Tree Pollarding – An Ancient Art
Tree pollarding is common practice throughout the UK. It is a method of tree pruning that is often employed to prolong the safe life expectancy of high value trees or to limit their potential size in confined spaces. The practice involves the removal of the majority of the trees crown. Pollarding is only appropriate on certain species of trees, as less vigorous species will not produce re-growth. Vigorous, fast growing species such as willow or poplar react best to heavy reductions or pollarding.
Pollarding a tree removes all of the foliage from the tree, effectively stopping the process of transpiration. This significantly reduces water uptake of the tree, which can in some cases reduce subsidence of nearby buildings or structures. It is only a short-term solution to subsidence as the tree will re-grow and the process of transpiration will begin again.
The points to which branches are pollarded, and where the majority of new growth stems from, will produce ‘muscle wood’ and eventually form ‘knuckles’. It is possible for these points to be subject to decay, although the decay is not always visible externally. If the trees are left for many years after pollarding without re-pruning, the pollard points can potentially fail. For this reason, pollarded trees need a system of cyclical pruning to be implemented. The rate of re-pruning will depend on the size, location and species of the tree.
Pollarding a tree that has become too large for its location, such as a crowded urban area, will allow its retention. However planting a suitable species in an appropriate location should always be the aim of urban planners. Pollarding a tree with a relatively minor stem defect will reduce the ‘sail area’ of the tree as well as the weight on the stem, therefore prolonging its safe retention.
One of the most appropriate uses for pollarding is the safe management of veteran trees. These are trees that have often past their species usual life expectancy, and possess exceptional landscape, historical, cultural or ecological value. Veteran trees are not usually tidy trees. They possess snapped branches, deadwood and decay pockets, all of which can be valuable to wildlife. Pollarding a veteran tree increases its safety and if correct pruning cuts are used, pollarding can accentuate the trees benefit as a wildlife habitat.
We are arboriculture and Ecological consultants serving the south of England. Our Ecologists carry out protected species and habitat surveys, sett development, as well as habitat creation and mitigation. Our Arboriculturalists specialise in condition and safety tree surveys, tree constraints plans and tree felling.
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