Trees benefit all of us, creating beautiful outdoor spaces and improving the local ecosystem. However, some trees can become a nuisance or unsafe if they grow too large, so there are various pruning methods to keep them maintained. Each technique has different ways of controlling growth and enhancing the health of trees.
One of the pruning techniques experts use is tree pollarding, but what does it involve? Here’s everything you need to know.
What does tree pollarding involve?
Tree pollarding is an extensive pruning method in which most of a tree’s branches are removed. This reduces future growth to keep the tree’s canopy and branches under strict control, growing smaller than they would naturally.
Pollarding can be done once the tree reaches its desired height, preventing it from growing dangerously large or causing damage to nearby buildings and structures, such as streetlights or electrical wires.
What is tree pollarding used for?
Pollarding is most commonly used for maintaining trees at a safe height if they’re close to overhead power lines and buildings. Luckily, many different types of trees are suitable for pollarding, including ash, sycamore, horse chestnut, and eucalyptus trees.
Tree pollarding isn’t suitable for some species like conifers, but other pruning methods can be applied to control their growth without having to remove them. This includes crown reduction or crown thinning solutions.
Benefits of tree pollarding
As well as managing growth and minimising the damage trees can cause, pollarding has lots of other ways it improves the health of trees. This includes the removal of dead or decaying branches, rejuvenating trees so that they’re healthier than before.
Removing more branches will aid natural sunlight entering a garden or outdoor area, creating brighter spaces to enjoy. This encourages the healthy growth of plants and shrubs located beneath while increasing foliage at lower levels of the tree.
Overall, the pollarding process is a good opportunity for a professional arborist to assess your trees and let you know if there are any other areas of concern. For example, if they detect tree disease, this will be evident during the pruning treatment.
When should pollarding be carried out?
The best time of year for most types of tree pollarding is late winter or early spring, completed annually to maintain the tree size at its current level. However, some tree species may benefit from pollarding in summer if they’re prone to bleeding sap during the spring, such as Acers. The worst time of year for pollarding is autumn, which could lead to certain fungi species causing tree decay.
Get a free tree pruning quote
If you’d like to discuss tree pruning solutions with an expert arborist, speak to the team at DH Tree Services. We offer crown reductions, thinning and pollarding as part of our professional tree care options. We operate across South West London and Surrey, including Banstead and Caterham.
For a free tree pruning quote, please contact us.
