Turning Shrubs into Trees

by Alan Titchmarsh

A good many shrubs that are growing in small gardens right now are really more suited to far larger places, and though they are undoubtedly lovely when first planted – and for several years after – they can in time outgrow their space by a large radius. Now, in many cases over-large shrubs are best taken out entirely to make room for something smaller and more suitable long-term. But some can be ‘doctored’ and turned from big bushy shrubs into good-looking, space-saving multi-stemmed small trees that look positively ‘designery’, by strategic pruning.

Good shrubs to turn into trees include myrtle, Viburnum rhytidophyllum, varieties of Acer palmatum, Viburnum opulus, Viburnum lantana, Cornus controversa ‘Variegata’, bushes of culinary bay, and Clerodendrum trichotomum. Even large species roses and shrub roses such as ‘Canary Bird’ make good multi-stemmed pseudo-trees.

The technique is simple, even if it looks a tad drastic at first. Start at the base of the shrub and cut out all the lower branches, leaving only several of the thickest main stems that are nicely spaced out to become ‘trunks’. Clean these up by cutting off any stems branching out from them up to a height of about four or five feet, so you have room to get underneath for weeding or mowing, and creating a light and open space in which to plant ground cover plants underneath.

Use a long-reach pruner to tidy up the tops; so they form nice neat shapes instead of looking shaggy. A few hours work is usually enough to transform the looks totally, and give back a large chunk of your garden. Don’t limit yourself to the shrubs on my list; frankly if you have any largeish shrub that’s truly outgrown it’s space, you might consider giving it a go on an experimental basis – and if it doesn’t work out, well, you’ve nothing to lose if the only alternative was to dig it out anyway.