Cass Turnbull's Guide to Pruning: What, When, Where & How to Prune for a More Beautiful Garden

by Cass Turnbull, Kate Allen (Illustrator)

Nothing about pruning is obvious; in fact, most of it is downright counterintuitive, says expert Cass Turnbull. This second edition of her definitive illustrated guide adds 40 percent new material, with more coverage of different kinds of trees, shrubs, and ground covers and how to prune them for health and aesthetics. The book is organized around the most common types of plants found in Northwest gardens: evergreen and deciduous shrubs; bamboos and tea roses; rhododendrons, camellia and other tree-like shrubs; hedge plants like boxwood and heather; clematis, wisteria and all those vines; and detailed information on trees by species from dogwoods to weeping cherries. In her trademark witty style, Turnbull also addresses tools, landscape renovation, and design errors. Included too are her amusing Ten Commandments for gardeners, which feature such treasures as "Thou shalt not weed-whip the trunk of thy tree, nor bash it with thine mower, nor leave anything tied on thy tree or the branches of thy tree, as is done in the land of the philistines."

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction, Reference, Horticulture, Nature, How To

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 26, 2004

Reviews

[Isaac Lord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book has revolutionized what I do on long walks. I used to try to identify plants in people's yards, think about what it would be like to live in their house... now I just criticize their pruning techniques and bemoan the terrible treatment of their shrubs. It's very fun.

This is a book that really should be read before attempting to plant, rather than when considering pruning. Cass Turnbull founded Plant Amnesty, and believes that pruning is something that ideally one would do very little of, if planting has been planned well. Makes me a little gun-shy in regard to our own garden, but wow, can I identify badly-headed or unwisely topped trees in other people's!

[Tm, pilot-in-training on the Rocinante & cake yum! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend! I checked this book out because I wanted to read some thing relaxing and what can be less stressful than a book about pruning?! Little did I know I was about to embark upon a very interesting page turner on gardening and pruning… If there is such a thing, which there is! This seems like a must read for any gardener. Yeah but it’s a very interesting book for just about anyone!

🌳⭐️🌳⭐️🌳⭐️🌳⭐️🌳⭐️

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was amazed how entertaining it could be to read about pruning :) I found her approach to plants highly informative and laid-back, which I appreciate as I tend to be anal and a perfectionist and I want to do everything the "right" way. I liked that she talked about some specific common plants and how to care for them, as well as breaking most plants into oversimplified categories to help you with the ones she doesn't specifically name. My one complaint would be that she does write as if you are familiar to different plants and I really am not. I wish there could have been some real photos of some of the plants she mentioned, along with the diagrams she provided. Thank goodness for the internet :)

She mentioned in the book I read (second edition) that there would be a third edition, and I would consider buying it.

[Laurel E]

Excellent general pruning tips in addition to a pruning, planting, and maintenence by plant type and species. This is one to read, and then to keep on your shelf to check before you completely butcher those weeping cherries.

[Elaine Burnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of information and good basics. There’s more to pruning than you might think and I’ve learned from experience the results of bad pruning can be embarrassing. She runs Plant Amnesty, a play on, you know…, but against plant “torture.” She also has videos on YouTube. I found out after reading the book that she died a few years ago, which is just tragic. She made gardening very accessible, with good advice and lots of humor. Others continue her work and she lives on in this book and videos.

[Maggie]

This book is delightful. I mean, it's actually laugh out loud funny. It's also chock full of information, and thus armed, I selectively pruned the Japanese maple just outside my dining room window. I have also been skulking about the yard obsessively carving out deadwood. Useful & worth owning.

[Leo Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great tips on pruning and easy to read. I like the pics and how she often says just don’t do anything

[Debra Daniels-Zeller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This useful book is entertaining as well as informative and should be on every serious gardener's bookshelf!

[Katya Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that this book had visual guides to what you are looking for/at in pruning. I do wish that there was more to some sections as there was to others, but ultimately found it very helpful!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read it cover to cover

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fantastic but ready for a next addition. It's a tragedy that Cass Turnball is no longer here to give us the update!

[Rebecca Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is chock full of excellent information, and I know feel more confident about my pruning. The writing is user friendly, and the illustrations are cute, but some photographs might have been helpful.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I've been wanting to know how to prune for ages and have always been confused by the instructions I received. The book lays out basic principles and then groups plants by the best method for pruning them. The simple drawings are easy to follow and the prose, though repetitive, made a lot of sense. I now actually have the necessary confidence to attempt my own pruning... only time will tell whether the lessons I learned were the right ones.

[Lani · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I am enjoying her fun way of writing this how to book. I am not finished reading it, but seems to be a well thoughtout book and will be good for field reference. Hopefully, I can put her approach into practice - since my husband says I tend to butcher plants.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent reference book for pruning. Highly recommended.

[Kami · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the group of pruning books.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive yet easy-to-read book. It took the fear out of pruning for me! (Now, just to find the time...)

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the experiment that is our yard...

[Cagne]

so far

If I come out with one thing from this book, it will be a clear outline of the basic tools to have always around.