MID & EAST DEVON
Pollarding & Hard Pruning in Devon
Keeping big trees small on a cycle — the old way of managing willow, lime and poplar, done on the same principle today.
A cycle, not a one-off chop
Pollarding cuts a tree back to the same fixed points on the trunk every few years, so it grows a knuckle of shoots at each head and stays roughly the size it was when the system started. It only works on trees that were pollarded young and on species that respond well — willow, poplar, lime, horse chestnut and a few others.
A pollard that's been left for a decade or two is a different job: the heads get heavy, the shoots get thick, and bringing it back needs careful judgement about which shoots to keep. We'll tell you honestly whether your tree can be brought back into a pollard regime, or whether a reduction or removal is the wiser option.
Is the tree protected, or does it stand in a conservation area? Read our guide to protected trees.
Pollard work we do
- Established pollards cut back to their heads on a cycle
- Willow, poplar, lime and horse chestnut pollards maintained
- Long-neglected pollards reduced and heads re-established
- Dead, rubbing and broken shoots at the heads removed
- Street, churchyard, paddock and garden pollards
- Trees held to a fixed height where the space demands it
- Coppicing of small multi-stemmed trees and hazel
- All arisings chipped and removed
Pollarding questions
Can any tree be pollarded?
No. Pollarding needs a species that throws plenty of shoot growth from old wood — willow, poplar, lime and horse chestnut are typical — and it needs to have started while the tree was young. Conifers and most oaks and beeches don't respond well, and a tree that has never been pollarded shouldn't be started late.
What happens if a pollard hasn't been cut for years?
The shoots at each head grow long and heavy, then thicken and split, and the knuckles start to fail. It can usually be brought back, but the first cut is a reduction rather than a tidy-up, and it may take two or three cycles to get a clean head again.
How often does a pollard need cutting?
Commonly every three to eight years, depending on the species, its age and how fast it's growing. Quick growers like willow want the shorter end of that; slower trees can wait longer.
When should pollarding be done?
Usually in late winter while the tree is dormant and before bud break. Some species we time differently — birch and a few others bleed sap heavily if cut in late winter, so those are better left until late summer.
How much does pollarding cost?
It depends on how many heads the tree has, how tall it is, and whether it's been left too long. Quotes are free and given after we've seen the tree or a photo of it — no obligation.
Where we work
We cover Mid & East Devon, including these towns and the villages around them.
Free pollarding quote
Send a photo of the tree and we'll tell you whether it can be brought back, or call Tom for a plain answer — quotes are free.