Growing Poplar and Willow Trees on Farms, National - FAO

limb growth, leading to breakout <strong>and</strong> toppling. These trees should therefore
be regularly pruned by pollarding them, to ensure they perform as required –
providing shelter <strong>and</strong> shade to livestock <strong>and</strong> long-term protection for
erosion-prone l<strong>and</strong> without becoming too large <strong>and</strong> dangerous. Pruning <strong>and</strong>
shaping develops more stable trees on sites – healthy <strong>and</strong> safer trees
surrounded by pasture that continues to provide livestock feed.
<strong>Willow</strong>s are also suitable for shelterbelts but need regular side pruning by a
contractor operating a tractor-mounted trimmer. This shapes the sides <strong>and</strong>
tops of a row of willows <strong>and</strong> develops a good-looking shelterbelt – but it has
to be undertaken regularly - maybe every two or three years. Many willow
shelterbelts are still grown around Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty. The
trimmings harvested from these shelterbelts can be fed to stock after
pruning.
3.8 Dealing with unwanted old trees
Old <strong>and</strong> very large trees are potentially dangerous to stock <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong>owners
as there is a significant risk of large limbs breaking off in high winds or the
tree being uprooted in wet, windy conditions. Recommended best practice is
to remove these trees by injecting the trunk with herbicide or employing
professional logging contractors to remove them.
Removal is the better option when
they are growing near important
facilities like buildings, fences <strong>and</strong>
waterways. The cost of this may be
significant but it can give a good
return if the job is carried out
efficiently, <strong>and</strong> the contractor <strong>and</strong>
farmer clean up well afterwards.
A ‘fell <strong>and</strong> replant’ policy should
be adopted to prevent problems
<strong>and</strong> hazards when storms <strong>and</strong>
Felling an old tree
flooding occur, as access tracks are
easily blocked by fallen trees or branches <strong>and</strong> waterways become blocked
by old trees or tree parts that break off. This debris will frequently cause loss
of fencing, floodgates <strong>and</strong> even bridges. This is a potential consequence of
49