Pruning Program Courses

Ornamental Pruning Program

Established in 2019, the Ornamental Pruning Program is designed for gardeners and landscape professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of pruning techniques that promote both plant health, plant aesthetics, and landscape aesthetics. Each course highlights specific aspects of pruning, focusing on different plant types and materials to help students build a well-rounded skill set in the garden and horticulture industry. Explore the current and upcoming list of courses below, and check back regularly as new courses are added throughout the year.

Note for Licensed Gardeners: Select courses are approved for continuing education credit by the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board (LCB).

2026 Courses

Structural Pruning Upright Japanese Maples: Saturday, December 12, 12:00pm – 2:00pm

This course is offered when the Japanese maples have lost their leaves and in silhouette. It’s the best time to see the structure of your deciduous trees. In this course with instructor Francheska Snyder,

This is an in-person instructional course with Francheska Snyder much like the weeping laceleaf maple below, topics will include pruning techniques that create space and organize branch structure; tree health and sun exposure; managing the desired size; planning for future growth; aesthetics; and more.

Francheska will concentrate on a few species of upright maples on Tsuru Island. Whether you’re a home gardener or a landscape professional, this course offers advanced techniques for pruning upright maples.

Francheska Snyder

Originally from Pennsylvania, Francheska Snyder is the current owner/operator of Niwa Method, a landscape contracting business specializing in Japanese gardens in the Portland area. She has previously worked in public non-profit gardens such as the Portland Japanese Garden, Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, and Wyck Historic House and Garden. She has participated in work-study opportunities assisting Japanese garden builds across the United States, in Italy, and in various regions of Japan. Francheska earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2009. She holds a certificate in Ornamental Horticulture from Longwood Gardens, a 3rd Term Master Level certificate from the Ohara School of Ikebana and is a recognized Chanticleer Scholar. She also uses her time and talent on the board of Leach Botanical Garden, and consulting and teaching for the Gresham Japanese Garden.

Pruning Laceleaf Maples, Saturday, December 19, 11am-2:00pm and then repeated Sunday, Dec 20, noon-3pm – $55

This is an in-person instructional course with Francheska Snyder. Throughout the course, participants can engage in an open discussion with Francheska as she prunes a large laceleaf maple at GJG. Topics will include pruning techniques that create space and organize branch structure; tree health and sun exposure; managing the desired size; planning for future growth; aesthetics; and more. Whether you’re a home gardener or a landscape professional, this course offers advanced techniques for pruning laceleaf maples.

Licensed landscapers will earn 5 CEU credits.

Francheska Snyder

Originally from Pennsylvania, Francheska Snyder is the current owner/operator of Niwa Method, a landscape contracting business specializing in Japanese gardens in the Portland area. She has previously worked in public non-profit gardens such as the Portland Japanese Garden, Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, and Wyck Historic House and Garden. She has participated in work-study opportunities assisting Japanese garden builds across the United States, in Italy, and in various regions of Japan. Francheska earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2009. She holds a certificate in Ornamental Horticulture from Longwood Gardens, a 3rd Term Master Level certificate from the Ohara School of Ikebana and is a recognized Chanticleer Scholar. She also uses her time and talent on the board of Leach Botanical Garden, and consulting and teaching for the Gresham Japanese Garden.

Pruning Pines for Structure: Sunday, November 16, 2025: $45

Watch Laura Dufala, owner of Bentwood Tree Farm, unlock the hidden character within pine trees. In this hands-on demonstration at the Gresham Japanese Garden, Laura will show you how to read the tree — because the tree will tell you what it wants.

Learn how to:

• Identify which branches to remove to create balanced cloud pruning
• Learn the importance of needle pruning, including how to needle for density
• Balance aesthetic design with tree health for lasting vitality
• Laura will demonstrate structural pruning techniques on Pinus thunbergii and other pine species, guiding you toward a deeper understanding of shaping pines with character and care.

Whether you’re a home gardener or a landscape professional, this course offers high-level pruning techniques to prune pines successfully. Licensed landscapers will earn 3 CEU credits.

Laura Dufala

Laura Dufala has been in the nursery business for over 40 years working with Iseli’s Nursery for five years, and then with a local high-end retail nursery for 25 years. Meanwhile, she and her husband Tom, own and operate a niché cloud-pruned pine tree nursery in Boring, Oregon.

Laura is also experienced in bonsai, and aesthetic pruning of maples and other landscape plant material.

Workshop Cancellation Policy

We do not issue refunds on workshop registrations. 

If you register for a workshop and later become unable to attend, we will gladly offer a credit for your registration amount to use toward any future event if you notify us at least 24 hours before the workshop.

To cancel and request a credit, please email us at administrator@greshamjapanesegarden.com. Workshop credits are not redeemable for cash. Please note: Credits cannot be given for registrations for workshops hosted by visiting/out of town instructors. Due to the nature of these one-time-only workshops, all events hosted by special guests are subject to this policy. Thank you for understanding!

In the event a class is cancelled or rescheduled due to inclement weather, or any incident where GJG or its instructors are at fault, you will receive a credit to take another class at a later date.

About Our Policy

Our workshops require a great deal of pre-planning, including ordering supplies and tools, booking staff, and making commitments to pay our instructors — all based on the number of students who register. In fairness to all of our customers we are unable to make exceptions to our policy, including for reasons of illness, travel, or work hours. If you are unable to attend a workshop at the last minute, we suggest giving your spot to a friend!

Thank you for understanding!

The GJG Team