I'll shape something every now and then but not like you're doing..

Dax

True.
It's almost like in-ground bonsai, without the root pruning. Thanks for looking pal!
Jeff

Yes,I like fine-pruning the hinokis in this manner,just
clipping errant growth back to the foliage "fan".
Its easy and really makes the plant look fat and tight
(kind of like the pruner in this case).Doug

Doug, glad to hear i am not the only one!! :)
Cheers.
J

I prune a lot of different conifers a lot of different ways, even the same variety of conifer different ways. Depends where it is.
Pruning along the lines you are using I prune the errant branches back into the general outline of the conifer. The larger the offending branch, the further back I cut it. That pretty much eliminates having to go back right away when the vigorous new growth goes outside the general outline again. I like a varied texture and not the sheared look unless it grows that way naturally.
Another way I prune is to cut off the larger branches and leave most of the smaller ones. It makes the trunk look larger in relation to the foliage and gives it an 'aged' look. I'll do a before and after in the next few days when I get time and post it.
Mike

I prune my C. obtusa 'Filicoides' in the exact same way you've described Jeff. It's in a tight spot and I want to keep it compact. I do this once a year in the spring before it starts growing. My other chams are all free-range.

Alex

Thanks for the response guys! Mike, really looking forward to seeing the before and after. Will certainly utilize your trimming tips. A while back I was ogling your image gallery and remember seeing those obtusas and they definitely had that aged look..good stuff.
Alex, I also do my pruning in early spring. Then lightly prune once more in the early fall, just to tidy everything up.
Good to hear from you both!
Jeff