Crown thinning is the removal of a portion of smaller branches, usually at the outer crown, to produce a uniform density of foliage around an evenly spaced branch structure. It is usually confined to broad-leaved species. Crown thinning does not alter the overall size or shape of the tree.
Common reasons for crown thinning are to allow more light to pass through the tree, reduce wind resistance or to reduce weight. Crown thinning is rarely a once only operation, particularly on species that are known to produce large amounts of epicormic growth.