Pollarding Trees: When and How to Do It Right
If you have tall trees on your property, you might be wondering when and how to pollard them. Pollarding is a pruning technique that involves the removal of branches from the top of a tree, leaving behind a “knob” or “stump” of branches at the top. It's an effective way to keep trees healthy and under control, but it can also be dangerous if done incorrectly. Let’s take a look at when and how to safely pollard tall trees in your yard.
When to Pollard The best time for pollarding is late winter or early spring, just before new growth begins. During this time, the tree has less sap running through it, which reduces stress on the tree when pruning takes place. This is also when you will have an easier time seeing where the major limbs are located since there won't be any leaves obscuring them. How to Pollard Before you begin pollarding your tall trees, make sure that you have all of the necessary safety equipment—including gloves, goggles, long pants and sleeves, sturdy shoes or boots—and tools—loppers (for branches up to 2 inches in diameter), a pole saw (for branches 2-4 inches in diameter), and a chainsaw (for anything larger). When you're ready to get started, follow these steps: • Carefully inspect the tree for deadwood or broken limbs that need to be removed first; these should be cut off at least 6 inches away from any live growth • Start by removing any side branches from the main trunk that are growing upwards • Continue removing side branches until only one branch remains at each level (these will become your "knobs" once pollarded) • Prune all remaining side shoots back as far as possible without damaging the bark.
Pollarding is an effective way to manage large trees on your property without risking their health. However, it's important that homeowners understand how and when to safely perform this type of pruning if they want their trees to remain healthy and look good for years to come. By following these tips outlined above, you can ensure that your tall trees stay in shape while keeping yourself safe throughout the process. Call today to book your free quote from a qualified Tree surgeon in Wokingham.
