Pollarding

Pollarding is the method by which we cut off the top and upper branches of a tree, which promotes a dense head of foliage and branches. Pollarding encourages new growth and maintains trees in a partially juvenile state. Once a tree has been pollarded, it is good practice to re-pollard at regular intervals throughout the life of the tree. If left unmanaged, trees that have been pollarded can often fail due to the increased regrowth from one point. A regular maintenance schedule should be put in place to prevent the chance of failure.

How to start pollarding a tree?
By removal of the top of a young tree at a prescribed height to encourage multistem branching from that point, traditionally for fodder, firewood or poles. Once started, it should be repeated on a cyclical basis always retaining the initial pollard point, or bolling as it becomes known.