The Art of Creative Pruning: Inventive Ideas for Training and Shaping Trees and Shrubs

by Jake Hobson

Nothing brings a touch of artistry to the garden like ornamental pruning, and a series of deliberate cuts can create landscapes and evoke faraway places. All that's needed to recreate the effect in the garden are a sharp pair of pruners, some imagination, and the instruction found in The Art of Creative Pruning . Drawing on both eastern and western styles, author Jake Hobson moves beyond the traditional lollipops and animals and teaches a wholly new approach to ornamental pruning that appeals to modern sensibilities. Picture boxwoods trimmed into whimsical Russian nesting dolls, hedges inscribed with words, and a tree snipped to resemble the toppling tiers of a wedding cake. These are just a few of the unusual ideas featured in the beautifully photographed pages. All the practical considerations are here as well, including pruning to improve a view, remedial pruning to fix problems, and pruning fruit trees to increase yield.

Genres: Gardening

200 pages, Hardcover

First published October 25, 2011

Reviews

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, if only I could go back in time and plant more evergreens around here. This book is chock full of valuable information on pruning evergreens and other woody plants in various styles, from Japanese cloud pruning to espaliered fruit trees and coppiced willows.

I checked The Art of Creative Pruning out in hopes of improving my own skills for shaping up the simple boxwood 'blobs' by the front door. Having spent time reading Hobson's breezy and welcoming how-to's, I only wish I had more prunable trees and shrubs to muck around with. And that I lived in his parents' house at Harvard Farm. Sigh. Many lovely photos as well as illustrated instructions and tips from an author who isn't just describing how it should be done or how others do it, but who has done it himself.

[Luke Mulligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake Hobson is a true genius when it comes to pruning. Especially Japanese style pruning although this book contains info on Japanese style pruning, it’s not primarily about that. Superb general manual for pruning in the garden covering a variety of different techniques. Any gardener with a thirst for aesthetic pruning of plants should have this book on their shelf !

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Includes a section on pruning for Japanese gardens.

[Michael Dipietro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just gotten interested in topiary and pruning techniques after inheriting a bunch of old growth hedges at my new place. This book is exactly what I needed and helped focus my excitement into a specific direction - great references and point of view.

[Tamara]

Tree eye candy, per Becky.