why are trees pollarded

Let us enumerate the reasons why trees are pollarded:

• According to arborists, pollarding improves the health of trees.
• With significant heights wood trees can reach, they become hazards to the community and environment. ...
• Pollarded trees are sometimes needed for transplantation. ...
• While trees are universal sources of energy and food, they are pollarded to eliminate branches for harvesting wood products. ...

More items...

Full Answer

Why do we pollard trees?

The practice occurred commonly in Europe since medieval times, and takes place today in urban areas worldwide, primarily to maintain trees at a determined height or to place new shoots out of the reach of grazing animals. Traditionally, people pollarded trees for one of two reasons: for fodder to feed livestock or for wood.

What is pollarding tree pruning?

What Is Pollarding: Tips On Pollarding A Tree. Pollard tree pruning is a method of trimming trees to control their mature size and shape, creating a uniform, ball-like canopy. The technique is often used on trees planted in an area where they cannot be allowed to grow to their full size.

What does Pollarding a tree look like?

After pollarding a tree, it will look like a bare piece of wood, but the crown will grow in soon after. Pollarding should only be done when the tree is in its dormant state. This is between winter and the early spring seasons (basically January to March). Young trees are the best candidates for pollarding.

What are the consequences of pollarding a tree?

One consequence of pollarding is that pollarded trees tend to live longer than unpollarded specimens because they are maintained in a partially juvenile state and because they do not have the weight and windage of the top part of the tree. Older pollards often become hollow, so can be difficult to age accurately.

Is pollarding good for a tree?

Nowadays pollarding is beneficial to our gardens for a wide range of reasons, it is an effective way to reduce the amount of shade cast by trees, it prevents trees from outgrowing their local environment and can also be necessary in urban situations where trees might hinder neighbouring properties or overhead cables.

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.

Why do they cut off the tops of trees?

The many large, open wounds that topping creates on a tree's main stem and branches also invite diseases, insect infestations and decay. The remaining branches may rot and become unstable. Eventually, the tree may die. Topping can create expensive problems.

What is the difference between Pollard and coppice?

The main difference between the two methods is that coppicing occurs at ground level while pollarding is done 8-10 feet high to prevent browsing animals from eating the fresh shoots; typically, coppicing was done to manage woodlands and pollarding was done in a pasture system.

Do pollarded trees grow back?

Always choose young trees for pollarding, since they regrow faster and better than older trees. They are also less susceptible to disease.

What happens when you pollard a tree?

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.

Why you shouldn't top a tree?

Tree Death: Topping trees, obviously puts a tremendous amount of stress on the tree. Such stress could very likely cause the tree to die, especially if the tree is already under stress. If the tree already has cavities, and topping creates more wounds, the tree could fall apart after further decay has occured.

Do trees feel pain when they are cut down?

Given that plants do not have pain receptors, nerves, or a brain, they do not feel pain as we members of the animal kingdom understand it. Uprooting a carrot or trimming a hedge is not a form of botanical torture, and you can bite into that apple without worry.

Does topping trees hurt?

This pruning practice is the reduction of tree size by heading back many or most large, live branches without regard for tree health or structural integrity. Topping manages height and spread but leaves behind woody stubs that cause decay, weak branch attachments, and increased likelihood of failure.

What are the disadvantages of coppicing?

DISADVANTAGES OF COPPICE SYSTEM:- The growth rate of coppice crop is relatively higher, therefore it has been reported that considerable loss of mineral nutrients from the soil in areas where this system is applied.

Can oak trees be pollarded?

Pollarding can be used on many trees including the following: ash, lime, elm, oak, beech, poplar, eldar, london plane, fruit trees, eucalyptus and sweet chestnut.

What time of year should you coppice trees?

Coppice trees and shrubs in late winter or early spring (February to March), just before they come into active growth. Shrubby Cornus and willows grown for winter stem colour are now typically pruned from late March to mid April, just as the new growth is developing.

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, ...

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 ...

What happens if you cut a tree incorrectly?

If it is done incorrectly, you could put your trees in danger. We can help you take care of your trees -everything from regular maintenance to see if your tree is experiencing any problems or with the pollarding cutting of your trees.

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.

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.

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.

Why are street trees chosen?

Modern street trees are selected for their size and habit and varieties are chosen that do not grow too large, obscure vision for motorists or pedestrians and do not drop excessive leaf litter. A century ago when many trees were planted in cities the choice of species was limited.

How do dormant buds produce vigorous stems?

Dormant buds lower down the stems are triggered into producing vigorous stems as energy stored in the roots is re-directed.

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’.

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.

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, ...

What is the name of the tree that grows at a metre above the ground?

Here, the light that reaches the woodland floor is limited owing to the thick growth of the pollarded trees. Pollards cut at about a metre above the ground are called stubs (or stubbs). These were often used as markers in coppice or other woodland.

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.

What happens if you remove the apical stem of a tree?

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.

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 pollarding a tree?

Pollard tree pruning is a method of trimming trees to control their mature size and shape, creating a uniform, ball-like canopy. The technique is often used on trees planted in an area where they cannot be allowed to grow to their full size.

What trees are pollarding?

You’ll find very few conifer trees suitable for pollarding, other than the yew. Possible broadleaf trees suitable for pollarding include trees with vigorous regrowth like: Willows. Beech. Oaks. Hornbeam. Lime.

How tall is a pollard tree?

The height is at least 6 feet (2 m.) above the ground so that grazing animals do not eat new growth. You also remove any lower limbs on the tree and any crossing limbs. While the tree looks like a barren stick right after pollard tree trimming, the crown soon grows in.

When you top a tree, do you cut off the top section of the central trunk?

When you top a tree, you cut off the top section of the central trunk. This is usually done to a mature tree when a homeowner underestimates its mature size . Regrowth after topping is a problem. On the other hand, pollard tree pruning is always done on young trees, and regrowth is encouraged.

What does "pollarding trees" mean?

"Pollarding trees" means cutting them back nearly to the trunk, so as to produce a dense mass of branches.

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 .

Why do you top a tree?

It is done not with an eye to what is best for the tree, but because the homeowner is in a pinch.

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.

Do all trees die after topping?

Some types of trees may die after topping, but this fact often holds little importance to the homeowner, who may actually be glad to have the tree die if it's unwanted. Do note, however, that not all trees that have been topped die a quick death. Some live on for many years.

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.

Why are pollarded trees needed?

Pollarded trees are sometimes needed for transplantation. As part of pruning, trees which have not been tended for trimming may hamper further growth of new branches and leaves. This also allows the trees to bear fruit when they have to.

What is the purpose of pollarding a tree?

It means cutting the trunk to be able for the tree to produce massive or dense branches. If you have seen lollipop trees, their purpose is to make a place attractive but sometimes odd. Lollipop trees usually don’t have many leaves when pollarded that’s why they look different.

Why are lollipop trees pollarded?

If you have seen lollipop trees, their purpose is to make a place attractive but sometimes odd. Lollipop trees usually don’t have many leaves when pollarded that’s why they look different. In Essex, England, beech trees and for other trees around Europe, trees are pollarded for practical and aesthetic reasons:

What is pollarding in arborists?

Pollarding is a pruning technique arborists do for certain reasons. Tree pruning is a scientific, or we’d rather say, a logical way of trimming trees based on procedures and techniques. Without the techniques being correctly performed, trees may be harmed than taken care of. Tree pruning may not be your typical topic of interest, ...

Why do trees have crowns?

A crown is more noticeable when it can serve as a canopy when it’s lush and thick, beneficial as a shade or covering against the sun or even light rain. Traditionally, ancient Romans were known to apply the pollarding when they wanted trees to yield more dense foliage from their branches.

Why is pollarding good?

Let us enumerate the reasons why trees are pollarded: According to arborists, pollarding improves the health of trees. With significant heights wood trees can reach , they become hazards to the community and environment.

Is tree pruning a topic?

Tree pruning may not be your typical topic of interest, but if you are fond of trees, your perspective on tree pruning may put you on the next level of knowing how trees are tended in your neighbourhood or community.

Overview

Practice

Species

Origin and usage of term

See also

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