Nottingham Tree Surgeons – Leaf Tree Services | Pollarding of Willow

Willow trees are quick growing and handle pruning well. Because of this Willow trees are often “pollarded’, a process where all the crown is removed back to either a single stem or leaving a basic branch structure as in this case. The regrowth after pollarding tends to be straight and upright. The origins of pollarding date back to medieval times when trees were pollarded to provide wood for making fence posts, rails etc. Willow trees were often pollarded to produce the material for basket weaving.

In modern times pollarding is a way of keeping trees at a manageable size. Once a cycle of pollarding is begun it is advisable to re-pollard every few years. New growth is often not anchored well into the stem and can easily snap out if left to become to heavy.

Unlike most pruning works, pollarding is best carried out in early spring once the fungi season has ended as the large wounds can be susceptible to infection.