Chamecyparis obtusa 'Butterball'

I have a C. which is become quite senior...it is very yellow...and since it is one of the shrubs planted by the original owners I don't know it's pedigree. It had becoming so lanky that I took a pruning saw and removed all the undergrowth... leaving four main branches...and sheared the new growth so that it came in very full and plump... On a recent trip to the nursery I found shrubs for sale that had the same procedure...they look very ornamental and interesting...what do your think of this way of recycling older shrubs?

Lori, are you referring to what is loosely termed as cloud pruning, in a sort of Bonsai style ? If so then yes it can work with many types of mature dwarf conifers.

I have never heard the terminology 'cloud pruning' ... but it sounds like what I did, and the shrub does have a bonsai feel to it. I rather like the look of it. Saw some in the nursery at premium prices... very satisfying indeed!