
pollard (ˈpɒləd) n 1. (Animals) an animal, such as a sheep or deer, that has either shed its horns or antlers or has had them removed
What is a Pollard animal?
Pollard, an animal or a tree which has been polled (had its antlers or horns, or branches removed): Pollard, a deer which has cast its antlers. Pollard or polled livestock, hornless livestock of normally-horned species.
What is pollarding in biology?
Pollard, a tree affected by pollarding, a method for shaping trees, cropping the branches above head-height Pollard, the European chub ( Squalius cephalus ), a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae
What does it mean to Pollard a tree?
"Pollarding trees" means cutting them back nearly to the trunk, so as to produce a dense mass of branches. It is sometimes done today for aesthetic purposes—the resulting "lollipop trees" can be appealing to those who crave horticultural oddities. But pollarded trees aren't for everyone as they can be stark-looking when they do not have leaves.
What is the difference between polling and pollarding?
Pollarding has now largely replaced polling as the verb in the forestry sense. Pollard can also be used as an adjective: "pollard tree". ^ The tree marks the boundary between two parishes: Mickleham (to the north) and Dorking (to the south).
What does the term Pollard mean?
Definition of pollard (Entry 1 of 2) : a tree cut back to the trunk to promote the growth of a dense head of foliage.
Is there a fish called Pollard?
Pollock (Latin name Theragra chalcogramma, international name Alaska pollock) is a bottom-pelagic cold-loving fish of the cod family.
When should you pollard a tree?
Pollarding is best carried out during the dormant winter months, when the leaves of deciduous trees have fallen, it's much easier to see the shape you are creating and there's less stress to the tree as there is minimal loss of sap.
What is a pollarded oak?
Pollard Oak is the wood derived from oak trees that have been 'pollarded'. Pollarding is a system of pruning the top branches of a tree which then promotes a dense head of branches and foliage.
Is a Pollard a duck?
Pollard, a deer which has cast its antlers.
What is Pollard for chickens?
Wheat pollard is a by-product of the flour milling of grain. Wheat pollard is very palatable and can be used in diets of pigs, poultry, ruminants and horses of all ages. However due to its bulkiness and high fibre content, it is not suggested for use in diets for very young stock.
What is the purpose of pollarding?
Pollarding is a method of pruning that keeps 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 that height. Pollarding an elderberry to keep it small and produce good-colour foliage.
What is the difference between pollarding and coppicing?
It involves cutting multiple stems down to the ground. This encourages the plant to send up vigorous new shoots. Pollarding is similar to coppicing but plants are cut back to a stump, rather than down to the ground. Use a saw to remove all the branches from the tree at the trunk height you've chosen.
Will a pollarded tree grow back?
While it may look silly at first or like your tree has been destroyed, you will soon see a thick crown growing back. This is why it is so important to pollard young trees – older trees will take longer to grow back in and fill with greens.
Why are plane trees pollarded?
Pollarding is an ancient practice. It seeks to remove the new shoots to promote the growth of the main stems and prevent smaller woody material. The effect is quite dramatic. To achieve it, prune a London plane tree in late fall or early winter.
What is the difference between pollarding and topping?
The practice of pollarding trees is taken when the tree is dormant, usually in the winter or early spring. Topping a tree involves the practice of removing the whole top part of the tree.
What does it mean to lollipop a tree?
It is a tree trimming technique in which the trimmer cuts off the ends of branches, leaving stubs that look like tree mutilation. Even when spring comes and the tree grows leaves, the shape of the tree can be similar to that of a lollipop instead of a naturally beautiful tree.
What is pollarding in trees?
Pollarding is a pruning system involving the removal of the upper branches of a tree, which promotes the growth of a dense head of foliage and branches. In ancient Rome, Propertius mentioned pollarding during the 1st century BCE. The practice occurred commonly in Europe since medieval times, and takes place today in urban areas worldwide, ...
Why was pollarding preferred over coppicing?
Pollarding was preferred over coppicing in wood-pastures and other grazed areas, because animals would browse the regrowth from coppice stools. Historically, the right to pollard or "lop" was often granted to local people for fuel on common land or in royal forests; this was part of the right of estover.
Why do trees need pollarding?
As in coppicing, pollarding is to encourage the tree to produce new growth on a regular basis to maintain a supply of new wood for various purpose s, particularly for fuel. In some areas, dried leafy branches are stored as winter fodder for stock.
Where did the term "poll" come from?
Origin and usage of term. Ancient beech pollard, Box Hill, Surrey, UK. "Poll" was originally a name for the top of the head, and "to poll" was a verb meaning 'to crop the hair'. This use was extended to similar treatment of the branches of trees and the horns of animals.
Is "pollard" a noun?
Later, the noun "pollard" came to be used as a verb: "pollarding". Pollarding has now largely replaced polling as the verb in the forestry sense. Pollard can also be used as an adjective: "pollard tree".
What is a pollard?
Definition of pollard. (Entry 1 of 2) : a tree cut back to the trunk to promote the growth of a dense head of foliage.
What is a pollard in a sentence?
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun As a noun, a pollard is a tree so barbered, or an animal, such as a goat or sheep, that no longer has its horns.
What is pollarding in trees?
Pollarding is essentially pruning. Hard. Very hard. I mean really, really hard. At a set height each time. In fact, it is done to keep the trees from growing too tall. And, by cutting the top branches back, it stimulates new and lush, leafy growth. What you end up with is something looking like very large mushrooms. Only green. (Well, at least on top.)
What trees are pollarded?
The most common types of trees to be pollarded are oak, ash, elm and maple to name a few. Hazel and Willow also, though they are more likely to be copsed than pollarded.
Does pollarding work in urban areas?
Also, pollarding works really well in urban areas (whether medieval or today). Because the trees are kept stunted, areas that couldn’t normally house a large tree, could still grow trees. Courtyards, plazas, parks, and so on, all benefited and still do from being heavily pruned.
What is pollard in biology?
Flora and fauna. Pollard or polled livestock, hornless livestock of normally-horned species. Pollard, a tree affected by pollarding, a method for shaping trees, cropping the branches above head-height. Pollard, the European chub ( Squalius cephalus ), a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae.
What is the Pollard script?
Pollard script, a writing system devised in 1905 for the A-Hmao language. Topics referred to by the same term. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Pollard. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.
Who is Pollard Hopewell?
People. Pollard (surname), a list of people named "Pollard". Pollard Hopewell ( (between 1786 and 1789-1813), a midshipman in the United States Navy . Charles Pollard Olivier (1884–1975), an American astronomer.
What is pollarding in trees?
Pollarding is a term given to the process in which the main branch systems of trees are pruned heavily to short stubs. This promotes vigorous young re-growth from the stumpy branches and is often used in urban areas to reduce the crown size of old street trees.
What are some examples of London planes?
An example is Platanus x hispanica – the London plane. These large and often over-mature specimens often cause problems with reducing visibility, blocking drains and gutters, restricting light into neighbouring houses and dropping large branches. One way of managing this is to pollard them.
Can broad leaf trees be pollarded?
They offer excellent shade during the hot summer months. Most deciduous broad-leaved trees can be pollarded. The key is that the species must be capable of producing what is known botanically as ‘ epicormic growth ’. The common term is ‘water shoots’.
What does pollarding a tree mean?
Top weight reduction: Pollarding a tree means a reduction in its top weight. This is very beneficial if you live in areas that regularly experience strong winds. It is also great for trees that become brittle when they reach maturity. The Bradford pear tree for instance.
Why do we pollard trees?
Pollarding A Tree: Reasons, Process, Species, Pros & Cons. Pollarding a tree involves trimming the tree for the sake of controlling its mature size and shape , usually into a uniformed ball-shaped canopy. This tree trimming technique is employed on trees planted in an area too small for them to reach full growth.
Why is pollarding a tree so expensive?
First of all, pollarding a tree is very expensive, this is because it requires a lot of hard work to get done. If the tree has reached a mature age, then you would most likely need the services of an arborist to pollard it, and these services don’t come cheap.
Why are trees pollarded?
Trees can be pollarded for many reasons. One such is the other trees planted in the same area. Their over-growth could be a problem for the other smaller trees and besides removing it, pollarding is the next best option. The tree could also be planted close to a power line, fencing, or some other form of obstacle.
How old are coppiced plants in France?
In France, there are 600-year-old coppiced plants still in production. Such hard pruning results in voluminous, thin, vigorous growth. This was and is still used to make baskets, hurdles, and trellis fences. Pollarded Hazel rods can be used to make very good bean poles.
How high should a tree be to pollard?
The height should be at least 6 feet above ground level to keep the new growth from being eaten by grazing animals.
When is pollarding season?
This is between winter and the early spring seasons (basically January to March). Young trees are the best candidates for pollarding. This is because they grow quicker and healthier than more mature trees. New trees are also a lot less prone to diseases.
What is pollarding in horticulture?
Pollarding, as defined by Horticulture Magazine, is: “when young trees and shrubs are cut to the main stem or trunk, ultimately controlling the height of the plants. This is different from coppicing because the trees and shrubs are not cut at ground level, but much higher, usually around six feet. Pollarding maintains a desired height for ...
When do pollards occur?
Pollarding typically takes place when the tree is dormant, so while that will vary from tree to tree, it is most common during the early spring months or winter. According to Gardening Know How, it also makes your trees less susceptible to getting a disease or fungus.
Why do trees need pollarding?
Nowadays, pollarding keeps tree branches from interfering with electrical wires and obstructing pedestrian and vehicular traffic. It is also used to keep large trees smaller than normal and reduce the shade they cast. The new growth on some trees is colorful, with pollarding producing constantly fresh branches.”.
What is tree pollarding?
This technique is used on trees in many different kinds of locations, helping to shape them so that the trees stay healthy and safe. Pollarding, as defined by Horticulture Magazine, ...
Why is it better to pollard older trees or younger trees?
Like previously mentioned, it is better to pollard younger trees because they will come back much more quickly than older trees. This is a list of trees that are commonly pollarded from the Royal Horticulture Society: Ash (Fraxinus) Common lime (Tilia × europaea) Elm (Ulmus)
Why do people pollinate their trees?
There are many reasons why people get their trees pollarded. They do so because their trees are unsafe in such a small space, they do so because they want their trees to fit into their landscaping better , maybe they do so because the tree isn’t growing in a way that is sustainable.
Can tulips be pollarded?
Tulip tree (Liriodendron) Remember that all trees need to be handled on a case by case basis and just because you have a tree that is one of the types listed above, you can have your trees pollarded. The best thing that you can do is reach out to a tree care professional and get his or her opinion.
What is pollarding in arboriculture?
Now that you know the definition of "pollarding," you can distinguish it from "topping," which is another term used in arboriculture . The major difference between the two words: Whereas the former is done with design in mind, the latter is done out of expediency. More thought and planning goes into pollarding, which is considered an art form, much like topiary .
What does "pollarding trees" mean?
"Pollarding trees" means cutting them back nearly to the trunk, so as to produce a dense mass of branches.
How often do you pollard a tree?
Pollarding begins on young trees, and the process is repeated every year or two throughout the life of the tree (meaning that, if you decide that this is something that you would like to subject your trees to, be prepared to undertake significant landscape maintenance ).
When is the best time to pollinate a tree?
Only certain types of trees are suited to pollarding, including: For most trees, the best time to pollard them is late winter or early spring. The exception is maple tree—avoid pollarding a maple in early spring because that's when its sap is running and it would be a sticky mess.
Is pollarding done once?
While pollarding is an ongoing operation, topping is usually done just once. While pollarding and topping may appear to beginners to be similar terms, the former boasts a superior pedigree. Pollarding goes back centuries. We know it was being done in ancient Rome because Propertius, the Roman poet, mentions it.

Overview
Origin and usage of term
"Poll" was originally a name for the top of the head, and "to poll" was a verb meaning 'to crop the hair'. This use was extended to similar treatment of the branches of trees and the horns of animals. A pollard simply meant someone or something that had been polled (similar to the formation of "drunkard" and "sluggard"); for example, a hornless ox or polled livestock. Later, the noun "pollard…
Practice
As in coppicing, pollarding is to encourage the tree to produce new growth on a regular basis to maintain a supply of new wood for various purposes, particularly for fuel. In some areas, dried leafy branches are stored as winter fodder for stock. Depending on the use of the cut material, the length of time between cutting will vary from one year for tree hay or withies, to five years or …
Species
As with coppicing, only species with vigorous epicormic growth may be pollarded. In these species (which include many broadleaved trees but few conifers), removal of the main apical stems releases the growth of many dormant buds under the bark on the lower part of the tree. Trees without this growth will die without their leaves and branches. Some smaller tree species d…
See also
• Fruit tree pruning
• Pleaching
• Coppicing
• Shredding
• Tree topping
External links
• London UK Royal Parks
• "Pollard" . Collier's New Encyclopedia. 1921.