Crown lifting in Harborne is usually about one thing: getting the lower part of a big tree out of the way without changing the tree itself. In a suburb of mature gardens and tall boundary hedges, low branches end up across paths, over parked cars and against upstairs windows. We remove the lowest limbs cleanly and leave the upper crown alone.
The aim is more headroom and more light under the canopy, done in moderation so the tree stays healthy and keeps its natural shape. Before any cutting starts we also check whether the tree is protected, which matters in the conservation areas around Harborne.
Crown lifting means taking off the lowest branches so the clear trunk gets taller and the canopy sits higher. It is not the same as topping or heavy reduction. The top and sides of the tree are left as they were, and only the lower growth that is causing the problem comes away, so the tree still looks like itself afterwards. Clean cuts just outside the branch collar are what keep it healthy.
On the larger Victorian and inter-war plots in Harborne, a lifted crown can open up a lawn that has sat in shade for a long time, let daylight back into a ground floor room, or give a driveway enough height for a van. We cut each branch back to the right point, so the wounds can seal over properly. Smaller trees and hedged specimens can be lifted the same way.
Parts of Harborne sit inside conservation areas, and individual trees can carry a Tree Preservation Order. In either case the council normally needs to hear about the work before it starts, even for what looks like a light lift. Cutting first and asking later can lead to a fine for the owner, which is an easy mistake to avoid. It is worth checking before anyone picks up a saw.
We look at the tree, tell you what is likely to be needed, and explain the process before you book a date. Where permission is required, we keep the planned cuts modest so the application is straightforward and the tree is not stressed. Where it is not required, we simply get on with the job. Either way you know where you stand before work begins.
Harborne gardens are often long and well planted, so we take care over where branches land. Limbs are lowered in sections where there are greenhouses, patios or borders underneath, and everything is cleared away afterwards. We also cover nearby Edgbaston, Bearwood and Quinton, in case the tree you are worried about is just across the boundary. Access through a side gate is rarely a problem for our kit.
Based in Hall Green, so we are never far from the gardens we work in.
We look at the job before we price it, so you know what is involved.
Branches, clippings and rubbish from our jobs are cleared and the garden left tidy.
Call, or send photos on WhatsApp, and we will come back to you.
Crown LiftingA tall golden conifer in a Hall Green back garden, with its bare trunk showing beneath the canopy above the fence.
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Tree FellingA tall multi-stemmed garden tree beside a fence, followed by the same corner with a low stump and neat logs.
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Tree FellingA tall conifer beside a conservatory is taken down in sections, leaving a cleared lawn and a new fence panel.
View project →From our base in Hall Green we work across Birmingham, the Black Country, Solihull and parts of Worcestershire. Choose your area.
We keep it moderate. As a general rule we avoid taking more than a modest share of the live crown at once, because removing too much weakens the tree. If you want a lot of extra clearance, we may stage it over more than one visit.
Usually yes. Trees in a conservation area are protected, so the council expects notice before work, and a Tree Preservation Order needs consent. We can tell you which applies after seeing the tree, and we help you through the paperwork.
It will help, particularly low evening and morning light under the tree and through side windows. It will not remove the shade cast by the upper canopy. If the tree is simply too dense overall, a light thin may also be worth discussing.
Tell us what needs doing and where. We will get back to you to arrange a visit and a free, no-obligation quote. Photos sent on WhatsApp help.
