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As a homeowner in Galway, you look out your window and see a tree that has become a problem. Maybe it is blocking all the light into your kitchen. Maybe it is swaying alarmingly in the Atlantic storms. Your first instinct might be "that tree needs to go." However, removal isn't always the only—or the best—option.

Arboriculture offers a spectrum of solutions. A skilled tree surgeon Galway can often save a tree while solving the problems it causes. Let’s explore the difference between complete removal (felling) and reduction techniques.

Crown Reduction: Taming the Beast

If a tree has simply grown too large for its space but is otherwise healthy, Crown Reduction is often the answer. This is a skilled pruning technique where the overall size of the canopy is reduced by cutting branches back to a suitable growth point.

The Benefit: It retains the natural shape of the tree. It reduces the "sail area" (the resistance to wind), making the tree safer during Galway's winter gales. It also allows more light to pass through and around the tree.

The Skill: This is not "topping." Topping is a harmful practice that leaves ugly stubs. A professional tree surgeon Galway performs reduction with surgical precision, ensuring the tree remains aesthetically pleasing and biologically sound.

Crown Thinning and Lifting

Sometimes, you don't need to make the tree smaller; you just need to make it less dense.

Crown Thinning: We selectively remove secondary branches from within the canopy. This doesn't change the size of the tree, but it allows wind to pass through it rather than pushing against it. It also lets more dappled sunlight hit your lawn.

Crown Lifting: We remove the lowest branches. This is perfect for trees near paths or driveways, clearing head-height space without losing the tree itself.

Tree Felling: When It’s Time to Say Goodbye

There are times when removal is the only responsible choice.

Disease: If a tree is rotting from the inside, it is a ticking time bomb.
Subsidence: If roots are damaging your home’s foundation or underground pipes.
Wrong Place: Sometimes a tree was planted in a spot that was fine 20 years ago but is now completely

unsuitable. In these cases, JB Property Maintenance performs "Sectional Dismantling." In tight urban gardens in Galway City, we can't just yell "Timber!" and let the tree fall. We climb the tree and cut it down piece by piece, lowering heavy logs safely to the ground using ropes and pulleys.
Stump Grinding

Once the tree is gone, you are left with a stump. A stump is a tripping hazard, a pain to mow around, and a home for fungi. As your complete tree surgeon Galway provider, we offer stump grinding to chew the stump down below ground level, allowing you to turf over the spot as if the tree was never there.

Consult the Experts

Unsure if you need a trim or a takedown? Don't guess. Contact JB Property Maintenance. We will visit your property, assess the tree, and give you an honest recommendation based on what is best for your safety and your landscape.