Winter can feel dreary and unending for all of us gardeners. Pruning trees and shrubs, with an emphasis on their winter appearance, is very important for health and aesthetics in every garden, and doing so can actually make this time feel a bit more pleasant. This maintenance can often be overlooked in perennial gardens because of the large focus on the lower growing flowers and their attractive foliage, but maintaining them is just as important as the plants growing beneath them.
Most of our woody ornamentals have no leaves during this time in the Midwest; this lack of leaves and flowers can feel dull. This can be alleviated somewhat by pruning the trees and shrubs into more attractive forms, focusing on their winter appeal. The way to achieve this is by focusing on classic concepts in art (line, movement, negative space, and depth) and applying them to the plant. Applying these concepts to a tree or shrub will make it feel more like looking at a sculpture covered in snow rather than the normal dead-looking bush you may be used to.
The background of the woody ornamental and the presence of evergreen leaves or needles can be included in creating a garden space that feels welcoming even in these seemingly uneventful months. Plants in the surrounding environment can also serve as a backdrop for the sculpturally pruned tree. They can be solid walls, like a hedge, or just colorful accents such as attractive colored stems (like a red twig dogwood). It can make the warmer months feel a little closer when these elements are added on top of pruning woody plants, and can provide appeal aside from their flowers and summer fullness.
In most of the country, common pruning practices were first developed for use in agriculture and production growing. There is now a growing focus on the aesthetic aspect of pruning, with heavy influence from the Japanese practice of niwaki. This pruning style is mostly focused on natural looks of trees but at a size that feels comfortable in a garden space. The art concepts mentioned earlier are often used in this style of pruning because the structure on the trees are considered a part of the composition of the garden, unlike a standard perennial garden. These artistic elements are familiar to most people and can be found in many landscapes in a different form. The edge of the garden beds utilizes lines, areas without plants create negative space, and the varying size of the bed and plants give a sense of depth to the viewer. These same components are used to sculpt a tree that can truly have four seasons of interest.
To learn more about the practice of aesthetic pruning and winter silhouettes, check out the Aesthetic Pruning Association. Many Japanese gardens employ this practice and provide a great way to see examples in person. Look for these principles in the Island Garden and Peace Garden at Wellfield next time you visit to see trees that have begun their aesthetic pruning journey.
Cody Hoff
Horticulture Operations Manager
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