Coppicing and Pollarding
Traditionally, both coppicing and pollarding were carried out to produce accessible and regular supplies of wood for firewood, fences and poles. However, they are now most commonly used to restrict the size of a tree or to increase ornamental qualities, such as the colourful stems of red-stemmed willow (Salix alba subsp. vitellina 'Britzensis') or the stunning foliage of Chinese cedar (Toona sinensis 'Flamingo').
Pollarding is a method of encouraging lateral branches by pruning back shoots to just above the main tree stem. If pollarding is carried out repeatedly over the years, a somewhat expanded (or swollen) tree trunk will result, producing multiple new side and top shoots.
Similarly, coppicing involves hard pruning of tree stems; however, in this case they are cut back right down to the ground. In subsequent growth years, a number of new shoots will grow up.
Pollarding
The young stems of some trees, such as red-stemmed willow (Salix alba subsp. vitellina 'Britzensis'), are brightly coloured, with the best effects coming from one or two year old wood. Pollarding the tree every winter or early spring can ensure a annual supply of these vibrant stems.
When the trunk has reached the desired height, the branches should be cut back to approximately 2.5 cm (1 in) away from the main stem. This will encourage a mass of new shoots to be produced the following spring. Ideally, pollarding should be repeated annually (or every other year) to stimulate further young shoots to grow from the enlarged head of the stem. Stems should be cut above the previous pollarding cuts and the tree should be fed and mulched after pruning.
Pollarding: Pruning back hard to the trunk so that vigorous new shoots are produced.
Coppicing
Coppicing (also known as 'stooling') should be carried out in late winter or early spring by using pruning loppers to cut back all stems to within 7 cm (3 in) of the ground. However, care must be taken not to cut into the swollen, woody base of the tree as all new growth will form from there.
The young leaves of some trees, such as Chinese cedar (Toona sinensis 'Flamingo'), are brilliantly coloured, and regular coppicing every winter or early spring can ensure a continuous supply of this colourful foliage.
Trees may also be coppiced in winter to restrict their size. For example, the empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa) grows rapidly and can reach 8-10 m (25-30 ft) in its first five years. It may be coppiced in winter to limit its growth by cutting the stems back to within 60 cm (2 ft) of ground level. In this example, the treatment has a beneficial side-effect; by the summer, a cluster of new stems are produced with much larger and striking foliage than normal; these new leaves may grow up to 60 cm (2 ft) across.
Coppicing: Cutting back almost to ground level to encourage basal shoots to develop.