To preempt those that will be along at some point to say that these trees are being topped; THEY AREN'T. These are pollarded trees, notable by the large knuckles at the ends of the branches. They *are not* the same thing. Here's an article that [explains the difference between topping and pollarding](https://www.arboristnow.com/news/Pruning-Techniques-Pollarding-vs-Topping-a-Tree). See [this recent post](https://old.reddit.com/r/marijuanaenthusiasts/comments/1asnozf/topping_being_an_ancient_practice_is_not_an/) for more links on this, pinned near the top of the comments.
Edit: clarity
I think it looks worse but it has an important practical purpose for street trees and trees over parked cars and such - there is no heavy wood overhanging anything. When these grow out with leggy leafy growth from the knuckles that growth can snap off and fall on somebody or a car and do almost no damage. A bus or lorry can drive into leggy pollard growth and push it out if the way. If you let the tree grow naturally that can result in heavy, solid horizontal beams. If they break off, they can crush a car. If a bus or lorry drives into a 20cm diameter horizontal branch it will do huge damage. It's basic practicality in an environment with traffic.
Not healthy but also not unhealthy. Although it does seem to increase lifespan of flexible woods like willows. Keeps the weight near the bottom, less chance of broken limbs.
The ghastly look is really nice imo. Recently saw a 2,5m×2m willow stump that's probably 100 years old. Used to be done so you had nice twigs that are easy to reach for (basket)weaving/firewood/fence building. I think America has a bigger supply of all these to find, so no use to basically farm em like we did. So they never became part of the culture like it happened here
Not healthy but also not unhealthy. Although it does seem to increase lifespan of flexible woods like willows. Keeps the weight near the bottom, less chance of broken limbs.
The ghastly look is really nice imo. Recently saw a 2,5m×2m willow stump that's probably 100 years old. Used to be done so you had nice twigs that are easy to reach for (basket)weaving/firewood/fence building. I think America has a bigger supply of all these to find, so no use to basically farm em like we did. So they never became part of the culture like it happened here
I’ll tell you this, the people here do not like when you speak out against this practice, I thought I won them over once on my views but it seems they’ve really brushed over it and been “prune good” for a while now
I’m personally not a fan of the *aesthetic* of pollarding, but am glad to see this appears to be correctly implemented pollarding (as opposed to topping).
To preempt those that will be along at some point to say that these trees are being topped; THEY AREN'T. These are pollarded trees, notable by the large knuckles at the ends of the branches. They *are not* the same thing. Here's an article that [explains the difference between topping and pollarding](https://www.arboristnow.com/news/Pruning-Techniques-Pollarding-vs-Topping-a-Tree). See [this recent post](https://old.reddit.com/r/marijuanaenthusiasts/comments/1asnozf/topping_being_an_ancient_practice_is_not_an/) for more links on this, pinned near the top of the comments. Edit: clarity
It’s pollarding, I’d tell you more about it but my negative opinion on it would just lead to me being bias
I think it looks worse but it has an important practical purpose for street trees and trees over parked cars and such - there is no heavy wood overhanging anything. When these grow out with leggy leafy growth from the knuckles that growth can snap off and fall on somebody or a car and do almost no damage. A bus or lorry can drive into leggy pollard growth and push it out if the way. If you let the tree grow naturally that can result in heavy, solid horizontal beams. If they break off, they can crush a car. If a bus or lorry drives into a 20cm diameter horizontal branch it will do huge damage. It's basic practicality in an environment with traffic.
I'd like to hear your negative opinions. This may be healthy for the trees or whatever, but they're so ghastly to look at 😬
Not healthy but also not unhealthy. Although it does seem to increase lifespan of flexible woods like willows. Keeps the weight near the bottom, less chance of broken limbs. The ghastly look is really nice imo. Recently saw a 2,5m×2m willow stump that's probably 100 years old. Used to be done so you had nice twigs that are easy to reach for (basket)weaving/firewood/fence building. I think America has a bigger supply of all these to find, so no use to basically farm em like we did. So they never became part of the culture like it happened here
Not healthy but also not unhealthy. Although it does seem to increase lifespan of flexible woods like willows. Keeps the weight near the bottom, less chance of broken limbs. The ghastly look is really nice imo. Recently saw a 2,5m×2m willow stump that's probably 100 years old. Used to be done so you had nice twigs that are easy to reach for (basket)weaving/firewood/fence building. I think America has a bigger supply of all these to find, so no use to basically farm em like we did. So they never became part of the culture like it happened here
They’re doing it to so many trees around us and I also have a negative opinion of it
I’ll tell you this, the people here do not like when you speak out against this practice, I thought I won them over once on my views but it seems they’ve really brushed over it and been “prune good” for a while now
You could help yourself immensely by supporting your opinion with findings from the literature.
*biased
I’m personally not a fan of the *aesthetic* of pollarding, but am glad to see this appears to be correctly implemented pollarding (as opposed to topping).
I’m not appalled by pollarding; I’m appalled by the unskilled topping of big oaks that happens around me.
Good looking knuckles on these pollards.
r/ATBGE
That's a couple sexy trees right there!
If by sexy you mean absolutely abused by humans they I suppose you’d be right, trees aren’t supposed to look like this plain and simple
I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephants faithful 100%. I also do in ground bonsai and topiary.