Brecon sits where the Usk meets the canal, in the heart of Bannau Brycheiniog, and many of its gardens are large, with big trees along the boundaries. When the lowest branches have grown out to meet the drive, the path or the roofline, a crown lift is often the neatest answer. We lift the canopy and leave the tree in good health and in balance.
The aim is a clear space underneath and a tree that still looks natural from the lane, the garden and the windows, with no heavy-handed pruning showing. We take our time and cut only what the tree can spare.
Stone-built houses look their finest with some light and air around them, but a large tree beside the wall can cast heavy shade and drip onto the windows. Raising the lower canopy opens the view out and lets daylight reach the ground floor. It also keeps branches off the roofline and away from guttering, where wet leaves and moss gather, so there is less to clear and less damp sitting against the stone in Brecon winters.
Cuts are made to the branch collar, without leaving stubs, so each wound has a good chance of sealing over. On a large tree we remove the lowest limbs in stages and lower the heavier ones on ropes, so that they do not damage walls, slates or the lawn. Everything is cut up and cleared at the end, and the ground is left as clean as we can manage.
Around Brecon many boundary trees overhang lanes, farm tracks and field gateways. A branch that is well clear of a car may still catch a tractor, a trailer, a horsebox or a delivery van on its way through. We can lift the crown to a height that suits the traffic that actually uses the route, and tell you honestly if the tree cannot give that much clearance without harm to its health or balance.
Hedgerow oaks and ash trees on a field edge often grow wide and low by nature. A heavy lift would spoil them, so we work in moderation and may suggest returning in a later year for a second stage. Taking too much in one visit risks the tree's health and removes the broad habit that makes a field tree attractive. That is rarely worth the trade.
Brecon lies within a National Park and has a historic core, so a tree may well be protected, and we check that before cutting. We keep away from the bird nesting season as well. We also work in Talybont-on-Usk, Libanus, Sennybridge and Llanfrynach, and all cut material is carried off site when the work is done, so lanes and drives are left clear.
We work across South Wales. Pick your town to see how crown lifting works locally.
Crown lifting raises the canopy by removing low branches, while crown reduction makes the whole tree smaller, so choosing the right one depends on your problem.
Read the guide →
Tree surgery is priced job by job rather than from a fixed list, so this guide explains what moves the cost up or down and how to get a firm figure.
Read the guide →
There is no single perfect month for every tree, but winter suits many species, and this guide shows how timing, nesting birds and weather affect the choice.
Read the guide →If the tree has a protection order, or you live in a conservation area, then yes, even for lifting. We can look into this before we begin, so you are not caught out and the tree is not put at risk.
In most cases, yes. Tell us the height you need for the vehicles that use the track, and we will say honestly whether the tree can give that clearance without being harmed. Sometimes a second visit works better than taking too much at once.
It usually helps, because light can then reach under the tree rather than being blocked by low foliage. It will not remove the shade from the main crown, so the gain depends on how the tree is shaped.
Tell us what needs doing and where. We will come back to you, or call 07766 919630 if it is urgent.