5120 x 3413 px | 43,3 x 28,9 cm | 17,1 x 11,4 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
23 dicembre 2005
Ubicazione:
SW France
Altre informazioni:
Pollarding is a form of ancient tree husbandry that has been practiced in Europe for thousands of years. In France, long avenues of pollarded trees were planted for ornamental purposes in royal houses and palaces and these can still be enjoyed today. Pollarding removes much of the crown of the tree making it stable and unlikely to fall and therefore resulting in many ancient pollarded trees which are still alive and healthy today. In cities and towns, where a large crown would be inappropriate, pollarding remains the best solution if large street trees are to be grown safely in urban environments. What happens is that a professional arboriculturist removes all the minor branches of a tree to leave just the trunk (to head-height) and a framework of major branches. It is a skilled operation because the tree must be pollarded at the right age and pruning must continue regularly each year (or two years), so new growth doesn't weaken the structure. In winter, a pollarded tree looks very stark and sculptural, in effect a trunk capped by a strange clubbed head. In summer, however, a mass of vigorous shoots provides dense and welcome shade cover over streets, squares and boulevards. Ideal candidates for pollarding are vigourous deciduous trees which don't object to being regularly pruned, the classic French pollard is the Plane tree.
