Pruning is an important part of growing a tree well. There are techniques to learn, decisions to make and practical skills that help a tree develop. But there's another side to pruning that's harder to teach: the art of knowing what to do, and why.

Our founder Philip has been thinking about this distinction while giving talks to garden designers and enthusiasts, and teaching the team in the nursery. He's come to recognise a difference between the skill of pruning and the art of pruning.

The skill is the method. The art is learning to see the tree. Listen to him talk more about this in this video: 

The skill and the art of pruning

The technical side of pruning is relatively straightforward to explain. There are established methods, and with practice, people can learn how to make the right cuts and carry out the work properly.

But knowing how to prune doesn't necessarily mean knowing how to bring out the best in a particular tree.

That's where the art comes in.

For Philip, it starts with taking the time to look at the tree as a whole. Rather than immediately deciding which branches to remove, he moves around it, looks at it from different angles and considers what someone else will see when they first encounter it.

It's a more thoughtful way of approaching the work. Instead of simply correcting what might appear to be a fault, the aim is to understand the tree's natural character and help that character come through.

Learning to see a tree differently

One of the questions Philip asks the team when they're pruning is a simple one:

If you were looking to buy this tree, why might you decide against it?

It's a useful way of changing perspective.

When you're working closely with a tree, it's easy to concentrate on individual branches and the task in front of you. Stepping back and looking at it as a potential customer encourages you to see the whole picture.

Does the tree have a shape that draws the eye? Is its character clear? Is there something about the way it grows that could be brought out more effectively?

These aren't always questions with an obvious or immediate answer. They require observation, experience and a willingness to look again.

The intention isn't to make every tree look the same. It's to recognise what makes each one distinctive and work with that, rather than against it.

Every tree has its own character

No two trees develop in exactly the same way. Their branching patterns, shapes and proportions all contribute to their individual character.

Good pruning takes this into account.

Rather than applying the same approach to every tree, it means considering what that particular tree needs and what will best show its natural qualities. A cut that improves one tree might not be the right decision for another.

This is particularly important when growing trees in a nursery. Each tree is being prepared for a future place in someone's garden, where its shape and character will become part of a wider landscape.

Taking the time to understand a tree before pruning it helps us make more considered decisions about how it should develop.

Seeing the tree through a customer's eyes

Philip explains that this way of looking at trees can make a real difference in the nursery.

Sometimes, a group of trees will sell steadily, while a few remain. When that happens, it's worth taking another look. What is it about the remaining trees that might make someone hesitate?

The answer isn't always obvious until you step back and see them from a different perspective.

A considered prune can help bring out qualities that weren't immediately apparent, allowing the tree's character to become more evident.

For Philip and the team, the ultimate measure of success is when someone comes into the nursery, finds a tree they're drawn to and chooses to take it home for their garden.

That moment brings together the practical skill of pruning, the judgement involved in shaping a tree and the character the tree itself has developed.

The tree deserves some of the credit

There's an important point in Philip's thinking: the result isn't down to the person pruning alone.

The grower plays a part, but so does the tree. Its natural growth, shape and character are what make the work possible in the first place.

The aim is to recognise those qualities and give them the opportunity to stand out.

That takes time and practice. It's also a reminder that pruning isn't simply about imposing a shape on a tree. It's about understanding what is already there and making thoughtful decisions to help it develop.

Bringing out the best in a tree

The skill of pruning can be learned, practised and passed on. The art develops through experience: looking carefully, asking questions and learning to see each tree from a different point of view.

At New Wood Trees, this is part of how we approach growing and preparing our trees. We want to understand their individual character and bring out the qualities that will make someone choose that tree for their garden.

As Philip explains in the video, the ultimate compliment isn't simply that we've pruned a tree well. It's that someone sees it, feels drawn to it and wants it in their garden.

Watch the video above to hear Philip talk about the art of pruning and how a change in perspective can make all the difference.

----