Pollarding a Catalpa - Next Stage

I pollarded my Catalpa for the first time this year, after ten years of growth. By selectively removing the new buds, I've now got a tripod like arrangement which has given the new leaves good space to expand to their largest ever size. I've read that pollarding should be done again the following year, cutting each stem to about 10cm above the original cut. This sounds like it will encourage too many new stems at the same height and look messy, even with selective bud removal. I'm considering these two options:

1. Leave it as it is for another year and see how it develops.

2. Reduce the three existing stems by half to retain some height from this year's growth and create a wider canopy.

What would you do? I'd welcome any thoughts. Thank you.

Now:



In summer:



In spring:

 

It kind of depends how tall you want it to get, mine is as tall as I want it, so I cut the new growth off leaving one maybe two new buds, then rub anything I dont want, off, as it shoots next year.
If you leave it you might get flowers, but you wont get such large leaves or such long growth, it is the cut back that makes the tree put out the long growths with larger leaves

 

Thank you @pete. Mine has never flowered so the leaves are the main feature. I think I’ll reduce it as you say to the second bud on each stem and then rub off any surplus buds. It’s a bit lopsided at the moment which is annoying .

 

I will be cutting mine back soon, now the leaves have all blown into other peoples gardens.


Some of the growths are over 10ft long.

 

Not my tree, one in the park.

 

That’s very neighbourly of you @pete . The rate of growth is quite amazing when it’s cut, I’m wondering whether it might be a silent protest! Thanks for the photos, very impressive.