Alan Titchmarsh shares how to prune shrubs for 'colourful stems' throughout winter
The gardening expert said these shrubs will have beautiful vibrant stems through to the spring. He said the pruning method may appear "terribly cruel" but it will encourage new growth.
TV presenter and gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh shared his advice for pruning winter shrubs in a tutorial for Waitrose & Partners.
Alan said some of the best winter shrubs are those that lose their leaves such as dogwoods and willows.
Dogwoods are easy to grow and have bright red stems that last from late winter to early spring.
The gardening expert said the plants "look bright" from November through to February and March.
However, to keep the stems looking colourful and bright, the plants need to be pruned in late winter or early spring before they start to produce leaves.
Alan said: "Now the way to keep these colourful stems like this is to prune them hard back."
The 74-year-old said older plants can turn "quite dull" and "don't have the vibrancy that the younger stems have".
The trick to growing these shrubs is rich soil, which encourages a lot of growth, as well as pruning them really hard.
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When pruning the shrubs, use a pair of sharp secateurs and snip them right down to the base above the buds.
Gardeners can use the same technique for pruning willows which are known for their bright yellow stems.
Alan also said gardeners can take cuttings from willows and dogwoods to make their own hedges.
He said: "Willows - these this long [stems] make brilliant cuttings. Willows and poplars particularly have something called preformed root initials.
"You push these into the ground they will root very easily."
Alan Titchmarsh has also shared his advice for pruning bush roses.