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This willow tree was pruned, and cut back to stump. I believe that whoever was cutting the tree didn't know what he was doing.

Today we returned home and were hugely shocked. The willow tree was somewhere above 3.5 meters (not sure exactly, maybe 4-6 meters) tall. It's on council land. The neighbours said it will take 5 years to regrow. The same thing happened 5 years ago. The thick branches were cut, not only the fine ones or the ones which could cause danger. The tree was starting already to sprout.

I think there is a lot of damage to the tree. In addition the birds have been living in a small hollow of the tree. Tree looks like a stump right now.

The council didn't even inform us that they are looking to do such a thing. Two years ago when we bought the house, the little branches had been going over the electric wires. They came and cut the unnecessary branches but that was it. Everybody has been happy.

Is this bad for the tree? How can I keep this from happening again?

click any photo for full size

Here is the tree I am talking about. In the first picture, you can see the hole where the birds used to live. Very upsetting. Yes, I do agree tree is not ours. At least informing people what is meant to happen would be nice. Because is very close to the house, the aesthetic look is terrible now, and they disturbed the habitat.

Also do you think the very top and the front branch was cut well?

J. Musser
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Lina
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3 Answers3

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If it's on council land, there's not much you can do. Your tree has been pollarded. Because it's a willow tree, it should recover well. These trees take this pruning well, and it's actually a common (albeit rather unattractive) size management system in many areas.

Community
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J. Musser
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We, own a willow. Every 2 years we pollard it back in winter when it is sleeping. A month or two it shows signs of sprouting again. By late February, beginning of March it's sprouting with leaves. Providing it is regularly attended to and looked after it will bounce back wonderfully. P. S. Don't forget to water well in summer if not near stream as the roots will seek out such things as drains for water. Our willow is 20odd years old.

Maureen Burge
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Willows are naturally found near water. Water has flooding, freezing over and icing up on banks and other destructive events. Plants that do well in this zone need to adapt to getting sheered at the base. Willows do this in multiple ways. They re-sprout readily to make up for no stems. All the removed stems are now able to get lodged somewhere else and root.

rockerBOO
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