What does pollarding mean?
Pollarding is a horticultural technique in which the branches of a tree are cut back to its main trunk or to short stubs, often repeatedly over many years. The practice limits the tree's height and spread, can encourage dense new growth, and helps preserve the characteristic shape of certain traditional tree forms. Pollarded trees are commonly found along roads, in parks, and around old buildings, where regular cutting may be easier than allowing the trees to grow naturally. The term can refer both to the pruning process and to a tree managed in this way. It is related to but distinct from coppicing, in which a tree is cut to ground level so that it regrows from the base. Pollarding is especially associated with species such as lime, willow, and plane, although the technique can be applied to other trees.
The practice of pruning a tree by cutting its branches back to the main trunk or to short stubs; also a tree pruned in this way.
"Careful pollarding gives the old plane trees their distinctive shape."
Usually refers to repeated cutting back to the same points.
To prune a tree by cutting its branches back to the main trunk or to short stubs.
"They pollard the willows beside the river every few years."
This is the present participle of the verb pollard.
The plural is uncommon because the word usually refers to a horticultural practice or to a tree managed by that practice.
"The document compares different methods of pollarding and pruning."
Pollarding turns a tree into a living topiary: cut it back hard, and it responds with a crown of fresh shoots.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pollarding come from?
The word pollard is an English formation based on poll, an older term connected with the head or upper part of a tree, together with the suffix -ard. In its horticultural use, the term developed to mean a tree cut back to the trunk or upper stem. The related verb pollard refers to the act of cutting a tree in this way. The precise development of the older element poll is historically complicated, so its older sense should not be inferred solely from the modern word's meaning.
Related word forms
How pollarding is actually used
Pollarding is primarily horticultural and is commonly used in British and American English. It usually implies repeated cutting back to the same points, rather than ordinary selective pruning.
Easily confused with pollarding
Pollarding is a method of pruning trees, whereas a poll is a survey or count of people or an opinion expressed in a survey.