After reading about it, I have often used the Oops Method of pruning. This method says that you cut branches until you say: “Oops!” Then you stop. It has worked well for me on many occasions.
My ginkgo tree is growing bigger and bigger. I keep trying to imagine its final size when I do shaping cuts. Until now, I’ve allowed two big branches to grow fairly close to the ground. But as they have gotten bigger, it has become more apparent that they must go. They crowd the walking path and look unruly. So yesterday, I cut them off. It was a little painful, but it made me say: “Oops,” so it must be good.
BEFORE
AFTER
It looks bare to me, but I think as it grows thicker and larger, it will look really nice like this.
Later in the day, I pruned my holly bush too. Many of the branches were pushed over two winters ago by lots of snow and never quite recovered. I’d like it to start growing vertically again instead of leaning so much. The berries are really heavy. I cut most of them off.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Ha! I like the ‘oops’ method very much, and think it could be applied to all sorts of non-pruning situations as well – cooking, carpentry, haircuts (I guess that’s also pruning).
As always, your garden is glorious. I like the view of the holly bush – we don’t often see your house from that angle. It really is a cool house.
The dentist who once removed my four wisdom teeth apparently used the “Oops!” method. When the anesthesia wore off, I recall being NOT pleased with this approach to dentistry. So, Lauren, I hesitate to give your unilateral support to this method – though, Brad, I can definitely see the advantage in plant pruning. (Imagine how many “oops”es one would hear in OUR backyard!)
As the Romans used to say: De gustibus non disputandum est. And here ends today’s classical moment…