Poplars are undoubtedly very likeable deciduous trees with their gently swaying, shady and privacy-protecting character. In the case of old age, property restructuring or stubborn root shoots, however, the chainsaw is sometimes needed.
Felling a poplar should be well thought out
Possible reasons for felling a poplar
The most likely reasons that can encourage the felling of a poplar are as follows:
1. Too old age
2. Replanning of the property design
3. Stubborn root suckers
Dangerous Age
In the wild, poplars can reach an age of around 100 to 300 years, depending on the species. This puts them at about the same level as ash or beech.
If such a tree gets old, the risk of falling increases. Since poplars can grow between 15 and 45 meters high, such a case is not to be trifled with. It is not for nothing that old specimens in public spaces have often been the subject of court hearings.
However, there is no general limit as to the age at which a poplar poses an acute risk of falling over. There are approximate figures for the maximum age depending on the species. Quaking aspen trees live to be around 150 years old, black poplars up to 300 years old. However, the specific condition of a specimen must always be assessed individually by experts.
property restructuring
If you want to redesign your property or have just taken over one recently, one or the other tree may have to give way, of course.
In this case, too, it is necessary that you approach the matter in a structured manner and, for example, first talk to any neighbors. Above all, a poplar stump harbors an aftermath that should not be despised: increased sapling formation.
saplings
If you are struggling with mini poplars constantly shooting up around a poplar tree, you may also be willing to cut down the tree. Unfortunately, this phenomenon does not end with the felling of the mother tree. In fact, that's when the trouble really starts. Because cutting off the crown stimulates vegetative propagation.
However, whether this takes place above or below ground depends on the height of the capping. If you shorten the poplar by more than 2/3 of its original height, it will switch to sapling propagation. If you leave a longer stump standing, it will sprout again directly on the trunk. This is perhaps the better alternative for anyone who can get over a moderate spread of saplings.
In order to completely prevent vegetative propagation, digging up the rootstock is unfortunately unavoidable.