Pollarding

Pollarding is a method of pruning that keeps trees and shrubs smaller than they would naturally grow. It is normally started once a tree or shrub reaches a certain height, and annual pollarding will restrict the plant to that height.

Pollarding is a pruning technique used for many reasons, including:

• Preventing trees and shrubs outgrowing their allotted space
• Reducing the shade cast by a tree
• Preventing street trees from obstucting electrical wires and streetlights.

Branches can be pruned back to such points known as pollard heads in yearly cycles.  This is often a process performed on young trees as they adapt to this form of pruning.  However, certain mature trees can be pollarded and these include Willows, Limes and London Planes.