What is crown thinning?
Trees in a wood provide protection for each other from the damaging effects of wind. Trees in open settings, such as along a street, in a park or in gardens are open to the effects of wind, especially when they are planted far apart from each other. The canopies often thicken because light reaches all parts of the tree. A thick canopy catches wind, which under certain circumstances, can damage the tree by breaking branches or blow it over in a storm. Thinning is a good way to minimize damage caused by storm winds. It allows the wind to pass through the canopy, making it more durable in a storm. On occasions the severity of some diseases and pest infestations can be reduced by crown thinning because more light and air can move through a thinned canopy, this keeps the foliage drier, which discourages diseases. Thinning can also emphasize the beauty of the trunk and main branches and increase light penetration to the ground, which can enhance plant growth under the tree to a limited degre
