Prune shrubs
Some shrubs, such as Philadelphus and the ornamental elders (Sambucus) get a bit out of hand over time, so this is a good time to cut them down to size. First, remove any dead, damaged or diseased shoots altogether, to ground level if necessary. Then, cut back all the older shoots by about half, cutting cleanly to outward-facing buds wherever possible. This is all a bit of a shock to the system, so mulch generously around the base and keep an eye on progress during the year. You may lose a season's flowers, but future performance will be your reward.
* Follow Country Life magazine on Twitter
-
How the full moons got their names, including tomorrow's rare Harvest supermoonWith a new full moon on the horizon, John Lewis-Stempel reflects on her many guises.
-
The unfortunate case of the Tudor estate that was bombed, torn apart for firewood and then buried underneath a golf courseFew houses have suffered a fate as protracted and violent as Belhus in Essex.
