Pollarding

[Chuckles]

I guess a few of us have made the mistake of planting what eventually become big trees in small gardens I hold my hand up to previously having had huge conifers, now no more and a Scotts Pine also now no more, I really was knaive and obviously didn't learn a lesson.

Foolishly we also planted 2 Limes, 2 Mountain Ash/Rowan one with red berries the other yellow, also a Cherry the name unknown. In the last couple of years we have pollarded one of the Limes successfully so the other one is on the list to do. My current dilema is the Mountain Ash and the Cherry. I've taken lower branches off the Cherry before and it has sprouted new growth so I think that will pollard ok.

Has anyone ever pollarded a Mountain Ash. They are one of my fave trees and despite the fact that they are both now between 18 - 20 ft high and seriously shade parts of the garden at times I'd hate to lose them. Any help appreciated

[Dutchy]

Ah Chuckles I fear my knowledge on English is letting me down and I can't find the dictionary

What is Pollarding.

I am quite sure it has nothing to do with pollen and lard so please enlighten me.

[Chuckles]

Sorry Dutchy, love your sort of translation ;D

It's when you take off all the main branches of a tree to within an inch of it's life. This picture should give you and idea of what I mean. You don't have to be as severe as the picture shows.

www.avondiary.net/images/poll2310.jpg

[Amo]

Eeek! Brave things to do. I know limes are often pollarded in the local town and the soon bounce back. Could you not just remove selected branches of the rowan just to lighten it up a bit and see how it goes? Contact RHS and see if they have any advice.

Love rowans too and was sad to see ours go earlier in the year but I've planted another. ;D

[Deleted]

I found this if its any help
1Choose trees to be pollarded. There are many varieties that take well to this process. Likely candidates include Striped Maple, Acer pensylvanicum; Catalpa, Catalpa spp.; Black locust, Robinia pseudoacacia; Willow, Salix spp. and Horsechestnut, Aesculus hippocastanum.
Step2When growing a tree intended for pollarding, cut back the central leader (top upright of the main trunk) to the level of the lateral branches. Remove branches that cross other branches and remove lower shoots from the trunk of the tree. Allow the trunk of the tree to grow about 6-feet tall.
Step3Begin in late fall or early spring. This is true for most of the species that can be pollarded. Acer varieties should be pollarded in summer, but not in extra-dry conditions.
Step4Prune the tree. Cut back all or most of the branches to 1 to 2 inches from the main stem. This will cause a many closely spaced shoots to appear from the top of the tree. Immediately cut off any shoot growing out farther down on the trunk.
Step5Pollard every 1 or 2 years. The new stems should be cut back every year, or every other year, to encourage new growth. Waiting any longer could damage the tree. Cut the new growth back close to the main trunk without cutting into it.

[Tig]

I don't know if Rowan will pollard as such Chuckles, but they can withstand a severe pruning!

I daren't show what I did to the Rowan sapling which grew from seed in my garden , but think masacre!

It resprouted from the bottom

[Chuckles]

Thanks for all the replies. Been out in the garden with OH today looking at the said trees. I've decided to trim the Cherry up a bit and just take some of the height off. OH pointed out today that a few years ago we took a main branch off the red berried Rowan and no new grow came from that, so I guess they don't prune or pollard well if at all. Mmmmm the Lime, well it turns out that it is slightly in the way of the new shed we have to erect, its a bigger shed replaceing our current shed so that is going for the full monty chop. While we are at it the Rowan is coming out too which only about 6' away. whole load of work gonna be happening me thinks

[Chuckles]

My Lime has gone now but I haven't had the time or enegry to tackle the Red Rowan or Cherry yet.

Ooooh Tig, as your Rowan has sprouted from the bottom do you think they are like suckers that have sprouted from under the ground. You could end up with a bush Rowan, how interesting.