I have several 6 year old willow trees that I want to start pollarding. how should I do this and when?

Answer 1

Everyone else answered your question, but I have something you should know about willow trees. In the spring when they have new growth at the tips, pick off some of it and smash it all to hell, then steep in cool water for a couple of days. Use this to water new plantings and to start cuttings. Willow water is one of the most powerful, natural rooting hormones you can get! Maybe you could sell it, nah, you'd need a forest, oh well.

Answer 2

If you want these trees to form a bushier growth then you must prune quite harshly. The trees will put out new shoots which will result in thicker growth. The spring is the best time when the sap starts to rise. I did this with a hawthorn hedge some years ago. It had grown very spindly, I cut it down to approx. 1 ft from the ground, and now it is a thick hedge with no gaps at the bottom. You could also try cutting some of the braches off, even up to the size of a broomstick. Just plant them and see them grow.

Answer 3

I prune my willow at the end of the summer ..then at the beginning, i will take away the branches from the middle that are sure not to grow,and when my willow is in full (bloom) as i call it...i will cut the younger shoots away as she starts to creep along the grass..(mine is a weeping willow)..i feed her at the end of the summer and at the beginning..I water (over water)her in the summer because if she isn't watered as much she will grown underground towards the water pipes that are also underground..My willow is also at the very end of my garden as far away from the water pipes as poss, because of the same reason

Answer 4

nip out the "leader" , in late autumn, or early spring, though i'd have thought six year old trees, would've been to young, depends on the type of willow, and their present height.