Pollarding vs. Pruning: Key Differences and Best Practices

Gardening is a wonderful blend of art and science, where every plant tells a story of its health, growth, and the care it receives. Two essential techniques that gardeners frequently use for maintaining trees and shrubs are pollarding and pruning. While they may sound similar, they serve different purposes and require distinct practices. Understanding these differences can help you make informed decisions about plant care, ensuring your garden remains vibrant and healthy. 

What is Pollarding?

Pollarding is a tree management technique that involves cutting back a tree’s upper branches to promote new growth, typically at a higher level than standard pruning techniques. This practice is often used on deciduous trees and can dramatically alter the overall size and shape of the tree. Originating in medieval Europe, pollarding was traditionally used to harvest timber while allowing the tree to regrow. 

The process usually begins with the tree being cut back to a specific height in the spring. This height can vary based on the intended aesthetic or functional usage of the tree. After the initial cut, new shoots will emerge, typically from the stumps left behind. This new growth can be retained or trimmed back in subsequent years, allowing for control over the tree’s growth shape and size.

Advantages of Pollarding

1. Managed Growth:

Pollarding effectively manages tree size, making it suitable for urban areas where space is limited. 

2. Improved Health:

By removing older, potentially weaker branches, pollarding can discourage pests and disease.

3. Aesthetic Appeal:

When done correctly, pollarded trees can provide striking visual interest throughout the seasons, particularly when they develop a unique shape.

4. Sustainable Resource:

Regular pollarding provides a sustainable supply of timber and fodder, promoting responsible resource use. 

What is Pruning?

Pruning, on the other hand, refers to the selective removal of certain parts of a plant—such as branches, buds, or roots—with the aim of maintaining its health, enhancing foliage production, or controlling its size and shape. Unlike pollarding, which involves a drastic cutback, pruning usually focuses on maintaining the overall structure and health of the tree or shrub.

Pruning can be done at any time during the year, depending on the type of plant and the desired outcome. Some plants prefer to be pruned in late winter or early spring, while others benefit from summer pruning. The technique can vary widely based on the goals: it can involve thinning out crowded branches, removing dead or diseased wood, or shaping the plant for aesthetic purposes.

Advantages of Pruning

1. Promotes Health:

By removing dead or diseased branches, pruning helps prevent the spread of problems within the plant.

2. Encourages Growth:

Pruning can stimulate new growth and blooming, particularly in flowering plants.

3. Enhances Appearance:

Regular pruning helps maintain the shape and size of the plant, contributing to the overall aesthetics of your garden.

4. Increases Light and Airflow:

Properly pruned plants often have better light penetration and air circulation, reducing the risk of mold or disease.

Key Differences Between Pollarding and Pruning

While both pollarding and pruning serve similar overarching goals—maintaining plant health and aesthetics—they are distinct in their methodologies and outcomes.

Technique

• Pollarding involves cutting back branches to a specific height, often resulting in a dramatic reduction in the tree's size.
• Pruning is more about selective removal, aiming to shape and maintain the plant without significantly reducing its height or volume.

Purpose

• Pollarding is often used for size control, resource management, and aesthetic reasons.
• Pruning primarily focuses on the health and growth patterns of the plant, addressing issues like dead wood and overcrowding.
  

Frequency

• Pollarding is usually performed on a regular cycle, often every few years, to maintain the desired height and growth.
• Pruning can be done more frequently, depending on the plant's growth rate and specific needs.

Timing

• Pollarding is generally done in the spring when trees are beginning to wake up from dormancy.
• Pruning can be performed at various times of the year based on the plant species and its current health status.

Best Practices

For Pollarding

Choose the Right Species:

Not all trees are suitable for pollarding. Species like willows, poplars, and oaks are commonly used.

Timing is Critical:

Perform pollarding in late winter or early spring before new growth begins.

Use Sharp Tools:

Ensure your cutting tools are sharp to make clean cuts, which promote healing.

Inspect Regularly:

Monitor the health of the tree afterward to ensure vigorous regrowth without disease.

For Pruning

Pruning is essential for maintaining the health, appearance, and productivity of plants, trees, and shrubs. Here are some best practices for effective pruning:

Understand the Plant's Growth Habit:

• Different species have varying growth patterns and pruning needs. Research the specific requirements for the plant you are pruning.

Time It Right:

• Prune at the appropriate time of year for the specific type of plant. For many deciduous trees and shrubs, late winter or early spring is ideal before new growth begins. For flowering plants, consider their blooming cycle.

Use the Right Tools:

• Use sharp, clean tools such as pruners, loppers, and saws. This ensures clean cuts, reduces the risk of disease, and minimizes damage to the plant.

Make Clean Cuts:

• Avoid tearing or crushing branches. Cut at a slight angle, just above a node or bud, to encourage healthy new growth.

Know Your Pruning Techniques:

• Thinning: Remove entire branches to improve air circulation and light penetration.
• Heading: Cut stems back to a bud to encourage denser growth.
• Reduction: Cut back to a larger branch or bud to reduce size while maintaining shape.

Follow the 1/3 Rule:

• When pruning trees, avoid removing more than one-third of the tree’s foliage in a single year to prevent stress.

Remove Dead or Diseased Branches:

• Focus on cutting out any dead, damaged, or diseased limbs, which can help prevent the spread of pests and diseases.

We hope we have helped you get a better understanding of the difference. Although our arborist will take the worry of making the right decision from you to understand which will be best for your tree. Simply contact us today to arrange a survey.