Tree pruning · Crown lifting
Crown lifting in County Durham
Get headroom back under a tree. We remove or shorten the lowest branches so you can walk, park or mow underneath, and the tree keeps its height.
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You don’t need to know the trade name. Just tell us what you want to change.
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What crown lifting is
Room underneath, the same tree above
Crown lifting, which you may also hear called crown raising, takes off the lowest branches, or shortens them back to a branch growing upwards, until there is the clearance you need. Nothing comes off the top, so the tree is the same height afterwards.
We describe it as a height above the ground, such as “lift the crown to give about 2.5 metres over the path”, so you know exactly what you are getting.
Where we can, we shorten a low branch rather than cut it off at the trunk. Big cuts against the trunk are slow to seal and can let decay in, so on a mature tree we would rather lift it in stages over a few years than take off large limbs in one go.
Is it the right job?
When a crown lift helps, and when it won’t
A crown lift solves problems underneath a tree. It does nothing for a tree that is too tall or too wide.
Usually a good fit
- Branches over a path, drive or pavement that you have to duck under.
- Low branches that scrape cars and vans, or brush against the house walls.
- A lawn or border under the tree that stays dark because the canopy sits so low.
- You would like to see under the tree to the view, the road or the front door.
- The council has asked you to cut back branches over a pavement or road.
Probably not the right job
- The tree is too tall or too wide. Lifting won’t change that; a crown reduction will.
- A young tree. Lifting it too high too early leaves a thin, top-heavy tree, so it is better to lift a little at a time as it grows.
- Trees meant to be low, such as weeping trees, or conifers screening a garden. Once their lower branches go, most won’t grow back, and the privacy goes with them.
Our work
Clear trunks and room underneath
The tree at the top of this page was lifted and pruned, leaving a clear trunk and space under the crown. These two jobs combined a crown lift with shaping the top.
A garden pine opened up underneath
Darlington · June 2025
A bushy pine beside a patio. We took out the low growth to show the trunk and shaped the top into a compact crown, opening up the space underneath.
More Darlington jobs
A front garden tree with its trunk cleared
Crown lift and shaping
An overgrown, uneven front garden tree, pruned into a neat rounded shape with the lower trunk cleared of branches.
More of our tree workAfterwards
What the tree looks like when we’ve finished
Straight away, there is a clear trunk and a clear space underneath at the height we agreed, and the top of the tree is unchanged. More light gets under the crown, especially in the morning and evening when the sun is low.
Over the next season, some trees put out small shoots on the trunk or near the cuts. Lime is well known for it. They are easy to remove, and can be done at a later visit.
Underneath, grass and plants that have been in deep shade may take a season to recover.
Timing and permission
When to book, and what to check first
Because the cuts are lower down and usually smaller, a crown lift fits into most times of year.
- 01
Time of year
Most trees can be lifted at most times of year. Cherries and plums are still best done in summer because of silver leaf disease, and birch and maple not in late winter, when they bleed sap.
- 02
Nesting season
Low, leafy branches are a favourite nesting spot for garden birds. Between March and August we look first, and an active nest is left alone until the young have flown.
- 03
Protected trees
Lifting a tree with a Tree Preservation Order still needs the council’s consent, even for a couple of low branches, and in a conservation area you give six weeks’ notice. Our protected tree check finds your council from your postcode.
On the day
What you’ll see while we work
The work is close to the ground, so you can see most of it happen.
Ask about your treeWe agree the height
We confirm the clearance with you on the spot: over the path, the drive or the lawn, and where the branches are going.
The low branches come off
Some can be reached from the ground; higher ones need a climber. Branches over a road, pavement, car or flower bed are cut in smaller pieces or lowered, not dropped.
Keeping people and cars clear
If the tree hangs over a road or pavement, we’ll have talked to you beforehand about keeping it clear while we cut, and where the van and chipper can park.
We tidy up
Branches are chipped or taken away, depending on what is in your quote, and the area under the tree is raked and cleared as agreed.
Other crown work
Not quite what your tree needs?
A crown lift is often done with a reduction or a thin. If you are not sure which your tree needs, tell us what bothers you about it.
- Crown reductionA smaller tree that keeps its natural shape.
- Crown thinningA lighter, less dense canopy at the same size.
- Deadwood removalDead and broken branches out before they fall.
- PollardingCut back to the same knuckles every few years.
- All tree pruningEvery kind of work side by side, with our pruning jobs.
Useful answers
Before you get in touch
How high can you lift a tree’s crown?
As high as the tree can take without becoming top-heavy. A tree needs most of its height to stay as crown to stay healthy and stable, so there is a limit. We’ll tell you what is realistic for your tree and, if you need more clearance than that, talk through the other options.
Will the branches grow back lower down?
A branch that has been removed does not grow back from the same spot. Some trees, lime in particular, send out small shoots from the trunk, and those are easy to knock off. The rest of the crown carries on growing upwards and outwards as normal.
Can you lift a tree that overhangs a road or pavement?
Yes. Branches over a public road or pavement are the owner’s responsibility, and the council can ask for them to be cut back. If you have had a letter, send us a photo of it with photos of the tree. If the road or pavement needs keeping clear while we cut, we’ll tell you when we quote.
Will a crown lift make my garden lighter?
Usually a little, mainly in the morning and evening when the sun is low and can get under the crown. It makes less difference at midday in summer; for that, a crown reduction or thinning helps more.
Is crown lifting the same as crown raising?
Yes. Both mean taking off or shortening the lowest branches to give clearance underneath. Whatever you call it, tell us what needs to fit under the tree, such as a person, a car or a van, and we’ll work out the height.
Can I lift a tree myself?
Small, light branches that you can reach from the ground with a pruning saw are fine to do yourself on a tree that isn’t protected. Cut just outside the slight swelling where the branch joins the trunk, not flush with it. Anything that needs a ladder or a chainsaw, or hangs over a road, a roof or a power line, is a job for a tree surgeon.
5.0 from 43 Google reviews
More reviewsRead the reviews on Google“Sharp Hedges came out today, they did a great job reducing our hedge and tidying it up.”
“Only a small garden job for my tree but the service by Sharp Hedges Tree and Garden Services was first class!”
“Excellent service. From the initial call to completing the job in less than a week.”
Ask about a crown lift
Tell us what needs to fit underneath
Send your postcode and tell us what you need room for: walking, parking, mowing or a view. On WhatsApp, a photo of the whole tree and one of the low branches from where you stand is ideal. We lift trees across County Durham and the North East.
What happens next
- 1We look at what you send.
- 2We clarify the job and, for most work, arrange a free visit.
- 3You get your quote, with no obligation.
We’ll look at the job details and reply between 8am and 8pm. If we need a closer look, we’ll arrange a suitable time with you.
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