Why I like Japanese anemone. Coppicing & Pollarding explained
Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida) is one of my favourite late summer / early autumn plants for providing colour to the herbaceous flower border. This perennial plant is still in flower in gardens which have a sheltered aspect. Remember it's late November now and by right this plant should be gone from the scene; however the effects of global warming are ensuring that Japanese anemone and other types of plants will continue to flower into early winter.As promised I used the web to find definitions of the following two horticultural terms: Coppicing & Pollarding:
Coppicing is the art of cutting trees and shrubs to ground level allowing vigorous regrowth which will also ensure a sustainable supply of timber for future generations.
Pollarding is carried out on large tree species in urban areas; these trees were often planted because they were pollution tolerant. They were pollarded (where the head of main branches are cut back to promote a more bushy growth of foliage) to prevent them outgrowing their allotted space, casting shade, obstructing electric wires and streetlights or blocking gutters.
The best time for pollarding many trees is in late winter or early spring when food reserves are high and the tree is not under water stress.
The least favourable time may be in the autumn when the wood is at its driest and can allow better access for decay fungi. The wood is also drier in frosty weather.
Pollarding is best started on young trees as young wood responds rapidly to wounding reducing the risk of decay. Initially the tree is grown to the desired height and branch framework.
Once pollarded it is important to continue the cycle of cutting. The weight and angle of the new branches can lead to renewed weakness, particularly where many branches are crowded together. Although having a tree pollarded regularly can be expensive, a lapsed pollard tree can require future surgery removing larger parts of the tree at a greater height.Branches should be cut above the previous pollarding cuts, to avoid exposing older wood, which may be at an increased risk of decay. In some cases it is preferable to leave some living branches intact or to cut above a side branch. It is important to know what each tree will respond to. If this is not clear then I would recommend you seek the advice of an arboriculturist.
posted by Thomas @ 1:13 am
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