Winter pruning catch-up

Ruth tackles her final trees before they burst into growth

- Ruth Hayes

SPRING is in the air – no, really, it is! It may not feel particularly warm and welcoming out there but January is almost out of the way and a thin green fuzz will be covering our gardens and beyond as buds break and leaves start to unfurl. You need to get a shimmy with pruning before trees do green up again, otherwise their sap will be flowing well and cutting wounds may bleed profusely, creating an entry point for diseases and pests.

At this time of year we are only tackling certain deciduous trees, as it is way too cold for evergreens as frosts damage and blacken cut shoots. Trees and shrubs that flower early, such as forsythia, should also be left as pruning now will remove their blossoming stems.