Tree #7: Don't Pollard Trees!

I know that a lot of people like pollarded trees, and technically, it is not a tree defect. However, pollarding a tree means that for the rest of its life, it will require 2 to 3 times as much work to maintain, it should never be let go (see next post), and there really is little reason to pollard trees now.
People first began pollarding trees - cutting back the main branches every year to encourage a flush of cane like growth - in Europe in the medieval times. Several epicormic shoots (growth from hidden buds in the bark) sprout from each cut branch. These were then cut off and used for animal food, fodder, and basket weaving.

These days, there is little reason to prune a tree like this unless you're living on some kind of homestead and you make your money weaving baskets. People use pollarding now to keep trees smaller than they otherwise would be. This problem could be much better addressed by planting an appropriately sized tree.

I consider pollarded trees not very attractive, and they don't provide as much shade in summer because they're so stunted and the crown is so small. Don't pollard your trees!