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

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.

A wonderful read, even for the armchair gardener, this beautifully produced volume describes recent creative pruning projects, including some that have reinvigorated ancient estates in France and England and traditional methods used in Japan, with attention to the artistic possibilities pruning brings to garden design. Hobson, who has a degree in sculpture as well full training in traditional Japanese gardening methods, brings his experience and enthusiasm to the text, which is filled with clearly described, practical guidelines for trees, hedges, topiary, shrubs and the basics of design. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Jake Hobson draws upon years of experience with Japanese gardens and landscaping. He spent a year at a nursery in Osaka, and in 2004 started his own business--Niwaki, Japanese Garden Tools. A keen observer of the artistry of gardens, Jake recieved his bachelor's degree in sculpture. He lives in the UK.