advice on willow pruning practices in relation to health help needed please

[jimmylad]

hello all. hope you some one may be able to advice me a wee bit, i'm doing a ND in forestry and arb' and for one of the assignments i'm having to talk about poor prunning practices in realtion to the health of the tree. the tree in question is a willow.

now i'm very new to this and although i'm trying i'm a wee bit stuck. what sort of features should i be looking for as a sign of bad prunning methods. i know this could be classed as one of those "how long is a piece of string questions" but any general pointers would be good and very helpful.

also what sort of pruning methods would be better placed to a willow.

i do have some pics of "said" trees and will get the pics up asap. but for now the best i can describe is one of the trees has three main limbs which have been chopped at no noticable joint, from the top their are lots of new sprouts growing which have at least three years growth to some (i've counted girdle scars), is this a bad method, i.e. in the fact should the tree be continusaly pollered and not left to grow or am i barking up the wrong tree this idea.

anyway sorry if it sounds a bit vague but as i said i'm kind of lost at the mo'.

as i say any advice or general pointers would and will be greatful recived.

 

many thanks and safe climbing

 

james