Prune now and reap rewards later

Alison Patel writes: It can be difficult deciding what gardening tasks to undertake during the winter, but green-fingered enthusiasts have been warned that they should take the time now to prune back bushes.

That is the advice being issued by the Daily Mail, which has said that if gardeners fail to prune their bushes on a regular basis they will end up with hedges that flower poorly "or outgrow their space".

Chopping in the colder months is advised to keep bushes "attractive, compact and tidy, while encouraging a flush of new growth for blooms from July into autumn".

Gardeners are advised to take particular notice of "buddleia (except Buddleja alternifolia, which flowers on old wood), hardy fuchsias, lavatera, leycesteria, caryopteris, spiraea, bush and shrub roses, Hydrangea paniculata and snowberry", which will all benefit from late winter pruning.

The Daily Mail suggested that anyone looking for gardening inspiration should take a trip to Powis Castle in Wales.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, moths are "important components of a garden's biodiversity" and day-flying species can be attracted by buddleias.

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