What is tree pollarding and why is Dublin City Council trialling it?
Over the winter Dublin City Council (DCC) is going to trial a more intensive pruning regime, known as pollarding, for around 250 trees throughout the capital.
Pollarding is a method of pruning that aims to keep trees at a smaller size than they would naturally grow.
It differs from other forms of tree maintenance in that it is not done on an ad hoc basis but regularly, and it takes a lot more of the tree’s crown away to restrict its size.
The intensive pruning is being proposed because many fastigiate hornbeam trees in the city are overwhelming residential streets, according to the authority.
Speaking to DCC’s South Central Area Committee last week, the council’s tree officer, Ludovic Beaumont, said pollarding on the trees would take place every three to five years.
"When we carry out our tree inspections, our arborists are just looking at the health of the trees or if the tree is a health and safety issue,” he said.
"But what we have realised as well we have some trees that while they are in good condition, they’re creating a lot of issues to the residents.”
A report on tree works authored by Mr Beaumont said this species of hornbeam can “dominate” the available space and nearby houses.
"While arborist reports often recommend minimal intervention based on health and safety considerations, many residents feel threatened by the tree's size and dense foliage,” the report read.
It said some of the hornbeams were now in decline because they were planted in small tree pits.
“In some cases, pollarding could extend the lifespan of these trees,” it read.
“This initiative would serve as a test to assess the effectiveness of pollarding in prolonging the trees' lifespans and improving their suitability for urban environments.”
The council says pollarding is only suitable for certain tree species which are tough enough to handle this form of pruning, which is why it will only be trialling it on fastigiate hornbeams for the time being.
DCC is conducting a pilot programme of up to five years for the pollarding programme.
The authority has confirmed that 50 trees on Mount Tallant Avenue in the South East District will be included in the works, with the full list of locations to be revealed in the coming weeks.