What is a pollard?

[Coletti]

Please excuse me asking this but could someone please explain to me what a pollard is? Have read several bits of information recently but there seems to be a lot of different opinions.

[Coletti]

Just found something that has clarified it a bit for me. Basically a pollard is to cut off the top and branches of a tree to encourage new growth at the top but it can only be classed as a pollard if it's done to young trees. Is that correct? And also that if the same procedure is performed to mature trees it is just classed as topping?

[Ian C]

Just found something that has clarified it a bit for me. Basically a pollard is to cut off the top and branches of a tree to encourage new growth at the top but it can only be classed as a pollard if it's done to young trees. Is that correct? And also that if the same procedure is performed to mature trees it is just classed as topping?

 

Yep pretty much.

[Coletti]

I'm glad I read it correctly then haha. So if a mature tree is topped and then the re growth is remover say 3 years later, is that classed as a pollard/re pollard or is it just topping again?

[JLA Arborists]

My understanding is a that a pollard is a coppice at a height above the cattle grazing height usually 2-3m. It's to be started when the tree is around 2-3inches in diameter.

[Brushcutter]

I'm glad I read it correctly then haha. So if a mature tree is topped and then the re growth is remover say 3 years later, is that classed as a pollard/re pollard or is it just topping again?

 

Isn't that a French Pollard?

[JosephD]

Can you pollard conifers? or just broadleaves?

[Chris at eden]

Just found something that has clarified it a bit for me. Basically a pollard is to cut off the top and branches of a tree to encourage new growth at the top but it can only be classed as a pollard if it's done to young trees. Is that correct? And also that if the same procedure is performed to mature trees it is just classed as topping?

 

Spot on.

 

[Chris at eden]

Isn't that a French Pollard?

 

I think that is a fancy way of saying topping. The French are really good at pollarding in my experience so would probably be a bit offended. I admit though, when i was working on the tools years ago i always said French pollard instead of topping.

[Chris at eden]

Can you pollard conifers? or just broadleaves?

 

Just broadleaves or at least I can't think of a conifer that would. Many conifers dont regenerate from a stump (e.g. Pine) and the ones that do such as Thuja don't have the correct branch structure. i.e. they have a single straight stem.