![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_0f09dde360ed4387ae47829bef8fb96d.jpg/v1/fill/w_940,h_276,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_0f09dde360ed4387ae47829bef8fb96d.jpg)
Niwaki - hidden possibilities
Niwaki is Japanese for ‘garden tree’.‘Wait a minute,” I hear you think, “what’s the big deal? I have one of those.”Ah, but then you don’t know the Japanese. Not unlike me, they can’t stop themselves from improving the beauty of trees and bushes in their gardens and pubic domain by pruning them.
How right they are! Some claim that their efforts are a search for the ‘essence’ of the tree/bush at hand. The result, is an enhancement of its character through a stronger definition of its branches/sections, qualities older trees often possess. The ‘look’ also depends on the style of pruning and type of plant. Niwakis can sometimes resemble huge bonsais! Groovy Gardens tend to want their niwakis somewhat natural-looking though, yet this doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy fussing over them….you’re a pruner, or you’re not.
Transforming your garden trees/bushes into fantastic niwakis also has an important practical reason: SIZE MANAGEMENT! How many gardens have inhabitants that are (getting) too big, and have been brutally hacked into submission multiple times? This is often the case in the Netherlands, given the limited size of most Dutch gardens. Cherry laurels and especially Leyland cypresses are common and usually get out of hand…..using the niwaki technique you can have them transformed, over time, into living works of art, the size that fits your garden!
From pain to gain, from Problem to Pretty Darn Neat.
From Nuisance to a thing of Great Beauty.
Every year your niwaki can be manipulated and adjusted to your vision and taste, an ever-changing element of your garden that gets increasingly beautiful over the years.
Many trees and bushes are eligible, both deciduous and evergreen…. some better than others.
Do you have a huge THING in your garden you don’t know what to do with??Give me a call, we’ll talk!
Thuja occidentalis
![Thuja unpruned](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_1e7d6a60b0a74fa296454dbcf1bace1c.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_1e7d6a60b0a74fa296454dbcf1bace1c.jpg)
![First pruning](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_95ec895633854c9b8b0da2c61c199b7e.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_95ec895633854c9b8b0da2c61c199b7e.jpg)
![Regrowth after one year](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_45d03ad380e84bb9828a81a0c97aab85.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_45d03ad380e84bb9828a81a0c97aab85.jpg)
![thuja](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_c15d4434b9f94209823be62a91d43efa~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_383,h_511,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/2c1055_c15d4434b9f94209823be62a91d43efa~mv2.png)
![P3020592.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_8717d3892a7f4cd7aa78fbb013cc10bc.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_8717d3892a7f4cd7aa78fbb013cc10bc.jpg)
![P3020594.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_35fb7ad193114045b179e0f46b1e2eda.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_35fb7ad193114045b179e0f46b1e2eda.jpg)
Unpruned
first cut
regrowth after a year
second cut
regrowth after the second year
third cut
![thuja waarschijnlijk volgende 3.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_c410db8f273e46efb6a22c1decde92d7~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_237,h_178,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/thuja%20waarschijnlijk%20volgende%203.png)
![thuja 4.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_57943390bca94d38a06cdc6ea2baf512~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_236,h_177,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/thuja%204.png)
regrowth after third year
fourth cut
Cupressus x leylandii
![Start of the first pruning](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_3e2d69691b7d4498b927d3086b78cf50.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_3e2d69691b7d4498b927d3086b78cf50.jpg)
![Continuation of the first pruning](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_5feb717010584cfaa08f87d01d949fd8.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_5feb717010584cfaa08f87d01d949fd8.jpg)
![Regrowth after one year](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_9bcab37f0de345f79194fed8ec5f5920.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_9bcab37f0de345f79194fed8ec5f5920.jpg)
![Second pruning](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_deb7f9037ecf44878dcd5fa3f3a0f888.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_deb7f9037ecf44878dcd5fa3f3a0f888.jpg)
![Regrowth after second year](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_6f8d6d86b41c40c3a7fdb5903be80e19.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_6f8d6d86b41c40c3a7fdb5903be80e19.jpg)
![Third pruning](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_61fce97a44bd484780a7c33a478f7185.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_61fce97a44bd484780a7c33a478f7185.jpg)
![PB170566.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_e6550ea01f6d487f8524034ec506fb25.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_e6550ea01f6d487f8524034ec506fb25.jpg)
![PB170569.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_d753eba96eb44df08b85fb6012f9386c.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_d753eba96eb44df08b85fb6012f9386c.jpg)
second cut
regrowth after the second year
third cut
a little later...
during first cut
regrowth after the third year
fourth cut
regrowth after a year
Taxus baccata
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_15f12d17fa7c4e67a9a4a288f49e141c.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_15f12d17fa7c4e67a9a4a288f49e141c.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_b75d911589074294b9db51c72550de17.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_b75d911589074294b9db51c72550de17.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_df30a01f790a47039e0b66f22d8bffd7.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_df30a01f790a47039e0b66f22d8bffd7.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_a5f7d950b0ff4b26944b237201a8757a.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_a5f7d950b0ff4b26944b237201a8757a.jpg)
![P6230008.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_d6528c2de4294e549b1b9ecbb3377852.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_d6528c2de4294e549b1b9ecbb3377852.jpg)
![P6230010.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_22fee9a4862143fb918e7aceed0bef71.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_22fee9a4862143fb918e7aceed0bef71.jpg)
![P6230007.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_c909f96bb4574b23a675173922b6ed6c.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_c909f96bb4574b23a675173922b6ed6c.jpg)
![P6230009.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_8b8734df8c3b4172af7abff2bf87c13b.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_8b8734df8c3b4172af7abff2bf87c13b.jpg)
Front
left side
unpruned
first cut unpruned
first cut
regrowth after a year second cut
regrowth after a year second cut
Niwaki of Cotinus coggygria, First year.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_d756f0fa48a34f029bfd6d115c658651.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_d756f0fa48a34f029bfd6d115c658651.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_25f04cfe805c4cc48e779dea185f048a.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_25f04cfe805c4cc48e779dea185f048a.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_76943eb4d976460184516751a126f8f7.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_76943eb4d976460184516751a126f8f7.jpg)
Same Continus in Autumn
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_f83a295f223540a3ac6e7962f8fc7614.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_f83a295f223540a3ac6e7962f8fc7614.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_322bfaf496344e17b6fe34d697a02c4a.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_322bfaf496344e17b6fe34d697a02c4a.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_8d65a660330648db8b27480ccc673900.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_8d65a660330648db8b27480ccc673900.jpg)
Euonymus fortunei
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_30bb27c471194bc9808e6ba5a256e295.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_30bb27c471194bc9808e6ba5a256e295.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_bfa50d4c28a44edaa41e8739f8ab24d2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_bfa50d4c28a44edaa41e8739f8ab24d2.jpg)
![P3090601.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_d533f014e6354942ae249486b0488090.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_735,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_d533f014e6354942ae249486b0488090.jpg)
![IMG_9107.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_099f79297a1c411a92fd4c2a2598bea5.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_099f79297a1c411a92fd4c2a2598bea5.jpg)
Unpruned
first cut
regrowth after a year second cut
Extra for the lovers
Taxus baccata Japanse tuin
first cut
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_eebcd6e6f4f445a0898f2bb0931b666b~mv2_d_3456_2304_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_eebcd6e6f4f445a0898f2bb0931b666b~mv2_d_3456_2304_s_2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_caaaa84631d9428f8b841e516dc42d21~mv2_d_3456_2304_s_2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_caaaa84631d9428f8b841e516dc42d21~mv2_d_3456_2304_s_2.jpg)
Unpruned
Viburnum tinus
![P6290013.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_ca9820d214934eab884a243fa0b37ae9.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_ca9820d214934eab884a243fa0b37ae9.jpg)
![Eerste snoei](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_3fc6eb5c62d6421095c776538b21ff80.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_3fc6eb5c62d6421095c776538b21ff80.jpg)
![Ongesnoeid](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_10d4c63d3a964356be033023daec203f.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_10d4c63d3a964356be033023daec203f.jpg)
![P6290014.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_3e399c7db2034ba4a665050c86ef3826.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_3e399c7db2034ba4a665050c86ef3826.jpg)
Unpruned
first cut
after a year second cut
Chamaecyparis
![P3090603.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_4ac5b0998e3242c1b3cf0388f04066e5.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_4ac5b0998e3242c1b3cf0388f04066e5.jpg)
![P3090605.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_99b5f9a2804d4032882dcf5968cb1fa3.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_99b5f9a2804d4032882dcf5968cb1fa3.jpg)
![P3090607.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_d04e61afb70b48b999681fc14d9ac1ec.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_d04e61afb70b48b999681fc14d9ac1ec.jpg)
![IMG_9160_edited.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_845a3d7cf1e945668845bab8305ec837.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1470,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_845a3d7cf1e945668845bab8305ec837.jpg)
![IMG_9142_edited.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_9eecbb6bb6d340f69e521b97da28ea65.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1470,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_9eecbb6bb6d340f69e521b97da28ea65.jpg)
![P3160613_edited.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_1abdb4ed735f49cda89de827b23e4a93.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_1abdb4ed735f49cda89de827b23e4a93.jpg)
Unpruned
first cut
left side front right side
left side front right side
Prunus laurocerasus 'Rotundifolia'
![Starting point](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_635176f64563442288127b88a97c6780.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_635176f64563442288127b88a97c6780.jpg)
![First pruning](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_6ae6a5669df9438c80a94e7d4b82c00f.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_6ae6a5669df9438c80a94e7d4b82c00f.jpg)
![P3240493.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_246a887ce8fb4265934c394a0933b1eb.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_246a887ce8fb4265934c394a0933b1eb.jpg)
![Second pruning](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_2e288fcfca0c412389ceb212c7bdb9cd.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_2e288fcfca0c412389ceb212c7bdb9cd.jpg)
![P3020598.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_5e87e92c33a34396bbf9052ca9eaa2b2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_5e87e92c33a34396bbf9052ca9eaa2b2.jpg)
![IMG_9156.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/2c1055_4b87dd1876ff4b69a1094731a7cf01ea.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_653,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2c1055_4b87dd1876ff4b69a1094731a7cf01ea.jpg)
unpruned
first cut
second cut
regrowth after a year
regrowth after the second year
third cut, in blossom