Pollarding a Poplar Tree

[ha2424]

At this time of year, how hard can one pollard a Poplar tree?

 

It's s a large tree and it has been pollarded many times before, but it hasn't been touched in at least 5 years.

 

How much of the foliage do I have to keep in order not to kill it?

 

Many thanks in advance!

[ha2424]

At this time of year, how hard can one pollard a Poplar tree?
 
It's s a large tree and it has been pollarded many times before, but it hasn't been touched in at least 5 years.
 
How much of the foliage do I have to keep in order not to kill it?
 
Many thanks in advance!

This is a photo of the tree.

[ha2424]

This is a photo of the tree.

[TIMON]

That doesn’t look like a very nice climb. If it was my choice, I would sever the ivy at the base and come back in the winter and do it. Either way I would cut all the foliage off and leave a couple of anchor points in case I had to re-do it in the future. Looks like the customer would be better off getting it removed completely.

[Treeation]

1. Locate the most recent "pollarding" / pruning points 

2. Remove all the regrowth back down to the most recent pruning points

3. Dont worry about leaving lots of foliage on as poplar has huge capacity to regenerate

4. Try hard not to scream/shout/swear/lose the will to live too much as looks like theres a sh$t load of ivy on those stems!

 

Edited July 18, 2019 by Treeation
typo

[Steve Bullman]

1 minute ago, Treeation said:

3. Dont worry about leaving lots of foliage on as poplar has huge capacity to regenerate

Generally. I've been caught out a couple of times over the years though. Nothing is guaranteed

 

[Treeation]

23 minutes ago, Steve Bullman said:

Generally. I've been caught out a couple of times over the years though. Nothing is guaranteed

 

I guess tree age and vigour need to be taken into account also

[Mick Dempsey]

I agree with Steve, pops can be moody buggers, I've hammered innumerable pops of all persuasions and the overwhelming majority  come back with a vengeance, then there’s a few that just give up after a year or less.

 

As for that tree, removal of ivy for starters to reduce wind sail and allow for ongoing inspections of pollard heads/old wounds, fungal colonisation at base etc.

 

Repollard to previous cuts, rinse and repeat every 5/7 years, till it’s fooked.

 

I would wait till later in the year, opinions may vary..

[Paul Cleaver]

When re pollarding it is important not to cut past the previous pollard point - even a little bit past the previous pollard point is not good for the tree

[Alex O]

I think depending on how the previous pollard points look depends on where you can take it, if they look goosed I would take it back to decent wood, but I know many who wouldn’t.