Pollarding continues to be a great way to keep a growing tree in situ, maintaining the crown size at a manageable level and retaining a green feature and all the benefits of having the tree.
It’s expecially useful for urban trees and those in small garden spaces, and it’s widely used all over Western European countries to save and prtect the value of often mature and largeer trees in the cities and towns, where the trees provide shade, fruit and a natural response to urban pollution. A stroll down any street in Spanish Andalucian Cadiz, Seville, Grenada or Cordoba in Autumn is like a wandering through an orange grove with roads and buildings!
Some species take to pollarding better than others and this Willow (along with Lime trees) is the classic example. Pollarding is not suitable for all species because of the way they react to pruning, so we wouldn’t normally expect to see a Beech pollarded, for example, unless there were special circumstances.
Regular pruning of the new growth weight is important to do on a 3 – 5 year cycle, depending on the age, size and conditon of the tree. As well as maintaning the smaller size of the pollarded crown, this ensures that weight doesn’t build up on the old pruning points which almost inevitably become decayed over time.
Give us a call if you’re concerned that your trees may be getting to big for their space; we’re always pleased to advise.
For advice and a quote for works to your trees and hedges, call Andrew on 01256 817369, 07771 883061 or email him: Andrew@primarytreesurgeons.co.uk More stories on Twitter: @PrimaryTreeSurg