Tree Pollarding In Oxford
Tree pollarding is a specialist pruning technique used to control the size of a tree over the long term, and JW Tree Surgery carries out professional pollarding for domestic customers throughout Oxford and the surrounding areas. Our Tree Surgeons approach every pollarding job with a clear understanding of the species involved, the cycle required and the results you are looking for.
About Tree Pollarding…
Pollarding is the practice of cutting a tree's branches back to a fixed framework, known as the pollard head, at a chosen height on the main stem or scaffold branches. From those cut points, the tree pushes out a flush of vigorous new shoots each growing season, and the process is repeated on a regular cycle, typically every one to five years depending on the species and the management objective.
Over time, the tree develops a characteristic swollen knuckle at each cut point. This is where the dormant buds responsible for the new growth are concentrated, and it is the permanent framework around which all future pollarding visits are structured. Every subsequent repollarding cut is made just above these knuckles, never into them, to preserve the bud cluster and protect the tree from decay.
Pollarding Versus Topping: An Important Distinction
Pollarding is sometimes confused with topping, but the two are fundamentally different and it matters to understand why.
Topping involves making random cuts through the tree's stem and major branches at whatever height is convenient, without regard for the tree's structure or biology. It destroys the tree's natural growth framework, triggers the rapid production of weak, unstable water sprouts and exposes large areas of cut wood to decay.
Pollarding, by contrast, works with the tree's biology. Cuts are made at specific, consistent points, the species must be suitable for the technique, and the process must be started and maintained correctly to produce a healthy, stable result.
A correctly pollarded tree managed on the right cycle is structurally sound and can live for a very long time.
Our Process…
When you get in touch, we will arrange to visit the site and take a look at the hedge before providing a quote. This allows us to assess the species, size, condition and access, all of which affect the time and method required.
On the day of the work, we arrive with professional-grade tools suited to the size and type of hedge being cut. We cut methodically to achieve a straight, even line on the top and sides, working to the shape and height you want.
Once the trimming is complete, we clear all cuttings and debris from your property. All waste is removed from site or processed through our wood chipping service, leaving your garden clean and tidy.
Which Species Are Suitable For Pollarding?
Not all trees are suitable for pollarding, and applying the technique to the wrong species can cause serious harm. The trees that respond well are those capable of producing vigorous regrowth from cut stems, drawing on dormant buds beneath the bark to push out strong new shoots.
Common species suitable for pollarding include willow, lime, London plane, hornbeam, ash, elder, oak, mulberry and some maples. Willows in particular are a very familiar sight in Oxfordshire, where they have been managed by pollarding along riversides and waterways for centuries.
Species that do not respond well to pollarding include most conifers and many ornamental trees. If you are unsure whether your tree is a suitable candidate, we will assess it honestly before any work is agreed and advise on the most appropriate approach.
When To Pollard & How Often
The best time to pollard most species is during the dormant period, typically late winter to early spring, before the tree comes back into growth. Working during dormancy reduces stress on the tree, limits the loss of sap and gives the tree the maximum growing season ahead to recover and push out new shoots.
The frequency of repollarding depends on the species and what you are trying to achieve. Fast-growing species such as willow may need cutting back every one to three years to keep the new growth at a manageable size and weight. Slower-growing species such as lime or hornbeam can often be managed on a longer cycle of three to five years or more.
The critical rule with pollarding is that once the cycle is established, it must be maintained.
Allowing a pollarded tree to go without repollarding for too long allows the new growth to develop into large, heavy limbs. These limbs are attached at the pollard head rather than having grown as part of the original structure, which means they can become unstable and prone to splitting out in high winds. Keeping to a regular cycle prevents this from becoming a problem.
Why Pollarding Is The Right Choice
Oxford's domestic gardens vary enormously in size, and many properties have trees that have grown beyond what the space can comfortably accommodate. Where a tree is a suitable species and has been managed by pollarding previously, repollarding is often a far better outcome than felling, retaining the tree in the garden while keeping it at a size that works for the space.
Pollarding is also used to manage trees that are shading out neighbouring gardens or blocking light to the property, to keep trees clear of overhead cables or structures, and to maintain the traditional management of riverside willows that form part of Oxfordshire's characteristic landscape. In all of these situations, a correctly managed pollarding cycle provides a long-term, sustainable solution.
Starting A Pollard On A Young Tree
It is important to understand that pollarding is best established on a relatively young, healthy tree rather than on a large, mature specimen that has never been pollarded before. The first pollard sets the height and position of the pollard head and commits the tree to that management regime from that point forward.
Attempting to pollard a large, mature tree that has never been managed this way is not the same process and carries considerably greater risk to the tree's health and structural integrity.
If you have a younger tree that you would like to manage by pollarding going forward, getting the first cut right is the foundation on which everything that follows depends, and it is work that benefits from proper planning and care.