Tree pruning in Cheddar and Somerset
Thinning, lifting and dead-wooding. The cuts that keep a tree healthy and in proportion to the garden.
What it is
Pruning is selective cutting: taking specific branches out to improve the health, shape or safety of a tree while leaving the rest alone. Done properly it's barely noticeable afterwards, which is the point.
Crown thinning
Removing a proportion of the smaller branches evenly through the canopy. It lets more light through to the garden and lets wind pass through the tree rather than pushing against a solid sail of leaves. The shape and size of the tree stay the same.
Crown lifting
Taking off the lowest branches to raise the bottom of the canopy. Useful where a tree overhangs a path, a drive, a lawn you need to mow, or the roof of a car.
Dead-wooding
Removing dead, dying and broken branches. Mostly a safety job: dead limbs come out of a tree in the first strong wind, and they usually land on whatever's underneath.
When to prune
Most species are best pruned in late autumn or winter when they're dormant. There are exceptions: cherries and plums are pruned in summer to avoid silver leaf, and I avoid cutting anything with an active nest in it during bird nesting season, March to August.
Why the cut matters
A cut in the wrong place leaves a wound the tree can't seal, and that's how decay gets in. BS 3998:2010 sets out where to cut and how much to take. Around a quarter of the canopy in one visit is a sensible upper limit for most trees.
What affects the cost
Size of the tree, access to it, how much material comes out and where it has to be carried. I quote after a site visit, and the quote is free.What affects the cost of tree work →
Common questions
How often should a tree be pruned?
Most garden trees need attention every three to five years. Fruit trees are usually annual. A tree that is healthy and has room to grow may not need anything at all, and I will tell you if that is the case.
Will pruning make my tree grow back thicker?
Correct pruning does not. Cutting back to a proper growth point lets the tree carry on growing normally. Topping, which means cutting branches at an arbitrary point and leaving stubs, does cause a mass of weak, thick regrowth, which is one of several reasons I do not do it.
Can you prune a tree with a preservation order?
Only with written consent from the council. I check for Tree Preservation Orders and conservation areas as part of quoting, and I will not cut a protected tree without seeing the consent first.
What time of year should pruning be done?
Late autumn or winter suits most species, while they are dormant. Cherries and plums are pruned in summer to avoid silver leaf. I avoid cutting anything with an active bird nest in it between March and August.
I couldn't be happier with the work Mac from Mendip Tree Care carried out. Communication was excellent, he arrived on time, worked efficiently and completed the job to a really high standard. All the branches and waste were removed, leaving the garden spotless. It's hard to find reliable tradespeople these days, but Mac was fantastic. I'd happily recommend Mendip Tree Care to anyone looking for tree surgery, tree removal or hedge cutting, and I'll definitely be using him again in the future.