Crown thinning and canopy reduction in Churchill Meadows
- Fully insured arborists
- Free written quote
- Storm calls after hours
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Looking is free, and a crew member phones you back, most often by tomorrow.
Thanks, that reached us. Our crew will phone you back, most often by tomorrow afternoon, to settle on a visit time. If a tree is resting on your home, dial (289) 206-8539.
Crown thinning and canopy reduction, explained
Thinning takes out selected branches from inside the crown. The tree keeps its size and shape, but light and wind pass through it. Reduction is a different job: it shortens the longest limbs so the whole crown gets smaller.
Both are done with small, careful cuts. We never top a tree, because topping leaves weak regrowth that breaks more easily later.
When a crown needs work
- The yard or the house is in deep shade all day
- Grass will not grow under the tree
- The tree rocks hard in a normal wind
- Branches have grown past the eaves or over the roof
- The crown is so thick you cannot see the sky through it
- The tree has outgrown the space between two houses
How we thin or reduce a crown
- We pick the branches to remove from the ground first and show you.
- The climber removes crossing, rubbing and crowded limbs from the inside out.
- For reduction, long limbs are cut back to a healthy side branch.
- No more than about a quarter of the live crown comes off in one visit.
What it costs
Thinning costs about the same as trimming: $300 to $800 for a modest crown, $800 to $1,500 or beyond for a broad, mature one. After a look from the ground, we write down your exact cost.
Get my written priceWhy thick crowns catch the wind here
Trees in Churchill Meadows grew up on open former farmland with no older trees around them. With nothing to compete with, many filled out into dense, heavy crowns. Thinning lets wind pass through instead of pushing the whole tree over.
Questions about crown thinning and canopy reduction
Will thinning hurt my tree?
Not when it is done right. Taking out a modest amount of the inner crown, with clean cuts, keeps the tree healthy.
What is the difference between thinning and topping?
Thinning removes selected branches back to their point of origin. Topping chops the top off, which weakens the tree. We only thin or reduce.
How much lighter will my yard get?
It depends on the tree, but most people notice dappled light on the lawn right away.
How often should a crown be thinned?
Every three to five years for most mature shade trees.
Crown work pairs well with deadwood removal and a check for weak forks. Browse all seven services from our front page.