Topped tree

[GRob]

Hi there,

 

I have a Lime tree that was topped maybe 20 or so years ago.

My question is can it be thinned out, leaving most of the tree there or should it be cut back to the knuckle?

 

Thanks,

G

 

 

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

"Either, or.." - traditionally it would be re-pollarded, cutting above the 'knuckles', but if you go for a thinning out of the regrowth stems I'd stick to approx. 30%, i.e. one in every three(ish) but remember in so doing they will continue to grow in height & diameter.

 

If tree size is an issue, and you don't want to re-pollard, i.e. to original knuckles, you could reduce the regrowth stems in height and start again, in effect, at a higher level, i.e. a high pollard...but this seems a lot of faff for little gain tbh.

 

Good luck whichever way you go...and of course you don't need to go "any way" as you could leave it to grow on / up (unlike Poplars, Limes don;t have a propensity to fail at the knuckles.)