Crown reduction, lifting & thinning options
Reduction changes crown dimensions; lifting creates clearance beneath selected branches; thinning changes density; deadwood work targets dead branches. The specification should state which parts of the crown are affected and the intended finished form.
- Where clearance is required
- What is being obstructed or affected
- Previous pruning and regrowth
- Whether neighbouring branches are involved
Tree pruning permissions in Guildford
Use the council’s address search and Planning map layers before work. A protected tree normally needs consent. For qualifying work to a non-TPO tree in a conservation area, the council normally needs six weeks’ notice.
- Record the tree on a simple plan
- Use a measurable work description
- Retain the council acknowledgement
- Make sure the completed work follows the approved scope
Planning garden access for crown work
Tree pruning is also a ground operation. The crew needs an exclusion area, a way to lower or drop material, and a route for arisings. Public pavements, shared drives and limited parking should be disclosed early.
- Pedestrian and vehicle movements
- Fragile paving, planting and roofs
- Gate widths and garden levels
- Overhead lines and telecoms
More light without losing the character of your garden
Tell us where shade or overhanging growth causes a problem: a kitchen window, seating area, greenhouse or path. This gives the assessment a useful objective and avoids assuming that every branch needs shortening.
Include a view from the affected part of the garden as well as the whole tree. Discuss which branches should remain, the shape you want to retain and how the tree is likely to respond. A proposed pruning plan must still fit the tree’s condition and any council restrictions.