Pollarding Deciduous Trees

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Susan Mason

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Photo Credit: Jessie Keith

Pollarding is an intensive pruning method that encourages abundant annual foliage to grow in a ball-like habit. It’s best used for fast-growing species like fruitless mulberry and for willows (shown here).

If you’re reading this article, chances are you fall into one of two categories: 1) You know exactly what pollarding is and you’re ready to perform it on one (or more) of your young trees or 2) You have no idea what pollarding is, and you’re just curious.

If you fall into the latter category, here’s a little background: Pollarding is an intensive pruning method used to encourage abundant annual foliage to grow in a ball-like habit. It’s not for every type of tree. The technique is best used for fast-growing species like fruitless mulberry and for willows in a formal setting. It can also be used to keep trees from growing too large (for example, when they don’t have enough space to reach full maturity).

As I mentioned, pollarding is an intensive pruning method – not for the faint of heart. Once you start, you need to press on with the pruning at least every other year.

When it comes to pollarding, you have two seasonal options: You can prune your tree in fall for greatest seasonal growth, or you can do it in spring before leaf buds form to retard growth.

Want to learn more? Then gather a sturdy tree ladder, chalk, tape measure, pole pruner, pruning saw and gloves, and take the steps shown in the following pictures and described in their captions. With some tenacity, your trees can be on their way to a whole new formal form!

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Step 1: For a nicely pollarded tree, leave 3-6 main branches extending equally from the tree’s center. Mark your main cuts with chalk at a point with nascent buds.

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Step 2: Remove all lateral shoots on each primary branch with abundant growth buds from your chalk marks to the trunk.

Warnings

Some trees (like white willow) withstand pollarding beautifully, while others (like beech) often fail to survive. Before you pollard, do your research and make sure your tree can withstand the intensive pruning!

Facts

Pollarding forces the tree or shrub to put forth new growth each growing season. The new growth should be removed each year so the tree can maintain its small form.
Pollarding is less common than it was a few decades ago. This is probably because this pruning technique involves considerable effort, and it can sometimes weaken the plant.

Faqs

Q: What’s a good tree for pollarding?
A: One selection is a fruitless mulberry tree (like Morus alba ‘Striblingii’). Fruitless mulberries are commonly planted in warm climates because they can be pruned severely for many years. These prolific trees send out cane-like branches as long as 20 feet from each nascent bud!

Come to The Garden Party and share your pollarding accomplishments with the rest of our Learn2Grow community! Post some pictures of your tree-pruning techniques, create a blog, or ask our experts or other tree-loving gardeners for more ideas, help and tips.

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