To prune or not to prune

My 94-year-old mum Doris, spotted an error in the January issue of Gardeners’ World Magazine. On page 60 the text says to avoid pruning plum trees in winter as it can encourage silver-leaf disease, but the caption against the picture advised that plums should be pruned in winter to avoid disease. My mum may be available for proofreading. Ed Barnett, Maple Cross

We say Lots of readers spotted this mistake – we apologise, it is entirely our fault. Plum trees should not be pruned in winter as pruning at this time can lead to infection by silver leaf disease.