What "Pollarding" actually means.
Pollarding is a long-term management style: branches are cut back to the same fixed points on a cycle (typically every 2–5 years), forming a dense head of new growth from knuckles that thicken over time. It's not suitable for every species, but for fast-growing trees in confined spaces — willows, limes, London planes — it's a way of keeping the tree at a manageable size for the long run.
What's involved on the day
- Establishing or returning to existing pollard points (knuckles)
- Removing all growth back to those points cleanly
- Scheduling future cycles — typically every 2–5 years
- Disposal of all arisings, chipped or removed from site
When you might need it
- Fast-growing species in a small garden where height must be controlled
- Existing pollard that hasn't been maintained and needs returning to cycle
- Street trees or trees near services that need predictable size
- You want to enjoy the architectural form a pollard creates