Allowing a Shrub to Become a Small Tree

The Cornus officinalis in the Hall with Balls is the focal point as you cross the Upper Garden to the granite steps leading to the Lower Garden. It has had a full shrubby appearance that worked well as the hedge behind it grew and the boxwoods became larger. This tree, in many years, will become 20 feet tall and up to 30 feet wide.  As the flowers were just about to fade away, it was an excellent time to see what I was doing as I pruned the tree. The idea is to remove the lower limbs to allow more light for the box woods, to make the space seem less cluttered, and allow a large shrub transform into the elegant small tree it is destined to become.