My trees are looking rather browned off

Why might my conifers have brown patches? – William Spencer, London DAVID: Three possibilities come to mind: insufficient light, exposure to very cold winds, or simply drying out.

Check nothing is blocking their light too much, and make sure they are watered in a dry spell because they are very thirsty plants.

There’s nothing much you can do to save mature shrubs from the wind but consider it next time you’re planting.