Pollarding

Information about pollarding

When pollarding may be useful

Pollarding can be an effective way of managing suitable trees that have outgrown their location or need to be kept to a controlled size.

It may be useful where:

• A suitable tree has become too large for its location
• Regrowth needs to be managed on an ongoing cycle
• A previously pollarded tree needs re-pollarding
• The tree is close to buildings, gardens, boundaries or access routes
• A long-term management plan is needed for a retained tree
• Staged reduction is required to bring an old pollard back under control

Pollarding and long-term management

Pollarding can introduce decay into the main stem, so once a tree has been pollarded, the cycle should usually be repeated at suitable intervals. This may range from 5 to 30 years, depending on the species and condition of the tree.

If the re-pollarding cycle has lapsed, the tree may become structurally insecure, with an increased possibility of failure. In some cases, carrying out a full re-pollard at this point can put the tree under too much stress and may lead to its decline or death.

Where a pollard has been left too long, it is often better to carry out the work in stages through crown retrenchment, rather than removing too much growth at once.

Pollarding trees in gardens

Pollarding can sometimes help preserve a tree that has been planted in the wrong location. One common example is the weeping willow, which is often planted in smaller gardens and can quickly become too large for its space.

Once pollarded, some trees can produce strong regrowth, with certain species producing 2 to 3 metres of new growth within the first year.

Because of this, pollarding should always be considered carefully. It is not suitable for every tree and should be planned with the tree’s species, health, location and future maintenance in mind.

Crown retrenchment

Crown retrenchment is a staged reduction carried out over a number of years to encourage growth lower down in the crown.

This approach can be useful for managing older pollarded trees, lapsed pollards or trees that need to be reduced gradually rather than heavily cut back in one operation.

Professional pollarding by Norfolk Trees

Norfolk Trees was established in 2002 by Ashley Barnes and operates throughout Norfolk and East Anglia. Our tree surgeons are fully qualified for the work they undertake and have experience across all aspects of tree care.

Our work includes dismantling, felling, crown lifting, crown reductions, dead wood removal, formative pruning, tree surveys to BS5837, tree hazard reports, pest and disease diagnosis, bat inspections, stump grinding or treating and tree planting.

Clients can be confident in the quality of our work. Norfolk Trees holds £10,000,000 public liability insurance and all work is carried out to BS3998:2010.

In addition to domestic tree work, we undertake commercial work for local authorities, parish councils and other organisations, including the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Breckland Council, Serco, South Norfolk Council, Broadland Council, NCC Highways, KierMG and Anglian Water, along with numerous other clients.

We are also approved by the Norfolk County Council, and are CHAS Accredited through the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme.