Prunning/pollarding Limes.... next week, help!

[normandylumberjack]

Hi Guys,

 

A little advice required once again

 

I have an avenue of 20 limes to pollard, which was scheduled for July/August, but due to a new power and phone line being installed directly over them in 2 weeks time, the job has been pulled forwards.

 

The contractors installing said lines have said that the trees will be felled unless they are reduced to a height of 3 meters give or take. This was the plan anyway, but I'm not sure how well they will respond to such treatment with the sap rising at the moment?

 

I am concerned that they will bleed heavily and die/ suffer. I have never used a wound sealer but would it help?

 

A couple of pics for reference;

[sloth]

Crack on

 

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Arbtalk mobile app

[Andrew Gale]

They look healthy enough from the photo; don't use wound sealant and the 'bleeding' will soon stop as the wound gums up, therefore sealing itself!

 

Not the best time to do it but if they're going to be felled otherwise you've nothing to lose

[Gary Prentice]

The bleeding creates a location inhospitable to fungal pathogens anyway and may be a natural defence mechanism.

[Ty Unnos]

An alternative would be to treat as coppice and cut them on a cycle.

[treeseer]

The coppice idea sounds lower-maintenance--they sure won't stay at 3m for long!

 

How high is the line going to be? Will both rows really be in the way? Who is writing that spec?

 

Sealant would be pushed off; as The Stones said, Let It Bleed.