Pruning
Pruning is one of our core services at Japanese Tree Shapes. We prune trees and shrubs in residential and commercial gardens across East Devon and offer both conventional pruning and cloud pruning/Niwaki in the Japanese style.
Pruning is an important aspect of tree maintenance as it encourages a tree to develop a structurally sound framework which can prevent premature failure and promote longevity. We are careful to avoid over pruning as it can cause the tree to react by producing a mass of vigorous shoots which is not only unsightly but usually requires further input and management.
The benefits of pruning are to ensure: improved tree health, stronger growth, better aesthetics, longer lifespan, shape and space management.
Niwaki style pruning
We offer Niwaki style pruning as a service throughout East Devon. You can find out more about the Niwaki philosophy and how to bring this aesthetic into your garden design here
- Pleaching: trees or shrubs are trained to grow into a woven or braided form by intertwining their branches over time, or “hedge on stilts”.
Suitable for: residential or formal gardens for creating a narrow, dense, ornamental screen which is visually striking. - Espalier: branches are trained in horizontal lines giving a more open screen than pleaching.
Suitable for: Fruit trees or ornamentals. Useful for dividing areas in the garden with a light screen. - Topiary: the art of shaping and pruning trees and shrubs into decorative shapes, such as animals or patterns, which results in a living sculpture in the garden.
Suitable for: Focal point in your garden.
Conventional style pruning
We are experienced and skilled in various pruning styles which work well for trees and shrubs in your garden.
- Pruning fruit trees with Step-over, Espalier, Cordon
We offer fruit tree pruning generally as well as using Step-over, Espalier or Cordon forms by training the tree to grow in specific ways to create screens or shapes. We recommend this as a useful way of creating a barrier that is both ornamental and productive, with flowers in spring and fruit in late summer.
Suitable for: small gardens, narrow spaces. - Renovation pruning of old fruit trees
We can help renovate old fruit trees which have become overgrown or diseased. This may be a longer-term project over several years; at first clearing out old, crowded wood in the first year, then cutting back weak growth or long spindly branches during the second year, to achieve an open, well-formed crown, which allows light and air in.
Suitable for: over-grown fruit trees, wild areas/orchards, older trees. - Ornamental trees and shrubs:
Shrubs – we can prune garden shrubs and climbers.
Trees – small or larger trees may be pruned to reduce canopy size to allow more light into a house or garden; crown lifted over shrubs, lawn or drive for access; or formatively pruned to create a sound branch structure. Dead wood or broken branches can be removed where there is a concern for safety.
Suitable for: general garden maintenance.