and it becomes necessary to maintain them. It cannot be understated how much skill is required to prune correctly. Drop-crotch and target pruning are essential to preserve natural shape and vigour – a practice that is too often overlooked.
Tree Reduction and Trimming Options
There are many options for tree reduction and trimming available, and the service we carry out will depend on the height, health and area surrounding your tree. We offer every client a free over-the-phone consultation and can organise on-site visits to determine the best course of action for you.
Want to understand more about tree health and maintenance? You can find useful information on horticultural terminology here.
Tree Crown Reduction
Tree crown reduction is a more extensive form of tree pruning and involves removing the ends from every branch on the tree. Diseased or damaged branches are also removed, preventing infections from arising and improving the overall health of your tree.
By accessing the tree using ropes, harnesses and chainsaw techniques, our skilled team can safely lower large branches to the ground, preventing damage to your property, garden and other plants. Certain smaller trees can be pruned from the ground with pole extension loppers or from a specialist tripod ladder.
Occasionally if access or the tree’s health is complex, we use a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) to access and trim the branches.
What is Tree Crown Lifting
Tree crown lifting is a process that can be done gradually over several years and involves removing lower branches of your tree to enable additional light to penetrate the canopy and clear space. Not only can this allow better views and sunlight in your garden, but tree crown lifting can also help plants beneath your tree thrive.
Deadwood Removal
During our tree pruning service, our professional team of arborists will remove any dead and diseased wood. This process, also known as dead-wooding, supports your tree’s health and reduces the risk of deadwood falling during high winds and causing damages to buildings and vehicles.
Falling debris in high-risk areas such as over roads, footpaths, children’s play areas, or other public locations can be a problem. Deadwood removal will remove any fragile branches from your tree’s canopy before they fall.
Post-Service Clean Up
We know you’re houseproud, we are too, that’s why we always undertake extensive cleanup both during and after the service, so you can relax knowing your lovely garden will be just as spick and span as when we arrived.
We can remove all waste from your tree pruning and trimming service. However, we are happy to leave behind chopped firewood or woodchip waste for your compost and mulch.
Your Rights & Other Useful Information
Your Rights
Unfortunately, you have no legal right to reduce the size or height of a neighbours tree, even if the tree imposes on your garden. The best solution is to approach them and come to a mutually beneficial agreement. However, if parts of the tree are growing over the boundary of your property, you are within your legal right to have those parts trimmed back.
Keep Your Garden Healthy, with the Edinburgh Tree Surgeons
Interested in our tree pruning and reduction services? Contact our expert team of tree surgeons today for a free consultation. You can also send us photographs of your tree and organise an on-site visit. We’ll guide you through the entire process, and our trained arborists will answer any questions you have.
Pruning Trees in Edinburgh Conservation Areas
As with tree removal, tree pruning and reduction can be tricky if your property falls within an Edinburgh Conservation Area. We can provide free advice and apply for planning permission on your behalf. Please note that this process can take several weeks, so it’s best to speak to us as soon as you can.
However, if the tree poses an immediate risk to you or your property, we can apply to the council under an exemption and will not have to wait for consent before beginning work.
Trees in confined spaces need to be pruned, kept tidy and safely away from structural items such as guttering, leadwork, roofing and telephone wires — with the latter a statutory obligation. By keeping your trees well-maintained, you can add substantial value to your property, while problem trees can become an added cost should you wish to sell. Timely and regular tree pruning and appropriate tree health management will save you money in the future and keep your garden thriving.
You can find more information on Edinburgh’s conservation areas, including a map and guidelines here.