Cut and trust that the time is right for a bit of sharp practice

Read many a gardening book and it will tell you to prune late-flowering shrubs in February, but in the real world of Yorkshire and the North, you may as well dig them up and chuck them on the log-burning fire.

By The Newsroom

Published 21st Jan 2011, 13:49 BST

Updated 21st Jan 2011, 13:49 BST

Only in the relatively softer, lowland areas of our county would I ever consider pruning in February, and only then if there was no other option.

But give it another month or so and, yes, secateurs and even shears should be oiled and sharpened and put to good use cutting back all those shrubs which produce flowers on the new stems they will grow this year.

Leave buddleias (davidii, the butterfly bush) until towards the end of March when you can take off last year's growth, but shrubs to tackle earlier include the hardy fuchsias, some ceanothus and the sunny santolina, which can be given a short back and sides to two buds of last year's growth.

And, if you have a late-flowering clematis (if in doubt, find out) that, too, can receive some treatment; cut it back

hard to within three inches of the soil.

YP MAG 22/1/11

Yorkshire North