Crown lifting and tree shaping in Wellington
“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” —Greek proverb
Why work with us?
We are a fully insured, highly trained arborist team that offers competitive price and excellent service. We service all Wellington suburbs especially Karori, Khandallah, Ngaio, Kelburn, Churton Park, Crofton Downs, Wadestown and Lower Hutt.
We deploy the latest industry techniques in all our work.
We are committed to your satisfaction and will work with you to achieve an outcome you are happy with.
We believe trees are living beings that require care and nurturing to reach their full potential. All work we do it is with the tree’s wellbeing in mind.
Crown lifting and tree shaping in Wellington
Crown Lifting
Crown lifting is often a simple change, but it can shift how a whole garden feels. By removing the lower branches of a tree, the space underneath opens up and more light comes through. This can be helpful for the growth of underplanting and to improve the structure of your garden.
Our professional arborist team will do the work carefully so the tree keeps its natural balance and structure. Done well the garden can be transformed.
Tree Shaping
Tree shaping is a more gradual process. Rather than cutting a tree back hard, it’s about guiding its form over time Sometimes this is done over a number of years to improve the structure and health of a tree. This is especially important for big trees that will have a long life in your garden.
The shaping might involve easing weight out of certain areas, improving the overall shape, or making adjustments that change how the tree relates to nearby planting, home, or views. Often the changes are subtle, but they can make a noticeable difference to how the space feels.
Letting Light Back In
Both crown lifting and shaping are often used to bring more light into a garden without needing to remove a tree entirely.
Even a small amount of careful pruning can open things up, allowing lawns, garden beds, and surrounding plants to perform better. It can also change the feel of a space, making it less enclosed and more usable.
Working With the Tree
Every tree responds differently. Some handle pruning well and can be adjusted quite easily, while others need a lighter touch or a more gradual approach.
We tend to work with the tree rather than against it, taking into account its species, age, and position in the garden. The aim is to make improvements that hold up over time, rather than creating problems later.
Crown Lifting & Tree Shaping Wellington
We carry out crown lifting and tree shaping across Wellington, working on everything from smaller garden trees to larger, more established specimens. If you’d like us to take a look, we’re happy to come out and talk through what might work best.
At the Arborist and the Gardener,
We take a more considered approach to understand your whole garden. Our garden designers can advise you on how to make your garden work better and our arborists can reshape and manage trees so they work in balance with the rest of your garden. We can also help with any garden maintenance work.
If you’d like us to take a look, we’re happy to talk through what will work best for your space.
We also offer tree removal, hedge trimming, emergency tree work, power line clearing,tree trimming and pruning.
Faqs
What is crown lifting?
Crown lifting involves removing the lower branches of a tree to raise the canopy. This creates more space underneath and allows more light into the garden.
Will crown lifting harm the tree?
When done properly, crown lifting shouldn’t harm the tree. The key is removing the right branches and not taking too much at once, so the tree can adjust naturally.
How much can you lift the crown?
It depends on the tree and its structure. In most cases, it’s done gradually to maintain balance and avoid putting stress on the tree.
What is tree shaping?
Tree shaping is a more considered form of pruning that focuses on improving the overall form of the tree over time, rather than making drastic changes in one go.
Can shaping reduce the size of a tree?
It can help manage size to a degree, but it’s usually more about balance and proportion than making a tree significantly smaller. If size is the main issue, reduction or removal may be more appropriate.
Will crown lifting let more light into my garden?
Yes, often quite noticeably. Removing lower branches can open up the space and allow more light to reach the ground and surrounding plants.
Do you work on large trees?
Yes, we work on both smaller and larger trees. Larger trees just require a bit more planning, especially on Wellington sites.
Testimonials
“After the February storm brought down massive leaders from our Pohutukawa tree, Max dropped everything to come out and help us get on top of a genuinely stressful situation. His response was prompt and professional, and he immediately put us at ease with a thorough assessment of the tree’s condition.
What stood out most was how pragmatic Max was throughout the whole process. Rather than just cutting back everything in sight, he took the time to explain the pruning decisions, balancing the tree’s health with making it safer for our property. He kept me in the loop at every step and I never had to chase him for an update, which made the whole experience so much less stressful than it could have been. He was also genuinely understanding of our priorities and constraints, never once making us feel like we were adding complexity to his day.” (Rohan, Karori, Wellington)
“I would recommend Max for any arborist work you require. Max has just thinned out our large Pohutukawa, removing dead and damaged branches and did a fantastic job. Our backyard was left tidy, a collection of firewood stacked under the deck from the trimming and now the Kaka, Tui and Kereru can fly easily through the tree.” Grant (Khandallah), Wellington
“Max and his team has worked for us several times, pruning and trimming various trees. His work has been excellent – he is a skilled arborist and has a very good eye. He is reliable, turning up when he says he will and communicating well. He is also very pleasant to have around. I recommend him highly. Jane (Ngaio, Wellington)
“We have used them twice and both times had such a good experience. Really friendly and lovey people. They did a tree removal for us which was excellent. I would absolutely use them again if we needed an arborist. Thank you!” (Rona, Southgate, Wellington)
“Max has done arborist work for me. I was impressed at the careful way he shaped the trees to look natural and balanced. He tidied up efficiently at the end of the project. Max is professional and personable.” Elaine (Northland, Wellington)