HOW TO CLOUD PRUNE

Starting your cloud pruning with immature trees is easier because of access for trimming. But more mature trees have already developed their personalities, and you can prune them to suit their individual idiosyncrasies. Look for interesting branch formations – strange branching will often give the best result. For the first prune,

remove unwanted branches and growth from the trunk and remaining branches using clean, sharp secateurs or pruners, so you end up with leaf growth only at the end of each branch. Shape the remaining denser end-growth by trimming into cloud shapes. These shapes can include:

Ball Soccer ballshaped, the branches here are kept short and close together, so you need a fully crowned tree to achieve the desired effect.

Lots With a concave top and flat bottom, this is ideal for trees with wide branches. It’s best done with young trees you can manipulate with ropes or stakes and tape (see Branch twisters, page 74).

Shell Looking like a bunch of conical sun hats, the branches need to be medium to short.

CONIFERS ARE USUALLY PILLAR-LIKE, BUT A BIT OF CLOUD PRUNING CAN HAVE THEM LOOKING LIKE THIS!