Pollards, are they out of vogue in the UK?

[Mick Dempsey]

I agree - the pollarding does enable big trunks to be retained, but with the increased botanical knowledge and availability of hybrids there must now be better street trees than lime and plane. I mean better in terms of not growing so big so fast and therefore costing less

 

Like what?

[tree-fancier123]

Ginko may have advantages, and some with autumn colours would be a treat for the cities, not sure how well they stand up to pollution e.g liquid ambar

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

Surely it's the simplest cheapest way to manage trees?

 

Agreed! (edit - for existing trees!)

 

But perhaps also one of the easiest aspects of a stretched LA budget to "put off 'til next year", then again the next year.

 

Then the person that made the decision moves job and nobody remembers that it was only a temporary in year saving.

 

Then it's a case of having to re-submit funding bids and justifications just to get back the money that was offered up in previous years - competing against other bids with perhaps more direct public interest - toilets, social care, road maintenance.

 

Picture below was a privately owned (fee paying school) scenario but it was only when asked to look at RPA's for a potential new build classroom that I enquired when the last safety inspection had been done. Blank faces all round!

 

Perhaps it's just too easy to put it off for another day, then it all gets too difficult.... Like a leylandii hedge!

Edited December 19, 2015 by kevinjohnsonmbe
refinement

[Darrin Turnbull]

Ginko may have advantages, and some with autumn colours would be a treat for the cities, not sure how well they stand up to pollution e.g liquid ambar

 

 

Gingkos are monoculture.

[Kveldssanger]

Depends on the condition of the pollard, the whether the pollarding cycle has laped (and if so, for how long).

[Kveldssanger]

Like what?

 

Crataegus monogyna Stricta and Liquidambar styraciflua Thea, perhaps.

[tree-fancier123]

And a proposed list of street trees from

 

Best Trees to Plant on Your Street and Sidewalk

 

Acer campestre 'Queen Elizabeth' - Hedge Maple

Hedge maple tolerates urban conditions with no serious pests or disease problems. Acer campestre also tolerates dry soil, compaction and air pollutants.

 

The small stature and vigorous growth of hedge maple makes this an excellent street tree for residential areas, or perhaps in downtown urban sites. However, it grows a little too tall for planting beneath some power lines. It is also suitable as a patio or yard shade tree because it stays small and creates dense shade.

 

• Carpinus betulus 'Fastigiata' - European Hornbeam

The smooth, grey, rippling bark of Carpinus betulus shields the extremely hard, strong wood. Fastigiata European hornbeam, the most common hornbeam cultivar sold, grows 30 to 40 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. A very densely-foliated, columnar or oval-shaped tree making it ideal for use as a hedge, screen, or windbreak. The European hornbeam is usually preferred over American hornbeam as it grows faster with a uniform shape.

 

• Ginkgo biloba 'Princeton Sentry' - Princeton Sentry Maidenhair Tree

Ginkgo or maidenhair tree thrives in a wide range of soils, tolerant of urban stresses, beautiful fall color. Only fruitless males should be selected. 'Princeton Sentry' is a narrow, columnar, male form excellent for street planting.

 

This male cultivar of Ginkgo is practically pest-free, resistant to storm damage, and casts light shade due to the narrow crown. The tree is easily transplanted and has a vivid yellow fall color which is second to none in brilliance, even in the south.

 

• Gleditsia tricanthos var. inermis 'Shademaster' - Thornless Honeylocust

Shademaster is an excellent fast growing street tree with essentially no fruit, dark green leaves. Many horticulturists consider this to be one of the best cultivars of North America's honeylocust.

 

Since Thornless Honeylocust is also one of the last trees to leaf out in springtime and one of the first to lose its leaves in fall, it is one of the few trees well-suited for growing a lawn beneath it. The tiny leaflets turn golden yellow in fall before dropping and are so small they easily vanish into the grass below, without any raking being necessary.

 

• Pyrus calleyana 'Aristocrat' - Aristocrat Callery Pear

The Aristocrat's superior structure compared to Pyrus calleyana 'Bradford' makes it less susceptible to wind breakage, also requires less pruning. Tolerates pollution and drought, abundant white blossoms appear in early spring. In spring before the new leaves unfold, the tree puts on a brilliant display of pure white flowers which, unfortunately, do not have a pleasant fragrance.

 

Pyrus calleyana 'Aristocrat' - Aristocrat Callery Pear has been chosen "Urban Tree of the Year" as determined by responses to an annual survey in arborist magazine City Trees. This magazine serves as the official Journal to The Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA) and readers select a new tree each year.

 

• Quercus macrocarpa - Bur Oak

Bur Oak is a large, durable tree tolerant of urban stresses and also of poor soils, will adapt to acid or alkaline soil, suitable for parks, golf courses, and wherever adequate growing space is available. This beautiful but huge tree should only be planted with plenty of space.

 

Quercus macrocarpa or Bur Oak has been chosen an "Urban Tree of the Year" as determined by responses to an annual survey in arborist magazine City Trees. This magazine serves as the official Journal to The Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA) and readers select a new tree each year.

 

• Taxodium distichum 'Shawnee Brave' - Shawnee Brave Baldcypress

Although baldcypress is native to wetlands along running streams, growth is often faster on moist, welldrained soil. 'Shawnee Brave' A tall, narrow form reaching 60 feet high and only 15 to 18 feet wide. Has excellent possibilities as a street tree.

 

Baldcypress has been chosen "Urban Tree of the Year" as determined by responses to an annual survey in arborist magazine City Trees. This magazine serves as the official Journal to The Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA) and readers select a new tree each year.

 

• Tilia Cordata - Littleleaf Linden

Littleleaf linden is selected for its vigor and improved branching habit, tolerable of a wide range of soils but somewhat sensitive to drought and salt, good specimen tree and suitable for areas where adequate root space is available.

 

Architects enjoy using the tree due to its predictably symmetrical shape. Littleleaf Linden is a prolific bloomer, the small, fragrant flowers appearing in late June and into July. Many bees are attracted to the flowers, and the dried flowers persist on the tree for some time.

• Ulmus parvifolia 'Drake - 'Drake' Chinese (Lacebark) Elm

Chinese Elm is an excellent tree that is surprisingly under-used and possesses many traits which make it ideal for a multitude of landscape uses. Lacebark elm makes a fast-growing and nearly evergreen tree as leaves tend to stay on.

 

Lacebark elm extremely tolerant of urban stress and resistant to Dutch elm Disease (DED). The elm thrives under drought conditions, and will adopt to alkaline soil, relatively free of pests and diseases.

• Zelkova serrata - Japanese Zelkova

Zelkova is a fast growing, graceful tree suitable as a replacement for American Elms, tolerant of urban conditions, under extreme conditions splitting can occur at the crotch because of the narrow angle, resistant to DED. The cultivar 'Green Vase' is an excellent selection.

 

Zelkova has a moderate growth rate and likes a sunny exposure. Branches are more numerous and smaller in diameter than American Elm. Leaves are 1.5 to 4 inches long, turning a brilliant yellow, orange, or burnt umber in the fall. Best suited for a place with plenty of room and space.

 

Some of these would still obviously give cutters plenty of work

[tree-fancier123]

Gingkos are monoculture.

 

not up on all that, heard about it with Aspen, will have a read

[Andymacp]

I was always taught by better men than myself never to pollard always thin and reduce. Most of the issues are light getting through to houses.

Granted pollarding it'll be cured for a few years but when it comes back it's heavier than before.

I'd much rather see a tree shaped tree than a pollarded one.

Ironically I have to do my first pollard next month.

[tree-fancier123]

those pollards in Mick's original picture do have a charm about them, the knuckles are pleasing to look at.