Pollards, are they out of vogue in the UK?

[MattyF]

Nothing wrong with pollards !! it's topping that's out of vogue.

[Mick Dempsey]

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.

 

Regarding the first "truism"

I was taught that at college as well.

They were wrong.

[Andymacp]

I'm not college taught and neither were the guys that taught me.

I think it's just my personal preference.

[Ty Korrigan]

We work on many pollards.

I find the Brits who come to work for us don't generally understand or sympathise with the culture of pollarding here and try to deviate from the tradition by leaving shoots or removing the knuckle as it has decay pockets.

I love them, real class, a traditional French Winter scene of 'Rue du Vichy' or 'Place de la Collaboration' lined with lime or plane pollards.

Ty

[GreenGui]

Great thread Mick. Agree with you and Ty, but then I live here too:001_rolleyes:

[cornish wood burner]

Obviously opinions vary and mine must be in the minority here but I think a pollard is ugly. Worst thing anyone could do to a tree imo.

[Aunt Maud]

To get you in the mood and make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

 

Pull up a chair and watch the video.

 

LIFE + Naturaleza 2008

[treesrus]

re: to pollard or not to pollard - depends on the situation. in the avenue/street pollarding, when done on a yearly basis, must be the better option - fewer leaves, more light(reduced crown), and attractive architectural aspect. but out in the open, when only attended to on a more irregular timeframe, then crown thinning would be a better option, particularly for the health of the tree.

[Mick Dempsey]

re: to pollard or not to pollard - depends on the situation. in the avenue/street pollarding, when done on a yearly basis, must be the better option - fewer leaves, more light(reduced crown), and attractive architectural aspect. but out in the open, when only attended to on a more irregular timeframe, then crown thinning would be a better option, particularly for the health of the tree.

 

You talk about the health of the tree, pollarded trees can, and do, live longer than "untouched" trees.

I'm not suggesting all trees should be pollarded.

Just that as a default method of managing certain species in towns it's fallen out of fashion with many people in the tree game. Often for the wrong reasons. Like for instance your assertion that it damages the trees health.

[Kveldssanger]

You're right, Mick. Pollards are lovely and, when done right and by skilled arborists with a knowledge of working pollards, they really do have a character that is unrivalled.

 

The comment further up about people removing the nuckle concerns me. Yes, there is decay within the area, though the build-up of carbohydrates local to that knuckle keeps the tree vigorous following pruning. Remove the knuckle; remove a dense abundance of sugars. Only where there is serious risk of the knuckle failing should it be removed.

 

When we look at old wood pasture, we see how a pollard would be thinned of poles on a routine basis (perhaps every year or two) - not always fully stripped. Below, animals would be grazed - be it sheep, pigs, goats, deer, or otherwise.

 

There is a rich history in pollarding, and it deserves a place on our streets for that reason alone.

Edited December 20, 2015 by Kveldssanger