Crown Thinning

Crown thinning is the selective removal of internal branches evenly throughout the tree to reduce the density of the crown. However, it does not change the overall size or shape of the tree. Crown thinning would not normally be carried out on conifers, so it is generally confined to deciduous broadleaf trees. Crown thinning is designed to reduce damage that could result from crown resistance to strong winds, to admit more air and light into and through the canopy to open the foliage of a tree and reduce weight on heavy limbs. This helps retain the tree’s natural shape.