POLLARDING

Pollarding is a type of pruning that helps to keep trees and shrubs smaller than they would naturally grow. It is normally started once a tree or shrub reaches a certain height, and annual pollarding will restrict the plant to a predisposed terminal height. Pollarding started in the medieval times and it has been very common in Europe ever since. It is now a widely practiced method of tree surgery all over the world as it is highly effective within the urban forest. Historically, trees were pollarded for two reasons: 1) food for animals or 2) wood (fuel).

One huge benefit of pollarding is that pollarded trees tend to live longer than unpollarded specimens because they are maintained partially in a juvenile state, and they do not have the weight nor wind damage that the top of the tree is normally subject too.

Pollarding a tree can reduce the shade cast by a tree and in turn create more light in your garden. In addition pollards tend to grow more slowly, with narrower growth rings in the years immediately after cutting.Some examples of trees suitable for pollarding include: Ash (Fraxinus), Common lime (Tilia x europaea), Elm (Ulmus), Elder (Sambucus), Gum (Eucalyptus), London plane (Platanus x hispanica), Oak (Quercus), some species of Acer (A. negundo and its cultivars), Tulip tree (Liriodendron). These are just examples so if you have another tree not listed above call us for advice and we will be able to help.

Pollarding is a highly skilled process. It usually requires an arborist due to the danger of working at heights and of course with chainsaws. Call the team at Clear Cut Trees now for your free quotation...