Good pruning keeps a tree healthy, safe and in proportion with your garden. Bad pruning, such as "topping" a tree flat with a chainsaw, stresses it, triggers ugly regrowth and often costs more to put right later. We prune to British Standard BS3998, taking the right amount from the right places.
Pruning services
Crown reduction: reduces the overall height and spread while keeping a natural shape. The usual choice when a tree is blocking light or outgrowing its space.
Crown thinning: removes selected inner branches to let more light and wind through without changing the tree's outline. Popular for large beeches and limes shading gardens.
Crown lifting: removes lower limbs to clear paths, lawns, drives and sightlines, typically to 2.5m over gardens and 5.2m over roads.
Deadwooding: removes dead and dying branches before they fall. Essential for mature oaks and any tree overhanging play areas, parking or footpaths.
Formative pruning: light, early shaping of young trees so they grow into sound, well-balanced specimens and need less work later.
When to prune
Most species are best pruned in late autumn to winter while dormant. Exceptions matter locally: oak and beech respond well to summer pruning; cherry and plum should only be cut in summer to avoid silver leaf disease; and work is planned around nesting season (March–August), when we check every tree for active nests first. It's a legal requirement.
If the tree is protected by a TPO or stands in a conservation area, Crawley Borough Council needs to approve the works. We check and handle the paperwork as part of the job.
Not sure what the tree needs? Call 01293 310077. We'll advise honestly, even if the answer is "leave it alone".
Free, no-obligation quotes across Crawley & the Crawley area
Call 01293 310077