Outdoor: Japan's cloud-pruned tree trend is fun but requires dedication
We can't get enough of cloud-pruned trees right now – they are at once frivolous, fun and ultra-sophisticated.
This style of pruning originated in Japan; the meticulous attention to detail of the Japanese makes them true masters of the craft.
On a recent visit to that country I noticed them everywhere, not only in large public spaces but also in humble private gardens. In many cases, generations of the same family have clipped the same specimen, imbuing each tree with familial history.
Conifers are the most frequently used plant, although I have seen murraya and Japanese box used particularly well.
The ancient craft isn't one for the impatient or hasty; it requires dedicated clipping, shaping and pruning. It will often take decades to produce a handsome, sculpted tree with good scale and proportion. Mature specimens in leading nurseries will already be 10 to 15 years old, yet still be considered "young".
Cloud-pruned trees are a true hero in any garden; one good specimen is enough to create a strong focal point and add an instant wow factor. They are perfect for softening a hard-edged space and work well in large planters.
If your budget allows it, plant a few of them in a series, as we did for the garden pictured below. The effect is magnified tenfold; the clipped balls seem to float randomly in the air and appear to change position as you view them from various angles around the garden.
They are unfussy plants and relatively easy to care for, requiring only a light trim every six weeks in the growing season, from September through to April. Just remember to plant them in an open, sunny position … and to keep your shears sharpened!