Pollard aspens?

Discussion in 'Woody Plants' started by 2annbrow, Oct 29, 2009.

  1. 2annbrow

    2annbrow Active Member

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    North Bend OR US;Oregon coast, just N of Coos Bay
    Is it possible/advisable to attempt to pollard an aspen? Two very tall aspens near the invisible fence were planted part of as a windbreak/privacy screen [we think] but are so tall that we almost can't see the foliage without lying flat on our backs. Would pollarding be a possible approach, or even stooling? I've never grown an aspen. These have small shoots coming up around the bottoms, but the lower foliage dies back as the tops fill out.
     
  2. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    No - it would prompt massive root sprout regeneration.
     
  3. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    And maybe rot out the main trunks. As with white birch trees the long white stem is much the point of this particular tree, disrupting the tree's natural structure pretty much spoils it - both visually and physically. Even pruning off of main branches may result in a black spot on the trunk that the tree does not cover back over very readily at all.

    The Plant Amnesty membership organization responds to this phenomenon by calling the practice "birch butchery". Just the other day I noticed a previously fine-looking row of aspen trees near here was starting to be topped - basically cut in half by somebody. An "aspen atrocity"?
     
  4. 2annbrow

    2annbrow Active Member

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    O-K. Thank you all for the info. At least people driving by can enjoy the foliage; guess we'll leave them alone.
     

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