Shape up your viburnum

Remove any weak or crossing stems on viburnums in early summer, after flowering is over

- Ashley Edwards

Viburnums have deliciously scented flowers in spring, which add a pop of colour when many other plants are still slowly waking up. You'll often see them in winter gardens and they take centre stage when planted with a backdrop of evergreens.

Prune deciduous viburnum from May after frost has passed in your area. The aim is to improve the shape of the plant and rejuvenate it to encourage good flowering. Also remove dead, diseased or crossing branches, along with any spindly growth. By pruning soon after flowering, you allow the plant time to put on strong growth for flowering the following year.

1 USE a sharp, clean pair of secateurs to remove any spindly stems back to a main branch or to ground level. This will help to produce strong flowering stems next year.