A few years ago now, York Council performed a re pollard all of the London Plane trees, in the city centre. I can’t imagine they had any idea of the backlash this decision would have, as a maelstrom of rage filled posts littered social media and local news sites. All complaining that these once beautiful trees had been left for dead.
The reality was a little less dramatic and to no one’s surprise in the industry, the year after they’d all, without exception, leafed up looking great. But misplaced as it was, the fear was understandable a pollard, even when done well looks brutal (in the beginning). Despite being known about since we first started writing about trees, there’s still a lot of contention and misunderstanding around pollards.
In this post, I’ll explain what is a pollard is, why it’s used, and when it might (or might not) be right for your trees.
What Is a Pollard?
Pollarding simply is a method or style of pruning where the branches of a tree are removed, back to the same point or knuckle each time, to control its size and shape. Leaving you with the skeleton of a tree. The cut point varies, tree to tree but is usually well above head height but can be much higher depending on the size of the tree. Once established, new growth forms a dense, rounded head, leaving you with an often more rounded canopy.
Traditionally this was done to provide feed for animals or to produce firewood, similar to coppicing but at a height that the new growth couldn’t be reached by animals.
It’s used on species like Lime, Willow, Plane, and Poplar, especially in UK urban areas but it’s the standard pruning method for the majority of trees in a lot of European countries and Japan does something similar with Japanese Cedar called Daisugi.
Why Is a Pollard Done?
There are a few good reasons to pollard a tree:
- Size control: The reality is that some trees just grow too large for the space they’re in. Often near buildings, footpaths, power lines, or roads. Pollarding for certain species can be a great way to keep a tree in check and prevent it having to be removed.
- Safety: In the wild trees like Crack Willow, are particularly fond of dropping out large limbs, which then given time will start adventitious rooting forming a whole new tree. While this is great for the Willow it’s not ideal in your garden. Reducing the size of the canopy can lower the risk of large branches failing in wind, opening it up to decay.
- Regrowth management: A less common reason for pollarding, especially these days is that regular pollarding encourages a flush of new, flexible growth, which can be useful for things like weaving or basketry.
- Heritage or tradition: Some trees have been pollarded for decades or even centuries. Keeping up the cycle preserves their structure.
Is Pollarding Bad for Trees?
The answer is as always, it depends. There are plenty of trees well over a 100 years old that have been regularly pollarded, however you don’t need to go far to see a Birch that’s been killed from a unadvised pollard.
Pollarding is not something you should do casually but when done properly, on the right species and at the right time of year, it can be a safe and sustainable way to manage a tree. But if it’s done too harshly, on the wrong tree, or too late in a tree’s life, it can cause stress, decay, and long-term damage.
Is It the Same as Topping?
Topping and pollarding are often but incorrectly used interchangeably, tree topping is often a more severe and potentially damaging method where the top of a tree is cut off without regard for structure or regrowth. Pollarding, on the other hand, is a structured, repeatable process. It’s controlled and deliberate — and done properly, it supports the health and longevity of the tree.
Can All Trees Be Pollarded?
No — and this is important. Some species respond well and can tolerate the repeated pruning involved. Others will struggle or die back if pruned too heavily.
Trees that typically respond well to pollarding include:
- Common lime
- London plane
- Willow
- Poplar
- Hornbeam
Species like Birch, Beech, and most conifers are usually not good candidates.
Thinking About Pollarding?
If you have a tree that’s outgrowing its space — or has been previously pollarded and needs managing — get in touch and we can assess the tree, site, and whether pollarding is the right approach. And if it isn’t, we’ll tell you.
Chris
