formative tree pruning
While many trees form their natural adult shapes as they grow, others need help to develop a clear trunk and a balanced crown formation.
Formative tree pruning assists and trains young trees to develop into stronger and better-shaped trees. This is generally completed during the early years of a tree's growth (typically 5-10 years). Ideally, the pruning should start when the trees are the in their nursery to influence their shape, structure and crown size.
What is Crown Thinning?
Crown thinning is the process of removing select branches to thin out the fullness of the tree. With proper techniques, thinning creates a balanced crown structure without altering the shape or size of the tree. It also reduces the weight on heavy limbs and removes dead, weak, overreaching or duplicated branches.
Why is formative tree pruning essential?
Formative tree pruning removes any potential weaknesses in the tree caused by crossing branches or any other parts that have grown in an unusual way. Selective branch removal greatly improves the structure and health of trees, creating a well-spaced canopy of branches and ensuring strong branch attachments.
While all types of trees can benefit from formative pruning, it is especially essential for fruit bearing tears. A balanced shape with sturdy branches will support heavy crops better.
Proper formative tree pruning procedure
The amount of tree pruning varies according to the rootstock and variety of the fruit tree. Typically, formative pruning should be done on all fruit trees from one year old and continued for up to five years.
It is best to prune deciduous trees during the winter, as it is easier to see the trees' branch structures. Trimming of evergreens is often done in April, during the beginning of their spring re-growth. However, there are exceptions to these rules and professional tree surgeons can advise on the most suitable seasons for your tree species.
Get in Touch with Down to Earth Trees
Down to Earth Trees has a team of expert tree specialists who provide professional formative tree pruning services. With years of experience in tree management services, we carry out formative pruning in a safe and efficient manner.
For more information and enquiries about formative tree pruning or any tree care matter, contact us today.
Areas we cover
We cover most of the South East including Kent, Surrey, Sussex, London and Essex.
The team were great - arrived promptly, took down a large tree, dealt with the stump and left everything tidy.
Down To Earth did a good job on the day, tidied up well after them and were pleasant & courteous to deal with. We got off to a rocky start as the initial booking had to be re-scheduled due to issues at their end for which they apologised and is the reason why I gave 4 stars instead of 5, but in the end I was happy with their work
Polite, friendly, carefully followed all instructions, no hesitation to recommend. Good knowledge of various trees, when and how to prune.
Down To Earth have now looked after my Yew tree on three occasions and I have to say it looks better each time now that previous damage has healed.Iwould have no hesitation in recommending them to anybody that wants a good job done.I also consider them to be very fairly priced and their workforce where excellent everything left very tidily.See you next time.Thanks.
Another year of excellent hedge cutting service from Down To Earth. The detailing of the hedges and resulting clear up was superb and the team, led by Chris, were very polite, courteous and professional. I highly recommend Down To Earth for your hedge cutting needs.
We’ve used Down to Earth for several years after a recommendation from a neighbour. They’ve done a variety of jobs from taking down two inherited overgrown confers to general pruning and tidying up of trees and bushes. They always do the work exactly as agreed after an on-site visit, giving good advice, they’re very efficient, clear up thoroughly, and are always friendly. We’d strongly recommend them.
A very professional done by very pleasant friendly people. (and they left the garden all clean and tidy - and many do not do that!) We would highly recommend them
Great communication, knowledge and patience with members of the public asking lots of questions. Great machine to relieve deep compaction after events
Likable, professional team of 3 turned up on the day, did a fantastic job (they have a really good sense of aesthetics). Very pleased, will definitely be using them again.
Excellent service, very slick. Took down large diseased ash, cut up and removed debris, and cleared up afterwards. Great work by the team. Would recommend.
An excellent and very thorough haircut for a large cedar tree carried out by a very professional and pleasant team. All done on schedule and everything left clean and tidy. Highly recommended.
Great service and very impressed by the skill and speed of the team. All priced very competitively. Would highly recommend.
Second time I have used them. Thoroughly professional - they give good advice, easy to deal with. First time a year ago was a really big job, so pleased I used them. Thoroughly recommend.
An unpleasant job, taming the leylandii trees which we had inherited and had been allowed to do their own thing for too long! We are grateful to our friends who recommended "Down to Earth" and we are very happy to say to anyone else who reads this, that from Andy who came to give us a very reasonable estimate, and Frankie's team who did skilful and beautiful job, we couldn't be happier. Very nice people too!
Excellent service, professional team, very large job bringing down dead sequoia; handled the job very well, cleared everything up, went above and beyond what we expected
Down To Earth were great. They did an excellent job from start to finish. Good customer service. Excellent team on site who did a fantastic job that went beyond my hopes and cleared up after themselves in an extremely thorough way.
An excellent job from start to finish, arrived on time and did a great job at clearing up afterwards. Worked the whole time they were here and couldn’t be happier with the results!
Exceptional service from start to finish. The job was carried out (non-stop working by the crew!) at the exact time agreed with all the remnants cleared up and taken away. They even ended up clearing my patio!
Another excellent job from Down to Earth trees. They have carried out all pruning and planting a new hedge in my garden for many years and I would never use anyone else. They are reliable, everything is cleared at the end of the job and all the staff from start to finish are polite and professional. I was happy with the quotation given. The 2 guys who carried out the latest work were very pleasant and listened to what I said before beginning the work. I would definitely recommend them.
I have been most impressed with DTE's professionalism and integrity. The scope of work I proposed I discussed was reduced as it wasnt all needed, and the work itself was carried out to a high standard
I had my trees done recently and the four gentlemen did a great job. Very professional and cleared all fallen debris at the end. Will definitely use the company again.
