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.
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).
Photo Credit: Jessie Keith
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!
Pollarding Tree - 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.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Pollarding Tree - Step 2
Remove all lateral shoots on each primary branch with abundant growth buds from your chalk marks to the trunk.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Pollarding Tree - Step 3
Cut off the branches you’ve marked with a pruning saw. First cut upward from the underside of the branch. Then make a second downward cut to remove the limb without skinning the branch.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Pollarding Tree - Step 4
Remove all of the secondary branches from the tree with a long-handled pruner, cutting them flush with the trunk.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
Pollarding Tree - Step 5
In the second and subsequent seasons, use pole pruners or a pruning saw to remove each long, new-growth sprout at its junction with the main branch.
Photo Credit: ©2002 Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard
