Mature trees are pruned conservatively, and there is a reason for that beyond caution. They do not recover the way young trees do.
Pruning a mature tree is quoted on the size of the tree, the amount of work, the species, access and rigging. On a large mature tree it is a day's work for a crew and produces a considerable volume of material.
We do not publish a fixed price list for tree work, because the honest answer is that it varies far more than a list would suggest. What we can do is explain exactly what changes the number.
As a general principle, around a fifth to a quarter of the crown is a sensible maximum in one operation on a healthy tree, and less on a mature or stressed one. Where more is genuinely needed, staging it across two or three years is far better for the tree and produces a better long-term result. Anyone agreeing to take half a mature tree off without qualification is not doing you a favour.
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Height and crown spread | The baseline |
| Amount being removed | Directly |
| Rigging requirements | Large — branches that cannot be dropped |
| Access for the chipper | Large |
| What is beneath | Conservatories change everything |
| Species and wood density | Cutting and handling time |
| Deadwood and decay | Slower, more cautious work |
| Waste volume | Considerable on a mature tree |
Tell us what you need and we will arrange a free quotation.
See what our tree surgery service covers in Hanham, or read more about the service across the areas we work in.
It is quoted on the tree's size, the amount of work, species, access and rigging. On a large mature tree it is usually a day for a crew.
Around a fifth to a quarter of the crown in one operation on a healthy tree, and less on a mature or stressed one. More than that is better staged across years.
Because their wounds close slowly, large cuts invite decay, regrowth is weaker, and their energy reserves are lower relative to their size.
Often, and it is considerably cheaper than a reduction. A great many mature trees need nothing more.
Birch particularly, and beech prefers light frequent work. Cherry and plum must be pruned in summer to avoid silver leaf and canker.
Three to five years for a reduction or thin on most species, longer for a crown lift, and sooner on vigorous trees like willow and poplar.
Possibly. Check with South Gloucestershire Council for a Tree Preservation Order or conservation area status before any work.
Say that. A crown thin or lift often achieves it better and more cheaply than a reduction.
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